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30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books

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Adapting a book to the screen is quite a challenge. Cut a scene, and critics might accuse you of ruining the narrative. Alter a character, and you risk alienating fans. But if done right, it's truly impressive.

There's a whole discussion on Reddit where people have been sharing rare examples of filmmakers surpassing the source material with their cinematic vision. From cult classics such as American Psycho to more recent productions like I’m Thinking of Ending Things, here are the movies that audiences believe are actually better than the book.

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#1

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books Carrie. It was Kings first book and, although good, there was emotion and depth in Sissy Spacek’s portrayal that went far beyond the character in the orig story.

wadubois , Red Bank Films Report

Final score:

66points

Libstak 2 months ago

Sissy was perfect for that role.

24points

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#2

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books I feel like the Princess Bride was better as a movie.

Quiverjones , 20th Century Fox Report

Final score:

54points

ucp 2 months ago

I love both. Goldman obviously has chops as a screenwriter, because it’s a classic film with funny dialogue, fabulous set pieces, good characters, and a plot that keeps moving. But his book allowed for more detail, and slightly more bite in the humour.

25points

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#3

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books Godfather.

The book was obviously a best seller but it had some really - REALLY — cringe side plots (involving huge d***s and huge vags; Puzo seems to have had a fetish about outsized sex organs) which Coppola wisely dropped in the film.

amerkanische_Frosch , Paramount Pictures Report

Final score:

48points

Christopher Crockett 2 months ago

I love seeing Vito playing with the young cat. He's this ruthless mob boss yet he can enjoy the antics of an innocent creature. I also love that the cat just wandered in and Brando picked it up and started playing with it. The cat wasn't in the script!

9points

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#4

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books Forrest Gump. The book was … something.

excaligirltoo , Paramount Pictures Report

Final score:

48points

Manic Mama 2 months ago

100% agree. The book was incredibly incredibly awful. And a complete waste of time.

19points

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#5

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books Shawshank Redemption is a great movie. Book is good, as well.

fonebone819 , Columbia Pictures Report

Final score:

48points

Somebodys grandmother 2 months ago

No way! In the book the main carakter is cold distant and introvert... Tim Robbins is not that in the mowie. But I LOVE both! The book and the film give very different impressions...

8points

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#6

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books Jaws, in my opinion. The book is not bad, don’t get me wrong, but the characters in it are extremely unlikeable. I think Spielberg was right to eliminate some of the subplots and to buff the characters up to be more likable/relatable. Also, the end of the book kinda sucked. I won’t spoil it, but compared to the movie it’s extremely anti-climatic.

I still like both, the book is still a very good read and I understand why it was such a phenomenon, but I’ll always say the movie was better.

annieknowsall , Universal Pictures Report

Final score:

45points

Mad Dragon 2 months ago

You're going to need a bigger boat.

9points

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#7

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books Silence of the Lambs. Of course it followed the book almost exactly.

TMQ73 , Strong Heart Productions Report

Final score:

44points

Bronwyn 2 months ago

This for me was the first time I couldn't tell which I liked more. The book offered intimate details the movie couldn't exactly portray, but the movie did an excellent job of portraying all the details visually. I decided it was a tie. First time in my life.

28points

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#8

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books How to train your dragon franchise.

CatMom1201 , DreamWorks Animation Report

Final score:

43points

Pan Narrans 2 months ago

Yup. I tried the books after the movies and that was an enormous letdown.

9points

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#9

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books Who Framed(Censored) Roger Rabbit.

The books plot is very different, and the characters are all unlikeable. Eddie isn't a tragic character who's dealing with his brothers death by drinking his life away and alienating all the toons he used to befriend. He's a hard bitten, hard drinking a*****e just because. Roger is dead, and the character who k*lled him doesn't really make any sense. The producers of the movie took the idea of a world with toons and humans and threw away the plot. They made the right choice; the movie turned out amazing.

Yakb0 , Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Report

Final score:

42points

PewPew 2 months ago

I didn't even know this movie was based on a book!!

14points

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#10

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books Stand By Me (based on Stephen King’s “The Body”)… I loved the book too! But the movie is a classic to me, just perfect rendition.

anon , Columbia Pictures Report

Final score:

42points

Seonag Udell 2 months ago

Same principle as Shawshank it's a novella and in the same collection too. Different seasons

11points

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#11

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books Goodfellas (based on the novel Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi). Wiseguy is actually pretty interesting, it’s basically Henry Hill telling his own story. But Goodfellas is a masterpiece.

Flurb4 , Warner Bros. Pictures Report

Final score:

37points

PSimms 2 months ago

Just FYI, the book Wiseguy is not a novel, it's not fiction.

4points

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#12

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books American Psycho.

The book really goes deep into Patrick's obsession with fashion and dining culture. It gets a little tedious.

eviltedfurgeson , lionsgate Report

Final score:

37points

rorschach-penguin 2 months ago

The book is not meant to be an easy read like Harry Potter. A lot is being said in Patrick's various obsessive tirades. It puts you a lot deeper into his chilling view of himself and humanity.

8points

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#13

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books MASH. it was a mediocre novel, but one heck of a movie and a very good TV series.

Neat-Ad-8987 , 20th Century Fox Television Report

Final score:

35points

Michael Largey 2 months ago

Even the author of the novel M*A*S*H said the movie was much better.

8points

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#14

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books The Martian.

The book was excellent, but after a while Mark Watney started to feel like Wile E Coyote with things constantly falling on him. The movie kept just the right amount of adversity to keep the story moving along and never got too bogged down in the details the way the book sometimes did.

afriendincanada , 20th Century Studios Report

Final score:

35points

rullyman 2 months ago

I disagree too... the book was gripping. If it had been adapted 1:1, it wouldn't have made a good film, but it works as a book where you read it bit by bit. I liked that he had problem after problem

18points

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#15

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books Jurassic Park is a good book, but an all-time great movie.

theyusedthelamppost , Universal Pictures Report

Final score:

34points

Smilodon, a Bad Cat 2 months ago

That's not a scene from Jurassic Park.

50points

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#16

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books The Children of Men. Book was good. Movie is top 20 all time.

DrunkestJesus , Universal Pictures Report

Final score:

34points

The lion tamer 2 months ago

The first time I found a book inferior than its movie adaptation.

3points

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#17

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books Matilda. Danny DeVito k*lled it.

whatevernamedontcare , Sony Pictures Releasing Report

Final score:

32points

rullyman 2 months ago

Disagree. Maybe this is a cultural thing. I'm from the UK and Roald Dahl is a national treasure here... his work feels very British. I hated the American adaptation when I was a child. It didn't feel right at all. As an adult I can appreciate the cast and the work that went into it, but culturally it still doesn't feel like Dahl's books felt to me.

31points

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#18

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books No Country For Old Men is the best literal film representation of any book I’ve ever read. Both are masterpieces.

Scevs , Miramax Films Report

Final score:

31points

Pandarosa 2 months ago

Couldn't agree more, Javier Bardem was terrifying

15points

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#19

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books I am an avid Stephen King fan, but I have to admit, the movie version of **The Shining** was very good, and better IMO than the book. However, in most cases SK's books are much better than the movies / shows / miniseries.

BigBearSD , Warner Bros. Report

Final score:

30points

Cat Chat 2 months ago

I liked the book better. But there was a lot changed for the Kubrick movie it's hard to compare. This tv miniseries with Rebecca De Monay was closer to the book and not bad.

18points

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#20

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books The Devil Wears Prada.

oakcrisssy , 20th Century Fox Report

Final score:

28points

Bernd Herbert 2 months ago

Meryl Streep's performance was iconic!

19points

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#21

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books Shrek.

johneradicated , dreamworks Report

Final score:

27points

CatFist 2 months ago

I didn't even know it was a book...

41points

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#22

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books The top answer should be "Paddington."

That movie had no business being as good as it is. The sequel too. Brings that bear to life like no book could.

BestThingGoing , StudioCanal UK Report

Final score:

25points

Ace 2 months ago

TBH the movies bear (haha) little or no resemblance to the books, or the 1970s children's TV shows made out of them. Yes, I liked the films, but to say they're "better" is kinda missing the point of the orignal books.

8points

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#23

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books Casino Royale - the improved Felix Leiter character makes it infinitely more interesting, buttressed by an amazing performance from Jeffrey Wright.

First Blood - the book is just violence p*rn.

LOTR - ok I know this one is going to p**s a lot of people off. Tolkien never intended to write a story in the way we think of a novel/movie. I get that. He did what he was going for very well. But I find the movies more enjoyable. Sue me. That said, The Hobbit movies are garbage. Peter Jackson reached George Lucasian heights in making a prequel trilogy that’s so bad it diminishes the quality of the original. If you don’t have time to read the book and want to see it on screen, watch the Rankin Bass cartoon from the 70s.

asoiahats , Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Report

Final score:

24points

Lew k 2 months ago

I'm in the lotr camp too. I read the books far too many times and honestly can't get through them anymore. There is just a ton of dead space on the books. Innovative and good still but the movies were amazing.

16points

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#24

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
The original text is a depressing short story of a guy dreaming of being greater than his actual tedious life. I love that movie even though it isn't terribly popular.

just-a-scratch- , 20th Century Fox Report

Final score:

23points

Helena 2 months ago

I actually love this movie

10points

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#25

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books The Mist. The book is better for most of it, but the ending in the movie knocks the socks off the book ending.

AurelianoTampa , Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Report

Final score:

22points

Cat Chat 2 months ago

Steven King said the way he wrote the ending, the main character (the dad) suggested the movie's ending is something he might potentially do. Pay attention in the book and it's there. I also have The Mist as a Stereo Sound Dramatization. It's awesome. It sounds like you are in the middle of all the action and, if you use headphones or stereo speakers, you only hear certain sounds only one or the other side. It's one of my favorite King short stories.

4points

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#26

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books Fight Club.

BCF13 , 20th Century Fox Report

Final score:

21points

rullyman 2 months ago

Nope, because the book has some WONDERFUL scenes that didn't make it into the film, including a very good epilogue. "Don't worry Mr Durden. We'll get you out of here"

8points

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#27

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books Stardust

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.

theniwokesoftly , Paramount Pictures Report

Final score:

20points

HTakeover 2 months ago

Stardust was an incredible movie!

12points

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#28

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books Coraline. The book was all right, but the movie was iconic.

onlyrightangles , Laika Pandemonium Films Report

Final score:

17points

rullyman 2 months ago

While Laika studios does amazing animation, the tone of the film was so different to the book. I much preferred the book. It felt creepier, and Coraline was all alone, except for the cat, who was impossible to rely on. In the film they added that random boy, who was totally unnecessary, and they ramped up the action, which changed the tone a lot.

19points

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#29

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books Both Fight Club and LA Confidential are much better movies than books.

Sometimes taking a second pass through the narrative to tighten it up for a two hour movie can tighten up the mistakes.

Idolitor , Warner Bros. Report

Final score:

15points

xolitaire 2 months ago

Yeah, but most books are not written in a "tightened up" style with a 2 hours movie in mind?

3points

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#30

30 Surprising Film Adaptations That Outdid Their Books I feel like a lot of it depends on the order one reads/watches initially. That said...

I prefer the film *Memoirs of a Geisha* to the book.

And *Howl's Moving Castle*. I didn't like the books at all.

Exact_Roll_4048 , Sony Pictures Releasing Report

Final score:

13points

Ace 2 months ago

Memoirs of a Geisha is a brilliant book. Like so many of these I've read it but never felt inclined to watch the movie - didn't even know there was one TBH.

8points

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Note: this post originally had 50 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

Rokas Laurinavičius

Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

Kotryna Br

Kotryna is a Photo Editor at Bored Panda with a BA in Graphic Design. Before Bored Panda, she worked as a freelance graphic designer and illiustrator. When not editing, she enjoys working with clay, drawing, playing board games and drinking good tea.

Kotryna is a Photo Editor at Bored Panda with a BA in Graphic Design. Before Bored Panda, she worked as a freelance graphic designer and illiustrator. When not editing, she enjoys working with clay, drawing, playing board games and drinking good tea.

What do you think ?

Ace 2 months ago

I think in the majority of cases it really depends on your first exposure. If you're a fan of books then it's very unusual that a film will improve upon it - as a film buff who later reads the book you're nearly always going to be disappointed. And of course a lot of "books of the film" were written later, so have ne real integrity or value.

10points

Moosy Girl 2 months ago

I rarely have this, unless the adaptation is offensively terrible. The recent The Watch tv series is an example (for me) of something that is already just bad becoming insultingly bad knowing what it’s ‘inspired by’. But usually I’m pretty good at letting books and movies just be their own thing and liking both. Sometimes I wonder if it’s because I have no imagination of my own that I can accept adaptations pretty easily.

2points

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xolitaire 2 months ago

12 monkeys. The movie is great, but the book portrays the absurdity of the situation and the stress the main character is under much better.

6points

Marnie 2 months ago

Oooh. Never knew this was based on a book. It's one of the few actual Sci Fi movies out there. (So much so-called Sci Fi is not Sci Fi.) I'll have to read that one.

2points

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Chan Sue Lynn 2 months ago (edited)

Legally Blonde. I love the main character in the movie. The novel....not so much.

3points

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Ace 2 months ago

I think in the majority of cases it really depends on your first exposure. If you're a fan of books then it's very unusual that a film will improve upon it - as a film buff who later reads the book you're nearly always going to be disappointed. And of course a lot of "books of the film" were written later, so have ne real integrity or value.

10points

Moosy Girl 2 months ago

I rarely have this, unless the adaptation is offensively terrible. The recent The Watch tv series is an example (for me) of something that is already just bad becoming insultingly bad knowing what it’s ‘inspired by’. But usually I’m pretty good at letting books and movies just be their own thing and liking both. Sometimes I wonder if it’s because I have no imagination of my own that I can accept adaptations pretty easily.

2points

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xolitaire 2 months ago

12 monkeys. The movie is great, but the book portrays the absurdity of the situation and the stress the main character is under much better.

6points

Marnie 2 months ago

Oooh. Never knew this was based on a book. It's one of the few actual Sci Fi movies out there. (So much so-called Sci Fi is not Sci Fi.) I'll have to read that one.

2points

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Chan Sue Lynn 2 months ago (edited)

Legally Blonde. I love the main character in the movie. The novel....not so much.

3points

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