21 best movies based on books that are really worth watching

There are many movies based on books. There are very few good films based on books.

It can be difficult to fit the plot of the novel and the development of the character into a few hours of film. That's why the best movies based on books often don't feel like a true paperback retelling of a bestseller.

Below you will find some of the best movies based on the books.

21 PHOTOS

1. Pride and Prejudice.

The classic love story has been adapted many times. But this version of the film, starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, takes a more realistic approach than other versions of the film. As a result, enemies who have turned into lovers come to life on the screen.

2. If Beale Street could talk.

James Baldwin's 1974 novel If Beale Street Could Talk, about a young woman trying to clear her boyfriend's name after he was wrongfully accused of a crime, is an incredible read. So only someone with a vision like Barry Jenkins, who wrote and directed this adaptation, could bring it to the big screen. The film won numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Regina King.

3. Little women.

There's a reason Little Women has been filmed seven times. Louisa May Alcott's semi-autobiographical novel about sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy has stood the test of time and is still as interesting in 2021 as it was when it was published in 1868. The latest remake stars Laura Dern, Meryl Streep, and Saoirse Ronan, and is arguably the best interpretation of Alcott's story.

4. Crazy Rich Asians.

Fashion! Romance! Drama! Constance Wu and Henry Golding are hosting a romantic comedy about a Chinese American woman who travels to Singapore to meet her boyfriend's family. Sounds simple enough, right? Not properly. His family is one of the richest and most famous families in the country, and his mother doesn't exactly welcome her son's new romance.

5. Disappeared.

We could write a dissertation on Gone Girl, but that still wouldn't be enough to delve into the complex issues the film touches on. Here's what you need to know: Directed by David Fincher, the thriller is a mystery about a husband who becomes a suspect in his wife's disappearance. The film deals with parenting, manipulation, misogyny, and, above all, marriage. When it comes to booking adaptations, it's top of the list.

6. A simple request.

There is nothing simple about A Simple Favor. Perhaps the best part of the crime thriller is the strange yet captivating dynamic between Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick. You'll be scratching your head from start to finish trying to figure out exactly what's going on in the movie.

7. The Devil Wears Prada.

Meryl Streep plays the coldest, scariest, and most intimidating boss of the fictional fashion magazine Runway. Anne Hathaway's character is goofy and unfashionable, and she imagines herself to be a serious journalist. Their characters clash but somehow find a way to work together.

8. Club of the first wives.

We love everything about this film: the acting, the humor, and the friendship of the three reunited friends. The film is about women, played by Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton, who decide to take revenge on their ex-husbands after the death of a close friend.

9. Harry Potter.

Who could have known that this boy who survived would start an international phenomenon? Readers and viewers of all ages have been obsessed with the magical world for decades, and it's easy to see why: friendship, magic, excitement, and humor are just as gripping in the movies as they are in the books.

10. Hidden figures.

Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe star in this film about three black women who worked for NASA during the early years of the space program. They were an integral part of launching astronaut John Glenn into orbit.

11. Talented Mr. Ripley.

This sexy classic is actually part of a series about the eponymous Ripley, a social career wannabe who will lie, cheat, and even kill as he works his way up the ranks of wealthy mid-century Manhattans. The film features Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, and Jude Law in their golden, radiant, youthful looks, as well as the late Philip Seymour Hoffman's flamboyant performance.

12. It.

This chilling horror classic has terrified generations. In a small New England town, a group of friends find themselves in the grip of a mysterious shape-shifting killer who takes the form of what you fear most.

13. How to become a princess.

Absolute brilliance! Mia Thermopolis is a bumbling, nerdy high school outcast who discovers she's actually royalty in this modern twist on the Cinderella story. Seasoned with observations about friendship, love, and growing up, the books are as funny as the movie. A series of books written like a diary will make you love Mia even more than the film adaptation did. Don't be surprised if after reading this you want to wear Doc Martens.

14. Club of joy and good luck.

The experience of Chinese American immigrants is explored in depth in this adaptation of Amy Tan's novel, which follows a group of women living in San Francisco's Chinatown who support each other through grief and triumph.

15. Princess Bride.

This beloved classic is like five fairy tales rolled into a brilliant family comedy that's much easier to follow than the book it's based on. With a lot of quirky characters and quote lines, it's basically a meme factory before there was such a thing.

16. The Shawshank Redemption.

This top-rated IMDb classic is parodied (and acclaimed) everywhere and is a fan and critic favorite.

17. Atonement.

Beware: this story is a bummer. Despite being famous for its library sex scene and the debut of a young Saoirse Ronan, Atonement is mostly a war story and a devastating one at that. In this story of love, loss lies, and regret, no one gets away.

18. Jurassic Park.

This blockbuster is constantly rebooted: it's just great to watch dinosaurs chasing people!

19. The Godfather trilogy.

The greatest achievement in the history of American cinema? This crime epic has been praised for its performances, filmmaking, quoted lines, and archetypal characters. This watch is rich in symbolism and history, but in fact, it is a simple and pleasant watch. The story is never winding and slow, it is exciting, albeit devastating.

20. Room.

Both the book and the film adaptation of this action-packed story are about a kidnapped young woman and her son, who, as we learn, was born in captivity. When they finally run away from their abuser, the child is exposed to the outside world for the first time in their lives.

21. Emma.

Jane Austen's novel about a spoiled heiress who amuses herself by meddling in the lives of her neighbors has been filmed before. But the 2020 version, which stars Anya Taylor-Joy, is one of the best, thanks to excellent casting, quirky costume, set design, and a modern take on the source material.