Our team compiled the best movies based on books and here is what they came up with
Movies based on books are a popular genre in the film industry, as they often have a built-in audience and a pre-existing story to draw from. These movies can be adaptations of novels, short stories, or even non-fiction works. Some examples of popular movies based on books include “The Hunger Games,” “Harry Potter,” “The Lord of the Rings,” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.” These movies can be faithful adaptations that stick closely to the source material, or they can take creative liberties and offer a different interpretation of the story. Many times, the books that these movies are based on are considered classics and are already loved by many readers. Adapting these books into movies allows a wider audience to experience the story and characters on the big screen.
Here are the 25 best movies based on books to check out on the streaming service.
1. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
This epic fantasy film directed by Peter Jackson, is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel of the same name. The story follows hobbit Frodo Baggins as he embarks on a journey to destroy the One Ring and defeat the Dark Lord Sauron. The film was a commercial and critical success, winning four Academy Awards and launching a successful trilogy. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Box office: $871 million worldwide. Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, and Viggo Mortensen
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
This fantasy film directed by Chris Columbus, is based on the first novel of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. The story follows young wizard Harry Potter as he discovers his true heritage and enrolls in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The film was a commercial and critical success and launched a successful franchise. MPAA Rating: PG. Box office: $974 million worldwide. Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint
3. The Hunger Games (2012)
This dystopian science fiction film directed by Gary Ross, is based on the first novel of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games series. The story follows Katniss Everdeen as she becomes a tribute in the annual Hunger Games and fights to survive in a brutal government controlled competition. The film was a commercial and critical success and launched a successful franchise. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Box office: $694 million worldwide. Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth
4. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
This drama film directed by Frank Darabont, is based on the novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King. The story follows a man named Andy Dufresne, who is falsely convicted of murder and sent to the Shawshank prison where he forms a friendship with a fellow inmate and finds hope. The film was a commercial failure but later gained a cult following and is now considered a classic. MPAA Rating: R. Box office: $28 million worldwide. Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, and Bob Gunton
5. The Notebook (2004)
This romantic drama film directed by Nick Cassavetes, is based on the novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks. The story follows a young couple who fall in love during the 1940s and are separated by the woman’s upper-class parents. The film was a commercial and critical success and has since become a classic in the romance genre. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Box office: $115 million worldwide. Starring: Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, and James Garner
6. The Da Vinci Code (2006)
This mystery-thriller film directed by Ron Howard, is based on the novel of the same name by Dan Brown. The story follows symbologist Robert Langdon as he investigates a murder at the Louvre and uncovers a secret society and a conspiracy involving the Holy Grail. The film was a commercial success but received mixed reviews from critics. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Box office: $758 million worldwide. Starring: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, and Ian McKellen
7. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
This psychological horror-thriller film directed by Jonathan Demme, is based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Harris. The story follows FBI agent Clarice Starling as she tracks down a serial killer known as “Buffalo Bill” with the help of an imprisoned cannibalistic psychiatrist, Dr. Hannibal Lecter. The film was a commercial and critical success and won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. MPAA Rating: R. Box office: $272 million worldwide. Starring: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, and Scott Glenn
8. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
This fantasy film directed by Andrew Adamson, is based on the novel of the same name by C.S. Lewis. The story follows four siblings who are sent to live in the countryside during World War II, and discover a magical world called Narnia through a wardrobe. The film was a commercial success and launched a successful franchise. MPAA Rating: PG. Box office: $745 million worldwide. Starring: Tilda Swinton, James McAvoy, and Georgie Henley
9. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
This drama film directed by Robert Mulligan, is based on the novel of the same name by Harper Lee. The story is set in the 1930s in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama and follows a young girl named Scout Finch as she learns about racism and injustice through her father’s defense of a black man falsely accused of rape. The film was a commercial and critical success and received three Academy Award nominations, including Best Actor for Gregory Peck. MPAA Rating: Not Rated. Box office: $13 million worldwide. Starring: Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, and Brock Peters
10. The Great Gatsby (2013)
This romantic drama film directed by Baz Luhrmann, is based on the novel of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The story is set in the 1920s and follows Jay Gatsby as he tries to win back his lost love, Daisy Buchanan, despite the disapproval of her wealthy husband. The film was a commercial and critical success and received two Academy Award nominations. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Box office: $351 million worldwide. Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Carey Mulligan
11. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
This crime-thriller film directed by David Fincher, is based on the novel of the same name by Stieg Larsson. The story follows a journalist and a computer hacker as they investigate a wealthy family’s dark secrets and a decades-old murder. The film was a commercial success and received four Academy Award nominations. MPAA Rating: R. Box office: $232 million worldwide. Starring: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, and Christopher Plummer
12. The Martian (2015)
This science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, is based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir. The story follows an astronaut who is stranded on Mars after his crew leaves him behind and must use his scientific knowledge to survive and signal to Earth for rescue. The film was a commercial and critical success and received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Box office: $630 million worldwide. Starring: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, and Kristen Wiig
13. The Godfather (1972)
This crime-drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is based on the novel of the same name by Mario Puzo. The story is set in the 1940s and follows the Corleone crime family, led by patriarch Vito Corleone, as they navigate the world of organized crime and face threats from rival gangs. The film was a commercial and critical success and won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. MPAA Rating: R. Box office: $245 million worldwide. Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and James Caan
14. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003)
This fantasy film series directed by Peter Jackson, is based on the novel of the same name by J.R.R. Tolkien. The story follows hobbit Frodo Baggins as he embarks on a quest to destroy the One Ring and defeat the Dark Lord Sauron. The film series was a commercial and critical success, grossing over $2.9 billion worldwide and winning multiple awards. Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, and Viggo Mortensen
15. The Hunger Games series (2012-2015)
This science fiction film series directed by Gary Ross, Francis Lawrence, is based on the novel series of the same name by Suzanne Collins. The story follows a girl named Katniss Everdeen as she competes in a brutal televised battle to the death in a dystopian society. The film series was a commercial and critical success, grossing over $2.9 billion worldwide. Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth
16. The Social Network (2010)
This drama film directed by David Fincher, is based on the book “The Accidental Billionaires” by Ben Mezrich. The story is a dramatization of the founding of Facebook and the legal battles that ensued. The film was a commercial and critical success and received eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Box office: $224 million worldwide. Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, and Justin Timberlake
17. The Giver (2014)
This science fiction film directed by Phillip Noyce, is based on the novel of the same name by Lois Lowry. The story is set in a utopian society where all emotions and individuality are suppressed and follows a young boy who is chosen to be the next “Giver” of memories. The film was a commercial failure but received positive reviews for its performances and thought-provoking themes. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Box office: $67 million worldwide. Starring: Brenton Thwaites, Jeff Bridges, and Meryl Streep
18. The Green Mile (1999)
This fantasy-drama film directed by Frank Darabont, is based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. The story is set in the 1930s and follows a prison guard who befriends an inmate on death row who has a supernatural ability to heal. The film was a commercial and critical success and received four Academy Award nominations. MPAA Rating: R. Box office: $286 million worldwide. Starring: Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, and David Morse
19. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
This coming-of-age drama film directed by Stephen Chbosky, is based on the novel of the same name by Stephen Chbosky. The story follows a introverted high school student who forms a close bond with a group of seniors and learns about love, friendship, and self-discovery. The film was a commercial and critical success and received several award nominations. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Box office: $33 million worldwide. Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller
20. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
This adventure-comedy film directed by Ben Stiller, is based on the short story of the same name by James Thurber. The story follows a timid man who escapes his mundane life by daydreaming, but when his job and his relationship are threatened, he must embark on a real-life adventure to find a missing negative for a photograph. The film was a commercial success and received positive reviews for its performances and the themes of courage and self-discovery. MPAA Rating: PG. Box office: $187 million worldwide. Starring: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, and Shirley MacLaine
21. The Iron Giant (1999)
This animated science fiction film directed by Brad Bird, is based on the novel “The Iron Man” by Ted Hughes. The story follows a young boy who befriends a giant robot that fell from space and helps him hide from the government and a paranoid beatnik who wants to destroy it. The film was a commercial failure but received positive reviews for its animation, storytelling and themes of friendship and sacrifice. MPAA Rating: PG. Box office: $23 million worldwide. Starring: Vin Diesel, Eli Marienthal and Jennifer Aniston
22. The NeverEnding Story (1984)
This fantasy film directed by Wolfgang Petersen, is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Ende. The story follows a young boy who becomes lost in a magical book and must help a young warrior save a fantasy land from an evil force. The film was a commercial success and received positive reviews for its imaginative storytelling and special effects. MPAA Rating: PG. Box office: $100 million worldwide. Starring: Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway, and Tami Stronach
23. The Help (2011)
This drama film directed by Tate Taylor, is based on the novel of the same name by Kathryn Stockett. The story is set in the 1960s and follows a young white woman who becomes interested in the lives of the black maids working in her community and decides to write a book about their experiences. The film was a commercial and critical success and received several award nominations. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Box office: $216 million worldwide. Starring: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, and Octavia Spencer
24. The Book Thief (2013)
This war-drama film directed by Brian Percival, is based on the novel of the same name by Markus Zusak. The story is set in Nazi Germany and follows a young girl who steals books to escape the harsh reality of her life and shares them with a Jewish refugee hiding in her foster family’s home. The film was a commercial failure but received positive reviews for its performances and themes of literature and humanity. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Box office: $34 million worldwide. Starring: Sophie Nélisse, Geoffrey Rush, and Emily Watson
25. The BFG (2016)
This fantasy-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, is based on the novel of the same name by Roald Dahl. The story follows a young orphan who befriends a giant and goes on an adventure to capture other giants who are eating children. MPAA Rating: PG. Box office: $178 million worldwide. Starring: Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, and Penelope Wilton