Introduction

It’s not often that a movie outshines the book it was based on. Usually the written word so far surpasses the film that you almost wish you hadn’t read it in the first place so you could have enjoyed the movie in all its mediocrity. But once in a while, a brilliant cast or visionary director breathes new life into a story and makes you glad you spent your life’s savings on the cost of admission. Here are a few book-based tales that were better told on the big screen.

Seabiscuit

Before Tobey McGuire suited up in jockey pants to ride Seabiscuit to glory, Laura Hillenbrand wrote about it. Her book Seabiscuit: An American Legend grabbed a spot on the New York Times bestseller list in 2001 and was praised for its nuanced and insightful telling of a little-known slice of history. But McGuire’s compelling performance and the adrenaline-pumping horse races were the stuff of cinematic magic. The movie made Hillenbrand’s story jump off the screen and into the hearts of audiences everywhere.

The Devil Wears Prada [Read Online]

No offense, Laura Weisberger, your book served its purpose, but Meryl Streep’s performance as the insufferable Miranda Preistly was priceless. While the novel felt a little schmaltzy and contrived, the film struck a nice balance of cheeky sincerity. Plus, the story takes place in the offices of a high-profile fashion magazine; had Weisberger’s book included glossy photos of all the fabulous clothing that was showcased in the movie, maybe we’d be having a different conversation right now.

Fight Club [Download PDF]

There are plenty of Chuck Palahniuk fans that would battle me on this one, but Fight Club the movie kicked Fight Club the book’s behind, thanks, in large part, to the inspired casting of Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, and Helena Bonham Carter in the three lead roles.

Forrest Gump [Download noval] [Download Screenplay]

Tom Hanks is to Forrest Gump as ketchup is to french fries: one completes the other. Although the story line, based on the 1986 novel of the same name, was solid, it’s hard to imagine we’d have been as drawn into the serendipitous follies of a guy who jogs across the country had it not been for Mr. Hanks and the movie’s epic cross-generational soundtrack.

Princess Bride

This movie is such a classic, it feels trite to point out its greatness. (Hey guys, have you heard of the Princess Bride movie?! It’s rulll good!) Suffice to say, the book was great, too. But the casting, set design, costumes, and comedic delivery of the movie set it apart as a treasure for the ages.

The Hours

Michael Cunningham’s 1998 novel was good. So good, in fact, that it won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction the following year. I won’t go so far as to say the movie was better, but the breathtaking cinematography and inspired casting (kudos again, Meryl Streep) brought a new, compelling perspective to the tale.[Read More]

Stand by Me

Did you know that the movie Stand by Me was based on a novella by Stephen King called The Body? Neither did I. The iconic film gets a spot on this list for that reason and also because it introduced a new generation to the musical stylings of 1950s legends Buddy Holly and Jerry Lewis and to the lollipop-lovin’ Chordettes.

High Fidelity

Nick Hornby is a great writer. High Fidelity makes the list because John Cusack so perfectly embodied lead character Rob Gordon (changed from Rob Fleming in the book) that all other interpretations of the story were eclipsed. Not to mention the fact that it was the world’s first introduction to the force of nature that is Jack Black.

Bridget Jones’s Diary [Download PDF Book]

Helen Fielding’s novel of the same name was already wildly popular before Renée Zellweger entered the scene; it even won the British Book of the Year award in 1998. The movie had two advantages, though, and their names were Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, a duo so compulsively watchable they could make QVC entertaining.