Watchworthy

The Best Movies Based on Short Stories

Updated February 3, 2020 3k votes 350 voters 24.6k views 50 items

List Rules Films based on short stories and novellas. Vote and up the best movies that started out as a work of short fiction.

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.

Data-driven recommendations based on voting from over 40 million monthly visits to Ranker. Try the free app

list ordered by

The Shawshank Redemption Morgan Freeman, Rita Hayworth, Tim Robbins

Released: 1994

Directed by: Frank Darabont

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

More The Shawshank Redemption ❯

The Best 'Shawshank Redemption' Quotes Will Set You Free #1 of 367 The Best Movies Based On Books #10 of 349 'Old' Movies Every Young Person Needs To Watch In Their Lifetime

Stand by Me is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Best Movies Based on Short Stories

Stand by Me Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Feldman, John Cusack

Released: 1986

Directed by: Rob Reiner

Based 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

More Stand by Me ❯

Behind-The-Scenes Stories From 'Stand By Me' That Prove The Film Shaped The Child Actors #12 of 367 The Best Movies Based On Books #35 of 349 'Old' Movies Every Young Person Needs To Watch In Their Lifetime

Brokeback Mountain Anne Hathaway, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kate Mara

Released: 2005

Directed by: Ang Lee

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

More Brokeback Mountain ❯

#294 of 395 The Best Western Movies Ever Made #774 of 1,699 The Most Rewatchable Movieslisted on Every Oscar Winning Film Ever

Apocalypse Now Marlon Brando, Harrison Ford, Robert Duvall

Released: 1979

Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola

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

More Apocalypse Now ❯

The Behind The Scenes Madness Of 'Apocalypse Now' Was Even More Hellish Than You Thought #20 of 375 The 50+ Best War Movies Ever Made, Rankedlisted on Every Oscar Winning Film Ever

The Birds Alfred Hitchcock, Tippi Hedren, Suzanne Pleshette

Released: 1963

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Based 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

More The Birds ❯

#34 of 367 The Best Movies Based On Books #32 of 852 The Best Horror Movies Of All Time #294 of 1,699 The Most Rewatchable Movies

Total Recall Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone, Michael Ironside

Released: 1990

Directed by: Paul Verhoeven

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. In 2084, a construction worker, Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger), suddenly finds himself embroiled in ...more

More Total Recall ❯

Every Warning Sci-Fi Writer Philip K. Dick Gave Us About Technology That Is Coming True #137 of 367 The Best Movies Based On Books #15 of 191 The Best Alien Movies Ever Made

Sleepy Hollow Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Christopher Walken

Released: 1999

Directed by: Tim Burton

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

More Sleepy Hollow ❯

#70 of 852 The Best Horror Movies Of All Time #163 of 1,699 The Most Rewatchable Movieslisted on Every Oscar Winning Film Ever

Minority Report Cameron Diaz, Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell

Released: 2002

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

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

More Minority Report ❯

Every Warning Sci-Fi Writer Philip K. Dick Gave Us About Technology That Is Coming True #277 of 410 The Best Rainy Day Movies #194 of 548 The Greatest Movies for Guys

2001: A Space Odyssey Arthur C. Clarke, Leonard Rossiter, Ed Bishop

Released: 1968

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

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

More 2001: A Space Odyssey ❯

#77 of 253 The Best Psychological Thrillers of All Time #42 of 367 The Best Movies Based On Bookslisted on Every Oscar Winning Film Ever

Breakfast at Tiffany's Audrey Hepburn, Mickey Rooney, Mel Blanc

Released: 1961

Directed by: Blake Edwards

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

More Breakfast at Tiffany's ❯

#505 of 1,699 The Most Rewatchable Movies #44 of 802 The Greatest Chick Flicks Ever Madelisted on Every Oscar Winning Film Ever

Memento Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano

Released: 2000

Directed by: Christopher Nolan

Based 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

More Memento ❯

#12 of 253 The Best Psychological Thrillers of All Time #641 of 1,699 The Most Rewatchable Movies #212 of 599 The Greatest Epic Movies Ever Made

Million Dollar Baby Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Hilary Swank

Released: 2004

Directed by: Clint Eastwood

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

More Million Dollar Baby ❯

#1,087 of 1,699 The Most Rewatchable Movies #19 of 65 Every Movie Coming To Netflix In July 2020listed on Every Oscar Winning Film Ever

Double Indemnity Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson

Released: 1944

Directed by: Billy Wilder

Based on James M. Cain's story of the same name. Double Indemnity is a 1944 film noir crime drama directed by Billy Wilder, co-written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler, based on James M. Cain's 1943 novella of the same name, which originally ...more

More Double Indemnity ❯

#256 of 367 The Best Movies Based On Books #480 of 802 The Greatest Chick Flicks Ever Made #390 of 548 The Greatest Movies for Guys

Bootsdad added The Running Man Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Brown, Jesse Ventura

Released: 1987

Directed by: Paul Michael Glaser

"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

More The Running Man ❯

#22 of 52 The Best Movies Based on Stephen King Books #32 of 161 The Best Dystopian And Near Future Movies #39 of 164 The Best Science Fiction Action Movies

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Elle Fanning

Released: 2008

Directed by: David Fincher

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

More The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ❯

#100 of 367 The Best Movies Based On Books #345 of 599 The Greatest Epic Movies Ever Madelisted on Every Oscar Winning Film Ever

looksharp added The Illusionist Jessica Biel, Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti

Released: 2006

Directed by: Neil Burger

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

More The Illusionist ❯

#44 of 253 The Best Psychological Thrillers of All Time #633 of 1,699 The Most Rewatchable Movies #319 of 599 The Greatest Epic Movies Ever Made

Where the Wild Things Are Mark Ruffalo, Forest Whitaker, James Gandolfini

Released: 2009

Directed by: Spike Jonze

Based 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

More Where the Wild Things Are ❯

#155 of 367 The Best Movies Based On Books #224 of 301 The Greatest Soundtracks of All Time #333 of 581 The Greatest Film Scores of All Time

The Fly is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Best Movies Based on Short Stories

The Fly Geena Davis, Jeff Goldblum, David Cronenberg

Released: 1986

Directed by: 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

More The Fly ❯

#54 of 852 The Best Horror Movies Of All Time #129 of 571 The Greatest Movies Of The 1980s, Rankedlisted on Every Oscar Winning Film Ever

looksharp added 3:10 to Yuma Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, Logan Lerman

Released: 2007

Directed by: James Mangold

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

More 3:10 to Yuma ❯

#39 of 395 The Best Western Movies Ever Made #174 of 293 The Top Tearjerker Movies That Make Men Cry #177 of 548 The Greatest Movies for Guys

looksharp added A.I. Artificial Intelligence Meryl Streep, Robin Williams, Jude Law

Released: 2001

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

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

More A.I. Artificial Intelligence ❯

#280 of 599 The Greatest Epic Movies Ever Made #40 of 157 The Best Movies You Never Want to Watch Again #111 of 293 The Top Tearjerker Movies That Make Men Cry

The Third Man Orson Welles, Trevor Howard, Joseph Cotten

Released: 1949

Directed by: Carol Reed

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

More The Third Man ❯

#139 of 253 The Best Psychological Thrillers of All Time #294 of 314 The Top Must-Read Books of All Timelisted on Every Oscar Winning Film Ever

looksharp added The Day the Earth Stood Still Jennifer Connelly, Keanu Reeves, Jon Hamm

Released: 2008

Directed by: Scott Derrickson

Based 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

More The Day the Earth Stood Still ❯

#112 of 191 The Best Alien Movies Ever Made #155 of 568 The Greatest Disaster Movies of All Time #4 of 15 15 Movies Where Humans Are The Real Monsters

The Man Who Shot Liberty... is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Best Movies Based on Short Stories

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance John Wayne, James Stewart, Lee Marvin

Released: 1962

Directed by: John Ford

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

More The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance ❯

#6 of 395 The Best Western Movies Ever Made #53 of 81 The Most Patriotic Movies of All Time #303 of 548 The Greatest Movies for Guys

looksharp added The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Sean Penn, Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig

Released: 2013

Directed by: Ben Stiller

Based on the short story of the same name by James Thurber
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a 2013 romantic adventure comedy-drama cult film directed by, produced by, and starring Ben Stiller. Gore Verbinski served as executive producer. This is the ...more

More The Secret Life of Walter Mitty ❯

#92 of 212 The Best Adventure Movies #16 of 18 Visually Stunning Movies That Are Also Just Trash #79 of 104 The Greatest Movie Remakes of All Time

The Turning Mackenzie Davis, Finn Wolfhard, Brooklynn Prince

Released: 2020

Directed by: Floria Sigismondi

The Turning is a 2020 American supernatural horror film directed by Floria Sigismondi, based on the novella The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. A young woman (Mackenzie Davis) hired to nanny ...more

More The Turning ❯

The Most Chilling Quotes From 'The Turning' #687 of 852 The Best Horror Movies Of All Time #15 of 32 Movies That Have Spiders In Them