Reading a book is never the same as watching a movie, but when the mesmerizing plot of a book combines with breathtaking visuals on screen, it is certainly a delight one can’t get over.
From bestsellers to blockbusters, many times books have been adapted into movies. For years, the producers have turned books into movies that left a mark on the big screen.
We’ve always had that one moment in our lives wherein we have strongly argued that the book was definitely better than the movie.
Yet, the movie industry has certainly come up with masterpieces that we can never stop appreciating. So here is our list of books that were turned into beautiful movies.
1) The Notebook
Nicholas Sparks has published 18 novels, many of which have become films. One of his most popular novels, The Notebook, was adapted for film in 2004.
It is one of the best romantic movies of all time - about the enduring power of love, a story of miracles that will stay with you forever.
It shows two wonderful people, who have spent years together – helping, guiding and backing up each other. It is both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.
2) Ready Player One
A lot of people won’t believe the fact that this iconic story was Ernest Cline’s debut novel and it took the YA world by surprise.
The book made news again when Steven Spielberg himself, who was one of the biggest inspirations for Cline’s story, took up the project of turning it into a movie.
The story is set in the near- future where the world has become dependent on virtual reality games and our protagonist Wade Watts has to look for Easter egg in a worldwide race to inheriting the fortune of the game’s creator.
The movie is loaded with great pop culture reference and technology. It’s a must watch for geeks and video game enthusiasts.
3) Love Simon
Again a debut coming of age story made headlines with Becky Albertali’s novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda.
Its story revolves around a gay teenager Simon’s (Nick Robinson) romance with an anonymous guy in his school over emails and his struggles with the idea of coming out to his friends and family.
All goes downhill for him when he finds himself being blackmailed by his classmate. The idea of homosexuality and the stereotypes attached to it are never ending but this movie certainly breaks a lot of it.
Simon represents the idea of love in today’s world in the most beautiful way possible thus making it a must watch for everyone.
4) Harry Potter Series
This is one movie marathon that we all have invested a great time in. The book is phenomenal but the movies have a great fan base too.
It has introduced us to great actors like Emma Watson, Alan Richman, Gary Oldman, Ralph Fiennes, Daniel Radcliffe or more appropriately the entire cast. The storyline is never constant and the movies have done a great job with retaining the essence of the movies without leaving out the gory and nerve wracking details. The character development is great and even after almost two decades the franchise still continues.
5) The Hate U Give
At this point, I’ve started to realize that a lot of movies on this list of book adaptations are mind-blowing works of debut authors and this one falls under the same category.
The title itself is taken from Tupac’s Thug Life, an acronym for The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everyone. The movie stars Amandla Stenberg as a young black student who witnesses his friend being murdered for nothing by a cop.
The movie deals with America’s racial politics and questions a lot of similar incidents that lead to the Black Lives Matter Movement. People have not just the black community but everywhere have resonated with the movie at a much greater level.
The movie had to have a lot of sensitivity toward such issues and acceptance.
6) Shawshank Redemption
This movie is a cult classic and is easily regarded by critics as the best Hollywood movie of 20th century, and even ages. After its initial release people remember it as their favorite movie adaptation of a book.
The story is about a young banker, Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) who is accused and convicted of murdering his wife and her lover.
His journey in the prison is narrated by his fellow prisoner (Morgan Freeman) and elaborated how he never stopped hoping that one day he would get out and build a better life for himself.
It’s a story about finding hope and believing in it in the least likely situations and places. And the book is written by Stephen King, the master plot weaver himself. He had always been critical about the movie adaptations of his book, but regarded Shawshank Redemption as one movie he loves.
7) Silence of the Lambs
Dr. Hannibal Lecter is one antagonist that we can never get over and Anthony Hopkins acting still sends chills down the audience’s spine. F
BI agent Clarice indulges in an interrogation with psychotic serial killer Hannibal Lecter to help FBI solve another psychotic murder mystery by the notorious Buffalo Bill.
But Lecter has his own set of ideas and is quite hard to break. They finally settle upon a deal wherein he would help Clarice but only in exchange for being allowed to psychoanalyze her.
He asks her to talk about her most intimate fears and memories. The plot is very “smart” and extensively engaging providing the viewers with good look into human behavior and psychology.
8) A Monster Calls
This screen adaptation of the book shows how intense grief can be, and dealing with grief is never easy. It is a full captivating screenplay and gives Goosebumps at certain places.
The movie is about a 13-year-old boy, Conor (Lewis MacDougall), who is dealing with the reality and grief of slowly losing his mother (Felicity Jones) to terminal illness.
Soon enough, a monster in the form of an ancient yew tree spirit comes to visit him. The tree would tell him three stories and save him from his grief.
Even though the story surrounds a teenager, it is quite hard to categorize it under a children’s movie. The stories are visually beautiful.
A Monster Calls has an excellent narrative style, which grips the audience until the very last moment. Conor’s character is a perfect representation of how grief and bulling effects a child.
9) The Perks of Being a Wallflower
A teenager’s mind is indeed very complicated, and there are a lot of great movies, as well as books about mental health. However, this one just resonates very well to the viewers.
The author Stephen Chobosky has also written and directed the screen adaptation of the book, The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
It is a coming- of- age story that focuses on an introvert Charlie (Logan Lerman), who just wants to be done with school and is counting his days out.
The story progresses with Charlie’s struggles with finding answers to the questions of adolescence and resolves the many issues he’s dealing with, which also involves his relationship with his friends and family.
Various other characters include Emma Watson and Ezra Miller, who play his friends, and Paul Rudd, his English teacher who helps him question the world with literature. Ezra Miller steals the show with his very hearty, warm yet very realistic nature.
10) A Walk To Remember
It is needless to say that ‘A Walk To Remember’ is an internationally acknowledged screen adaptation of the book. It is a book tuned movie of Nicholas Sparks' 1999 novel, "A Walk to Remember.
The story is about a young couple who fall in love despite the girl's terminal illness.
11) The Fault In Our Stars
John Green's 2012 novel, "The Fault in Our Stars", was soon made into a movie to melt everyone’s heart. The film starring Ansel Elgort and Shailene Woodley, as released in the year 2014.
The story is about a couple that falls in love, despite their terminal illnesses. It shows that love knows no boundaries or barriers, and it is love that has the supreme capability of healing.
The two youngsters forget their illness and even that they are to die anytime sooner, in each other’s company. The movie is able to convey the emotions better and we realize it was just some fault in their stars!
12) Twilight
The "Twilight" franchise, first appearing in theaters in 2008, is based on the best-selling book series by Stephenie Meyer about the love affair between a human and a vampire.
The Twilight series included four novels adapted into five movies - Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn (which was divided into two parts).
13) Lord of The Rings
J.R.R. Tolkien's 1954 best-selling epic trilogy, "The Lord of the Rings" was adapted into three films, which are a treat to watch even today.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King are the three movies that were crafted out of the book.
14) The Hobbit
J. R. R. Tolkien's epic fantasy novel, The Hobbit, was published in 1937. The book was turned into a series of three movies.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012); The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, (2013); and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, (2014) are three movies of the book.
15) The Godfather
Mario Puzo's 1969 novel, The Godfather, was transformed into one of the most popular film franchises of all time starring Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone in the 1972 film.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is a famous movie based on the book. This movie adaptation belongs to C.S. Lewis' fantasy series, "The Chronicles of Narnia," which features seven novels.
16) The Maze Runner
James Dashner's Maze Runner trilogy consists of three books turned into movies - The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, and The Death Cure.
So, this was our most beautiful book to movie adaptation list. Have we missed any, do let us know in the comment box!
Let’s give books a little more credit for great plots and awesome characterization and always remember to keep reading more.