As a book nerd, it's always both exciting and unnerving to find out that one of your favorite reads is going to be made into a film. We're always curious, but given the track record of book-to-movie adaptations, we know that it could all go horribly wrong. Most novels are far longer than a film script, so inevitably things have to be cut out and the story has to be pieced together. Sometimes, it's done really well, like with the Harry Potter series for example. Other times, the story loses all of its nuance and is left totally unmoving.
When it is done well, though, it can make for some serious movie magic. Here, we're going to honor the filmmakers and actors who have worked together to turn some incredible books into equally incredible films throughout the years, because 1.) we recognize what a challenge it is, and 2.) we're always looking for something good to watch.
And don't worry, we're steering clear of films like 50 Shades of Grey and the entire Twilight saga because, all hype aside, those movies just aren't that great. From films based on classic literature to those inspired by horror mainstays, trust us, all of these are must-watches (even if you haven't read the book). Check out 20 of our favorite film adaptations of books here.
'The Silence of the Lambs'
Although it bridges the gap between the horror and thriller genres The Silence of the Lambs, starring Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster, is such a good movie that we'd really say everyone should watch it at least once. Based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Harris, the film completely captures the terror conveyed in the book.
'The Godfather'
The Godfather is a classic for a reason. It's shocking, exciting, and packed with unpredictable and unexpected moments. To be honest, this mafia movie might even be better than the eye-opening book, which was written by Mario Puzo and originally published way back in 1969.
'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'
In our humble opinion, 1975's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is the film that really cemented Jack Nicholson's enduring stardom. He absolutely nailed his role as a rebellious inmate turned mental patient. The novel by Ken Kesey is a must-read, and we highly recommend reading and watching back-to-back.
'Fight Club'
We will never, ever stop loving this movie. The book is a slim read that's really well-written, but the movie is what brings the characters of Tyler Durden and the Narrator to life. It came out right toward the end of the whole Wall Street era when so many people were growing weary of corporate America, which made it utterly relatable. And of course, the performances from Brad Pitt and Edward Norton are absolutely stellar.
'Room'
Based on the 2010 book of the same name, the film Room, starring Brie Larson, is heartbreaking to watch. That's mostly due in part to the chemistry of Brie and her young costar, Jacob Tremblay, who was just 7 when the movie was shot. It's about a young boy and his mother who have been held captive for his entire life, and it's devastating but so moving.
'American Psycho'
At this point, we are all well aware of how seriously Christian Bale takes every one of his film roles, which is why he was so utterly convincing as a psychotic serial killer in the 2000 film American Psycho. The book is well worth a read, but Christian's portrayal helped the movie bring the story to a whole other level of disturbing.
'Sense & Sensibility'
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum is 1995's Sense & Sensibility. Directed by Ang Lee and starring Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, and Kate Winslet, it is one of the best movie adaptations of a Jane Austen novel ever made. The acting is superb, and the filmmakers stayed very true to the time period.
'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo'
The 2009 film The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo really did justice to the novel of the same name. It was suspenseful, intriguing, and pretty disturbing, too. While the movie borrows from subsequent books in the series, it stays true to Stieg Larsson's story overall. Just don't confuse it with the 2011 film directed by David Fincher, which isn't nearly as good.
'The Shining'
Stephen King's The Shining is undoubtedly one of the best movie adaptations of a novel ever made. The terrifying film is so good that many, if not most people have seen it without ever picking up the book — and many of those who've read the book actually saw the movie first. There are so many iconic scenes!
'Brokeback Mountain'
Brokeback Mountain, starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, made major waves when it first came out because it depicted the secret gay relationship between two cowboys, played by such high-profile actors. It wasn't just the shock value, though; director Ang Lee did an incredible job capturing the beauty of the unexpected love story written by Anne Proulx, who is a fan of the film herself.
'It'
First, let's talk about the fact that the 2017 film adaptation of Stephen King's It was far better in quality and substance than the original TV miniseries adaptation. It just was. We have to point out how well it keeps to the heart of the horrifying story of Pennywise the clown and the kids from Derry. The film captures the emotion of the book's characters, which makes this utterly fictional movie feel like real life.
'Lolita'
Director Stanley Kubrick was a film genius and a master at the book-to-movie adaptation. He just knew how to capture the essence of a story so well. When he took on 1962's adaptation of Russian author Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita, he had to do it with a lot of finesse, given the era and that the film was about pedophilia. Yet he still managed to do it in a provocative and interesting way.
'Little Women'
Greta Gerwig's 2019 take on Louisa May Alcott's Little Women was phenomenal. She made it her own by writing it as if Jo herself was the author of the book, which adds an element of relatability and updates the story in a way that is relevant today, without changing the premise too much or straying from the period in which the book was written.
'The Color Purple'
The powerful performances from Oprah Winfrey, Whoopie Goldberg, and Danny Glover brought author Alice Walker's story to life. The Color Purple was already an emotional and deeply moving read, but seeing the gut-wrenching events play out on screen as directed by Steven Spielberg really helped audiences connect.
'Forrest Gump'
Based on the book by Winston Groom, Forrest Gump is a powerful story about a differently abled man growing up in a time when many people didn't have the knowledge or desire to learn about people who are different. Tom Hanks' portrayal of Forrest evokes so much emotion, and the Oscar-winning film is such an intense portrayal of an already complex story.
'Doctor Zhivago'
David Lean stayed true to the novel Doctor Zhivago when he adapted it for film in 1965. He chose to focus on the more romantic side of Zhivago in an expertly filmed movie that was a highlight of his career, as well as a true honor to Boris Pasternak's most popular novel.
'Hidden Figures'
If you didn't feel all riled up as a woman watching the 2016 film adaptation of the book Hidden Figures, call us shocked. The wonderful cast, which includes Octavia Spencer and Taraji P. Henson, did a beautiful job depicting the real-life story of NASA's Katherine Johnson, under the direction of Theodore Melfi.
'Harry Potter'
Every time we tuck in for yet another Harry Potter marathon, it surprises us how well the film series captures all of the important bits from the books, which of course are all extremely long and detailed. Even avid fans of the novels don't feel like they are missing out on anything while watching the movies.
'Crazy Rich Asians'
The film Crazy Rich Asians was such a fun and insightful film that moved leaps and bounds when it comes to Asian representation in Hollywood. None of that would have been possible if it hadn't been for the Kevin Kwan book of the same name, or the fact that director Jon M. Chu handled the adaptation with such care and attention to detail.
'Breakfast at Tiffany's'
This film almost single-handedly made Audrey Hepburn a Hollywood icon. It's actually based on a much darker Truman Capote novella, which was adapted by screenwriter George Axelrod and director Blake Edwards. Now it's best known as a mostly happy romance that has influenced style trends for years — and hardly anyone even remembers that it was a book first.
