The Top 10 Book to Film Adaptations That Were Actually Good

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Original image by Bence Szemerey

As the years go by and Hollywood becomes more and more bereft of ideas, filmmakers are increasingly turning to the literary world for inspiration. This is not a new phenomenon of course: anybody reading this column can probably remember jumping into a conversation about the latest blockbuster by looking down your horn-rimmed glasses and intoning, ever so smugly: “…but the book was way better!”

True, Hollywood has ruined countless stories. But what about the times they got it right, or in some, extremely rare cases, even improved upon the original source material? Which brings us to: The Top 10 Book to Movie Adaptations That Were Actually Good.

(In no particular order:)

1. "Jurassic Park" by Michael Crichton
    adaptation by Steven Spielberg

Ok, so it’s not exactly the apex of literary achievement, but Michael Crichton (RIP) did manage to write a book that made it semi-ok for a grown man to read about dinosaurs coming back to life without being embarrassed. In typical Crichton fashion, the novel is dense and jammed with background information, as well as summarized research for context. Spielberg’s adaptation manages to cut out most of the scientific jargon while still telling an intelligent story, and also “Hollywooded up” certain parts of the plot in a way that didn’t seem ridiculous or designed to draw in idiots off the street. Unfortunately, Crichton’s follow-up, The Lost World, didn’t receive the same treatment, but the less said about that film, the better.

Get Jurassic Park at Bookshop or Amazon

 

2. "Fight Club" by Chuck Palahniuk
     adaptation by David Fincher

I feel like there should be a statute of limitations on spoilers, and both the book and film iterations of Fight Club should be subject to it. That being said, SPOILER ALERT: Tyler Durden and “the narrator” are the same person. Telling this kind of story visually without coming off hokey or obvious is an achievement in and of itself, but Fincher’s gritty visual style perfectly captures the tone and mood of Palahniuk’s novel. The ending to the film stops a chapter short of the end of the novel, but in my opinion works much better on the screen. The mark of a great adaptation is one that knows what to change and what to leave alone, and Fight Club does both right.

Get Fight Club at Bookshop or Amazon

 

3. "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest" by Ken Kesey
     adaptation by Milos Forman

Let’s be clear: I love Ken Kesey’s novel; it’s in my top 10 for sure. However, Milos Forman’s adaptation steals the book's thunder for two reasons. First, it dispenses with the narration from “Chief,” which would have been difficult to pull off in a film at any point in time, much less 1975. Secondly, the addition of Jack Nicholson, in perhaps the greatest role of his long career, as R. Patrick McMurphy brings a life and joy to the character that outdoes even the best imagination. Both the book and the film are about the triumph of the human spirit over conformity (and so much more), but the film makes Kesey’s dialogue hit in a way that’s hard to compete with.

Get One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at Bookshop or Amazon

 

4. "Trainspotting" by Irvine Welsh
     adaptation by Danny Boyle

Trainspotting is an adaptation that would never get greenlit today. A hard, unflinching tale about a bunch of asshole heroin addicts who want to pull off one last score? Oh, by the way: about 50% of the novel is written phonetically in an almost indecipherable Scottish brogue. When I opened the book and read the first sentences: "The sweat wis lashing oafay Sick Boy; he wis trembling. Ah wis jist sitting thair, focusing oan the telly, tryin no tae notice the cunt. He wis bringing me doon." I knew this would not be an easy airplane-trip of a read. Who else but Danny Boyle (who went on to make such feel-good movies as Millions and Slumdog Millionaire) could have convinced anybody that this kind of film could work, and then prove it? The film condenses the novel by cutting or heavily editing several characters’ tales and keeping the main perspective on Mark Renton, played doddering and loveable by a young and scrawny Ewan McGregor. While the film is not without its problems (I think the ending is a little too upbeat and sort of dampens the spirit of the novel), this adaptation once again cut the fat and kept the meat (even the indecipherable Scottish brogue!).

Get Trainspotting at Bookshop or Amazon

 

5. "American Psycho" by Bret Easton Ellis
     adaptation by Mary Harron

This one is a little weird. I have to admit that I’m not a huge fan of Ellis’ most popular novel (though I haven’t read it in years). It’s an interesting concept and has an engaging narrative, but the violence is so over-the-top it approaches cartoonish for me and undermines what (I think) is supposed to be a serious story. The strength of Harron’s adaptation lies in her willingness to mine the source material and then transplant the good bits into a film that is totally different in tone and stands on its own merits. It’s been said before that Harron’s film feels more like a dark comedy, and I completely agree. A recent re-watch had me laughing out loud. Now if only we could do something about that remake

Get American Psycho at Bookshop or Amazon

 

6. "The Dark Knight Returns" by Frank Miller
     adaptation by Christopher Nolan

Ok, so this one is technically a “graphic” novel, but I’m a believer in giving credit where credit is due. Batman, one of the three most beloved and enduring comic book franchises in history, has been adapted for the screen many times by many different directors. They’ve ranged from accidentally funny (the Adam West iterations) to good-but-flawed (Burton) to downright awful (Joel Schumacher’s Batman and Robin). Only Christopher Nolan can say that he’s truly captured the spirit and tone of the Caped Crusader (at least the version everybody seems to like the most), and managed to do it without hyper-stylizing the crap out of it…because this is based on a COMIC BOOK after all. It’s not controversial to say that The Dark Knight might be the best comic book adaptation of all time, and the unfortunately named Dark Knight Rises (why didn’t they just go with The Dark Knight Returns?) could be even better.

Get The Dark Knight Returns at Bookshop or Amazon

 

7. "The Shining" by Stephen King
     adaptation by Stanley Kubrick

This might get me in trouble with King fans, and even King himself, who has been very vocal about how much he hates the Kubrick film (to the point that he directed his own version, which was horrible by all accounts). While it’s true that Kubrick took liberties with the story, the film stands alone on its own merits. Kubrick’s (at the time innovative) long Steadicam shots are beautiful and brooding, and perfectly capture the tone and mood of King’s cabin-fever tale, even if the script doesn’t touch too closely on the history of the Overlook and glosses over whether the hotel itself is actually evil, or if Jack Torrance is just a psychopath waiting to blow. Hollywood take note: no remakes of this one. Please.

Get The Shining at Bookshop or Amazon

 

8. "Bringing out the Dead" by Joe Connelly
     adaptation by Martin Scorsese

An often overlooked book and film, Bringing Out the Dead is a sweaty, bleary-eyed tale of insomnia that takes place in a seedy urban underbelly that gets written about a lot but I still can’t get enough of. Connelly, who himself worked as a graveyard shift paramedic in Hell’s Kitchen for several years, hit a solid home run with his first novel, and there was no better filmmaker to bring his vision to the screen than Marty Scorsese. One of the great things about Bringing Out the Dead is its strong sense of location, one that isn’t often explored in the big Manhattan movies of note. The action takes place almost entirely at night, in the wee hours of the morning, up close and personal with the people you hear screaming down the block when you’re trying to get some sleep before work. Scorsese, a lover of all things New York, stays true to these feelings and presents the work as a bizarre fever dream that seems to slowly unravel as it concludes. The film received lukewarm reception upon its release, but both incarnations of Connelly’s story are worth checking out.

Get Bringing Out the Dead at Bookshop or Amazon

 

9. "Memento Mori" by Jonathan Nolan
     adaptation by Christopher Nolan (as Memento)

In order to balance out the Nolan-love evident in the Dark Knight entry, it should be noted that the director has often been criticized as “cold” and “emotionless”. After reading the short story Nolan’s breakout film Memento was based on, I’m forced to come to two conclusions: one, that “coldness” may be a direct influence from Christopher’s longtime collaborator/brother Jonathan, and two, it works a lot better on the screen than it does on the page. While Memento Mori and Memento are fairly different stories, the fundamentals (amnesia, revenge, purpose) are still there. However the short story takes the clinical detachment to a whole new level, and winds up feeling hollow and boring. When coupled with the stark photography of Wally Pfister and the reverse chronology of the script, Memento’s cold detachment works.

Get Memento at Amazon

 

10. The Godfather by Mario Puzo
     adaptation by Francis Ford Coppola

There’s not much that needs to be said about the 1972 film adaptation of The Godfather: it stands in a class all its own. Mario Puzo’s 1968 novel, while entertaining, doesn’t contain any of the gravity or sweeping epic history that the three films tap into. Compared to the script for The Godfather Part I (which, it should be noted, Puzo worked on), the novel reads like a pulpy supermarket paperback: something you would read on a plane to pass the time. It gets the job done, and it’s entertaining, but there’s not much else there. The fact that Puzo went on to crank out a lackluster sequel (The Sicilian) didn’t help cement his reputation in the literary world, while Coppola, who hasn’t made anything decent in years, is still lauded as one of the greatest directors of all time. Thems the breaks, I guess.

Get The Godfather at Bookshop or Amazon

John Jarzemsky

Column by John Jarzemsky

John is a freelance writer who has been with LitReactor since the days of its halcyon youth. You can check out John's blog, the poorly titled Super Roller Disco Monkey Hullabaloo!, for other reviews, random musings, and ill-thought out rants. He was recently published in Bushwick Nightz, a collection of short stories about the Brooklyn neighborhood in which he resides.

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Comments

Brandon's picture
Brandon from KCMO is reading Made to Break December 29, 2011 - 11:54am

Great list, man.

I could see The Prestige making the cut too but it'd look a little strange to have three Nolan adaptations mentioned.  

postpomo's picture
postpomo from Canada is reading words words words December 29, 2011 - 11:57am

no complaints about the list - Silence of the Lambs could be there too.

Aaron Deering's picture
Aaron Deering from where the ghetto meets the sea is reading Wuthering Heights December 29, 2011 - 12:08pm

...the unfortunately named Dark Knight Rises (why didn’t they just go with The Dark Knight Returns?)...

I'm waiting to see the film to decide whether the title is unfortunate or not. I tend to believe that Nolan is very deliberate with his titles, and the recent trailers (including that 6-minute IMAX prologue) seem to indicate that the word "rise" has some significance for Bane.

Evan Thibeau's picture
Evan Thibeau from Pacific Grove, CA is reading Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk December 29, 2011 - 12:12pm

Awesome list! I don't know what the requirements for the list were time-wise or anything, but I do think the new American film of the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo deserves a nod on this list.

Rodney James Galley's picture
Rodney James Galley December 29, 2011 - 12:16pm

I would have to agree, Silence of the Lambs should be there. Platoon would be another.

Dawn Betts-Green's picture
Dawn Betts-Green from Sylacauga, Alabama is reading Inside Scientology by Janet Reitman December 29, 2011 - 1:41pm

One of the best adaptations ever: To Kill a Mockingbird with Gregory Peck

PopeyeDoyle's picture
PopeyeDoyle December 29, 2011 - 1:48pm

What about Maximum Overdrive?

Luis Yribarren's picture
Luis Yribarren December 29, 2011 - 1:53pm

there is many others like great expectations,  the lord of the rings

 

Larsen Erika's picture
Larsen Erika December 29, 2011 - 2:13pm

I thought A Clockwork Orange might be on this list.  I think it's excellent.

Jakub Mikuláš's picture
Jakub Mikuláš December 29, 2011 - 2:51pm

A Clockwork Orange was great adaptation

BTW typo: it's Milos Forman.

Tom Corsillo's picture
Tom Corsillo from New York is reading Perfume: The Story of a Murderer December 29, 2011 - 3:05pm

American Psycho was a horrendous adaptation that omitted everything good about the novel. Christian Bale as the perfect Patrick Bateman was the only redeeming quality. The film reduced a brilliant piece of social/psychological commentary to a cheap, mindless slasher flick. 

 

Trainspotting was a poor adaptation, as well. But I suppose that is through no fault of Danny Boyle's, as a significant part of what made the book so good was the language, which creates a forced immersion into the world of the characters in what is a very character-driven novel. I suspect he did as good a job as anyone could have. Still, it came off as cheap.

 

No Country for Old Men should be on here, I think. Captured McCarthy's vivid imagery pretty damn well. The characters were well-casted and well-acted. The tone was near-perfect. Probably the best book-to-movie adaptation I've seen after Fight Club. 

 

...but American Psycho being on this list I really don't understand. Would be more appropriate on a list of the worst major-release book-to-movie adaptations. 

Fabio Deotto's picture
Fabio Deotto from Italy is reading "Sunset Park" by Paul Auster December 29, 2011 - 3:33pm

I would add "a scanner darkly" . From Philip Dick to Richard Linklater.

Mike Goldstein's picture
Mike Goldstein December 29, 2011 - 3:47pm

Great article. I agree with all of them except The Godfather. Probably going to get flamed, but not a fan of it in any form.

Also, it's "statute" of limitations.

chadmkan's picture
chadmkan December 29, 2011 - 3:59pm

This list will never be complete without AClockwork orange by Anthony Burgess/adaptation by Stanley Kubrick.

John's picture
John from Brooklyn, NY is reading The Big Short by Michael Lewis December 29, 2011 - 4:12pm

For the record, I had to have seen/read both versions in order for it to make this list. Think of this not as a "ranked" list but rather 10 "examples". Great feedback, thanks everyone!

@Mike thanks for catching that typo. I am duly embarrassed.

Jean-Joseph De LaMartinière's picture
Jean-Joseph De ... December 29, 2011 - 4:33pm

Thank you John for this great 'examples', I'll watch some of them soon ! 

Just to participate on the missing adaptation debate : 'Scott Pilgrim' and 'The Road' could be in the list as well. I even prefered the film than the novel for 'The Road'. 

 

Mark Fresno's picture
Mark Fresno from Flint, MI is reading The Baseball Encyclopedia December 29, 2011 - 4:44pm

I also enjoyed "Sideways" and "Election." 

It's merely a coincidence that both films were from Alexander Payne.

Daniel Coffman's picture
Daniel Coffman from Pennsylvania December 29, 2011 - 5:39pm

Great list, and i agree with each entry (which is rare). Sure, there are other great film adaptaions of books, but this list, like so many others, is based solely on the author's opinion. People need to take that into consideration before commenting.

 

All in all, a good group of films. At least, until my wife's book gets adapted into a movie. Then you'll have to revise the entire list to fit hers at the top. Sorry.

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest December 29, 2011 - 6:21pm

I have to add The Exorcist to the list. One of my all time favorite books and movies. 

Joshua Chaplinsky's picture
Joshua Chaplinsky from New York is reading Library Books December 29, 2011 - 10:02pm

I second No Country and A Clockwork Orange. And while we're talking Kubrick, throw Lolita in there.

Another great adaptation is LA Confidential. Despite only following the first third of the book then veering off on its own path, the film stays true to Ellroy's characters and themes, proving an adaptation doesn't have to be 100% faithful to the source material to be good.

 

John Lemon's picture
John Lemon December 29, 2011 - 10:27pm

A good list. But A Clockwork Orange should most definitely be here. I also agree with others that No Country for Old Men and L.A. Confidential are worthy candidates. All do the original works justice. Maybe Thank You for Smoking. Best satire I've seen in years. 

Jason Van Horn's picture
Jason Van Horn from North Carolina is reading A Feast For Crows December 30, 2011 - 7:13am

No Shawshank Redemption? It's only the best movie of all-time and it's adapted from a Stephen King story.

edsikov's picture
edsikov from New York by way of Natrona Hts PA is reading absolutely nothing December 30, 2011 - 8:03am

I'd like to add Christopher Bram's novel FATHER OF FRANKENSTEIN adapted by Bill Condon into GODS AND MONSTERS. Both are terrific.

Mick Cory's picture
Mick Cory from Kentucky is reading everything you have ever posted online and is frankly shocked you have survived this long December 30, 2011 - 9:09am

 

   The last chapter of A Clockwork Orange was ignored by Kubrick, as well as the American publishers (until the late eighties). This missing chapter finds Alex renouncing his debased pursuits, completely changing the tone of the novel. Arguably, Burgess' book continues to be misinterpreted. I love them both. yet this is an instance where the book and film should remain estranged.

   I have mentioned this before, so forgive the repetition.  Limitless, the screen adaption of Alan Glynn's The Dark Fields, was far superior to the book in my opinion.

Lisa Kline's picture
Lisa Kline January 1, 2012 - 6:57pm

While I'll agree that a clockwork orange should be here...the silence of the lambs or any other book by thomas harris, aside from hannibal rising, was the worst film adaption i have ever seen.... The worst of all was "hannibal". It was completly differant story if you read the book, and a amazing one at that. he is a great writer, I just wish there was a film maker that could do them justice. Like I said "hannibal rising" was actually great as a film and book. 

 

I have to edit this and say the worst film adaption i ever saw was "hearts in atlantis" from stephen king. The book was amazing and the movie would have been good if they changed the title... I felt like it was missing far too much to even have the same title. 

Maunderingcabal's picture
Maunderingcabal from Vacaville CA is reading The Fifth Element January 5, 2012 - 11:09pm

I don't want to sound like the dork in the room, but The Lord of the Rings... Harry Potter... ???

AnyDaveWillDo's picture
AnyDaveWillDo from England is reading Lots of books March 29, 2012 - 12:14pm

I disagree with  A Clockwork Orange being in the list. Although the book and the film are both great, the film was ignored the final chapter of the book (Alex's reformation) I think that the book may have been published in America with the final chapter omitted when the film was made. I personally feel that Alex's reformation gives so much to the plot and makes the strongest statement in the whole book.

AnyDaveWillDo's picture
AnyDaveWillDo from England is reading Lots of books March 29, 2012 - 12:18pm

 

Apologies @Mick Cory, I have just read your comment and realised that I have just repeated what you said. 

Rishi Joe Sanu's picture
Rishi Joe Sanu April 4, 2012 - 1:59am

Heart of darkness to Apocalypse Now should definitely been there

Melanie Burns's picture
Melanie Burns April 25, 2012 - 4:40pm

I think they should have also given Helen Bonham Carter credit for protraying Marla in Fight Club. I swear I believe that character was made for her. She was excellent! :)

Le Cheyenne's picture
Le Cheyenne from France June 1, 2012 - 3:02am

L'adaptation d'American Psycho n'est pas si convaincante. J'aurais ajouté le Silence des Agneaux à cette liste ainsi que le Ligne Verte.

Emily Thrash's picture
Emily Thrash July 17, 2012 - 8:24pm

I agree with everything besides The Shining.  Yes, I am a King fan so I have some bias, but I have often enjoyed movies that are good on their own merits, but The Shining is Kubrick's worst.  I went to see it at a friday the 13th double feature recently, following Psycho, and I rewatched it with an open mind, thinkiing my first viewing I may have been biased.  A series of disconnected creepy images does not a  good movie make.  The script is awful, Duvall was stiff, Nicholson was an overacting freak with no development, and Crothers was a superflorous, mildly offensive stereotype.  The best performance was from the kid!   It was boring at parts, downright obnoxious at others.

 

Amber Ellie Vokes's picture
Amber Ellie Vokes August 29, 2013 - 8:37am

These were all great adaptations. I would add "I Am Legend". I loved the book. I abhor when screenwriters deviate from the book, but when I saw the movie I thought it was great in its own right. Although the two were almost entirely different I think this is the only time I can think of where each was great.

Ashley Tran's picture
Ashley Tran January 3, 2014 - 2:53pm

The Silence of the Lambs definitely should have been on this list as well.