A lot of the best films ever made were based on books. And while we can all agree that film adaptations can never be exactly the same as the books, there are still good films that remain loyal to the book. Here are some of the best books made into films. No spoilers here, we promise!
1. Little Women
Countless movie and TV adaptations of Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 best seller Little Women have been done many times over the years, but Greta Gerwig’s 2019 version is arguably the best. Little Women tells the struggles of the March sisters to survive in New England during the Civil War. The film stayed loyal to the book but Greta added a subtle yet remarkable twist which makes her adaptation of Little Women so special. Plus the casts are superb!
2. Schindler’s List
Without a doubt, Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Thomas Keneally’s Booker Prize-winning Schindler’s List is the best Holocaust film ever created. It was nominated for twelve Academy Awards and won seven. Schindler’s List tells the story of Oskar Schindler, a Catholic German industrialist who gambled everything to save as many Jews as possible from the Nazi death camps.
3. Harry Potter series
Whether you’re a book Potterhead or a movie Potterhead (or both, why not?), we can all agree that the Harry Potter film series has captivated audiences of all ages around the world. And although it’s difficult to squeeze all the book details into an eight-part film series, the plot and character development, as well as the themes of friendship, magic, and adventures, are still as fascinating in the films as they are in the books. If you want to deep dive into the wizarding world, check out our Harry Potter book series!
4. The Hunger Games trilogy
Film adaptations can never be exactly identical to the books but The Hunger Games trilogy is one of those adaptations done right because, for what it’s worth, the films remained loyal to the book series. The Hunger Games trilogy is a thrilling dystopian series written by Suzanne Collins centered around Katniss Everdeen who competes against other tributes in a televised battle royale until death.
5. Room
Room follows the story of a woman and her young son as they are held captive for years in an enclosed space. The adaptation was extremely faithful to the novel since the author, Emma Donoghue wrote the screenplay adaptation of her book even before it was published! This is a must-read if you’re into horrifying and thrilling reads.