11 Book-to-Film Adaptations That Are Just As Impressive As Their Iconic Originals

Films
3 years ago

Sometimes, book-to-film adaptations can inspire viewers as much as the original books. Some movies that are based on classic literature and bestsellers win the audience’s hearts from the first few minutes. Their characters become our best friends for a little while, and the atmosphere is so captivating that we want to get lost in it.

We at Bright Side couldn’t miss these 11 amazing movies that are almost more worthy of public attention than the original books. And the bonus part at the end of the article will please you with TV series that are also adaptations of iconic classic books.

My Cousin Rachel (2017)

This is a film adaptation of the detective novel with the same name written by Daphne du Maurier. Philip (Sam Claflin) is very attached to his adoptive father, Ambrose. During his trip to Italy, Ambrose meets Rachel (Rachel Ashley), who is his distant relative, marries her, but soon after that, he passes away. Philip is sure that Ambrose’s cunning and beautiful wife has driven his father to the grave to get an impressive inheritance. The main character plans his revenge, but then suddenly realizes that he’s falling in love with Rachel.

  • IMDb — 6

Small Country: An African Childhood (2020)

The novel about a young musician, Gaël Faye, has been translated into multiple languages and has been nominated for almost all prestigious French awards. The 10-year-old main character has a French father and a mother who is a Rwandan refugee. The family lives in Burundi, in a prosperous metropolitan residential quarter. The boy tries to ignore his parents’ quarrels and doesn’t understand what his beautiful mother is so afraid of and why she begs her husband to urgently take the family to France.

Nicholas Nickleby (2002)

This film is based on the novel by Charles Dickens. Finding himself on the brink of poverty after the death of his father, young, and mostly naive, Nicholas Nickleby falls under the pressure of his cynical and pragmatic uncle and becomes a teacher in a notorious private school in England. And the dangerous adventures of young Nicholas Nickleby, that are full of unexpected turns and ups and downs, begin.

Two Women (2014)

A strong-willed young woman, whose husband is a wealthy landowner, once falls in love with the mentor of her own son. The film is based on the play Month in the Village by Ivan Turgenev. During the shooting, Ralph Fiennes did all of his lines in Russian. But because he failed to get rid of the accent, his character was voiced over by a Russian actor, with Fiennes’ consent.

Much Ado About Nothing (2012)

It’s been more than 400 years since Shakespeare wrote his plays, but nothing has changed in the relationships between men and women. Benedick is a handsome lady-killer. And the only woman who doesn’t fall under his charm is the beautiful Beatrice. She’s sharp-tongued and just makes fun of Benedick. Friends of the main characters decide to start a tricky game to bring them closer together.

The Woman in the Window (2020)

This is a film adaptation of A.J. Finn’s novel with Amy Adams playing the main character. A woman who suffers from agoraphobia begins to spy on her new neighbors and becomes an involuntary witness to a terrible situation.

  • The release date: 2020

A Woman’s Life (2016)

17-year-old Jeanne leaves the monastery where she spent her adolescent years and returns to the Poplar estate in Normandy. There she falls in love with Julien, the son of a nobleman who has lost his fortune. The young couple gets married soon afterward, but family happiness isn’t meant to last for long. This is the film adaptation of the namesake novel by Guy de Maupassant, and the action takes place in the 19th century.

The Woman in White (2018)

A young artist, Walter Hartright, goes to the estate of a wealthy esquire, Frederick Fairlie, and assumes the position of an art tutor. On his way there, he meets a strange young woman dressed in all white. Soon, Walter finds out that this girl has escaped from a mental ward.

Beyond the Horizon (2019)

The movie is based on the book by Roland Buti, and Laetitia Casta played one of the main roles. This film tells a story of Gus, who spends his vacation reading comic books and helping his dad, who invested all his money in a modern, battery-powered chicken coop.

  • IMDb — 6.8

The Go-Between (2015)

This is a book adaptation of the namesake novel written by the English writer, L.P. Hartley. 12-year-old Leo spends his vacation is at the luxurious estate of his classmate. Here, he becomes a witness to and an involuntary participant of a romantic and dramatic story where love, lies, fear, and hate are intertwined.

Northanger Abbey (2007)

This is a film adaptation of the famous novel by Jane Austin. The daughter of a small estate nobleman, Catherine Morland (Felicity Jones), goes with her aunt to a water resort in Bath, where she meets Henry Tilney, the son of a wealthy general. This military man was misinformed that Catherine has an impressive dowry, so he invites her to his estate in order to profitably marry his son. Soon, the general finds out that Catherine’s parents are poor. But it’s already too late — Henry and Catherine have fallen in love with each other.

Bonus № 1: Les Misérables (TV series, 2018)

Jean Valjean is a fugitive convict who was convicted of stealing bread and who has been hiding from inspector Javert for many years. At the same time, the tragic story of Fantine and her illegitimate daughter Cosette is developing. After Fantine’s death, Jean Valjean, who considers himself responsible for her fate, takes Cosette with him and takes care of her as if she were his own child.

Bonus № 2: Demons (TV series, 2014)

A series of mysterious murders take place in a fictional provincial city. The metropolitan investigator arrives at the crime scene. The search for criminals leads him to an unexpected conclusion — a revolutionary group, consisting of 2 young people who have recently returned from Switzerland, has been created in the city.

Have you ever seen book adaptations that you remembered just as well as their original books?

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