The full list of book-to-movie adaptations seems interminable and spans decades. The art of bringing a book to life on screen creates a whole new experience for the audience. To rank the best book-to-movie adaptations, there are several factors to consider, including the cast, director, and the time between when the book was written and when it was adapted into a movie. I will narrow down the top five best book-to-movie adaptations from the last 10 years, based on my highly praised cinephile opinion.
“Call Me By Your Name”
In no particular order, let’s hit the ground running with one of the best. In 2005, Andre Aciman wrote “Call Me By Your Name,” and it was later published in 2007.
When the book was published, the only state that recognized and allowed gay marriage was Massachusetts, and gay men were still banned from serving in the military; therefore, “Call Me By Your Name” offered a safe space to gay men who felt unwelcome in their own country and home.
It was adapted into a movie in 2017, exactly a decade after its official publication. The film stars Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer — yikes.
Many things made this movie so incredible, one of which is the soundtrack done by the astonishingly talented Sufjan Stevens. “Mystery Of Love” has become a love anthem for the LGBTQ+ community.
Chalamet effortlessly brought Elio to life through his nervous mannerisms and charming wit. While Hammer is controversial now, at the time, his performance was praised. Oliver was so smooth and charming, convincing the film’s audience to fall in love with him, even if he was taking advantage of the sweet, naive Elio.
“Little Women”
The book was written by Louisa May Alcott and was published in two separate volumes, the first in 1868 and the second in 1869. The story is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story set during the Civil War in Massachusetts.
“Little Women” follows the four March sisters — Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy — highlighting the struggles they face during their journey from childhood to womanhood, ranging from poverty, love, careers, loss, and self-discovery. The book was adapted into a movie in 2019 and was directed by the talented Greta Gerwig.
The cast is also booming with talent, including Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Chalamet, Meryl Streep, and more. Gerwig has an eye for films about women, and I think her work thrives off casts made up of mostly women.
“Little Women” made history as both a book and a film for its depiction of womanhood, emphasizing women’s independence, and highlighting complex female relationships.
“Gone Girl”
“Gone Girl” was written by Gillian Flynn and was published in 2012. It is a psychological thriller about the mysterious disappearance of Amy Dunne. Amy’s husband, Nick, becomes the prime suspect in the mystery amid a media frenzy.
The book was adapted into a movie in 2014, only two years after the book’s release, and stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. This book-to-movie adaptation was just okay compared to the aforementioned two, but nonetheless, I was still intrigued the whole time.
Affleck was the perfect match for his character, somehow likeable and unlikeable at the same time, creating multiple perspectives on him throughout the whole film. Pike was also perfectly cast.
Unlike the book, the movie kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, which is often not the case with book-to-movie adaptations — most of the time, people prefer the book to the movie.
“The Hunger Games”
There are many book series that have been adapted into movies, the best of which is “The Hunger Games.” The first book of the series was published in 2008. Suzanne Collins is the mastermind behind this dystopian literary world.
All the films are fantastic, but I ultimately favor the books over the films. Reading can allow a person to get so absorbed and lost in a world that they can escape reality. While films can also have this effect on people, I find books to be more powerful in this aspect. The characters in the films brought the story to life and led to the series becoming even more popular than it was as a book.
Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson starred in the first “Hunger Games” film in 2012, igniting a tsunami of positive feedback from the audience. The chemistry that the two had was palpable, which made the watching experience even better.
There is already excitement in the media about the new film, set to release in November. It is a bittersweet feeling to have a series most of us grew up with end so soon, but it’s also exciting to finally close the book and tie it off with a knot.
“The Great Gatsby”
Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and published in 1925, the book was first adapted into a movie in 1974, later in 2000, and again in 2013 — the 2013 adaptation being my favorite.
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, and more, the movie sticks with nearly exact accuracy to the book. I praise this adaptation so highly for many reasons.
One reason is its grand, theatrical, glamorous execution. Gatsby’s parties have a grandeur that gives me FOMO from a time I was not yet alive. The costumes and set of this film are outstanding, with striking beauty consistently throughout the entire film.
Although DiCaprio has made some questionable choices, he was ultimately the perfect choice for Gatsby. His suave nature seeped seamlessly into his character, adding another layer of enigma and self-obsession to Jay.
I think the movie depicts male yearning so beautifully, both emotionally and literally. “The Great Gatsby” is a film I find myself watching over and over again, leaving an indelible mark on me.
“Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin and “Deep Cuts” by Holly Brickley are two book-to-movie adaptations I am looking forward to most, both of which are expected to be released by the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027.
