Movies based on books provide a different experience compared to an original screenplay. If you've read a very good book, and are wondering what it'll look like on TV, our list of the 20 best adaptions is a good place to start from.
Or, if you're just looking to compare books with their movie adaptations and find the best TV series based on books, see if you agree with some of our interesting picks.
First things first.
Our list of the top 20 books turned into movies and TV shows in no particular order is as follows:
We've selected these stories based on these factors:
Now, watch us rank the stories listed above and let us know if you agree with our placements:
As one of the best books turned into TV shows, the 1997 adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey stars Armand Assante as Odysseus, depicting his decade-long journey home after the Trojan War.
It faithfully captures the original’s mythical encounters with the Cyclops, Circe, and the Sirens.
The complex writing style in Homer's original epic means that an abridged version may be more fun for modern audiences.
But, once you get into it, you see why even the 1997 miniseries with its outdated props is as captivating as it was.
This film adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel and the musical film follows Jean Valjean, an ex-convict seeking redemption, set against the backdrop of 19th-century France.
Unlike Hugo’s detailed social commentary, the film leans more on the emotional and visual elements of the story. It enhances the spectacle with dramatic cinematography and a powerful cast, including Hugh Jackman as Valjean and Russell Crowe as Javert, but ultimately sacrifices some of the novel's philosophical depth for cinematic accessibility.
While Les Miserables remains faithful to the source material in its portrayal of the central characters and themes, it condenses the novel's breadth, omitting certain subplots and characters for time and focus.
However, such is the depth of the musical, that it brings an emotional intensity to the characters' struggles, making up for any adaptation flaws.
Directed by Mel Gibson, this film depicts the final hours of Jesus Christ’s life as recorded in the Bible, focusing on his suffering and crucifixion.
It draws from the Gospels but emphasizes the physical torment, making it one of the most intense biblical films.
The Bible's many stories are some of the most adapted into movies and TV series, with several productions based on the life of Jesus, King David, Moses, the disciples, and the Roman conquest of Judea.
The Passion of the Christ stands out for its portrayal of the last weeks of the Messiah, plucking at the heartstrings of even the most hardened of men and capturing the imagination of Christians around the world.
Based on Nicholas Sparks’s novel, The Notebook tells the love story of Noah and Allie, separated by class differences but reunited years later. The film expands on the novel’s emotional depth, making it a beloved romance classic.
Anyone who's read or watched The Notebook will remember its deep themes of love lost and found again. Noah and Allie's love story is intriguing, drawing in characters to better appreciate the choices they make at the end.
The movies are a bit rusty, but, combined with the book, it's a great story you'd do well not to miss out on.
Amazon’s The Wheel of Time adapts Robert Jordan’s fantasy series, following Moiraine, a powerful Aes Sedai, as she seeks the prophesied Dragon Reborn.
The ongoing show condenses Jordan’s expansive world but retains its rich mythology, making up for its unfaithfulness to the source material.
The Wheel of Time books and TV series both explore several exciting classical and modern themes, with its depiction of women of the most striking.
Whatever you've heard of the shows, it remains one of the best book series turned into movies,
Netflix’s Bridgerton is based on Julia Quinn’s romance novels, blending Regency-era drama with modern sensibilities. Each season adapts a book, focusing on a different Bridgerton sibling’s love story.
Unlike the novels, the show diversifies its cast and adds more political intrigue.
Bridgeton features highly on our list, in no small part due to its blockbuster series from Shondaland for the Netflix streaming service.
Few series have brought even more attention to their source material the way the Bridgerton series has with Julia Quinn's work.
Published in 1953, Casino Royale by Ian Fleming introduces James Bond as a newly-minted 00 agent, tasked with defeating the villainous Le Chiffre at a high-stakes poker game. Published in 1953, the novel showcases Bond’s early days as a secret agent.
The 2006 film adaptation, starring Daniel Craig, reimagines Bond for a modern audience, making him grittier, more vulnerable, and less polished than Fleming’s original suave, cold character.
In Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel, Casino Royale readers were introduced to the unique persona of one of the world's greatest, fictional spies. Commander Bond of the British Secret Service.
While other novels followed this stunning debut, Casino Royale, the movie, took the Bond interpretation to new, dizzying heights.
Based on Homer’s Iliad, Troy retells the legendary Trojan War, focusing on Achilles (Brad Pitt), Hector (Eric Bana), and Paris (Orlando Bloom). The film adapts key moments from The Iliad, including Helen’s abduction and the iconic Trojan Horse.
Unlike the epic, Troy removes the gods’ influence, making it a grounded war drama.
Brad Pitt's stellar performance in Troy (2004) is one of the many bright sparks in an epic adaptation that won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design.
The ensemble cast did justice to the scene of one of the most famous classical Greek battles, a satisfying ode to the classical Greek Age of Heroes.
Netflix’s The Witcher is based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels, centering on Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter in a dark fantasy world. It mixes short stories from The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny with main novel arcs.
While it stays relatively faithful to the source material, the series introduces some changes to streamline the narrative for a broader audience. Despite some differences in character portrayal and pacing, the Netflix adaptation captures the essence of Sapkowski’s universe, blending action, drama, and deep moral questions.
Like Bridgerton, the story of The Witcher arguably gained its mainstream following due to the massive success of the show.
As one of the best series based on books, The Witcher stands out for its wonderful depiction of the fantastic worlds of the Nilfgaardian Empire, awesome creatures and magic, and deep political intrigue.
Adapted from Kevin Kwan’s novel, Crazy Rich Asians follows Rachel Chu as she discovers her boyfriend’s ultra-wealthy Singaporean background. The film brings glitz, culture, and family drama to life, becoming a milestone for Asian representation in Hollywood.
The 2018 film adaptation, directed by Jon M. Chu, remains largely faithful to Kwan’s novel but also streamlines the story to fit within the confines of a feature-length film.
The movie's success helped bring Asian representation to the forefront of Hollywood cinema, with an ensemble cast of Asian actors and a celebration of rich cultural traditions.
Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel follows Jay Gatsby’s obsessive love for Daisy Buchanan. The film embraces the novel’s themes of wealth and the American Dream but adds a modern soundtrack.
Unlike the novel, which focuses on subtle emotional and moral explorations, the movie emphasizes visual spectacle, incorporating contemporary music and vibrant cinematography to convey the decadence of the era.
The film's adaptation is lavish and entertaining, but it diverges from the novel's introspective, critical examination of wealth and class.
Based on Jane Austen’s novel, this film follows Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy’s romance amid social expectations.
The 2005 film adaptation, directed by Joe Wright and starring Keira Knightley as Elizabeth and Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy, takes some liberties with Austen's text but remains largely faithful to the essence of the novel.
Unlike previous adaptations, the 2005 film adds a more intimate, emotional tone to the story, particularly through its breathtaking cinematography and lush scenery.
Pride and Prejudice is one of the best stories ever made into a movie, standing out for its consistency across both media and near-perfect motion picture casting.
HBO’s Game of Thrones is based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. It initially follows the books but diverges heavily in later seasons, leading to mixed reactions. It remains a landmark in fantasy TV.
While HBO's Game of Thrones is arguably to TV series what the Lord of the Rings is to regular movies, the books, somehow, manage to outdo its motion picture adaptation.
Indeed, such is the quality of G.R.R Martin's storytelling that even the expected diluting of the source material in the TV series failed to reduce the quality of the production in any notable way.
This animated film adapts the biblical story of Moses, depicting his journey from Egyptian prince to liberator of the Israelites. It simplifies and dramatizes the biblical account while keeping its spiritual essence.
The beginnings of the Exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt to the promised land is a story as epic as any in the biblical Old Testament. DreamWorks' animated adaptation of this tale is hugely entertaining thanks to the inclusion of some of the most memorable soundtracks in the history of animation.
The Harry Potter films adapt J.K. Rowling’s novels, following Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s battle against Voldemort. The films remain largely faithful, though some subplots are cut.
While the movies left out a lot of details in the books, it's quite telling that, since the years after their release, the cast of Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe, and Emma Watson have become the living ideations of Ronald Weasely, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.
If you've read the Harry Potter books, no image of Dumbledore that your head ever cooks up will be better than sage-bearded Michael Gambon standing in the Great Hall and saying, "You know happiness can be found even in the darkest of times when one only remembers to turn on the light"
Peter Jackson’s trilogy adapts J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic, following Frodo Baggins’s quest to destroy the One Ring. It remains one of the most faithful and visually stunning literary adaptations.
In the realm of books turned into movies, every production is basically playing catchup to The Lord of the Rings and its legendary adaptations.
While many screenwriters are happy to substitute complex aspects of the storytelling with subplots of their own making, Peter Jackson and co. stuck to the books as much as an adaptation could realistically allow.
When you add in the cinematic effects that were well ahead of their time, it's easy to acknowledge The Lord of the Rings as the story whose adaptation truly matched the pioneering quality of its books.
I'm pretty sure that I've missed out on many of your favorite TV shows and movies adapted from books, and you're probably raving already at the exclusion of Six of Crows, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and others.
But, you'll agree with most of the stories on this list, based on the criteria I outlined earlier in this article. And, if you still think my rankings don't make any sense, feel free to share contrary opinions in the comments.
