50 Best Book-to-Film Adaptations

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This entry was published at least two years ago (originally posted on April 19, 2006). Since that time the information may have become outdated or my beliefs may have changed (in general, assume a more open and liberal current viewpoint). A fuller disclaimer is available.

Another “X greatest Y” list has appeared. This, of course, means it’s meme-time!

Working from the Guardian’s list of the 50 best book-to-film adaptations (discussion as to what films should or should not be on this list is in progress over at kottke.org), I’m tagging each line with a B if I’ve read the book, and an M if I’ve seen the movie.

And with that, we’re off…

  1. [BM] 1984
  2. [BM] Alice in Wonderland
  3. [M] American Psycho
  4. [M] Breakfast at Tiffany’s
  5. Brighton Rock
  6. [B] Catch 22
  7. [BM] Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (I don’t know which movie adaptation this list refers to, but I’ve seen them both.)
  8. [M] A Clockwork Orange
  9. Close Range (inc Brokeback Mountain)
  10. The Day of the Triffids
  11. Devil in a Blue Dress
  12. [BM] Different Seasons (inc The Shawshank Redemption)
  13. [M] Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (aka Bladerunner)
  14. Doctor Zhivago
  15. Empire of the Sun
  16. The English Patient
  17. [BM] Fight Club
  18. The French Lieutenant’s Woman
  19. Get Shorty
  20. [M] The Godfather
  21. [M] Goldfinger
  22. Goodfellas
  23. [BM] Heart of Darkness (aka Apocalypse Now)
  24. [B] The Hound of the Baskervilles
  25. [BM] Jaws
  26. [BM] The Jungle Book
  27. A Kestrel for a Knave (aka Kes)
  28. [M] LA Confidential
  29. [M] Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Again, which movie version isn’t specified. I’d assume the Michelle Pfeiffer/John Malkovich/Uma Thurman version, but I’ve seen some of the other adaptations also.)
  30. Lolita
  31. [B] Lord of the Flies
  32. [M] The Maltese Falcon
  33. [B] Oliver Twist
  34. [M] One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
  35. [BM] Orlando
  36. The Outsiders
  37. [M] Pride and Prejudice (Again…which version? Sigh.)
  38. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
  39. The Railway Children
  40. Rebecca
  41. The Remains of the Day
  42. [M] Schindler’s Ark (aka Schindler’s List)
  43. [M] Sin City (Interesting…a graphic novel made the list.)
  44. The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
  45. [M] The Talented Mr Ripley
  46. Tess of the D’Urbervilles
  47. Through a Glass Darkly
  48. [BM] To Kill a Mockingbird
  49. [M] Trainspotting
  50. The Vanishing
  51. [BM] Watership Down (Um…I thought this was a list of fifty…?)

iTunes “I Still Want Ya” by Outer Mind from the album Best of Rave, The Vol. 2 (1992, 7:38).

3 thoughts on “50 Best Book-to-Film Adaptations”

  2. The list was expanded for Watership Down!!! I could barely make it through the book, though I did because it was a member’s choice in a book club we were in at the time. I can’t imagine sitting through a movie of RABBITS, especially if it is a close adaptation of the book! I would hope a movie version would be creative (and better).

    You could probably get half a point for Oliver Twist, as you were in Oliver — oh, is there a movie version other than the musical?

    I was reluctant to see The English Patient from the previews, but we got it through Netflix and became true fans of it. If it’s not on your list, please add it on.

    Love to you, my movie watcher!

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