List Rules Films based on short stories and novellas. Vote and up the best movies that started out as a work of short fiction.
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Some of the greatest movies in the history of film were based on a short story. Authors like Edgar Allan Poe have inadvertently shaped the film industry with their literary classics that were eventually turned into movies. What are the best movies based on short stories? Vote up the best films below and see where your favorites rank!
The movies on this list were all based on short stories or novellas and have been ranked by users as the best. The genres featured here range from classic black and white films to more recent box office hits. You might have read the short fiction or novella these films were based on, or maybe you are just learning that these movies were based on one.
This list features the best movies based on short stories including, The Shawshank Redemption, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Million Dollar Baby, Brokeback Mountain, and Minority Report. Vote up the best movies below or add one you love that isn't already on the list.
list ordered by
1
138 17
The Shawshank RedemptionMorgan Freeman, Rita Hayworth, Tim Robbins Based on Stephen King's novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 American drama film written and directed by Frank Darabont and starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. Adapted from the Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and ...more
2
109 24
Stand by MeKiefer Sutherland, Corey Feldman, John CusackBased on Stephen King's novella, The Body. Stand by Me is a 1986 American coming of age comedy-drama adventure film directed by Rob Reiner and starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Jerry O'Connell. Based on the novella ...more
3
74 32
Apocalypse NowMarlon Brando, Harrison Ford, Robert Duvall Based on Joseph Conrad's novella, Heart of Darkness. Apocalypse Now is a 1979 American epic adventure war film set during the Vietnam War. Produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen, and Robert Duvall. ...more
4
65 34
Sleepy HollowJohnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Christopher Walken Based on Washington Irving's short story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Sleepy Hollow is a 1999 American fantasy horror adventure film directed by Tim Burton. It is a film adaptation loosely inspired by the 1820 short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington ...more
5
97 61
Brokeback MountainAnne Hathaway, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kate Mara Based on Annie Proulx's short story of the same name. Brokeback Mountain is a 2005 American epic romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee. It is a film adaptation of the 1997 short story of the same name by Annie Proulx; the screenplay was written ...more
6
67 37
The BirdsAlfred Hitchcock, Tippi Hedren, Suzanne PleshetteBased on Daphne du Maurier's short story of the same name. The Birds is a 1963 suspense/horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, loosely based on the 1952 story "The Birds" by Daphne du Maurier. It depicts Bodega Bay, California, which is, ...more
7
60 32
Total RecallArnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone, Michael Ironside Based on Philip K. Dick's story, We Can Remember It For You Wholesale. Total Recall is a 1990 American science fiction action film directed by Paul Verhoeven, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, and Sharon Stone. The film is loosely based on the Philip ...more
8
57 30
Minority ReportCameron Diaz, Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell Based on Philip K. Dick's short story of the same name. Minority Report is a 2002 American neo-noir science fiction mystery-thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and loosely based on the short story of the same name by Philip K. Dick. It is set ...more
9
52 26
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeFredric March, Wallace Beery, Miriam Hopkins Based on Robert Louis Stevenson's novella, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a 1931 American Pre-Code horror film directed by Rouben Mamoulian and starring Fredric March. The film is an adaptation of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, ...more
10
55 34
Breakfast at Tiffany'sAudrey Hepburn, Mickey Rooney, Mel Blanc Based on Truman Capote's novella of the same name. Breakfast at Tiffany's is a 1961 American romantic comedy film starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard, and featuring Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen, Martin Balsam, and Mickey Rooney. The film ...more
11
51 33
2001: A Space OdysseyArthur C. Clarke, Leonard Rossiter, Ed Bishop Based on Arthur C. Clarke's short story, The Sentinel. 2001: A Space Odyssey is a 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick. The screenplay was written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, and was partially inspired by ...more
12
53 35
MementoGuy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe PantolianoBased on Jonathan Nolan's short story, Memento Mori. Memento is a 2000 American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Christopher Nolan. The screenplay was written by Nolan based on his younger brother Jonathan Nolan's short story ...more
13
32 20
looksharp added The IllusionistJessica Biel, Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti Based on Steven Millhauser's short story, Eisenheim the Illusionist. The Illusionist is a 2006 American period drama film written and directed by Neil Burger and starring Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, and Jessica Biel. It is based loosely on Steven Millhauser's ...more
14
47 36
Million Dollar BabyClint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Hilary Swank Based on the short stories of Jerry Boyd. Million Dollar Baby is a 2004 American sports drama film directed, co-produced and scored by Clint Eastwood, and starring Eastwood, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman. This film is about an ...more
15
38 28
Double indemnity Based on James M. Cain's story of the same name.
16
45 36
The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonBrad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Elle Fanning Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story of the same name. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a 2008 American romantic fantasy drama film directed by David Fincher. The storyline by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord is loosely based on the 1922 short ...more
17
38 34
Where the Wild Things AreMark Ruffalo, Forest Whitaker, James GandolfiniBased on Maurice Sendak's story of the same name. Where the Wild Things Are is a 2009 fantasy drama film directed by Spike Jonze. Written by Jonze and Dave Eggers, it is adapted from Maurice Sendak's 1963 children's book of the same name. It ...more
18
29 24
looksharp added A.I. Artificial IntelligenceMeryl Streep, Robin Williams, Jude Law Based on the short story "Super-Toys Last All Summer Long" by Brian Aldiss A.I. Artificial Intelligence, also known as A.I., is a 2001 American science fiction film written, directed, and produced by Steven Spielberg, and based on Brian Aldiss's short story Super-Toys ...more
19
38 35
Bootsdad added The Running ManArnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Brown, Jesse Ventura "Based on a short papeback story by Richard Bachman aka Steven King" The Running Man is a 1987 American science fiction action film loosely based on the 1982 novel The Running Man, written by Stephen King and published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. ...more
20
25 21
looksharp added 3:10 to YumaChristian Bale, Russell Crowe, Logan Lerman Based on the short story of the same name by Elmore Leonard 3:10 to Yuma is a 2007 western film directed by James Mangold and produced by Cathy Konrad, and stars Russell Crowe and Christian Bale in the lead roles, with supporting performances by Peter ...more
21
23 19
looksharp added The Day the Earth Stood StillJennifer Connelly, Keanu Reeves, Jon HammBased on the short story "Farewell to the Master" by Harry Bates The Day the Earth Stood Still is a 2008 American science fiction film, a remake of the 1951 film of the same name. The screenplay is based on the 1940 classic science fiction short story ...more
22
31 31
The FlyGeena Davis, Jeff Goldblum, David Cronenberg Based on George Langelaan's film of the same name. The Fly is a 1986 American science fiction horror film directed and co-written by David Cronenberg. Produced by Brooksfilms and distributed by 20th Century Fox, the film stars Jeff Goldblum, ...more
23
27 27
The Third ManOrson Welles, Trevor Howard, Joseph Cotten Based on Graham Greene's novella of the same name. The Third Man is a 1949 British film noir, directed by Carol Reed and starring Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Orson Welles, and Trevor Howard. It is considered one of the greatest films of all ...more
24
7 6
go_sullivan added The MistThomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden The Mist is a 2007 American science fiction horror film based on the 1980 novella of the same name by Stephen King. The film was written and directed by Frank Darabont, who had previously ...more
25
15 16
The Man Who Shot Liberty ValanceJohn Wayne, James Stewart, Lee Marvin The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is a 1962 American Western film directed by John Ford starring James Stewart and John Wayne. The black-and-white film was released by Paramount Pictures. The ...more
not on the list? add item #40
List Rules: Films based on short stories and novellas. Vote and up the best movies that started out as a work of short fiction.
