Top 10 movies adapted from books, ranked 

Books have inspired cinema for decades, and the result is seen in hundreds of movies adapted from books that bring characters from script to screen. The adaptations range from religious scriptures to epic verses to cult classics extending to the modern novel.

From Shakespeare's tragedies to modern-day John Green adaptations, movies adapted from books either hit the nail with brilliant depictions and accurate portrayals or, in contrast, completely miss the mark with washed-down plots and eliminated scenes. The adaptation ends up becoming something completely different, barely resembling the source material.

Listed below are ten movies adapted brilliantly from books that remained true to the original text.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the author's opinion; reader's discretion is advised.

10. Coraline (2008) dir. by Henry Selick; novella by Neil Gaiman

The screenplay is written by Selick, and the story follows an eleven-year-old Coraline as she discovers a tunnel to the "Other World" where she gets the chance to experience whatever she desires in her current life, but at the hefty cost of her freedom.

The film is spooky and unsettling and manages to successfully capture the eeriness of the original novella. Paired with just the right soundtrack and stunning visuals, Coraline is easily one of the best movies adapted from books AND into animation!

9. The Devil Wears Prada (2006) dir. David Frankel; based on the novel by Lauren Weisberger

The book is based on Weisberger's experience of working with Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour. Meryl Streep's performance as Miranda Priestley as well as Anne Hathaway as Andrea, serving as Priestly's assistant, remain iconic and highly influential.

The narrative revolves around Andrea's (Hathaway) journey from a "serious" literary writer, uninterested in style or fashion, to coming around to it as she struggles to find her space within the high-end luxury world of fashion.

8. It’s Kind of a Funny Story (2010) directed and written for the screen by Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck; book by Ned Vizzini

The book was inspired by Vizzini's account of grappling with depression and suicidal ideations while he was hospitalised.

It revolves around the teenage life of Craig Gilner. Emphasizing the importance of seeking help when needed, the film intricately deals with the struggles that come with being a teenager and is one of the touching movies adapted from books.

7. Shutter Island (2010) dir. Martin Scorsese; novel by Dennis Lehane

The film is written for the screen by Laeta Kalogridis.

With one of the biggest plot twists in modern cinema, Dennis Lehane's novel had Teddy Daniels and his buddy Chuck Aule, two U.S. Marshals investigating the Ashecliffe Hospital on the infamous Shutter Island after Rachel Solando, one of the patients, disappears.

With the brooding premise of Ashecliff, complex characters and a clever plot, this one will surely keep you glued to your seats!

6. Little Women (2019) dir. Greta Gerwig; novel by Louisa May Alcott

Although Louisa May Alcott's Little Women has been adapted for the screen multiple times, Greta Gerwig's version just hits a little different!

Based on the lives of the March sisters, the novel explores their lives and trajectories as they get older and make decisions as individuals.

Starring an Academy Award-nominated ensemble with the likes of Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Meryl Streep, and Timothee Chalamet, Gerwig's film is one of the most notable movies adapted from books. Her distinct style of writing and direction adds a modern twist to it while preserving its original timelessness.

5. The Kite Runner (2007) dir. Marc Forster; novel by Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner (2007) is about two young boys, Amir and Hassan. Living in Afghanistan, the two boys grow up to separate from their country because of the Taliban's rule. Forster's equally heartfelt screenwriting is a brilliant adaptation of Hosseini's most loved work and retains the rawness and complexity of the original.

The film focuses on Amir's recount of his life with Hassan and a terrible tragic incident that follows and ends up altering their lives forever. As they grow up and grow apart, Amir tries to seek redemption for his ways of the past as he struggles with a pounding guilt that makes him return to the horrific state the country's in after the Taliban's rule.

4. Call Me by Your Name (2017) dir. Luca Guadanigno; novel by Andre Aciman

Written for the screen by James Ivory, Call Me by Your Name (2017) received an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his screenwriting!

Ivory's screenwriting captures the tenderness of falling in love with someone older and the heartbreak and hurt that the experience entails. It is written delicately and, when paired with Guadagnino's gorgeous direction, makes the narrative hard not to fall in love with as an observer.

As a native from Italy, Guadanigno brilliantly explores the aesthetic town of Lombardy as the setting for the story while Chalamet delivers one of the best performances of his career that gave him his first Oscar nomination.

The adaptation is fervent, tender and full of life as you explore the intricacies of young love and the grief that follows, making it one of the most profound movies adapted from books.

3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) written and directed by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) wonderfully captures the mental health struggles of a teenager.

The film and the book are considered cult classics and center on Charlie Kelmeckis, who is termed a wallflower by his friends. He is a shy, introverted freshman who deals with PTSD and finds it difficult to navigate his social life. The story is narrated by him writing letters to an unnamed friend.

The powerful narrative asks thought-provoking questions often pondered upon by young adolescents as they transition into teenagehood and ultimately into adulthood.

2. Pride and Prejudice (2005) dir. Joe Wright; book by Jane Austen

Joe Wright's version of Jane Austen's classic novel Pride and Prejudice simply stands out from the rest, thanks to the larger-than-life portrayals of all its protagonists and the blazing chemistry between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. The film is written on screen by Deborah Moggach.

Following the lives of the Bennett sisters as they explore their lives and find love in different stages, the story focuses on Elizabeth and how she falls for Mr. Darcy who she initially despises.

Austen's novel and writing have a strong female voice, considered daring for 19th century England, and Wright manages to preserve it in his adaptation, making it one of the best movies adapted from books that are considered to be among the classics.

1. Gone Girl (2014) dir. David Fincher; written by Gillian Flynn

Gillian Flynn's thriller will keep you guessing until the very last minute as Rosamund Pike wonderfully brings Amy Dunne's character to life in David Fincher's Gone Girl (2014). The film and the text are considered cult classics and are especially popular for the 'cool girl' monologue.

Based on the novel of the same name, the story follows the protagonist Amy Dunne who happens to disappear suddenly. All the suspicion falls on her husband, Nick, who seems to be caught up in an affair.

As the story explores the events that follow her disappearance and the circumstances that unfold, it keeps you engrossed in its gritty plot as you settle on who the villain is and who's telling the truth.

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Another adaptation of a classic epic verse, directed by Christopher Nolan and is on its way, is Homer's Odyssey! Scheduled to release on 17 July 2026, The Odyssey consists of a star-studded cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, and Charlize Theron, among others.

The project has created a substantial buzz among cinephiles and bibliophiles alike!