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.
#22
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.
That movie had no business being as good as it is. The sequel too. Brings that bear to life like no book could.
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25points
#23
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.
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.
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24points
#24
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.
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.
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23points
#25
The Mist. The book is better for most of it, but the ending in the movie knocks the socks off the book ending.
22points
#28
Coraline. The book was all right, but the movie was iconic.
17points
#29
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.
Sometimes taking a second pass through the narrative to tighten it up for a two hour movie can tighten up the mistakes.
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15points
#30
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.
I prefer the film *Memoirs of a Geisha* to the book.
And *Howl's Moving Castle*. I didn't like the books at all.
13points