logo

Our Pick: Top 10 Movies Based On Books

author
Apr 19, 2021
01:00 A.M.
Share this pen
FacebookFacebookTwitterTwitterLinkedInLinkedInEmailEmail

Films and books have often been compared. If you love stories on paper, you will surely have rushed to the cinema when some director brought the story to the big screen. Maybe you did the opposite; you loved a movie so much that you couldn't help but read the original story.

Advertisement

Cinema and print media live a perennial relationship of love and hate. The experience has enriched your life with a broader view of something you liked; at times, it was a wrong choice, and you were left disappointed. Don't worry; it happened to everyone!

We, therefore, intend to emphasize the happy marriage that binds compelling stories on paper, which have acquired greater power when transposed, in a masterly way, to the big screen.

1. The Devil Wears Prada

While we wait for them to give the Oscar statuette the Streep features, we must remember it in the Miranda Priestly version. This is one movie you should see, especially if you love fashion.

Advertisement

Aline Brosh McKenna adds depth to the book, making the female protagonists more real and complex. I don't know what to add. How do you beat a cross between Anna Wintour and Cruella Demon?

2. The Godfather

The Godfather is a classic of cinema, a film so strong in our culture that it made us forget its origin: a novel written by Mario Puzo entitled The Godfather.

In 1972 (year of release), the film grossed over $ 130 million. It became a mass phenomenon that made Don Vito Corleone immortal and, unfortunately for us, his connection to the Italian mafia.

Advertisement

3. Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory

The film was released in theaters in 1971, directed by Mel Stuart. The whole story is taken from Roald Dahl's novel, The Chocolate Factory. It is curious to note how many books then became famous thanks to the film adaptation.

Over time, the film starring Gene Wilder became a cult movie, so much so that it was included in the list of best cult movies by Entertainment Weekly.

4. Lord Of The Rings Trilogy

Advertisement

As directed by Peter Jackson, the Lord of the Rings trilogy is based on one of the greatest masterpieces of the fantasy genre ever written, namely the novel of the same name written by JRR Tolkien.

The film saga that garnered Oscars between 2001 and 2003 consists of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King.

5. The Harry Potter Saga

Advertisement

Harry Potter is the highest-grossing film saga in history, amounting to $ 7.7 billion. It was a global success that accompanied children and young people for over a decade.

From The Philosopher's Stone (released in 2001) to The Deathly Hallows - part 2 (2011), almost everyone loved the books and the films.

6. Little Women

Advertisement

The version of Little Women, directed in 2020 by Greta Gerwig, is a must-see film. Many have already read the famous pages of the novel by Louisa May Alcott. Still, this new film adaptation cannot fail to appeal to the list of films to see because it reinterprets evergreen themes in an exemplary way.

It is, in fact, a coming-of-age story in which the March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy respectively, find themselves growing up, ceasing to be those "little women" of the title and becoming grown-ups. Economic, love, and social problems become daily bread for their teeth, not dairy but still very young.

7. Call Me By Your Name

Advertisement

Call Me By Your Name film by Luca Guadagnino is based on the novel of the same name by André Aciman. The film faithfully recounts the special bond that will be established between Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and Oliver (Armie Hammer), a relationship that will lead to pure love from friendship.

But the protagonist of the film is idealized beauty, the beauty that you can find in every frame of this visual masterpiece: from the countryside to the village square, from the remains of ancient statues to Elio and Oliver's bodies, everything is beautiful and perfect.

8. Great Gatsby

Advertisement

The film Great Gatsby is a gem: sublime sets and costumes and surprising special effects. A modern adaptation of the novel by the cult writer. It then seems interesting to read the book to discover the differences between the two media.

The pitch? Gatsby is a mysterious character, hard to approach but above all immensely rich. He organizes many parties on Long Island to attract his young love Daisy within its walls, lost to sight for many years.

9. Shutter Island

Still unsure of what the ending means? Do the different theories leave you speechless? If you have read the book by Dennis Lehane, your doubts would have been cleared.

Advertisement

Shutter Island is home to a psychiatric hospital that looks like an impassable fortress. The latter specializes in the treatment of the most dangerous patients with mental disorders in the country. One of his residents nevertheless manages to escape inexplicably. It is then that the investigation of marshall Teddy Daniels and his team begins.

10. Crazy Rich Asians

Advertisement

This is a romantic comedy based on a novel of the same name. Born in New York, Rachel Chu has never been to Asia. By accompanying her fiancé Nick Young to his best friend's wedding in Singapore, Rachel is therefore delighted to discover the continent of her ancestors even if she is a little afraid of meeting her fiancé's family.

We must say that Nick omitted some essential details because he is not only the heir to one of the wealthiest families in the country but also one of its most sought-after bachelors. Rachel then becomes the target of some of the women and, even worse, of her future mother-in-law.

Advertisement
Advertisement