Everybody knows that when Hollywood adapts a popular book, they often do a bad job. Sometimes, though, a movie adaptation does its source material justice.
It can be hard to adapt a book to the big screen. So much backstory, so many minor characters, so many little details have to be left out to avoid a movie adaptation that's four and a half hours long (looking at you,
The Lord of the Rings extended versions).
Sometimes though, a movie adaptation manages to have a realistic runtime AND stick close to the original story, and the result is a movie that book fans and new fans alike can love! These are some of the best book-to-movie adaptations out there, in our opinion!
"To Kill a Mockingbird"
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Author: Harper Lee
Movie Release: 1962
Harper Lee's classic novel is about tolerance and compassion in the face of hatred and violence. Robert Mulligan's adaptation hits the nail on the head. The casting is flawless and the movie handles a host of tough subjects with grace and without sugarcoating.
"The Godfather"
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Author: Mario Puzo
Movie Release: 1972
Mario Puzo actually helped write the screenplay for Coppola's classic. That assistance means that the adaption stays very faithful to the manner and quality of the book. Some backstories were eliminated, while others were moved to the sequel. The film's ending is actually gloomier than the book's, but the two complement each other perfectly.
"American Psycho"
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Author: Bret Easton Ellis
Movie Release: 2000
Ellis's novel is an eye-opening and convicting look at the vapidity in the heart of contemporary American culture. The film adaptation takes a slightly more comedic approach than the novel, but it's definitely an enjoyable ride.
"The Silence of the Lambs"
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Author: Thomas Harris
Movie Release: 1991
To say the
The Silence of the Lambs is a great movie goes without saying. It won the Big 5 at the Oscars: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Writing. It's also a wonderfully sympathetic reworking of Harris's original script. The horrific themes in the book are handled in a perfectly subtle way.
"Goodfellas"
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Author: Nicolas Pileggi
Movie Release: 1990
Goodfellas is based on the novel "Wise Guy," a celebrated work of non-fiction telling the story of mobster-turned-FBI informant Henry Hill and his life in and around the Lucchese family for 25 years. The movie adaptation is commonly hailed as the greatest gangster movie of all time.
"Fight Club"
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Author: Chuck Palahniuk
Movie Release: 1999
It's a common criticism of movie adaptations that they ignore a book's central premise or dilute the message to draw in a bigger audience.
Fight Club did not do this. Palahniuk himself has applauded Fincher's adaptation. "Fight Club" was visceral, inflammatory, and entertaining in both book and film form.
"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"
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Author: John le Carré
Movie Release: 2011
The original television adaptation of this book took place in 315 minutes over seven episodes. When the movie was announced, people wondered how all that could be condensed into a film. Well, Tomas Alfredson did a fantastic job. Gary Oldman is a fantastic choice for the understated, stoic George Smiley; the supporting cast is full of star power that just adds to the excellence.
"The Shining"
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Author: Stephen King
Movie Release: 1980
It's well-known at this point that Kubrick took some creative license in his adaptation of King's source material. That is not to deny the brilliance of Kubrick's chilling, mesmerizing and alarming film. It may not be the closest adaptation of all time, but it's a fantastic movie that's totally worth watching if you've never seen it.
"Requiem for a Dream"
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Author: Hubert Selby Jr.
Movie Release: 2000
Both Selby's novel and Aronfsky's adaptation do a superb job of highlighting the unending fallacy of the American Dream. Heroin addiction serves as the backdrop to these unattainable dreams, and while the novel hits harder than the film, the opiate-like, dreamy quality of the movie makes it absorbing in its own way.
"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
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Author: Stieg Larsson
Movie Release: 2009
This one is an unsettling film that pays close attention to Larsson's alarming books. Some scenes were brought in from later books in the series, but this in no way undermines the excellence of this movie adaptation.
"The Princess Bride"
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Author: William Goldman
Movie Release: 1987
The book is a fun, funny, action-filled romance adventure. The film is... a fun, funny, completely quotable, action-filled romance adventure. Both the book and the movie adaptation are completely worth the time it takes to read/watch them, and you can go back to them time after time and enjoy them just as much as the first viewing.
Did we miss one of your favorite adaptations? Tell us about your favorite (or least favorite!) adaptation in the comments below!
