While bad movie adaptations of books are common, there is a select group of films that have managed to surpass their literary origins.
Francis Ford Coppola's 'The Godfather' trilogy is a prime example; author Mario Puzo himself admitted his book was written primarily to pay off debts, and it was Coppola's creative decisions that elevated the story into a cinematic masterpiece.
'Forrest Gump,' a winner of the Best Picture Oscar, is another case where the film improved upon a messy and less lovable character from Winston Groom's erratic novel.
'Blade Runner,' based on Philip K.
Dick's 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?,' vastly expanded the novel's dystopian world to create an iconic aesthetic, earning the author's posthumous praise.
'The Devil Wears Prada' turned Lauren Weisberger's gossipy novel into a pop culture sensation, thanks in large part to Meryl Streep's unforgettable portrayal of Miranda Priestly.
The Daniel Craig-led 'Casino Royale' is considered by many to be the best James Bond film, taking the dramatic heart of Ian Fleming's novel while adding emotional heft.
The 1964 'Mary Poppins' film, with its dazzling performance by Julie Andrews and memorable songs, continues to live on in hearts despite being based on a classic children's book.
The CGI adaptation of 'Shrek' improved upon William Steig's illustrated book with a starry voice cast and jokes for adults.
Tina Fey's highly quotable 'Mean Girls' was inspired by a non-fiction self-help book, 'Queen Bees Wannabes,' and transformed its social hierarchy into a hilarious comedy.
Steven Spielberg's 'Jaws' amped up the tension of Peter Benchley's pulpy thriller novel, creating a more likeable set of protagonists and unforgettable set-pieces.
'The Bourne Identity' took Robert Ludlum's 'solid airport fare' and turned it into a gripping and original film by focusing on the core premise of an assassin with amnesia.
Michael Crichton's 'Jurassic Park' novel was a scientific cautionary tale, but Spielberg's film simplified the narrative and added stunning visuals that made it an international sensation.
'The Shawshank Redemption,' based on a Stephen King novella, was expanded by director Frank Darabont to give lesser characters more emotional backstories.
Finally, 'The Notebook' elevated Nicholas Sparks' formulaic romance novel with the genius casting of Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.
Francis Ford Coppola's 'The Godfather' trilogy is a prime example; author Mario Puzo himself admitted his book was written primarily to pay off debts, and it was Coppola's creative decisions that elevated the story into a cinematic masterpiece.
'Forrest Gump,' a winner of the Best Picture Oscar, is another case where the film improved upon a messy and less lovable character from Winston Groom's erratic novel.
'Blade Runner,' based on Philip K.
Dick's 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?,' vastly expanded the novel's dystopian world to create an iconic aesthetic, earning the author's posthumous praise.
'The Devil Wears Prada' turned Lauren Weisberger's gossipy novel into a pop culture sensation, thanks in large part to Meryl Streep's unforgettable portrayal of Miranda Priestly.
The Daniel Craig-led 'Casino Royale' is considered by many to be the best James Bond film, taking the dramatic heart of Ian Fleming's novel while adding emotional heft.
The 1964 'Mary Poppins' film, with its dazzling performance by Julie Andrews and memorable songs, continues to live on in hearts despite being based on a classic children's book.
The CGI adaptation of 'Shrek' improved upon William Steig's illustrated book with a starry voice cast and jokes for adults.
Tina Fey's highly quotable 'Mean Girls' was inspired by a non-fiction self-help book, 'Queen Bees Wannabes,' and transformed its social hierarchy into a hilarious comedy.
Steven Spielberg's 'Jaws' amped up the tension of Peter Benchley's pulpy thriller novel, creating a more likeable set of protagonists and unforgettable set-pieces.
'The Bourne Identity' took Robert Ludlum's 'solid airport fare' and turned it into a gripping and original film by focusing on the core premise of an assassin with amnesia.
Michael Crichton's 'Jurassic Park' novel was a scientific cautionary tale, but Spielberg's film simplified the narrative and added stunning visuals that made it an international sensation.
'The Shawshank Redemption,' based on a Stephen King novella, was expanded by director Frank Darabont to give lesser characters more emotional backstories.
Finally, 'The Notebook' elevated Nicholas Sparks' formulaic romance novel with the genius casting of Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.