18 Movies I'm Sorry To Say Are Better Than The Book

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What exactly makes a great movie adaptation? If you ask me, it's all in the creative liberties. Adaptations aren't meant to be strict recreations of their source material, and often, they're better for not being that at all (e.g. Stanley Kubrick's The Shining...sorry in advance to Stephen King fans, count me among them!). A film adaptation should capture and celebrate the unique "essence" of the original story through reinterpretation of characters, plot, setting, themes, and motifs. While it is entirely possible to enjoy both the book and movie with equal passion, for the purposes of this list, I've decided to round up a handful of adaptations I personally believe have a slight edge over the wonderful books they're based on.

1.Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Jennifer Connelly and Jared Leto in Requiem For a Dream

2.A Simple Favor (2018)

Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick in A Simple Favor

3.Fight Club (1999)

Based on: Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (1996) Why the movie is better: Listen, I'm a huge fan of Chuck Palahniuk, and his satirical novel (first written as a short story) about a man struggling to make sense of life in the modern world is undeniably excellent. You can tell that he really poured all of his pent-up frustration at the publishing industry, consumerism, and contemporary America right into it. Yet, there just is no comparison to the film, which remains a modern favorite for

4.Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018)

Based on: Can You Ever Forgive Me?: Memoirs of a Literary Forger by Lee Israel (2008) Why the movie is better: I saw Can You Ever Forgive Me? back in theaters in 2018, and I still remember the emotional gut punch it gave me right at the end. I also recall feeling like this was one of the few Hollywood movies that accurately described the complicated, specific woes of being a professional author. Melissa McCarthy stars as Lee Israel — a failing writer who finds new success in forging letters from deceased authors and playwrights —  in this biopic based on Israel's own memoir, Can You Ever Forgive Me?: Memoirs of a Literary Forger, released 10 years prior to the film. While the memoir is no doubt fascinating on its own, director Marielle Heller and screenwriters Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty breathe new life into this darkly witty tale that features, quite frankly, some of McCarthy and co-star Richard E. Grant's best on-screen work. McCarthy turns a downtrodden, otherwise deeply unlikable heroine into someone outright lovable and forgivable, and Grant provides a poignant charm as her brilliant, witty best friend who is tragically dying of AIDS. To note, both characters and the people they are based on were gay, and it's doubly rare we get to witness such a delightful platonic relationship between two queer people in a big budget film.Where to watch: Prime Video

5.Blade Runner (1982)

Based on: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick (1968) Why the movie is better: Ridley Scott's atmospheric cyberpunk masterpiece is widely regarded as one of the most influential works of the entire sci-fi genre, but some fans may be surprised to know that it was based on Philip K. Dick's 1968 novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. I read the book in college before our class viewed the film, and while I found it highly original and disturbing in all the best ways, it was no match for Scott's cinematic vision. The dystopian novel is set in post-apocalyptic San Francisco, in which most animals species are either endangered or extinct. Bounty hunter Rick Deckard is tasked with

6.Annihilation (2018)

Based on: Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer (2014)Why the movie is better: There aren't many films that have given me such a specific feeling of existential dread as Annihilation did. The 2018 movie, based on Jeff VanderMeer's 2014 science-fiction horror novel of the same name, follows Lena (played by Natalie Portman), a biologist and former soldier who joins a mission to enter the mysterious zone Area X in an attempt to find out what happened to her husband. He's been missing for a year, and her grief colors every frame of the screen, often manifesting in dizzying, surrealist nature sequences that are as haunting as they are hypnotic. While VanderMeer's book is the first in an epic science fiction trilogy and deserves all the awards and recognition it's achieved, there is something about this portrayal of grief that works so much better in a visual medium. The film's ending feels hauntingly, inevitably complete. Also, there's nothing quite like sitting in a dark theater, witnessing the truly terrifying

7.The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Based on: The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris (1988) Why the movie is better: Hannibal Lecter is terrifying, just terrifying, both in the Thomas Harris' book series (beginning with 1981's Red Dragon, the prequel to The Silence of the Lambs) and especially when played by the absolutely brilliant Anthony Hopkins in the 1991 film adaptation. Once you've seen the scene in which he faces down — and completely dresses down — FBI Agent Clarice Starling (played by Jodie Foster in her Oscar-winning role) with the flick of his tongue, it's impossible to imagine anyone else playing the ingenious psychopath who can read anyone like a book. So, too, is the jaw-dropping Buffalo Bill dance sequence impossible to bleach out of your brain. Not that you'd want to; it's so freaking good. The main difference between the book and film lies in the ending. In the book (*spoilers ahead*), Hannibal doesn't say goodbye to Clarice by payphone while escaped to the tropics, but by letter, and screenwriter Ted Tally thought (rightfully) that this lacked the cinematic pizzaz needed for the big screen. The original movie ending was meant to be even darker: Tally had planned to show Lecter slicing oranges before preparing to dismember a terrified victim with the same knife, which was scrapped at the request of directorJonathan Demme for being

8.City of God (2002)

Based on: City of God by Paulo Lin (1997)Why the movie is better: Paulo Lins' 1997 novel City of God was a critically acclaimed international hit, a gorgeous, grisly tour through the Brazilian streets of Cicade de Deus, the City of God, and the gang life in Rio de Janeiro's favelas. The book is based on years of meticulous research and Lins' own firsthand experiences growing up in Cicade de Deus, and is an outstanding achievement. Co-directors Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund's cinematic adaptation, however, leans far more into the gritty environment of the '60's-'80's-era poverty-stricken favelas, and while the stories of ambitious drug dealers (split into three distinct segments) are essential to the viewing, they almost become secondary to the powerful performances, sweeping cinematography, and beautiful, blood-stained surroundings. Screenwriter Bráulio Mantovani also takes great care to pay homage to the people of Rio, celebrating their culture and people even amid such harrowing circumstances. Often compared to the likes of Goodfellas and even the earlier works of Quentin Tarantino (though arguably less violent than Scorsese's very similar Gangs of New York), City of God is widely considered to be one of the best films of the 21st century; even within miserable darkness there is great beauty.Where to watch: HBO Max

9.Psycho (1960)

Based on: Psycho by Robert Bloch (1959) Why the movie is better: Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece that made millions terrified to take a shower is actually far from original: It was based on Robert Bloch’s 1959 novel of the same name, in which, fascinatingly, the shower scene in which Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) is brutally murdered was described in only one line of text. Using a dizzying array of fast-motion reverse shots, extreme close-ups, and grisly stabbing sound effects, Hitchcock brings the horror to life. The suspense throughout the movie is built so well, the plot is so tight, and the acting from Leigh and Anthony Perkins (who plays Norman Bates) is so darn good, the 1960 flick still holds up as one of the scariest and most effective of all time. Not to mention, Hitchcock really put the work into humanizing his main villain Bates and fleshing out Marion's character, making it all the more impactful when she meets her devastating end before the plot even fully takes off.Where to watch: Prime Video

10.Mean Girls (2004)

Based on: Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World by Rosalind Wiseman (2002) Why the movie is better: The iconic, highly quotable teen movie that helped remind the world of Lindsay Lohan's undeniable prowess as a comedic actor is actually loosely based on a non-fiction self-help/parenting book from 2002. I remember going to see a similar author who specialized in teen girl aggression, with Wiseman being a guest speaker at the time. During the talk, she plugged Queen Bees and Wannabes, which I found to be pretty insightful, though the film is far more entertaining and memorable. Aided by the sharp writing of SNL's fabulous Tina Fey (who optioned the book), the film is actually co-written by Fey and Wiseman herself. Much of the terminology from the movie is lifted directly from the self-help text, from the definition of what exactly makes a

11.The Shining (1980)

Based on: The Shining by Stephen King (1977) Why the movie is better: While I'm well aware that this selection may anger a number of Stephen King fans, I stand by this choice for a number of reasons. For one, Stanley Kubrick takes the source material and turns it into something that King never envisioned...which is part of why the author loathes the film so much. However, Kubrick's adapted vision is multi-layered in its ambiguity, is genuinely horrifying, and is far darker than the original novel. In fact, I've seen The Shining many times, reading new layers and finding new theories on every viewing, where it took a while to finish King's novel. As much as I enjoy him as a storyteller and tip my hat to him being one of the greatest and most influential horror writers of all time, I've always been more intrigued by the Jack Torrance of Kubrick's version, played here by the always enigmatic and fascinating Jack Nicholson. Unlike Book Jack, Movie Jack isn't an inherently good man trying to do his best as a husband father; he's an absolute nightmare, a ticking time bomb waiting to explode, and the Overlook Hotel is less of a supernatural terror and more of disturbing psychological journey of one man slowly losing his mind in isolation with his family. Oh, and if you love overanalyzing every inch of this movie as much as I do, check out Rob Ager's painstakingly researched video analyses on various Shining theories. The 2012 documentary Room 237 covers a lot of similar ground on the dozens of interpretations, but Ager (who actually turned down a spot in the doc) goes way further in depth and even debunks a few of them. Basically, in addition to being scary as hell, this movie is an endless rabbit hole.Where to watch: HBO Max

12.The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

Based on: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (2008)Why the movie is better: I enjoyed the original young adult novels by Suzanne Collins and I did quite like the first The Hunger Games film, but it wasn't until Catching Fire that I really got hooked on the series (and it wasn't the book version that did it for me). Filled with subtle racial and class commentary, as well as smart reality TV satire, Catching Fire the film is no doubt derived from strong source material, but adds new contextual layers to the story that turns it from a run-of-the-mill YA adaptation into something far more special and interesting. Not only did it make a killing at the box office and rightfully help cement Jennifer Lawrence as the next Hollywood It Girl, the violent, unforgiving futuristic world of the books is so much more chilling and compelling in a big budget film, especially the high-intensity gore and terror during the Games themselves, and the essential diversity of Collins' characters becomes impossible to deny when the on-screen actors are actually people of color. Where to watch: Hulu

13.The Godfather (1972)

Based on: The Godfather by Mario Puzo (1969) Why the movie is better: Mario Puzo’s infamous 1969 crime novel topped the New York Times Bestseller list for over a year — an accomplishment that is certainly nothing to sniff at — but it was arguably Francis Ford Coppola who turned The Godfather into perhaps the most important cinematic achievement in modern history. Coppola simplified the novel's story, trimmed its many subplots, and focused more firmly on the mirrored relationship between the aging Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) and his successor Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino in his most acclaimed role of all time. Throughout the film, war hero Michael is slowly but surely corrupted and becomes more and more like his father, making him both a tragic anti-hero and a supremely disturbing yet believable villain. The ending sequences remain as epic as they are haunting, and have gone on to inspire similarly brilliant scenes in shows like Breaking Bad and excellent crime films like Park Hoon-jung's New World.Where to watch: Prime Video

14.Jurassic Park (1993)

Based on: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (1990) Why the movie is better: There is no doubt about it: Michael Crichton is a fantastic thriller writer, but when you get Steven Spielberg involved in an already awesome project about freaking dinosaurs in the modern age, things quickly go from really good to great. The book is exciting and well-paced, but the blockbuster is what I immediately think of when I hear the term

15.Jaws (1975)

Based on: Jaws by Peter Benchley (1974)Why the movie is better: Much like with Jurassic Park, Spielberg works his movie magic into elevating an already excellent literary text, or in this case, a 1974 novel by Peter Benchley about a giant great white shark that preys upon a small resort town and the journey of three men who attempt to kill it. Unlike in the novel, Spielberg chooses to cut meandering subplots like an affair between Chief Martin Brody's wife and a marine biologist. Instead, using the film's two-hour run time to ramp up the ever-increasing stakes and tension, all set to John Williams’ Academy Award-winning score. Originally, the flick was going to be a cheesy B-movie made with animatronic sharks (which were major mechanical nightmares on set), but combined with Spielberg's visionary writing and directing, Robert Shaw's elevated performance as Quint, and an extremely fun new storyline, Jaws stands the test of time as one of the most influential and exciting movies ever made.Where to watch: Prime Video

16.The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Based on: Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption (Different Seasons) by Stephen King (1982)Why the movie is better: Stephen King fans, please don't hate me, but this is yet *another* adaptation of his writing that just works so much better as a movie (though I'd say here, most critics would agree). The film is based on the 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, which is from King's dramatic collection Different Seasons, though it's also been published as a standalone book. The entire novella is narrated by a man named Red — played stunningly well by Morgan Freeman in the 1994 film adaptation — and tells the story of Andy Dufresne, an imprisoned man who claims to have been wrongly convicted and makes it his mission to escape from prison. As the story of the film is longer than the novella, it expands upon it a great deal and adds some pretty killer payoff: a fantastic ending that I won't spoil, and a strong, fully fleshed-out friendship between Red and Andy (played by Tim Robbins) with enough genuinely touching moments to make even the most stone-cold viewers a little teary-eyed. Despite its critical acclaim, the film — directed and written by Frank Darabont — wasn't a huge success at the box office during its initial run, in part due to competition like Pulp Fiction and Forrest Gump. However, it did garner multiple award nominations, took home seven Academy Awards, and snagged a theatrical re-release that turned its box-office gross from $16 million to $73.3 million. In 2015, the Library of Congress even selected the film for preservation at the National Film Registry for its culture, historical, and aesthetic significance.Where to watch: HBO Max

17.No Country for Old Men (2007)

Based on: No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy (2005)Why the movie is better: This grisly psychological thriller by the Coen brothers is probably the best film they've ever made, and that's saying a lot, since these same men brought us the likes of Fargo and Inside Llewyn Davis. Cormac McCarthy penned the original novel and, remarkably, very little was changed for the book's adaptation, including its foreboding tone, surprising twists and turns, and array of well-developed characters. However, unlike in the book where Sheriff Ed Tom Bell narrates all of the events as he investigates a rural Texas drug deal gone awry, the movie (in which he's expertly portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones) makes use of his monologues via voiceover in between scenes, but it is a technique used sparsely. We also get the magnum opus of Javier Bardem, a stand-out as chillingly sociopathic hitman Anton Chigurh. The resulting adaptation feels just as literary as the novel, but the lack of constant narration makes for a far more natural viewing experience, as the Coens allow viewers to truly immerse themselves in its cynical, nihilistic world. It's no wonder that the film swept at the 2008 Academy Awards, taking home Best Picture, Best Directing, and Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay), with Bardem receiving Best Supporting Actor, as he well should've.Where to watch: HBO Max

18.2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Based on: Actually, the namesake Arthur C. Clarke novel came after. Why the movie is better: In terms of book vs. movie, here we have a rather interesting case, because the novel version of 2001: A Space Odyssey  is based on the film, not the other way around. Director Stanley Kubrick and revered sci-fi author, Arthur C. Clarke, had originally planned to pen the novel together before filming, with various parts of Clarke's original short stories (including his 1951 piece