Best book-to-movie adaptations ever – and where to watch them

Sally Rooney’s novel Normal People was a huge hit and the TV adaptation that came out this year was spectacular, so the expectations for this adaptation of Rooney’s novel Conversations with Friends are high. Set in Dublin, the plot follows best friends and poets Francis and Bobbi who enter a tangled relationship with an older married couple.

Starring Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Luke Evans in main roles, this adaptation on Liane Moriarty’s Nine Perfect Strangers will be adapted into a miniseries for Hulu. From the writer of Big Little Lies, the plot of this series follows nine strangers who meet at a luxury wellness resort that hides a dark secret agenda.

Starring Carey Mulligan (The Great Gatsby), Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel), and Lily James (Mamma Mia: Here we go again) this film is an adaptation of John Preston’s The Dig. The plot focuses on the excavation of the Sutton Hoo ship from the dark ages.

Starring Priyanka Chopra and Rajkummar Rao, this adaptation is based on the book of the same name that won the man booker prize in 200. This story follows the narrator's turbulent life path, growing up in impoverished rural India and ultimately becoming a successful businessman and entrepreneur.

Starring Tom Holland, this film adaptation of Walker’s novel Cherry focuses on an army medic whose drug addiction leads to a life of crime. The film is directed by the Russo brothers who were celebrated for their directing of Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Infinity War.

Starring Emma Thompson (Love, Actually) and Emma Stone (La La Land), this film adaptation of Dodie Smith’s novel focuses on the attempted puppy killer villain of the story: Cruella De Vil. This adaptation focuses on her early life, with Emma Stone playing the eponymous character Cruella. 

Starring Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born) and Cate Blanchett (Ocean’s 8) this film directed by Guillermo Del Toro (The Shape of Water) is an adaptation of the American psychological thriller, Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham. 

According to IMDD, 'An ambitious young carny with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words hooks up with a female psychiatrist who is even more dangerous than he is.'

Olivia Coleman (The Favourite), Colin Firth (Briget Jones’ Baby) and Josh O’Connor (The Crown) star in this film adaptation of Swift’s period drama. This film, set during WW1 focuses on a forbidden love story between an orphan maid Jane and her secret lover, a wealthy man engaged to another woman.

Starring Andrew Scott (Fleabag) and Lily James (Rebecca) this TV adaptation - The Pursuit of Love - is based on the love story between Lord Merin (Scott) and Linda Radlett (James). The show was commissioned by the BBC and set to air at some point in 2021, the filming has yet to finish due to the COVID-19 outbreak interrupting filming. 

This adaptation of Delia Owen’s Where the Crawdads Sing stars Normal People’s Daisy Edgar Jones in the lead role as Kya Clark. This mystery romance was picked up by Reece Witherspoon’s production company Hello Sunshine. 

In light of the success of Witherspoon’s last adaptation Little Fires Everywhere, expectations are set high for this feature film. 

Set in Shaker Heights, a predictable but successful Cleveland suburb, we meet Elena Richardson (Reese Witherspoon), who plays by the rules, and newbie to the neighbourhood Mia Warren (Kerry Washington), a single mother who doesn't play by the rules.

The author of the aforementioned Conversations With Friends, Sally's smash-hit novel follows the story of Connell and Marianne, who meet as kids in the same small town in Northern Ireland. As the pair grow up, they begin to realise just how much one person can change another's life.

This Victorian classic by Charles Dickens is being given a modern reboot for 2020, in the form of "The Personal History of David Copperfield", which has been reworked as a comedy/drama starring Dev Patel, Hugh Laurie and Tilda Swinton.

This 2020 film is based on an 1897 science fiction novel by H.G Wells, centred around a scientist, Griffin, who accidently performs an experiment on himself, rendering him essentially invisible.

The film is a horror reworking of the original novel, and stars Elisabeth Moss, who plays Offred in The Handmaid's Tale. It's not exactly matched to the original book, with a more sinister plot, but is certainly worth seeing - if you're brave enough!

The 1993 classic was made into a movie last year, starring Colin Firth, Judie Walters and Dixie Egerickx. It was the whimsical novel we all loved as kids – when little Mary Lennox went to explore the secrets of her uncles Yorkshire garden after being orphaned. 

Autumn de Wilde’s adaptation of this regency classic has all the elements that made the novel so beloved. Telling the story of matchmaking Emma Woodhouse, Anya Taylor-Joy perfectly embodies the lead role.

She is supported by the wonderful Bill Nighy as her father and Miranda Hart as the comedic Miss Bates. Together with the sumptuous costumes and settings, this adaptation is a compelling version of the age-old tale.

As with many adaptations, the setting in this 2016 film was changed from the UK to US, though Emily Blunt’s masterful portrayal of alcoholic divorcee Rachel is no less captivating and she went on to receive a BAFTA nomination.

Though the novel holds back the crucial twists and turns from its readers for longer than the film, the dramatic conclusion and pacing is sure to draw you in.

With Oscar nominations and praise galore, Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel is a wonderful blend of the original tale with elements of the author’s second volume, Good Wives. Gerwig also helps viewers to really become immersed in the story, by reimagining it with fan-favourite Jo March as the author of the novel Little Women.

This explores her journey to creative success in more detail and also gives the film an updated feel and a sense of breaking new territory, whilst retaining the essence of Alcott’s characters and story. A charming adaptation, perfect for family viewing.

Sinister and psychological, Gillian Flynn’s 2012 novel made for dramatic on-screen material. With Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck taking the lead roles, this chilling plot is in good hands. Flynn herself took a huge role in adapting her novel for the silver screen and the unreliable narration, suspense and dramatic reveals that made it so successful similarly work in the film released two years later.

After Nick Dunne is accused of being involved in his wife's disappearance, he is determined to discover what happened to her. But is he really ready for the truth?

The source material has undergone several reprints since it was first published, though the beloved 1939 adaptation stays generally faithful. Dorothy’s signature footwear is perhaps the most iconic difference, changing from silver shoes to the ruby slippers we all know and love.

The film brings to life an already imaginative story of farm girl Dorothy’s journey through Oz in a colourful, song-filled film enjoyed by adults and children the world over. The level of detail in the set and costumes is delightful and playful, keeping audiences intrigued and capturing the essence of the book.

Just as tear-jerking as the book, the 2009 adaptation of Jodi Picoult’s novel brilliantly encapsulates one family's unfathomable struggle. Despite shifting the focus for film audiences and the ending being a big departure from the book, the spirit of it remains.

Lead actress Abigail Breslin brings great maturity to her role as 13-year-old Anna, raised as a saviour sibling for her sick sister Kate. This story is powerful and thought-provoking, however you choose to enjoy it.

Known for giving us one of the most fashionable villains, Lauren Weisberger’s book reaches even greater heights in the 2006 adaptation. Meryl Streep's performance as demanding fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly earned her an Oscar nomination.

The relationship between Miranda and her new assistant played by Anne Hathaway is spell-binding. Though the film’s ending is a departure from the book, the resolution it provides is utterly enjoyable to watch. This is a feel-good film with scene-stealing costumes as far as the eye can see.