Some of our favorite books have been depicted on big screen quite masterfully, preserving their essence. Since the earliest times of cinema, books and movies have been a great mix, with adaptations of novels attracting more audiences. TechTrends put together a list of the best movie adaptations of all time.
With many adaptations made over the years, there has been an ongoing battle between which is better, the book or the movie? enjoying both the source and the adaptation is going to be worth it if we were going to take a humble approach to that question. The successful adaptations manage to channel the spirit of the book in a way that makes it work in another medium. For those who are a big fan of this genre, here are the best movie book-to-film adaptations, ranked.
Best Movie Adaptation of All Time, Ranked
Movies get their inspirations from many places; plays, songs, real stories, and some times books. The last one is the most frequently visited for cinematic inspiration. Among the many movies out there that are based on books, we narrowed down a short list of the best movie adaptations of all time.
13. American Psycho 2000
- Genre: Horror/Thriller
- Director: Mary Harron
- Stars: Christian Bale, Jared Leto, Willem Dafoe, Chloë Sevigny, Reese Witherspoon
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 68%, IMDb 7.6
American Psycho is yet another one of the best book-to-film adaptations based on Bret Easton Ellis’s novel. The movie revolves around Patrick Bateman, portrayed by Christian Bale. He is a banker who tries to lives a double life as a serial killer and wants to keep his identity hidden. As time goes by, this film only gains more popularity. Many of Bale’s fans believe this is his finest performance to date. Moreover, the character he played also became the best-known serial killer ever appeared in a movie.
13. Fight Club 1999
- Genre: Thriller/Drama
- Director: David Fincher
- Stars: Brad Pitt, Jared Leto, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 79%, IMDb 8.8
Pitt’s most culturally defining role in Fight Club was a “woop” that was short-lived for critics when released. However, it then got a huge cult after and it was not in a good way. The movie is an adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s novel, in which some aggravated and young men think that the best way to solve a problem is to kick each other and not accept social standards. Pitt pulls off a charming, disgusting, sexy and terrifying performance all at once. This shows the social expectations and outlooks of young men in a very meta way. This is one of the movie adaptations of all time.
Read more: Best Brad Pitt Movies of All Time
12. The Shining 1980
- Genre: Horror/Mystery
- Director: Stanley Kubrick
- Stars: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers, Danny Lloyd
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 82%, IMDb 8.4
Even if you haven’t watched this incredible movie, you most likely have heard of The Shining. The next one on our list of the best movie adaptations of all time that is based Stephen King’s novel is The Shining. However, the author hated the movie so much that he made his own. The Shining film is about a man and his family going to The Overlook hotel as the winter caretaker. Moreover, this unsafe, evil movie shows the man descending into murderous insanity and you have no idea what will come next as it feels like it is driven by a drunk mad man. After watching the movie, you may feel like the lurking beast will stay will you for a while.
Read more: Best Horror Movies of All Time
11. Dune 2021
- Genre: Sci-fi/Adventure
- Director: Denis Villeneuve
- Stars: Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 83%, IMDb 8
One of the best movie adaptations of all time and the most recent one Timothee Chalamet starred in as the lead actor is the movie, Dune. Aside from the eye-catching cinematography, this movie has been named the best sci-fi film in years. One of the reasons behind it is how intense and layered Chalamet’s performance was. In the movie, which is based on Frank Herbert’s fiction novel, he plays the role of Paul Atreides, who is the heir to a powerful house in space that becomes the victim of a series of unfortunate political challenges and betrayal. Paul is a gifted and brilliant man, whose destiny is beyond his understanding. He then realizes that he has to travel to one of the most dangerous planets for his people and family. It is a masterpiece visually with amazing shots of the landscapes and breathtaking visual effects. Don’t miss this.
10. Brokeback Mountain 2005
- Genre: Romance/Drama
- Director: Ang Lee
- Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, Randy Quaid
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 88%, IMDb 7.7
Gyllenhaal won his sole Oscar award for his incredible performance in the Brokeback Mountain, which was a well-deserved part. The story follows two cowboys and it challenges preconceived notions regarding western masculinity. If it wasn’t for the impressive performance of the two main characters, this movie would not have been so impactful. Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger played the relationship that grows between Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar, respectively. The fact that their romance cannot go beyond the remote mountain disturbs them. This is yet another one of the best movie adaptations of all time.
9. Adaptation 2002
- Genre: Drama/Comedy
- Director: Spike Jonze
- Stars: Meryl Streep, Nicolas Cage, Chris Cooper, Cara Seymour, Brian Cox, Tilda Swinton, Ron Livingston, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Judy Greer
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 91%, IMDb 7.7
Another movie on the list of the best movie adaptations of all time is Adaptation, which is wild and weird. Nicolas Cage plays the role of Kaufman, who is eager to adapt Susan Orlean’s best seller. Meryl Streep plays the role of Susan, whose book is about her experience with an orchid thief, portrayed by Chris Cooper and how eccentric he was. For her role in this movie, Streep got an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. However, she lost to Catherine Zeta-Jones in Chicago. We highly recommend this as one of greatest movies based on books.
8. Silver Lining Playbook 2012
- Genre: Romance/Drama
- Director: David O. Russell
- Stars: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Chris Tucker
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 92%, IMDb 7.7
The eighth one on the list of the best movie adaptation of all time is Silver Lining Playbook based on a book of the same name, written by Matthew Quick. Bradley Cooper plays the role of Pat Solitano, Jr., who was released from a psychiatric hospital where he was dealing with his bipolar disorder. The talented actor was able to blend this complicated character with what was a romantic comedy. For his role as Pat, Cooper received his first Oscar nomination, his first Golden Globe nod, as well as his first Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. Jennifer Lawrence portrays the role of Tiffany, who is a young widow trying to help Cooper’s Pat get his life together following his stay at a psychiatric hospital.
The two try to get their lives back on track and participate in a dance competition. Despite Pat being the main character, Lawrence was able to steal some scenes for herself with her charm.
Read more: Best Bradley Cooper Movies of All Time
7. Room 2015
- Genre: Drama/Thriller
- Director: Lenny Abrahamson
- Stars: Jacob Tremblay, Brie Larson, Sean Bridgers, William H. Macy, Joan Allen
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 93%, IMDb 8.1
Emma Donoghue knew that her novel would attract the attention of filmmakers, so she decided to write the screenplay adaptation of her book, Room. That turned into a very incredible adaptation, courtesy of performances from Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay, with direction of Lenny Abrahamson. When he shot the movie in a single room set, before the escape, he managed to showcase the novel’s claustrophobic and terrifying tone. This is yet another one of the best movie adaptations of all time.
6. The Shawshank Redemption 1994
- Genre: Drama/Crime
- Director: Frank Darabont
- Stars: Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins, Bob Gunton, Clancy Brown, William Sadler, Gil Bellows, James Whitmore
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 91%, IMDb 9.3
One of the best movies based on books is the Shawshank Redemption, which took many people by surprise. Notwithstanding it being based on a Stephen King story, it is not horror. Moreover, the movie does not show a dank depressive life in prison, but it shows a lot of hope and redemption. The two actors portraying the main characters did a remarkable job, showing off their finest hours. Morgan Freeman gives a gentle narration of the movie that led to him getting a nomination for Best Actor. In addition, the ending will have you both drained and rejuvenated, which is what a great dramatic film will do. However, the movie has only made $28 million.
Read more: Best Morgan Freeman Movies of All Time
5. The Silence of the Lambs 1991
- Genre: Thriller/Horror
- Director: Jonathan Demme
- Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Ted Levine, Frank Seals Jr., Brooke Smith
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 95%, IMDb 8.6
By far the best movie adaptations of all time is The Silence of the Lambs, where Anthony Hopkins plays Dr. Hannibal Lector. Hopkins plays alongside Jodie Foster in this thriller/horror that is regarded as one of the greatest movies ever. The two actors won their first Academy Award for Best Actor and Best Actress for this movie and their performance. In addition, the movie won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Clarice Starling, played by Foster, is a top student at the training academy of the FBI. She is asked to interview Dr. Hannibal Lector, who is a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a violent psychopath. He is behind bars as he committed acts of murder and cannibalism. Starling is believed to be able to draw Lector out to give an insight into a case.
4. The Lord of the Rings 2001-2003
- Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
- Director: Peter Jackson
- Stars: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Dominic Monaghan, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen
The trilogy of films directed by Peter Jackson stayed quite faithful to J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy novels in a wide sense. Jackson depicted the most popular and famous fantasy universe ever turned in a realistic movie, while not losing the heroism, hope and despair that is there. This is indeed one of the greatest movie adaptations of all time.
3. Little Women 2019
- Director: Greta Gerwig
- Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Timothee Chalamet, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Meryl Streep, Laura Dern
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 95%, IMDb 7.8
Director Greta Gerwig made an adaptation of the Little Women novel written by Louisa May Alcott. The story takes place in Civil War era Massachusetts and is mainly about the March sisters. With the father at war, the sisters are with their mother, who was an outspoken woman of her time. The story shows how Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth grow up, find love and discover who they are in the world. The theme of the movie revolves around unconditional love, sacrifice and how important it is to stick up for what you believe. Don’t miss this as it is one of the best movie adaptations of all time.
2. Sense and Sensibility 1995
- Genre: Romance/Drama
- Director: Ang Lee
- Stars: Kate Winslet, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, Greg Wise
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 97%, IMDb 7.7
Sense and Sensibility is a drama based on Jane Austen’s novel. Following the death of rich Mr. Dashwood, his son from his first marriage receives an inheritance. His second wife and daughters, however, are put in dire circumstances. Because of their financial status, the two daughters, Elinor, and Marianne, played by Kate Winslet, are having a hard time getting married. Winslet’s character is a 16-year-old spontaneous girl who is idealistic as well. For her role in this movie, the British actress earned her first Oscar nomination. Sense and Sensibility is one of the best movies based on books.
Read more: Best Kate Winslet Movies of All Time
1. The Godfather 1972
- Director: Francis Ford Coppola
- Stars: Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 97%, IMDb 9.2
The Godfather is one of the best movie adaptations of all time and Ground Zero for all the subsequent mafia movies. The indelible characters portrayed by an impressive cast made this movie epic. Moreover, the director worked Mario Puzo’s Mafia novel like a virtuoso, with the ultimate pick inside a Mafia family’s life and the weaknesses it brings along. We highly recommend this as one of the best movie adaptations of all time.