Curious in what scenarios are movies better than books they’re based off of? In the overwhelming majority of cases, film adaptations always end up disappointing the viewers who’ve also read the book. However, every rule has its exception. There are several feature films inspired by written works in cinematic history that have managed to impress the audience.
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Let’s see the top 6 movies that beat the books which inspired them, in a style similar to our countdown of the best bad movies ever.
No. 6: Stand by Me, 1986
Inspired by: The Body, Stephen King
Undoubtedly one of the best coming-of-age movies in cinematic industry, Stand by Me was inspired by a novel written by Stephen King. Although the book was impeccably written, movie producers get some credit for transforming the film in the success that it was. Who would have guessed that a cast of child actors could bring the characters to life in such a mesmerizing way?
No. 5: Silence of the Lambs, 1991
Inspired by: The Silence of the Lambs, Thomas Harris
Thomas Harris wrote a series of highly successful books on the character Hannibal Lecter, but the movies his writings inspired became a phenomenon, to say the least. The fast pace action, the suspense, and all the gory details depicted in the movie made it a memorable motion picture, one that far exceedd the success of the book. And hats off to Sir Anthony Hopkins for his stellar performance.
Continue reading to see other cases of movies better than books:
No. 4: The Shining, 1980
Inspired by: The Shining, Stephen King
Director Stanley Kubrick managed to spin off King’s novel and created an iconic horror movie. The movie and the book share a number of differences, including how the story ends, but it is undeniable that movie producers made the right choice in altering the plot. And Jack Nicholson playing the lead role certainly didn’t hurt.
No. 3: Jaws, 1975
Inspired by: Jaws, Peter Benchley
Peter Benchley’s novel was a success in its own right, but the movie became an iconic milestone in cinematic history. Movie producer Steven Spielberg, who used Jaws as a launching pad for his career, also changed a few details, such as the death of the shark and Hooper’s character, played by Richard Dreyfuss.
No. 2: Forrest Gump, 1994
Inspired by: Forrest Gump, Winston Groom
Most people don’t even know Forrest Gump was inspired by a book and that pretty much says it all. The movie portrayed the bizarre Forrest Gump getting into all sorts of quirky situations in a way that empathized with viewers. The book’s plot, on the other hand, got weirder and weirder, as the character flew to outer space with an ape and lived with the cannibals for a couple of years. Imagine seeing Tom Hanks in these odd, almost sci-fi, situations.
No. 1: The Shawshank Redemption, 1994
Inspired by: Different Seasons, Stephen King
Though Stephen King’s novel was tremendously well-written, the star studded cast that brought the story to life created one of the most memorable movies of the 90s. Although Shawshank ended up losing the Best Picture award to Forrest Gump, it is arguably not only the best movie inspired by a book, but also the best motion picture of its generation.
