MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Movies that are better than the book

Movies that are better than the book

posted 3 years ago by Alocirp (688)
59 replies | jump to latest

99% of the time, the book is superior to the film. Of course, that leaves 1% of room for exceptions.

Here's a few of mine:
-American Psycho
-A Clockwork Orange
-Jackie Brown
-No Country for Old Men
-Fantastic Mr. Fox
-The Godfather
-Fight Club
-The Last of the Mohicans
-One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
-Requiem for a Dream
-Watchmen
-The Silence of the Lambs
-The Shining

No disrespect to any of these books, of course; most of them are great. For example, The Shining is a masterpiece both as a novel and a film—I personally just slightly prefer Kubrick's version. Same goes for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and A Clockwork Orange. Excellent novels, but for me, they're also both all-time Top 20 films.

I'm sure many people will disagree with my selection of Watchmen—which is fine—but I'm just not big into graphic novels, and thought the film remained incredibly faithful to the source material while somehow actually improving upon it. It's likely my favorite superhero film, and as far as I'm concerned, a damn near-masterpiece, regardless of genre.

The film that I believe MOST improved upon its source material is American Psycho, which is why I listed it first. The book was pretty decent, but not great. The film, however, is one of my all-time favorites.

So, what are some films you consider to be superior to the books on which they were based?

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

The Bridges of Madison County

[–] Alocirp (688) 3 years ago

It's been years since I've seen the movie, but I do remember liking it despite it not being my general cup of tea (along with the fact that I was probably too young to fully appreciate it at the time).

Guess I'll have to check out the book!

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

I wouldn’t recommend it. I loved the movie and found the book in a second hand book shop for $2 and bought it out of interest. I thought it was really poorly written and has none of the emotional impact of the film. I was surprised to find it was a bestseller because I found it so cheesy and sentimental compared to the film. Of course I’ve heard the same complaints about the film so I guess it comes down to personal preference. For me the film wins hands down though.

[–] Alocirp (688) 3 years ago

Wow, I'm an idiot. Completely forgot the basis of my own topic here when making that last comment. Must have gotten mixed up momentarily and somehow concluded you were suggesting the book was even better than the film. Hence my former enthusiasm for checking out the book.

Must be past my bedtime; I should probably call it a night. Lol thanks for getting me back on track though.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

😂😂😂

All good man. I’ll admit I was a bit confused and thought maybe you were saying “well if YOU prefer the movie then the book MUST be better” 🤣🤣🤣

Funny.

[–] robocat893 (16075) 3 years ago

Logan's Run (1976)

[–] Alocirp (688) 3 years ago

Don't believe I've seen the film nor read the book for that one. Is the movie worth checking out, or would you recommend heading straight for the book?

[–] robocat893 (16075) 3 years ago

I would recommend watching the movie then read the book. Both are entertaining and have very different but satisfying endings.

[–] Alocirp (688) 3 years ago

Awesome, thanks for the input.

And check out my reply above to ThetaSigma since my previous comment to you was probably confusing. Either way, I'll be sure to add Logan's Run to my watch-list straight away.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (78051) 3 years ago

I love the movie but never read the book

The movie is terrific, Michael York makes a great, hesitant hero and Jenny Agutter is just simply beautiful

The movie is great sci-fi adventure stuff and the SFX are really neat for the time

[–] HAL9000 (935) 3 years ago

the bible

[–] CrabgrassWilly (1616) 3 years ago

I don't remember the ninja assassins and gun-toting werewolves in the book, but they really made the movie! And the twist ending was awesome - There was no God all along! Thanks M Night Scoobydoo!

[–] RedThunder (43) 3 years ago

Jaws
First Blood

[–] robocat893 (16075) 3 years ago

Definitely Jaws the movie. The book was long and boring.

[–] Bateman (604) 3 years ago

Drive (2011). The book was very good, but the film was one of the best ever, in my opinion.

[–] Alocirp (688) 3 years ago

That's a great, unique choice there. While I don't consider the film to be one of the best ever, it's still pretty damn awesome.

And you're right: the book is seriously good as well--just not quite on the same level as the film.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (78051) 3 years ago

Jaws
The Godfather
Dexter (TV series)

[–] Alocirp (688) 3 years ago

Absolutely agree with your first two choices there. Interestingly though, I never really got into Dexter, nor even realized it was based on a book. Guess you learn something new every day.

[–] ElizabethJoestar (946) 3 years ago

A Clockwork Orange and Double Indemnity are always the ones that come to mind for me. I enjoyed the books, but the movies made changes that I thought improved the material.

[–] Alocirp (688) 3 years ago

Can't comment on Double Indemnity, but I'm totally with you on A Clockwork Orange.

[–] overseas7 (4917) 3 years ago

I have read "Planet of the Apes ". The book was good but maybe the movie (1968) was even a little bit better.

[–] mikethemartian (6907) 3 years ago

I read that when the author Pierre Boulle saw the ending of the film he commented that he had wished he had thought of that ending for the novel.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

The movie -- written by Rod Serling of Twilight Zone fame -- is considerably better than the book. It works at two levels -- one satire, one straight up adventure and featured Heston at his cynical best.

The book is more intellectual. It really does take place on another planet where the apes speak their own language. It's more of story about exploration and discovery. It has a sort of suprise ending of it's own, but nothing like the gut punch of the movie.

[–] overseas7 (4917) 3 years ago

In this case, they did it well. The end of the movie is terrific.