In the grand tapestry of storytelling, few experiences are as thrilling as seeing the pages of our favorite books come alive on screen. Filmmakers have been captivated by the rich narratives and complex characters offered by literature since the invention of the motion picture, and have sought to translate these vivid worlds onto the silver screen.
When the written word is transformed into living, breathing cinema, an undeniable magic occurs — a feat that requires meticulous craft and a delicate balance between loyalty to the original text and creative innovation.
Embark with us on a journey through the 16 best book-to-film and TV adaptations, where we pay homage to the fine art of storytelling that spans across pages and screens, and celebrate the works that have beautifully straddled the realms of literature and film.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Director: Christopher Nolan (Inception, The Dark Knight trilogy)
Starring: Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer), Emily Blunt (Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer), Matt Damon (Leslie Groves), Robert Downey Jr. (Lewis Strauss)
Based on: American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin
Penned and directed by renowned filmmaker Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer is based on the biography American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. It depicts the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a theoretical physicist. He played a crucial role in the creation of the first nuclear weapons as part of the Manhattan Project, marking the beginning of the Atomic Age. The film features Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer, Emily Blunt as his wife Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer, and other notable actors such as Matt Damon and Robert Downey Jr. in key roles.
Nolan, known for his use of practical effects and minimal computer-generated imagery, also made a significant technical leap, shooting parts of Oppenheimer in IMAX black-and-white film, a first in cinematic history. Premiering in Paris on 11 July 2023, and subsequently released in the UK and the US on 21 July 2023, the film received substantial critical acclaim, especially for its cast, screenplay, and visuals.
Dune (2021)
Director: Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049, Arrival)
Starring: Timothée Chalamet (Paul Atreides), Rebecca Ferguson (Lady Jessica), Oscar Isaac (Leto Atreides), Zendaya (Chani)
Based on: Dune by Frank Herbert
Dune, a science fiction tour de force written by Frank Herbert, is widely revered as a hallmark of the genre. The tale kicks off with the Emperor shifting control of Arrakis from House Harkonnen to House Atreides, a move that sparks a ruthless struggle for power. After the assassination of Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac), his son Paul (Timothée Chalamet) and concubine Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) must align themselves with the Fremen, Arrakis’ indigenous population, to reclaim Arrakis.
In the wake of the highly praised 2021 film adaptation, fans eagerly await the release of Dune: Part Two on 2 November 2023, featuring an impressive ensemble that includes Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Léa Seydoux, and Christopher Walken.
Little Women (2019)
Director: Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird, Barbie)
Starring: Saoirse Ronan (Jo March), Emma Watson (Meg March), Florence Pugh (Amy March), Eliza Scanlen (Beth March), Laura Dern (Marmee March), Timothée Chalamet (Laurie)
Based on: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Little Women, Louisa May Alcott’s timeless novel, is a stirring exploration of sisterhood and female strength set against the backdrop of the Civil War’s aftermath. The story follows the diverging paths of the four March sisters: Jo, an aspiring writer residing in New York; Amy, a painter studying in Paris; Meg, a schoolteacher’s wife; and Beth, the shy sister, whose grave illness draws the family back together.
This compelling narrative of love, loss, and resilience was brought to life by Greta Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation, offering a fresh take on the beloved tale. While maintaining the iconic moments from the novel, Gerwig’s rendition infuses a modern tone that encapsulates Alcott’s vision of female strength.
The Exorcist (1973)
Director: William Friedkin (The French Connection, Sorcerer)
Starring: Ellen Burstyn (Chris MacNeil), Max von Sydow (Father Lankester Merrin), Linda Blair (Regan MacNeil)
Based on: The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
The Exorcist, a chilling masterpiece in horror cinema, was adapted by William Peter Blatty from his own novel and brought to the big screen by director William Friedkin in 1973. The haunting narrative, centering on a girl’s demonic possession, has been both controversial and critically acclaimed, earning a cult following over the years.
Nearly five decades after its initial release, The Exorcist continues to influence pop culture and remains a cornerstone in horror film history. Fans of the original are now eagerly awaiting director David Gordon Green’s reimagination of this pulp fiction horror tale, titled The Exorcist: Believer, set to hit theaters on 13 October 2023.
Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001 – 2003)
Director: Peter Jackson (The Hobbit trilogy, King Kong)
Starring: Elijah Wood (Frodo Baggins), Ian McKellen (Gandalf), Liv Tyler (Arwen), Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn), Sean Astin (Samwise Gamgee), Cate Blanchett (Galadriel), John Rhys-Davies (Gimli), Billy Boyd (Pippin), Dominic Monaghan (Merry), Orlando Bloom (Legolas), Andy Serkis (Gollum)
Based on: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy masterfully translates J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic high fantasy novels onto the silver screen, preserving their essence while sculpting a streamlined narrative for modern audiences. The saga, first published in 1954, journeys with Frodo Baggins and his diverse fellowship on their quest to destroy the formidable One Ring.
Jackson’s daring decision to film the trilogy concurrently resulted in a critically and commercially successful franchise that breathed life into Tolkien’s expansive universe and characters. Utilizing groundbreaking CGI, the films immerse viewers in the realistic and breathtaking realm of Middle Earth. The trilogy has garnered numerous accolades, including four Oscars for The Fellowship of the Ring, and ultimately a Best Picture win for The Return of the King.
House of the Dragon (2022 – Present)
Director: Miguel Sapochnik (Game of Thrones, Altered Carbon)
Starring: Paddy Considine (Viserys Targaryen), Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen), Emma D’Arcy (Rhaenyra Targaryen), Olivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower)
Based on: Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin
As a prequel to the globally renowned Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon is based on George R.R. Martin’s 2018 book Fire & Blood. It takes viewers back approximately 200 years before Game of Thrones, depicting the circumstances that herald the decline of House Targaryen. It reaches a climactic point with a fierce battle for succession, famously termed the ‘Dance of the Dragons’.
Lauded for its well-rounded characters, impressive visual effects, strong writing, compelling score, and stellar performances, the show’s premiere attracted over 10 million viewers, setting a new record for HBO. In 2023, House of the Dragon garnered a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama and received eight Emmy nominations, solidifying its place as a noteworthy addition to the epic fantasy genre.
The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022 – Present)
Director: Zoe Cassavetes (Broken English)
Starring: Lola Tung (Belly Conklin), Christopher Briney (Conrad Fisher), Gavin Casalegno (Jeremiah Fisher)
Based on: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
The Summer I Turned Pretty is an endearing American coming-of-age romantic drama television series that made its debut on Amazon Prime Video in Summer 2022. Adapted from a trio of young adult romance novels penned by Jenny Han between 2009 and 2011, the show has been eagerly awaited by fans of the books. Han, also the author of the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before series, lent her charm to the adaptation process, ensuring the television series captures the same wholesome sweetness as her written works.
The story follows Belly, who during her annual summer vacation at a family friend’s beach house, finds herself entangled in a love triangle with two brothers, Jeremiah and Conrad. Audiences can stream the two seasons on Amazon Prime Video now.
Shadow and Bone (2021 – Present)
Director: Mairzee Almas (The Sandman, Outlander)
Starring: Jessie Mei Li (Alina Starkov), Ben Barnes (General Kirigan), Freddy Carter (Kaz Brekker), Amita Suman (Inej Ghafa), Archie Renaux (Malyen Oretsev)
Based on: Shadow and Bone, Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Drawing inspiration from Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse (specifically the Shadow and Bone trilogy and the Six of Crows duology), the TV adaptation of Shadow and Bone weaves a rich tapestry of fantastical narratives. The narrative revolves around Alina Starkov, an orphan and cartographer in Ravka’s First Army, who uncovers her unique gifts as a Grisha, a special individual long prophesied to address a grave crisis. The first season adapts the first book and also integrates an original plot featuring the criminal gang known as the Crows.
Following its success, the series was renewed for a second eight-episode season that aired in March 2023. The second season continues Alina’s saga, adapting Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising, and weaves in elements of Crooked Kingdom into the Crows’ story arc.
Daisy Jones & The Six (2023)
Director: Nzingha Stewart (Tall Girl)
Starring: Riley Keough (Daisy Jones), Sam Claflin (Billy Dunne), Camila Morrone (Camila Alvarez), Suki Waterhouse (Karen Sirko)
Based on: Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins-Reid
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Daisy Jones & The Six is a captivating musical drama miniseries adapted from the acclaimed 2019 novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The show, which premiered in March 2023, transports audiences back to the exhilarating music scene of 1970s Los Angeles. It traces the thrilling rise and eventual downfall of the fictitious rock band. Using a documentary-style narrative, the series offers a gripping portrayal of band dynamics, mirrored in an era defined by a ‘sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll’ ethos.
Starring Riley Keough as Daisy and Sam Claflin as Billy, the founder of The Six, the series showcases immersive performances alongside vibrant concert and recording sessions footage. Spanning ten episodes, the series’ weekly releases garnered substantial viewership and critical acclaim, earning Emmy nominations in the Outstanding Limited Anthology Series Or Movie category and individual nods for Keough and co-star Camila Morrone.
Good Omens (2019 – Present)
Director: Douglas Mackinnon (Sherlock, Line of Duty)
Starring: Michael Sheen (Aziraphale), David Tennant (Crowley), Jon Hamm (Gabriel)
Based on: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Good Omens is a British comedy-fantasy television series, based on the 1990 novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. The series, created and written by Gaiman, is a collaborative effort between Amazon Studios and BBC Studios. The show boasts an impressive ensemble cast, with Michael Sheen and David Tennant taking the lead roles, along with Frances McDormand voicing God as the series’ narrator. The narrative, intertwining various Christian themes and characters, focuses on efforts to either trigger or thwart an impending Armageddon, viewed from the perspective of an angel, Aziraphale, and a demon, Crowley.
The entire first season debuted on Amazon Prime Video in May 2019, and although initially presented as a limited series, it was renewed for a second season in June 2021. Fans can expect the return of Sheen, Tennant, and much of the original crew in the second season, set to premiere in full on Amazon Prime Video on 28 July 2023.
The Handmaid’s Tale (2017 – 2022)
Director: Mike Barker (Fargo, Broadchurch)
Starring: Elisabeth Moss (June Osborne), Yvonne Strahovski (Serena Joy Waterford), Ann Dowd (Aunt Lydia Clements)
Based on: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Created by Bruce Miller and based on Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel of the same name, The Handmaid’s Tale presents a chilling dystopia that emerges after a Second American Civil War. In this totalitarian society, fertile women, known as Handmaids, are forced into child-bearing servitude. In September 2019, Hulu and MGM announced plans for a sequel series, based on Atwood’s 2019 novel The Testaments. A sixth and final season was confirmed in September 2022, prior to the premiere of the fifth season.
The series made history by becoming the first Hulu-produced show to win a major award, clinching eight Primetime Emmy Awards from 13 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series. It also took home the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama, while Elisabeth Moss won both the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Drama Series.
The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
Director: Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep, Ouija: Origin of Evil)
Starring: Michiel Huisman (Steven Crain), Carla Gugino (Olivia Crain), Kate Siegel (Theodora Crain), Victoria Pedretti (Nell Crain)
Based on: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Serving as the initial installment in The Haunting anthology series, The Haunting of Hill House draws loose inspiration from Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel of the same name. The story unfolds through two timelines: one follows five adult siblings haunted by their paranormal experiences at Hill House, while the other traces events leading to their panicked escape from the mansion in 1992.
The series features an ensemble cast, including Michiel Huisman, Elizabeth Reaser, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Kate Siegel, and Victoria Pedretti as the grown-up siblings, with Carla Gugino and Henry Thomas as their parents. Timothy Hutton appears as the older version of their father, Hugh Crain. The series premiered on Netflix and received critical praise for its acting, directing, and production values. Mike Flanagan subsequently released a follow-up series titled The Haunting of Bly Manor, reuniting much of the original crew and some of the cast, but introducing a new story and characters.
The Queen’s Gambit (2020)
Director: Scott Frank (Logan, Out of Sight)
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy (Beth Harmon), Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Benny Watts)
Based on: The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis
The Queen’s Gambit is a Netflix miniseries based on the 1983 novel by Walter Tevis, with the title inspired by a chess opening known as the Queen’s Gambit. The series follows the life of Beth Harmon (played by Anya Taylor-Joy) – a fictional American chess prodigy who ascends to the pinnacle of the chess world, all the while wrestling with drug and alcohol addiction – from the mid-1950s to the 1960s.
The series premiered on Netflix in October 2020, and became Netflix’s most-watched scripted miniseries within a month, topping the charts in 63 countries. Garnering widespread critical praise, the series was applauded for Taylor-Joy’s performance, its cinematography, and production value, and also appreciated by the chess community for its accurate portrayal of high-level chess. The series sparked a surge in public interest in the game and won numerous awards, including eleven Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes, with Taylor-Joy also securing the Screen Actors Guild Award for her exceptional performance.
Jurassic Park (1993)
Director: Steven Spielberg (Jaws, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial)
Starring: Sam Neill (Alan Grant), Laura Dern (Ellie Sattler), Jeff Goldblum (Ian Malcolm), Richard Attenborough (John Hammond)
Based on: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
Jurassic Park is an American science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Richard Attenborough. As the first installment in the Jurassic Park franchise, it’s based on Michael Crichton’s 1990 novel of the same name. The film unfolds on the fictitious Isla Nublar, near Costa Rica, where wealthy businessman John Hammond (Attenborough), along with a team of scientists, has created a park featuring genetically-resurrected dinosaurs. However, when industrial sabotage triggers a massive shutdown of the park’s security and power systems, a small group of visitors, including Hammond’s grandchildren, must fight to survive and escape the now-dangerous island.
Jurassic Park premiered on 11 June 1993, and grossed over US$914 million worldwide in its original run, making it the highest-grossing film at the time. Garnering positive reviews for its special effects, sound design, score, and direction, the film was honored with three Academy Awards and was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2018. It has since spawned five sequels, the most recent being 2022’s Jurassic World: Dominion.
Pachinko (2022)
Director: Justin Chon (Gook, Blue Bayou), Kogonada (Columbus, After Yang)
Starring: Lee Min-Ho (Hansu), Kim Min-ha (Sunja), Noh Sang-hyun (Baek Isak), Jin Ha (Solomon Baek)
Based on: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Brought to life by Soo Hugh and based on Min Jin Lee’s 2017 bestselling novel, Pachinko is an acclaimed drama television series on Apple TV+. This sweeping saga traces the journey of a Korean immigrant family over four generations, exploring their indomitable spirit and relentless pursuit of survival and prosperity, amidst leaving their homeland behind.
The series showcases the talents of Youn Yuh-jung, Lee Min-ho, Kim Min-ha, and Jin Ha under the direction of Kogonada and Justin Chon. It debuted on Apple TV+ on 25 March 2022, and was subsequently renewed for a second season in April 2022. Critics lauded the series for its stunning cinematography, well-crafted writing, and standout performances, particularly those of Kim Min-ha, Youn Yuh-jung, and Lee Min-ho.
Bridgerton (2020 – Present)
Director: Tom Verica (Inventing Anna, The Umbrella Academy)
Starring: Regé-Jean Page (Simon Basset), Jonathan Bailey (Anthony Bridgerton), Phoebe Dynevor (Daphne Bridgerton), Simone Ashley (Kate Sharma), Nicola Coughlan (Penelope Featherington)
Based on: The Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn
Bridgerton is an American historical fiction-romance television series created by Chris Van Dusen and produced for Netflix under Shondaland. The show, based on Julia Quinn’s novel series, dives into the competitive and intriguing world of Regency-era London’s high society, focusing on the eponymous Bridgerton family. Since its launch in December 2020, the show has attracted a vast audience, leading to a second season release in March 2022, and renewals for third and fourth seasons.
Expanding the show’s universe, Netflix released a spinoff in May 2023, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, concentrating on the character Queen Charlotte from the original series. Bridgerton has been praised for its remarkable direction, performances, production, and set design, earning it various nominations and awards, including two Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Additionally, Kris Bowers’ musical score garnered a Grammy Award nomination for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media.
As we’ve gone through this list of the 16 best book to film and TV adaptations, it’s clear that the art of translating literature to screen is one that is constantly evolving, surprising us, and enrapturing our imaginations. These adaptations, ranging from beloved classics to contemporary masterpieces, demonstrate that the connection between the written word and the cinematic experience is both compelling and powerful.
As we look to the horizon, the upcoming releases promise a fresh wave of captivating stories, promising to once again take us from the quiet comfort of our reading nooks to the edge of our seats in darkened theaters or in front of glowing screens.
The magic of storytelling, it seems, knows no bounds, and we eagerly anticipate the future masterpieces that will undoubtedly join this list. For now, the current projects we’re excited about are Red, White & Royal Blue, Loveboat, Taipei, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and The Ballard of Songbirds and Snakes.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing Honkai: Star Rail, cosplaying, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
Trinity Sun
