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Despite how commonplace they are, film adaptations of books often have a bad reputation. Consequently, they’re seen as “lesser” than their source material. Scriptwriting and book writing are very different mediums. So, in the eyes of many fans, the changes required to successfully adapt a book often weaken the stories.
While the consensus is that most film adaptations – even good ones – tend to be worse than their source material, there are some adaptations that challenge this stereotype. Whether it’s due to pragmatic writing that preserves the soul of the book, a trimmer approach to storytelling, or unforgettable performances, some films are better than the books they’re based on.
10 The Devil Wears Prada Is A More Satisfying Story In Film
Published in 2003, The Devil Wears Prada was an instant success and made the New York Times bestsellers’ list for a solid six months. A semi-biographical tale about a put-upon assistant in the fashion industry, its unflinching realism proved to be one of its biggest strengths (and also one of its stumbling blocks).
Given its partial basis in real life (and although the book ends in an amusing full circle), the ending is bittersweet at best – as is much of the tale. The film softens this and the main character Andrea’s worse moments. Instead, it adds a boatload of humor, a delightful supporting cast, and an iconic performance from Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestley.
9 Fight Club’s Author Agrees The Film Is Better
Fight Club, in all of its incarnations, is known as a heavily divisive story. Some think it serves as a glorification of violence and toxic masculinity, while others defend it as a niche type of satire. It details the seemingly intimate friendship between two men who start a network of titular fight clubs, with many secrets buried underneath.
The film version is a refined version of the book. It makes its satirical angle slightly more clear and drops what is seen as the novel’s “adoration” of Tyler Durden. It even adds a twisted romance. Even Chuck Palahniuk, the book’s author, agrees that the adaptation is superior to his novel.
8 Mean Girls Pulls An Iconic Tale From A Non-Fiction Book
Rare – but not unheard of – are film adaptations of nonfiction books. However, one of the most iconic is Mean Girls – a “chick flick” comedy that’s become known as one of the funniest and most quotable films of the 2000s.
A cultural touchstone, it was adapted from Queen Bees and Wannabes, which is a self-help book for parents about how to support their daughters through the complicated social scape of American high schools. While largely dropping the parental album, the book’s exploration of cliques and social techniques turned a somewhat dry yet informative read into a laugh-a-minute movie.
7 IT: Chapter One Is A Distillation Of A True Horror Work
Although it’s not Stephen King’s first, most famous, or most popular book, IT has always held a prominent place in horror fiction. It’s a mix of horror and coming-of-age and flicks back and forth between two timelines and detailing a group of unlikely friends battling an unimaginable evil.
IT: Chapter One trims the story down and focuses exclusively on the cast as children. A stellar cast of young actors ties the story together and preserves the essential feel of the book’s horror and maturity tale. It drops the aspects that bog down the book, such as its magical space turtle and its infamous sewer scene.
6 Jaws Made A Solid Book A Pop Culture Sensation
Jaws was a bestselling novel upon its release in 1974. However, it received divisive reviews from critics who praised its suspense but criticized its lack of characterization and slightly wandering plot. The film, released just a year later, went on to become a massive influence upon all of cinema.
Commended for its simple but memorable characters, its gripping plot, tension, and enjoyability, Jaws became one of the most successful movies of all time, creating the concept of a summer blockbuster as we know it.
5 Blade Runner Became Its Own Beast Entirely
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is a renowned science fiction book. Considered a solid story overall, it’s hampered by uneven prose that spends too much time on its subplot regarding John Isidore.
The film adaptation, renamed Blade Runner, is one of the most influential science fiction films ever made. Blending the genre with noir and influencing the look of science fiction cinema in ways that are still evolving, the tighter writing, iconic performances from Harrison Ford, Sean Young, and Rutger Hauer, and beautiful composition makes the film an all-time classic for a reason.
4 Stand By Me Expands On Its Humble Origins
Stephen King adaptations have a wide range of quality. Some are considered excellent and some are considered truly terrible. However, one of the best-regarded iterations is Stand by Me – an iconic film about friendship and growing up in the 1980s, which is adapted from a novella of King’s called The Body.
Using the short story for inspiration, the film expands on numerous elements – particularly the interactions between its main cast that emphasize the focus on growing up, rather than the plot involving the titular body. As a result, it’s fondly remembered by many more so than the novella.
3 Lord Of The Rings Trims Down The World’s Best-Known Fantasy Epic
The Lord of the Rings is one of the best-known pieces of literature in the English language. The seminal fantasy work in the West, its immersive worldbuilding, iconic characters, and story are instantly recognized anywhere.
The films take a radically different approach in some areas. Whereas Tolkien treated many of the Fellowship as mythological figures with little to no character development, he also devoted long stretches of the novel to seemingly-unimportant material. On the contrary, the Peter Jackson films trim down the story and humanize each of the Fellowship as they undergo distinct growth throughout the duration of their quest. Many prefer this approach, although some fans prefer the book and feel like the films miss some essential themes and material.
2 Trainspotting Adapts The Feel Without The Excesses
The two versions of Trainspotting are rather different. The book is a collection of short stories that focus on the deprived working classes of Edinburgh and their struggles with addiction, illness, and relationships. It’s renowned for its vulgar content and unflinching look at its subject matter.
The film is also notable for its vulgar black comedy. However, it takes a different storytelling approach and focuses more on the central character of Renton and his immediate friends. It also cuts back on some of the more far-flung and truly excessive tales while still capturing the feel of the novel.
1 A Good Book Became The Best Swashbuckling Film Ever In The Princess Bride
Aside from a few modern-day throwbacks, the swashbuckling genre remains in the past with many of its movies of derring-do and colorful heroes. The Princess Bride has stood the test of time and remained ever-popular in the modern-day.
Already an exceptional book, The Princess Bride takes its prestigious source material and elevates it further through exceptional choreography and performances from its cast. William Goldman brought Westley and Inigo Montoya to life, but Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin made them immortal.
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