Top 20 Book to Movie Adaptations of the Century So Far
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VOICE OVER: Emily - WatchMojo
WRITTEN BY: Savannah Sher
These are the best book to movie adaptations of the century so far. For this list, we'll be looking at our favorite movies that were based on books released between 2000 and today. Our countdown includes “Room,” “To All the Boys I've Loved Before,” “The Notebook,” and more!
We know, we know, the book was better – but the movie was pretty darn good. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 20 Book to Movie Adaptations of the Century (So Far).
For this list, we’ll be looking at our favorite movies that were based on books released between 2000 and today.
#20: “To All the Boys I've Loved Before” (2018)
When this teen rom-com hit Netflix, it may not have come with high expectations, but it ended up being a runaway hit for the streaming service, spawning two sequels. Based on a YA book by author Jenny Han, “To All the Boys I've Loved Before” largely follows the same story points. The book is actually part of a trilogy, the remainder of which serve as source-material for the sequel films. While we’re usually the first ones to extol the benefits of a book over a film this is perhaps one of the exceptions. The producers used a stylized aesthetic and dreamy soundtrack to add something to Lara Jean’s story that wasn’t present in the novel.
#19: “Holes” (2003)
It might not be easy to get pre-teen boys to read, but this novel still managed to be a sensation when it was released in 1998. Considering the accolades that “Holes” received, it was no surprise when it was given the big screen treatment a few years later. The book’s author, Louis Sachar, actually penned the screenplay for the film, so this is about as faithful of an adaptation as fans could possibly hope for. The movie successfully captures the atmosphere that Sachar created in the novel, and it ended up being a major career stepping stone for a young Shia LaBeouf who acted in the lead role.
#18: “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” (2005)
Another story in the YA genre that was a huge hit in the early 2000s, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” tells the story of four friends who find a pair of secondhand jeans that somehow fit all of them despite their different body types. They use the pants to bind them together even when they’re apart, and each character goes on a very different adventure. For the movie, they assembled a seriously all-star cast featuring Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, and America Ferrera and Blake Lively in the primary roles. The four young actresses all nailed their parts, and now it’s hard to separate the characters from those performances.
#17: “Room” (2015)
When the book “Room” was released in 2010, it ended up on many best of the year lists and was a book club favorite for years to follow. So it’s no surprise that a film adaptation was made, and considering the extremely confined setting of the novel, one in which a woman and her son are being held against their will in a single room for years, it wasn’t an easy one to pull off. But the movie, starring Brie Larson, was an undeniably success, earning four Academy Award nominations and a win for Larson for Best Actress.
#16: “Silver Linings Playbook” (2012)
Often movie adaptations are only made when a book is such a massive financial and critical hit that producers know they’ll have a loyal audience going to see it. But the novel “The Silver Linings Playbook” by Matthew Quick flew under the radar when it was released in 2008. Nevertheless, David O. Russell took this story and turned it into something really special, deftly navigating the difficult subject matter of mental illness. Portrayals of characters suffering from afflictions like depression and bipolar disorder haven’t always been handled with sensitivity but Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence’s performances were something to behold, making this movie an awards show darling.
#15: “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” (2015)
“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” was note only Jesse Andrews’s first novel, but also became his first ever screenplay. In fact, when he was tapped to create the script he had not only never written one, he hadn't even read one. And yet he succeeded at fitting his novel’s story into the confines of a movie's constraints. Based on the title alone, you knew this story was going to be a sad one, and we’re honestly torn about whether the book or the movie has a more devastating ending. Considering the fact that filmmaking is a major theme in the story, being able to see the film that Greg made really added to the experience.
#14: “The Spectacular Now” (2013)
Another book that didn’t make waves when it was released was Tim Tharp’s book “The Spectacular Now”, released in 2008. But clearly the producers saw something in the quiet book about two teens falling in love while one deals with alcoholism. Teen love stories can be overly cheesy or sentimental but the frank treatment of these characters and their development was handled flawlessly. This movie was far from a blockbuster hit, making a mere $7 million against a $2.5 million budget, but it’s widely considered to be an underrated entry into the overpopulated YA genre.
#13: “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (2005)
So far, all of the adaptations on list have been of works that were recent releases at the time. But in 2005, an attempt was made to turn a classic and beloved work of children’s literature into a modern film. That's when “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” was released, a mere 55 years after it was first published. Granted, C.S. Lewis’s fantasy series had been seen on screen before, but never in such a high budget way. The filmmakers managed to translate the decades old story and make it feel fresh, all while preserving the magic that made generations of children and adults alike, love it.
#12: “Love, Simon” (2018)
Becky Albertalli’s book “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” was a favorite among the YA community in 2015, being praised for its treatment of a teenage boy’s coming out story. The filmmakers scrapped the wordy title and dubbed the film “Love, Simon”, but kept all of the elements of Albertalli’s novel that fans loved so much. Doing so, it became the first movie made by a major studio to focus on a queer teenage love story and soon the film eclipsed the popularity of the book, gaining a whole new fanbase who wanted to ship Simon and Blue.
#11: “Brokeback Mountain” (2005)
While most of the movies on our list were based on novels, this one was acted crafted with a short story as its inspiration. Because of the short length, director Ang Lee was able to fully flesh out the characters that author Anne Proulx created. She said, “I may be the first writer in America to have a piece of writing make its way to the screen whole and entire.” Lee certainly succeeded in this adaptation of an unconventional love story between two sheep herders in 1960s Wyoming, which went on to be nominated for eight Academy Awards, ultimately winning three, including “Best Adapted Screenplay”.
#10: “The Notebook” (2004)
Oh Nicholas Sparks, you sure know how to write a tear jerker. Not only did he create the devastating teen romance told in 2002’s “A Walk to Remember”, but he was also the man behind the sensation that was “The Notebook”. This was another instance of a the movie far exceeding the popularity of the book, with this film becoming one of the top romance movies of our generation. The undeniably chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams brought the story to life in a way that just wasn’t possible on the page.
#9: “Crazy Rich Asians” (2018)
Kevin Kwan’s novel “Crazy Rich Asians” was successful in its own right, but when it was adapted into a 2018 film it became the highest grossing romantic comedy to be produced in ten years. There had been a bit of a slump when it came to good old fashioned, lighthearted romance movies, but “Crazy Rich Asians” seemingly managed to revive the genre by giving viewers an unfamiliar setting and upping the diversity of the cast by using mostly actors of Asian descent in the primary roles. The story may follow a familiar arc, but we’re not complaining!
#8: “Gone Girl” (2014)
Back in 2012, it seemed like everyone was talking about Gillian Flynn’s unconventional thriller, “Gone Girl”, debating its use of the unreliable narrator and its unexpected twists and turns. It was perfectly primed to get the Hollywood treatment, though as always fans were worried a movie might not do the story justice. But if anything, the movie even added to the drama and suspense of the novel, totally nailing the vibe of uncertainty as Nick tried to prove the world – and the reader – that he had nothing to do with his wife’s disappearance.
#7: “The Fault in Our Stars” (2014)
John Green is basically the next generation’s Nicholas Sparks. He wrote “Paper Towns”, which was adapted into a 2015 movie starring Cara Delevingne, but more notably, he was also the man behind 2014’s hit “The Fault in Our Stars”. This small budget film ended up being a YA sensation, grossing over $300 million at the box office. The tale about two teens dealing with cancer certainly isn’t a lighthearted one, but it’s sweet and emotional without being dour. It will definitely have you crying by the end, but honestly what were you expecting?
#6: “The Hunger Games” franchise (2012-15)
How could we leave this massive blockbuster franchise off our list? We couldn't! In the early 2010’s, it seemed like the easiest way to craft a hit movie was to base it on a dystopian young adult novel, but “The Hunger Games” was definitely the best of the bunch. Based on Suzanne Collins’s book series, these movies cranked up the drama, tension and romance that existed in the novels while managing to please all of the loyal fans of the series. The author had a hand in creating the screenplays, so we’d bet that had something to do with it. Altogether the four movies made nearly $3 billion, so yeah we’d say people liked them.
#5: “Call Me By Your Name” (2017)
André Aciman’s 2007 novel “Call Me By Your Name” took ten years before it was adapted into a movie, but it was certainly worth the wait. The story in the book is told solely from Elio’s perspective and largely takes place inside his head, so the producers had their work cut out for them when it came to translating that very intimate experience for the screen. But they managed to bring the novel’s lush setting and thoroughly developed characters to life (with the help of stellar acting by Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet) and created a work that stands on its own.
#4: “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012)
While it isn’t unheard of for an author to be asked to write the film adaptation as well, it is pretty remarkable when a writer is also asked to direct it. That’s what happened with “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, which was both written and directed by Stephen Chbosky. His novel about a teen dealing with mental illness was released in 1999, and became an everlasting hit, resonating with young people year after year. Considering the amount of creative control that Chbosky had over the film, it was no surprise that it was a hit with old fans, and gained some new ones in the process.
#3: “Pride & Prejudice” (2005)
The works of Jane Austen have been adapted for both the big and small screen since the mediums began, but one of our favorite renditions comes from 2005. This version of Austen’s most well-known novel, “Pride & Prejudice”, stars Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy. The movie’s screenwriter, Deborah Moggach, attempted to remain close to Austen’s original work while adapting dialogue and trimming storylines as needed. She echoed a common cliche when describing the process, saying, “If it's not broken, don't fix it.” Despite the fact that the story was centuries old, it still managed to resonate with modern audiences.
#2: “Harry Potter” franchise (2001-11)
The “Harry Potter” novels make up the best selling book series in history, so the stakes were incredibly high when it came to adapting them. The series had a massive, rabid fanbase and J.K. Rowling had created a fantastical world that existed inside the minds and hearts of the books’ readers. But the films became an undeniable success, and now comprise one of the most financially successful film franchises of all time. Most fans still maintain that the movies can’t hold a candle to the books, but they’re definitely still rewatching them at least once a year.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“The Martian” (2015)
“The Devil Wears Prada” (2006)
“Little Women “ (2019)
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (2009)
“Bridge to Terabithia” (2007)
#1: “Lord of the Rings” franchise (2001-03)
Even though it was released right at the beginning of the 21st century, there was no way we were going to forget this epic fantasy trilogy. It seemed impossible that anyone could do justice to J.R.R. Tolkien’s renowned works, which were released in the 1950’s. But by the early aughts, we finally had the technology to create these movies in a way that felt authentic to what the writer – and legions of fans – had imagined. The “Lord of the Rings” will inevitably go down in history as one of the greatest film franchises of all time, and it helps that they were working with such incredible source material.
For this list, we’ll be looking at our favorite movies that were based on books released between 2000 and today.
#20: “To All the Boys I've Loved Before” (2018)
When this teen rom-com hit Netflix, it may not have come with high expectations, but it ended up being a runaway hit for the streaming service, spawning two sequels. Based on a YA book by author Jenny Han, “To All the Boys I've Loved Before” largely follows the same story points. The book is actually part of a trilogy, the remainder of which serve as source-material for the sequel films. While we’re usually the first ones to extol the benefits of a book over a film this is perhaps one of the exceptions. The producers used a stylized aesthetic and dreamy soundtrack to add something to Lara Jean’s story that wasn’t present in the novel.
#19: “Holes” (2003)
It might not be easy to get pre-teen boys to read, but this novel still managed to be a sensation when it was released in 1998. Considering the accolades that “Holes” received, it was no surprise when it was given the big screen treatment a few years later. The book’s author, Louis Sachar, actually penned the screenplay for the film, so this is about as faithful of an adaptation as fans could possibly hope for. The movie successfully captures the atmosphere that Sachar created in the novel, and it ended up being a major career stepping stone for a young Shia LaBeouf who acted in the lead role.
#18: “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” (2005)
Another story in the YA genre that was a huge hit in the early 2000s, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” tells the story of four friends who find a pair of secondhand jeans that somehow fit all of them despite their different body types. They use the pants to bind them together even when they’re apart, and each character goes on a very different adventure. For the movie, they assembled a seriously all-star cast featuring Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, and America Ferrera and Blake Lively in the primary roles. The four young actresses all nailed their parts, and now it’s hard to separate the characters from those performances.
#17: “Room” (2015)
When the book “Room” was released in 2010, it ended up on many best of the year lists and was a book club favorite for years to follow. So it’s no surprise that a film adaptation was made, and considering the extremely confined setting of the novel, one in which a woman and her son are being held against their will in a single room for years, it wasn’t an easy one to pull off. But the movie, starring Brie Larson, was an undeniably success, earning four Academy Award nominations and a win for Larson for Best Actress.
#16: “Silver Linings Playbook” (2012)
Often movie adaptations are only made when a book is such a massive financial and critical hit that producers know they’ll have a loyal audience going to see it. But the novel “The Silver Linings Playbook” by Matthew Quick flew under the radar when it was released in 2008. Nevertheless, David O. Russell took this story and turned it into something really special, deftly navigating the difficult subject matter of mental illness. Portrayals of characters suffering from afflictions like depression and bipolar disorder haven’t always been handled with sensitivity but Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence’s performances were something to behold, making this movie an awards show darling.
#15: “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” (2015)
“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” was note only Jesse Andrews’s first novel, but also became his first ever screenplay. In fact, when he was tapped to create the script he had not only never written one, he hadn't even read one. And yet he succeeded at fitting his novel’s story into the confines of a movie's constraints. Based on the title alone, you knew this story was going to be a sad one, and we’re honestly torn about whether the book or the movie has a more devastating ending. Considering the fact that filmmaking is a major theme in the story, being able to see the film that Greg made really added to the experience.
#14: “The Spectacular Now” (2013)
Another book that didn’t make waves when it was released was Tim Tharp’s book “The Spectacular Now”, released in 2008. But clearly the producers saw something in the quiet book about two teens falling in love while one deals with alcoholism. Teen love stories can be overly cheesy or sentimental but the frank treatment of these characters and their development was handled flawlessly. This movie was far from a blockbuster hit, making a mere $7 million against a $2.5 million budget, but it’s widely considered to be an underrated entry into the overpopulated YA genre.
#13: “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (2005)
So far, all of the adaptations on list have been of works that were recent releases at the time. But in 2005, an attempt was made to turn a classic and beloved work of children’s literature into a modern film. That's when “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” was released, a mere 55 years after it was first published. Granted, C.S. Lewis’s fantasy series had been seen on screen before, but never in such a high budget way. The filmmakers managed to translate the decades old story and make it feel fresh, all while preserving the magic that made generations of children and adults alike, love it.
#12: “Love, Simon” (2018)
Becky Albertalli’s book “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” was a favorite among the YA community in 2015, being praised for its treatment of a teenage boy’s coming out story. The filmmakers scrapped the wordy title and dubbed the film “Love, Simon”, but kept all of the elements of Albertalli’s novel that fans loved so much. Doing so, it became the first movie made by a major studio to focus on a queer teenage love story and soon the film eclipsed the popularity of the book, gaining a whole new fanbase who wanted to ship Simon and Blue.
#11: “Brokeback Mountain” (2005)
While most of the movies on our list were based on novels, this one was acted crafted with a short story as its inspiration. Because of the short length, director Ang Lee was able to fully flesh out the characters that author Anne Proulx created. She said, “I may be the first writer in America to have a piece of writing make its way to the screen whole and entire.” Lee certainly succeeded in this adaptation of an unconventional love story between two sheep herders in 1960s Wyoming, which went on to be nominated for eight Academy Awards, ultimately winning three, including “Best Adapted Screenplay”.
#10: “The Notebook” (2004)
Oh Nicholas Sparks, you sure know how to write a tear jerker. Not only did he create the devastating teen romance told in 2002’s “A Walk to Remember”, but he was also the man behind the sensation that was “The Notebook”. This was another instance of a the movie far exceeding the popularity of the book, with this film becoming one of the top romance movies of our generation. The undeniably chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams brought the story to life in a way that just wasn’t possible on the page.
#9: “Crazy Rich Asians” (2018)
Kevin Kwan’s novel “Crazy Rich Asians” was successful in its own right, but when it was adapted into a 2018 film it became the highest grossing romantic comedy to be produced in ten years. There had been a bit of a slump when it came to good old fashioned, lighthearted romance movies, but “Crazy Rich Asians” seemingly managed to revive the genre by giving viewers an unfamiliar setting and upping the diversity of the cast by using mostly actors of Asian descent in the primary roles. The story may follow a familiar arc, but we’re not complaining!
#8: “Gone Girl” (2014)
Back in 2012, it seemed like everyone was talking about Gillian Flynn’s unconventional thriller, “Gone Girl”, debating its use of the unreliable narrator and its unexpected twists and turns. It was perfectly primed to get the Hollywood treatment, though as always fans were worried a movie might not do the story justice. But if anything, the movie even added to the drama and suspense of the novel, totally nailing the vibe of uncertainty as Nick tried to prove the world – and the reader – that he had nothing to do with his wife’s disappearance.
#7: “The Fault in Our Stars” (2014)
John Green is basically the next generation’s Nicholas Sparks. He wrote “Paper Towns”, which was adapted into a 2015 movie starring Cara Delevingne, but more notably, he was also the man behind 2014’s hit “The Fault in Our Stars”. This small budget film ended up being a YA sensation, grossing over $300 million at the box office. The tale about two teens dealing with cancer certainly isn’t a lighthearted one, but it’s sweet and emotional without being dour. It will definitely have you crying by the end, but honestly what were you expecting?
#6: “The Hunger Games” franchise (2012-15)
How could we leave this massive blockbuster franchise off our list? We couldn't! In the early 2010’s, it seemed like the easiest way to craft a hit movie was to base it on a dystopian young adult novel, but “The Hunger Games” was definitely the best of the bunch. Based on Suzanne Collins’s book series, these movies cranked up the drama, tension and romance that existed in the novels while managing to please all of the loyal fans of the series. The author had a hand in creating the screenplays, so we’d bet that had something to do with it. Altogether the four movies made nearly $3 billion, so yeah we’d say people liked them.
#5: “Call Me By Your Name” (2017)
André Aciman’s 2007 novel “Call Me By Your Name” took ten years before it was adapted into a movie, but it was certainly worth the wait. The story in the book is told solely from Elio’s perspective and largely takes place inside his head, so the producers had their work cut out for them when it came to translating that very intimate experience for the screen. But they managed to bring the novel’s lush setting and thoroughly developed characters to life (with the help of stellar acting by Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet) and created a work that stands on its own.
#4: “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012)
While it isn’t unheard of for an author to be asked to write the film adaptation as well, it is pretty remarkable when a writer is also asked to direct it. That’s what happened with “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, which was both written and directed by Stephen Chbosky. His novel about a teen dealing with mental illness was released in 1999, and became an everlasting hit, resonating with young people year after year. Considering the amount of creative control that Chbosky had over the film, it was no surprise that it was a hit with old fans, and gained some new ones in the process.
#3: “Pride & Prejudice” (2005)
The works of Jane Austen have been adapted for both the big and small screen since the mediums began, but one of our favorite renditions comes from 2005. This version of Austen’s most well-known novel, “Pride & Prejudice”, stars Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy. The movie’s screenwriter, Deborah Moggach, attempted to remain close to Austen’s original work while adapting dialogue and trimming storylines as needed. She echoed a common cliche when describing the process, saying, “If it's not broken, don't fix it.” Despite the fact that the story was centuries old, it still managed to resonate with modern audiences.
#2: “Harry Potter” franchise (2001-11)
The “Harry Potter” novels make up the best selling book series in history, so the stakes were incredibly high when it came to adapting them. The series had a massive, rabid fanbase and J.K. Rowling had created a fantastical world that existed inside the minds and hearts of the books’ readers. But the films became an undeniable success, and now comprise one of the most financially successful film franchises of all time. Most fans still maintain that the movies can’t hold a candle to the books, but they’re definitely still rewatching them at least once a year.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“The Martian” (2015)
“The Devil Wears Prada” (2006)
“Little Women “ (2019)
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (2009)
“Bridge to Terabithia” (2007)
#1: “Lord of the Rings” franchise (2001-03)
Even though it was released right at the beginning of the 21st century, there was no way we were going to forget this epic fantasy trilogy. It seemed impossible that anyone could do justice to J.R.R. Tolkien’s renowned works, which were released in the 1950’s. But by the early aughts, we finally had the technology to create these movies in a way that felt authentic to what the writer – and legions of fans – had imagined. The “Lord of the Rings” will inevitably go down in history as one of the greatest film franchises of all time, and it helps that they were working with such incredible source material.
