A lot of movies we watch are adapted from bestselling novels, but only a few successfully capture the essence of the book. Most of these movies cannot cover every tiny detail in the book, so many parts of it are summarized or left out. It’s often because directors/producers have to fulfill some requirements while converting the book into a screenplay.
Some movies may incorporate the general theme of the story from the books, but the overall concept is not the same. This make people feel discontented after watching a movie based on a book they loved. It’s usually because they pictured the main characters differently, or didn’t appreciate the exclusion of scenes they were looking forward to.
Then, once in a blue moon, comes a book-inspired movie that manages to exceed expectations. For some reason, it portrays the plot more beautifully than the book and the actors cast bring the fictitious characters to life. If you’re eager to watch such iconic films, be prepared with Cox bundles (for seamless streaming), popcorn, and a partner/buddy because it’s more fun that way.
1. A Simple Favor (2018)
This movie is based on the debut thriller novel by Darcey Bell, published in 2017. The story begins with a small-town mom and blogger named Stephanie, played by the eccentric Anna Kendrick. In the movie, Stephanie is a vlogger instead of a blogger, which simply goes better with the overall context of the book.
Moreover, Stephanie’s personality is made to be more likable and relatable on screen, which is a welcome change. She is a simple woman awestruck by her cool friend, Emily, who appears to have everything from a gorgeous mansion to a picture-perfect family.
One day Emily disappears and a few days later she is announced dead. Stephanie starts digging into the matter to uncover her friend’s secrets and discover what happened. Emily’s role is played by the stunning Blake Lively, who makes her seem more mysterious and fabulous than how she’s depicted in the book.
2. The Hunger Games Trilogy (2012-15)
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of The Hunger Games book trilogy written by Suzanne Collins, but the corresponding movies are far more exciting. I never imagined the protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, to be the way she is represented in the movie, and that’s not disappointing at all. I love how Jennifer Lawrence embodies this character and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
The reality TV take in the movie adds more depth to the story. The vibrant personas and witty dialogues of the side characters turn a decent YA novel into something more spectacular. I can’t deny that the stunning visuals and charismatic storytelling of the movies surpass everything I read in the books.
3. The Notebook (2004)
The Notebook is deemed one of the most epic fictional love stories of all time, and this happened after the release of the movie rather than the book. There’s no doubt that the original novel by Nicholas Sparks is exceptionally well-written, but the cinematic adaptation takes the script to the next level.
I feel like the beginning of Allie and Noah’s relationship in the book is a bit vague or rushed, so it didn’t really click. In the movie, you get to learn more about the couple’s past and witness every significant moment that leads to their powerful connection.
Ryan Gosling did an amazing job playing Noah, and Rachel McAdams was phenomenal as Allie; these two completely immersed themselves in their characters, which makes the story larger than life.
4. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Lauren Weisberger’s bestselling novel The Devil Wears Prada was published in 2003 and centers on the competitive fashion industry. This was a distinguished book of its time, as none other was able to depict the glamor, humor, and horror of the industry in such a compelling manner.
While the book was enlightening on the topic of merciless fashion journalism, the film gives more. Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway are incredibly convincing in their roles, making the story more stimulating than how it is perceived on pages.
The book concentrates on the demanding career of a fashion journalist, so it sounds more like a biography. On the contrary, the movie version focuses on several individual characters and conveys a bigger picture of how the fashion industry operates.
5. Mean Girls (2004)
The classic Mean Girls movie starring Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams was not an adaptation of a novel with the same name. This movie was inspired by a self-help book called Queen Bees and Wannabes, written by Rosalind Wiseman.
The book is about high school bullying and female social cliques that have a detrimental effect on teens. Tina Fey wrote the script for the movie after borrowing ideas from the book, hence we cannot make a direct comparison.
Having said that, the movie perfectly demonstrates the high school drama described in Rosalind’s bestseller. It’s all naturally more dramatic and stirring on screen, so at the end of the day the movie takes the win.
Final Thoughts
It’s rare to experience a film that outshines the book it was based on. I guess it’s safe to say that some stories are simply meant to be told through visuals, whereas others dominate on paper. What are your thoughts on these movies? Can you name a movie that was better than its corresponding book?
