From The Lord of The Rings to The Godfather, many of our favorite movies started life between the pages of a novel before making it to the silver screen. In some cases, the movie adaptation outshines its inspiration, leaving the book in its cinematic shadow. Searching for your next unexpected page-turner to premiere? Look no further.
Dune
Unless you’re a sci-fi buff, you might not have known that this epic movie starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya comes from a popular series of novels by American author Frank Herbert. Prepare to delve into a saga that is at least six books deep.
Room
Remember this chilling movie? Just as chilling is the book on which it is based, written by Emma Donoghue, finalist for the Booker Prize and an international best-seller. Caution is advised for consumers of both the film and the book; it’s not for those looking for light entertainment.
The Maze Runner
Dystopian fiction makes for great movie material, including the twisty tale of The Maze Runner, dreamt up by author James Dashner and later adapted for screen. A bunch of teenagers working together to escape a deadly maze with no understanding of why they are there or who is watching… What’s not to love?
Red, White & Royal Blue
More recently, this tale of star-crossed love between the son of the President of the United States and a British Prince landed on Amazon Prime, much to the delight of author Casey McQuiston fans. Romance book fanatics may have heard of this one, but if you’re a movie rom-com person, this is your sign to check out the ever-popular romance fiction world.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Chances are you’ve heard of this action-packed movie starring Daniel Craig, but did you know it’s based on a novel by Swedish author Stieg Larsson? This is another film from a long book series, so make sure to set aside enough time to get fully drawn in.
My Sister’s Keeper
A real tear-jerker, My Sister’s Keeper breaks the hearts of viewers and readers alike, with the novel by prolific writer Jodi Picoult inspiring the deeply emotional movie. Tissues at the ready.
The Martian
Matt Damon thrills in sci-fi movie The Martian, demonstrating all the things that could go wrong on a mission to Mars, as first conceptualized by author of the novel, Andy Weir. Who knew spaceships and Mars dust could be just as visceral on the page as on the screen?
Poor Things
If you’re up to date on trending movies, you will have seen the quirky Poor Things, featuring an award-winning performance from Emma Stone. Despite the contemporary feel of the movie, it is in fact based on the 1992 book by Scottish writer Alasdair Gray.
Chocolat
Another ‘90s novel, Chocolat was a popular book of the time but was eclipsed by the famous film starring Johnny Depp. Whimsical chocolate-making in France stole the hearts of many, both on the page and on the screen.
Stardust
Fantasy movie Stardust took cinemas by storm with a star-studded cast featuring Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro and Sienna Miller, but did you know it was based on a children’s book by Neil Gaiman?
The Devil Wears Prada
Prior to the powerhouse Meryl Streep movie adaptation, The Devil Wears Prada was known only from its book rendition, written by Lauren Weisberger and arguably outshined by the success of the Hollywood movie.
The Lost Daughter
Elusive author Elena Ferrante, whose real name is unknown to the masses, wrote the story that formed the basis of the Olivia Colman Netflix hit, The Lost Daughter. Other familiar faces, such as Dakota Johnson and Paul Mescal, make the movie that much more memorable, even as the author responsible for the stories remains shrouded in mystery.
The Social Network
The famous movie about Facebook and its founders is, of course, based on a true story. Rather than straight to screenplay though, the movie was borne out of the 2009 book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich, charting the incredible journey of Facebook from its modest inception to its world domination.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Another non-fiction book inspired this next blockbuster, written by David Grann with the full title, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI. Fans of Leonardo DiCaprio flocked to the cinema to see him in action, perhaps now they will head to the book for a deeper insight into this real-life event.
House of Gucci
Lady Gaga delighted fans as Patrizia Reggiani in this salacious tale of legacy and rivalry, based on Sarah Gay Forden’s House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed.
Legally Blonde
Everybody knows the bend and snap from the world’s most glamorous lawyer, but they don’t know that Legally Blonde existed before Reese Witherspoon’s rendition, in the form of the book by Amanda Brown. Chick-flick, meet chick-lit.
Leave the World Behind
Another Netflix movie stacked with stars is the eerie thriller Leave the World Behind. Based on the novel of the same name by Rumaan Alam, the publicity of the movie has sent the popularity of its literary counterpart to new heights.
Annihilation
Another sci-fi on the list is Annihilation, with lead actress Natalie Portman. This sinister and creepy narrative was inspired by the series of experimental novels by Jeff VanderMeer, famous to those invested in the genre but perhaps not to your general movie buff.
Gone Girl
Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck star in the popular psychological thriller Gone Girl. Before its success on the big screen though, this story lived on the pages of Gillian Flynn’s page-turning novel.
Shrek
A classic family movie that never gets old, Shrek is a staple in many people’s feel-good film list. Even the most committed Shrek fans don’t always know that the film is loosely based on the children’s picture book of the same name, created by William Steig, that came out a decade before the movie.
