5 Movies That Nailed the Book to Film Adaptation & 5 That Flubbed It

5 Movies That Nailed the Book-to-Film Adaptation & 5 That Flubbed It

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the movies that were as good as – or even better than – the books they were based on, and the adaptations that made book lovers walk out of the theater. We’ll only be looking at standalone films, since franchises deserve their own list.

#5: Nailed It: “The Social Network” (2010)

This Academy Award-winning film from Aaron Sorkin is based on Ben Mezrich’s book about the inception of Facebook, “The Accidental Billionaires.” Mezrich drew his material from court documents and conversations with the real people involved to create an entertaining and enlightening narrative. The movie adds an extra layer of drama and tension thanks to Sorkin’s writing, David Fincher’s direction, and standout performances from the actors. Jesse Eisenberg is perfectly cast as Mark Zuckerberg. Andrew Garfield also turns in an underrated and highly effective portrayal of Eduardo Saverin. Although some people, including Zuck himself, have disputed the historical accuracy of the film, it remains one of the most critically acclaimed movies of the 2010s.

#5: Flubbed It: “The Time Machine” (2002)

H.G. Wells’ 1895 sci-fi novella was years ahead of its time. Wells was one of the first thinkers to describe time as a fourth dimension and to imagine traveling through it using some kind of vehicle. His book basically invented the time travel genre. Yet until the 2000s, only one feature film adaptation existed: a low-budget, somewhat silly 1960 movie starring Rod Taylor. So in 2002, when fans learned about a new adaptation with a big budget and twenty-first century special effects, many were thrilled. That is, until they saw it. Wells’ brilliant social commentary and simple but riveting tale are gone, replaced by a shoehorned love story and a bunch of ridiculous plot contrivances. It was a huge letdown for sci-fi fans everywhere.

#4: Nailed It: “No Country for Old Men” (2007)

Capturing the spare dialogue and primal feel of Cormac McCarthy’s novel would be no easy task for a filmmaker, but if anyone could do it, it was the Coen brothers. Their screenplay is highly faithful to the book, and it’s helped along by stunning western vistas and pitch perfect casting. Tommy Lee Jones portrays Sheriff Ed Tom Bell with such complexity, giving the character a visceral weariness underneath his tough Texas exterior. And of course, Javier Bardem’s psychopathic killer Anton Chigurh has been ranked among the greatest movie villains of all time. These performances, combined with the Coens’ masterful use of tension, make for a brilliant crime drama.

#4: Flubbed It: “The Scarlet Letter” (1995)

This one isn’t just a bad adaptation: it’s a bad movie, period. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic novel explores complex themes of morality and sin, and the dangerous influence of religious puritanism. The 1995 movie completely misses the point, turning Hawthorne’s dark drama into a dumbed down, snail-paced romance. Critics, unsurprisingly, hated it. The pretentious dialogue is often inadvertently hilarious and the gratuitous sex scenes are anything but sexy. It’s one thing to adapt a Victorian era novel for twentieth century sensibilities. But when you’ve turned the tormented Reverend Dimmesdale into a slick, seventeenth century version of a rockstar, you’ve gone too far.

#3: Nailed It: “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962)

Few stories stand the test of time like Harper Lee’s seminal 1960 novel, and few adaptations live up to their source material as well as Robert Mulligan’s film version. It was widely acclaimed at the time of its release and is still considered a must-watch for cinephiles. Gregory Peck’s portrayal of Atticus Finch is a performance for the ages and earned the actor his only Academy Award. Though the movie is set in 1930s Alabama, it deals with themes of racism and justice that are as relevant today as ever. In the hands of less talented creators, its messaging could have been too heavy-handed, but instead, “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a masterclass in powerful dramatic filmmaking.

#3: Flubbed It: “A Wrinkle in Time” (2018)

If you’re going to adapt a beloved, award-winning children’s book for a new generation, you’ve got to nail it. Unfortunately, Disney instead gave us a sappy CGI spectacle that is far more style than substance. Mrs. Who, Whatsit, and Which are done especially dirty. In the book these interdimensional beings are incredibly wise and often quite funny, but their movie versions are silly at best and boring at worst. Despite its less than two-hour runtime, the film’s pacing is all over the place, and the ending feels weirdly anticlimactic. Considering how wildly inventive the original novel is, it’s almost impressive that the movie fell this flat.

#2: Nailed It: “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994)

Adaptations of Stephen King’s work tend to be extremely hit or miss, but this is definitely one of the hits. Based on King’s 1982 novella, Frank Darabont’s screenplay changed very little from the original work beyond the physical appearance of the two leads. The theme of holding onto hope in the face of relentless adversity is as powerful today as it was thirty years ago. And of course, we can’t forget Morgan Freeman’s iconic narration. There’s a reason this movie is consistently ranked as one of the greatest of all time … and we dare you not to tear up at that final scene.

#2: Flubbed It: “Artemis Fowl” (2020)

Fans were excited to finally see Eoin Colfer’s fantasy series come to life after years of development delays, and Kenneth Branagh seemed like a perfect fit to direct. However, the movie chops so much out of the original novel that the story is barely recognizable, and anyone who hasn’t read the book will have a hard time following along. Character development is practically nonexistent, replaced by frenetic CGI fight scenes and poor attempts at humor. Artemis himself is supposed to be a criminal genius with a complicated character arc, but in this version, he’s just unlikable. These talented people deserve to be in a better movie.

#1: Nailed It: “The Princess Bride” (1987)

One foolproof way to make sure your movie adaptation is faithful to the book is to let the author write the screenplay himself. That’s exactly what happened with William Goldman’s “The Princess Bride.” Simultaneously an old-fashioned swashbuckling adventure, a romance, and a comedy, the film has charmed viewers of all ages since its release. Though the original novel is lengthy, Goldman’s script manages to capture all the best moments without sacrificing story structure. Every actor understands their assignment perfectly, resulting in some of the most memorable – and quotable – characters in film history. To call this movie a beloved classic would be an understatement.

#1: Flubbed It: “The Dark Tower” (2017)

Speaking of Stephen King adaptations that missed the mark, this movie was doomed before the cameras even started rolling. King’s “Dark Tower” series is eight novels and over 4,000 pages long, full of deep, meticulously crafted worldbuilding. What were the filmmakers thinking trying to cram it into a single 95-minute film? Even more baffling, how did they manage to make a movie about wizards, cowboys, and parallel dimensions so boring? An adaptation of this series could have been epic and grandiose, in the vein of the original “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Instead, we got a flat, lifeless film where everyone on screen just seems like they want to get it over with.

Which movie adaptation did you think was better than the book? Let us know in the comments.