The Best Book-to-Screen Adaptations (and The Ones I Wish They’d Make)

This has been my favorite book-to-movie adaptation for years! I just think it was so phenomenally done. It’s so exactly like the book, even down to word-for-word lines. I just love everything about it!

Can be found on: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube

It’s no secret that I’m 100% obsessed with Shadow and Bone. When it came out, I watched all eight episodes twice daily until the season two announcement. Yep, I love it that much. There are a few things that strayed from the books and the Crows entire storyline is original, but the cast was precisely how I imagined them and so much of it was done exactly the way I hoped it would be! 

Can be found on: Netflix

I don’t care one bit that it might be an unpopular opinion, but to me, this is the superior Little Women. It’s better than the new one and it’s better than the black and white version. The cast is perfect, the story matches the book, and don’t even get me started on the soundtrack. It’s not only one of my favorite adaptations – it’s one of my favorite movies of all time.

Can be found on: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube

This really might be one of the most accurate book-to-film adaptations of all time. The fact that they’re trying to make a tv series actually bums me out because nothing will ever pass these movies. They truly are cinematic masterpieces. There’s nothing quite like them. Director’s cut only, please and thanks!

Can be found on: HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube

When I watched the first movie, I had no clue it was based on a book series! I thought it was adorable, so when I found it it was a trilogy, I immediately read them all right away. In some ways, I enjoyed the first movie better than the book (mainly the fact that I like movie Peter better than book Peter). The second and third movies aren’t as true to their books, but overall the movie series is precious! 

Can be found on: Netflix

If I felt remotely guilty about anything I watched, I would say that this saga is my guilty pleasure. But I don’t feel guilty in the slightest. I loved the books and I love the movies. I watch all five of them almost every year – sometimes more than once. They’re definitely my comfort films and while I certainly do my fair share of roasting them, I’ll never stop loving them!

Can be found on: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube (Netflix 7/16/21)

In my opinion, primarily The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe! Prince Caspian was cute (and had Ben Barnes – so obviously I liked that) but it wasn’t true to the book. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was cinematically breathtaking but just didn’t hold quite the same power as the first film! However, overall, they’re just great adaptations.

Can be found on: Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube

Honestly? These movies were spectacular in every way. The first one makes me a little nauseous when I watch it because of the shaky camera, but as far as staying true to the books – these nailed it! Also, the cast was excellent!

Can be found on: Peacock, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube

I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I watched this movie. The book utilizes so many different formats of telling the story that I didn’t know how it would translate to film, but it was really well done! I enjoyed it so much and found it very true to the book.

Can be found on: Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube

This book changed my life when I was in high school and the movie holds very true to the book, so naturally, I love the movie. It tackles some really challenging topics without going totally overboard or getting graphic. 

Can be found on: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube

Any time I really want to get in my feels, I watch this movie. So, I’ve only watched it a couple of times because oof, it makes me emotional. It was incredibly well done and stayed very true to the book. I think it’s one of the best of the best as far as adaptations are concerned.

Can be found on: Apple TV, YouTube

A rare occurrence of “the movie is better than the book.” I actually DNF’d the book because I was bored stiff and found it almost overly depressing. However, the movie is beautiful and an absolute classic with so many quotable moments. In fact, my first tattoo was a quote from this movie!

Can be found on: HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube

This book has already been optioned for a movie adaptation. It hasn’t been cast or begun filming yet, but it would be incredible to see a meaningful story such as this one on the big screen. I think it would change a lot of lives!

Click here to read my review of The Midnight Library

Apparently, one of Meyer’s other books has been optioned for a film by HBO, which is incredible for her! Unfortunately, it’s my least favorite of all of her books (shoot) and I think that even The Lunar Chronicles would be an amazing choice for a tv series. But if I could pick any of her books to be adapted, it would have to be Renegades. It would be perfect for fans of Marvel films!

**UPDATE ON THIS: Author Beth O’Leary announced that Paramount+ is indeed adapting The Flatshare and turning it into a show. We even have the casting for Tiffy and Leon!

It’s been ages since I’ve been excited about a cute romcom. It seems like they’re all super raunchy or just totally cliche. This story is adorable, still has some spicy elements, but also includes a lot of depth. I remember thinking it would be an excellent movie when I first read it!

If you’ve read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, you’ll know why I want it to be turned into a movie. It’s incredibly beautiful and unique. While it’s a slower pace for a book, it would be an excellent film! And, from what I’ve heard, this is something that will be happening in the near future (along with both Shades of Magic and City of Ghosts) – go, Schwab!

Click here to read my review of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Another of my favorite books that’s been optioned for a movie! I was so thrilled for Justin when I heard this news and I think the YA “Groundhog Day” kind of flick would be so much fun to watch!

Please don’t judge me for this, but I think that Strange the Dreamer would just be an overall beautiful film and that’s the number one reason I’d like to see it on screen! From the stunning locations in the books to the fact that one of the main characters is blue (move over, Avatar). It would just be gorgeous!

I’m sure you’re noticing a trend here with the fact that I’d mostly like to see fantasy novels adapted into movies. I think that they’re the most fun to see come to life! This is another one that’s just utterly beautiful and it would make such a fascinating tv show or movie series!

I’ve actually discussed this with the author a couple of times and she’s also said she’d love to see her book become a film (as long as she has a say in how it’s made – of course)! I couldn’t go through this post without including my favorite book of all time. It would be a little gruesome, but also totally magical!

Click here to read my review of Into the Heartless Wood

I absolutely fell in love with this book when I listened to it in 2020 and I think it would make an adorably wonderful queer YA movie. I love a good teen prom film, but this one would bring all the diversity that’s sorely missing in so many other movies!

Hear me out: this would make a fantastic anime or live action, which is a rarity! I typically don’t enjoy when anime become live action, but I think this book could go either way. It’s such a fascinating story and it would be so cool to watch!

Click here to read my review of Six Crimson Cranes

I think I would cry with joy, seeing my book doppelgänger on screen. Nina Hill is just such a comfort book and I think the movie would wind up having the same effect. 

The first time I even heard about the plot for this book, I thought it would make a great movie. It’s hilarious, cute, and inspiring! My hope would be that it would encourage other men to read and learn from romance novels too!