Here is a list of the best movies based off books, voted on by cine-bibliophiles everywhere. Many movies are based off of books but whenever a new movie based on a book comes out there is an endless amount of whining about how Hollywood isn't original and why can't they write their own stories? That's simple, it's because these amazing stories are already written and Hollywood has the means to bring them to life, and sometimes they do it better than even your imagination thought possible (then again, sometimes they simply can't do the original book justice or were later also adapted into TV shows to continue the story or do it better). It's no surprise that popular movies are often inspired by classic literatures and works of art, but which one is the best?
This list looks at the films based on the books - novels, literature, or nonfiction - that made you want to reread the book, started endless "which was better the movie or the book" debates, made you squeal with delight that you pictured it that way in your head, and just blew your frickin' mind.
What are the best movies based on books? Vote on the top movies based on books and share this with your friends to get their opinions, too!
Want to vote on more lists about book adaptations? Check out this list of film franchises based on books, and our roundup of movie adaptations that the book authors loved.
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3,066886Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks, Sally FieldReleased: 1994
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Forrest Gump (1986) by Winston Groom
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3,1141,331The Fellowship of the Ring (1954) by J. R. R. Tolkien3
1,650725The Wizard of Oz
Judy Garland, Margaret HamiltonReleased: 1939
Directed by: Mervyn LeRoy, Norman Taurog, King Vidor, George Cukor, Victor Fleming
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) by L. Frank Baum4
1,870858To Kill a Mockingbird
Robert Duvall, Gregory PeckReleased: 1962
Directed by: Robert Mulligan
To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) by Harper Lee5
1,801803Jurassic Park
Samuel L. Jackson, Jeff GoldblumReleased: 1993
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Jurassic Park (1990) by Michael Crichton
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1,555677Schindler's List
Liam Neeson, Ralph FiennesReleased: 1993
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Schindler's Ark (1982) by Thomas Keneally7
2,132994The Godfather
Al Pacino, Marlon BrandoReleased: 1972
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
The Godfather (1969) by Mario Puzo8
968399Psycho
Alfred Hitchcock, Janet LeighReleased: 1960
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Psycho (1959) by Robert Bloch9
1,408614Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Gene Wilder, Jack AlbertsonReleased: 1971
Directed by: Mel Stuart
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) by Roald Dahl10
1,535618The Princess Bride
Billy Crystal, Robin WrightReleased: 1987
Directed by: Rob Reiner
The Princess Bride (1973) by William Goldman11
766323One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVitoReleased: 1975
Directed by: Miloš Forman
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1962) by Ken Kesey
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1,816678The Silence of the Lambs
Jodie Foster, Anthony HopkinsReleased: 1991
Directed by: Jonathan Demme
The Silence of the Lambs (1988) by Thomas Harris13
1,241569Gone with the Wind
Clark Gable, Vivien LeighReleased: 1939
Directed by: Sam Wood, George Cukor, Victor Fleming
Gone with the Wind (1936) by Margaret Mitchell14
1,276405Stand by Me
Kiefer Sutherland, Corey FeldmanReleased: 1986
Directed by: Rob Reiner
The Body (1982) by Stephen King15
2,9951,337The Shawshank Redemption
Morgan Freeman, Rita HayworthReleased: 1994
Directed by: Frank Darabont
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption (1982) by Stephen King16
2,528755Harry Potter Franchise
Danielle Radcliffe, Rupert GrintReleased: 2001 - 2011
Directed by: Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell, David Yates
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723358The Godfather Part II
Al Pacino, Robert De NiroReleased: 1974
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
The Godfather (1969) by Mario Puzo18
585201Catch Me If You Can
Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprioReleased: 2002
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Catch Me if You Can (1980) by Frank Abagnale
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1,476620Jaws
Steven Spielberg, Richard DreyfussReleased: 1975
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Jaws (1974) by Peter Benchley20
859426Goodfellas
Robert De Niro, Samuel L. JacksonReleased: 1990
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family (1986) by Nicholas Pileggi21
2,026455The Green Mile
Tom Hanks, Gary SiniseReleased: 1999
Directed by: Frank Darabont
The Green Mile (1996) by Stephen King22
1,452868The Shining
Jack Nicholson, Shelley DuvallReleased: 1980
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
The Shining (1977) by Stephen King23
1,8451,010The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950) by C. S. Lewis24
652348Blade Runner
Harrison Ford, Daryl HannahReleased: 1982
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968) by Philip K. Dick25
455188The Birds
Alfred Hitchcock, Tippi HedrenReleased: 1963
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
The Birds (1952) by Daphne du Maurier
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