The Best Books Made into Films

Ah, yes, the age-old debate: ‘What’s better, the film or the book?’. This question has had bookworms and movie-buffs at each other’s throats since cinema began. But, we’re sorry to say that we’re not here to put an end to the arguing. While you can’t beat a good novel, we’re strong believers that cinematic adaptations can absolutely do justice to their source materials, visualising settings and dialogue in new ways previously not thought possible.

What’s more, cinema has worked hard to make certain stories more accessible to a wider audience, helping to elevate the impact that books can have (and the lessons they can teach us) through visual media. So, in that respect, the relationship between books and films is symbiotic if you ask us.

In this blog, we highlight a handful of examples where film adaptations have well and truly heightened a story. Read on to find out our top 5 picks. 

1. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

Up first is Jane Austen’s 1813 novel, Pride and Prejudice.  Practically written for the stage (or screen), the rich characters and dynamic relationships in Austen’s novel lend themselves so well to dramatisation. As such, there have been plenty of adaptations of this work. However, arguably the most successful and prolific was Joe Wright’s 2005 version starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen. 

This version used an iconic soundtrack and lots (and lots) of pathetic fallacy to really amp up Mr Darcy’s brooding character in contrast to the brightly-coloured Bennet family. Renowned for its drawn-out romantic tension and stunning cinematography, this adaptation brought this classic novel to the masses as a timeless, dramatic tale of misconstrued love. 

2. Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton 

Only the die-hard fans of Jurassic Park will know that it was actually a book first. That’s right, before Stephen Spielberg’s 1993 adaptation saw lifelike animatronics grace our screens, the dinosaurs were safely trapped between pages.

Acclaimed sci-fi and thriller writer, Michael Crichton, actually wrote a series of novels about the Jurassic period, the first of which was back in 1990. The film was absolutely groundbreaking for its time, using Crichton’s impressive plot as a launching-off point; it made great (dinosaur-sized) strides in the use of both animatronics and CGI on screen. 

Inspiring an entire generation to consider palaeontology as a career path (however briefly), Jurassic Park is the perfect example of how the visual capabilities of film can bring narratives to the masses.

3. The Godfather, Mario Puzo

It’s safe to say that if you asked most people to picture The Godfather, they could easily describe the yellow writing with the puppet strings and brooding picture of Marlon Brando against a dark background. It’s an iconic cover for an iconic film. But, like all of the titles on this list, it was actually a book first.

Before Francis Ford Coppola directed the now cult classic 1972 adaptation, G. P. Putnam’s Sons came up with the story in novel form in 1969. With characters as intense and charismatic as Don Vito Corleone, the film version certainly had its work cut out for it in order to match up to the heights of the book. However, Coppola pulled out all the stops to curate an epic mafia saga with power, family, and loyalty at the centre of its drama.

4. The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien

For readers everywhere, The Lord of the Rings stands as a giant in modern literature. Published in 1954, this monumental fantasy epic tracks a tumultuous journey through Middle-earth, where readers meet an assortment of friendly and fierce folk along the way — from hobbits and elves to dwarves and trolls.

Captivating readers of all ages for generations, the core themes of friendship, bravery, and the ultimate struggle between good and evil lie at the centre of the narrative. 

In 2001, Peter Jackson took on the enormous task of adapting this saga for the screen and The Fellowship of the Ring was born, shortly followed by The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003). With breathtaking visuals and groundbreaking special effects, Jackson’s adaptation, like Spielberg’s Jurassic Park, elevated the settings and characters in the book to new heights, visualising them in a way readers never thought possible. 

5. The Colour Purple, Alice Walker

Last, but by no means least, we have Alice Walker’s 1982 novel The Colour Purple. 

A heartfelt and deeply moving tale, The Colour Purple is an eye-opening coming-of-age story about Cecile, a young black woman, and her endurance against abuse at the hands of her male family members.

This is an interesting entry on our list because, unlike the other adaptations above, the first visual rendition of Walker’s story was not met with a positive response by audiences. 

Stephen Spielberg took this story to the screen in 1985, it was largely criticised by readers of Walker who deemed it a sugar-coated version of a hard-hitting story. Since then, however, this novel has captivated audiences in a visual format hundreds of times over, with dramatic productions being put on aplenty. 

Most recently, however, a new take on The Colour Purple came in the form of Ghanaian filmmaker, Blitz Bazawule’s, 2023 adaptation. Using popular black actors from modern hit television series and films, Bazawule brought Walker’s original narrative to a whole new generation in a vibrant and bold film. 

The final credits

Whether you prefer to grab your popcorn and put your feet up for a film or you’d rather cosy up by the fire with a classic novel, there are hundreds of books and film adaptations out there to explore. 

If you’re keen to add more titles to your TBR (‘to be read’ list), we’ve got you covered. Keep up with the Victoria Freudenheim blog or browse through our latest and top-rated reviews for some bookish inspiration.