Most people agree that a movie adaptation can never come close to the book it is based on, yet again, there are some rather successful attempts to bring novel characters to the big screen. This year, there have been quite a few releases inspired by books, so take a look at the list of top 15. You might want to read the books first, but still, remember that these films are definitely worth watching.
15. Annihilation
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This movie revolves around a biologist portrayed by Natalie Portman whose husband comes back from a secret mission. Namely, he returns from a quarantined area called The Shimmer, where she then goes with a team of women to investigate bizarre mutations. However, these eventually start to take over their bodies…
14. Blackkklansman
Source:ew.com
True story that follows Ron Stallworth, a Colorado Springs cop who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in 1979 with the help of Flip Zimmerman. Ron Stallworth is played by John David Washington, while Adam Driver plays his Jewish partner.
13. You were never really here
Source:imdb.com
This Jonathan Ames’ novel was brought to the big screen by writer-director Lynne Ramsay, while Joaquin Phoenix was given the main role of an emotionally damaged veteran. He returns to Brooklyn and starts spending his nights as a freelance vigilante.
12. Crazy Rich Asians
Source:ew.com
Crazy Rich Asians is Kevin Kwan’s bestseller which tells a story of a Chinese-American professor who travels to Singapore with her boyfriend for a lavish wedding. After this trip, she discovers how rich he is. The movie stars Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, and Awkwafina.
11. Let the Sunshine in
Source:imdb.com
This one was inspired by Roland Barthes’s 1977 A Lover’s Discourse: Fragments. It follows the life of a divorced woman (Juliette Binoche) who seeks a new partner but seems to fail over and over again, as all she finds are ill-suited men not interested in sustained relationships.
10. To all the boys I’ve loved before
Source:variety.com
Based on Jenny Han’s novel, this movie revolves Lara Jean (Lana Condor), a teenage girl who writes letters to her former crushes but never intends to send any of those. However, the letters somehow wind up mailed to them, which is when her life is turned upside-down.
9. A prayer before dawn
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This is an adaptation of Billy Moore’s memoir, and as such, it gives us some insight into the violence and terror this former boxer had to face once left behind the bars. Moore is portrayed by Joe Cole.
8. A wrinkle in time
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“A wrinkle in time” is based on Madeline L’Engle’s classic. Namely, thanks to three mysterious women (Oprah Winfrey’s Mrs. Which, Reese Witherspoon’s Mrs. Whatsit, and Mindy Kaling’s Mrs. Who), Meg Murray (Storm Reid) finds out that her father is still alive. Having traveled through time to another dimension, he managed to survive.
7. Disobedience
Source:jewishbookcouncil.org
This movie revolves around a rabbi’s daughter who returns to her orthodox London neighborhood. It is directed by Sebastian Lelio, and it stars Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams, and Alessandro Nivola.
6. Love, Simon
Source:youtube
“Love, Simon” is another teenage adaptation, this time, centered around a teenage boy who hides a huge secret – he’s gay. He’s doing everything he can to keep his secret safe, while at the same time he’s searching for love.
5. Juliet, naked
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With Rose Byrne and Chris O’Dowd as Annie and Duncan, “Juliet, naked” was inspired by Nick Hornby’s novel which follows a couple on the brink of separation. Their situation becomes even more intriguing when Annie makes friends with Duncan’s favorite musician.
4. Red Sparrow
Source:medium.com
Dominika (Jennifer Lawrence) is forced to give up on her ballet career after a severe injury. Moreover, she is hired by the Russian government to be a spy. All she wants to do is fight for her freedom.
3. On Chesil Beach
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Based on Ian McEwan’s novel, this movie follows a love story of young newlyweds and their first wedding night.
2. The house of tomorrow
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Here’s another teenage story. This one is about two bored teens who only want to break free. It stars Asa Butterfield and Alex Wolff in the main roles.
1. Ready player one
Source:vulture.com
Finally, here’s something different. This adaptation of Ernest Cline’s dystopian novel is set in a virtual reality, in 2044. It combines sci-fi elements with sly humor. We’re sure you will love it.
We hope that you’ll like our suggestions and that you’ll enjoy these movies regardless of how good or not you find them to be compared to the books that inspired them.
