Movie Club Monday: 45+ Movies Based On Books

I had the best of intentions when it came to this month's theme for Movie Club Monday, but between having a new baby and then being in the hospital for a week with her when she was two weeks old for RSV and bacterial pneumonia, I wasn't able to do what I had in mind.  So that led me to plan B where I decided to poll some of my friends and find out what their favorite movies based on a book are.  Being a book lover, I have a hard time when books get adapted into movie form because inevitably they will have to leave parts out and sometimes they even change significant parts of the story line.  But every once in a while, you find a movie that stays pretty true to the book and it's enjoyable to sit back and watch the movie on a screen.  So I've listed out over 20 books that have been adapted to film and are worth looking into.

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*NOTE* I realize there are some books that have had multiple adaptations made from them.  I am listing my own favorite(s) and/or those recommended to me by my friends.

Lord of the Rings
Books: by J. R. R. Tolkien

• The Hobbit
• The Fellowship of the Ring
• The Two Towers
• The Return of the King

Movies:

• The Hobbit trilogy
• An Unexpected Journey (2012)
• The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
• The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
• The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
• The Two Towers (2002)
• The Return of the King (2003)

The Giver 
Books: by Lois Lowry

• The Giver
• Gathering Blue
• Messenger
• Son

Movie: The Giver (2014)


The Perks of Being A Wallflower
Book: The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Movie: The Perks of Being A Wallflower (2012)

Anne of Green Gables
Books: by L. M. Montgomery

• Anne of Green Gables
• Anne of Avonlea
• Anne of the Island
• Anne of Windy Poplars
• Anne's House of Dreams
• Anne of Ingleside

Movies:

• Anne of Green Gables (1985 with Megan Fellows as Anne)
• Anne of Avonlea, The Sequel (1987)
• Anne of Avonlea (1987, TV mini-series)

The Help 
Book: The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Movie: The Help (2011)
 

The Time Traveler's Wife
Book: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Movie: The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)
 

Princess Bride
Book: The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Movie: The Princess Bride (1987)
 

Holes 
Book: Holes by Louis Sachar
Movie: Holes (2003)
 

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 
Books: by Douglas Adams

• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
• The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
• Life, the Universe and Everything
• So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
• Mostly Harmless

Movie: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
 

The Chronicles of Narnia 
Books: by C. S. Lewis

• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
• Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
• The Silver Chair
• The Horse and His Boy
• The Magician's Nephew
• The Last Battle

Movies:

• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
• Prince Caspian (2008)
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)
• The Silver Chair (production begins 2018, no release date announced yet)

 

Pride and Prejudice 
Book: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Movies:

• Pride and Prejudice (1995, BBC version)
• Pride and Prejudice (2003)
• Pride and Prejudice (2005) 

 

The Hunger Games 
Books: by Suzanne Collins

• The Hunger Games
• Catching Fire
• Mockingjay

Movies:

• The Hunger Games (2012)
• Catching Fire (2013)
• Mockingjay: Part 1 (2014)
• Mockingjay: Part 2 (2015)

 

Sense and Sensibility
Book: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Movie: Sense and Sensibility (2008, BBC version)


A Wrinkle In Time 
Book: A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Movie: A Wrinkle In Time (2018)
 

The Neverending Story 
Book: The Neverending Story by Michael End (translated to English by Ralph Manheim)
Movies:

• The Neverending Story (1984)
• The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter (1990)
• The Neverending Story III: Return to Fantasia (1994)

October Sky (Rocket Boys) 
Book: Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam
Movie: October Sky (1999)
 

Harry Potter 
Books: by J. K. Rowling

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Movies:

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
• Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2009)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

Ben-Hur 
Book: Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lewis Wallace
Movies:

• Ben-Hur (1959, with Charlton Heston)
• Ben-Hur (2016)

 

Ready Player One
Book: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Movie: Ready Player One (release date: 3/29/18)

Stardust 
Book: Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Movie: Stardust (2007)
 

The Count of Monte Cristo
Book: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Movie: The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)

Books by Nicholas Sparks Adapted To Film

• Message In A Bottle
• Book
• Movie
• A Walk To Remember
• Book
• Movie
• The Notebook
• Book
• Movie
• Nights in Rodanthe
• Book
• Movie
• Dear John
• Book
• Movie
• The Last Song
• Book
• Movie
• The Lucky One
• Book
• Movie
• Safe Haven
• Book
• Movie
• The Best of Me
• Book
• Movie
• The Longest Ride
• Book
• Movie
• The Choice
• Book
• Movie

So what do you think about this list?  Which movies based on a book do you like best?  I'd love to hear about any of your favorites that aren't on the list!

Also, be sure to check out the other hosts of this month's Movie Club Monday and find out which movie based on a book they chose to feature!

An InLinkz Link-up

Next month our theme is DISNEY and I'm so excited!