Watchworthy

377 voters

The Best Movies Based on Short Stories

Updated September 10, 2020 2.8k votes 377 voters 25.4k views50 items

List RulesFilms 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.

Photo:

...more

Try the free app

1
155
23
The Shawshank Redemption
Morgan Freeman, Rita Hayworth
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... more on Wikipedia
More The Shawshank Redemption
Behind The Scenes Of 'The Shawshank Redemption,' And The Making Of An Unlikely Classic14 Small But Fascinating Details Fans Noticed In 'The Shawshank Redemption'
2
119
26
Stand by Me
Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Feldman
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... more on Wikipedia
3
67
29
2001: A Space Odyssey
Arthur C. Clarke, Leonard Rossiter
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... more on Wikipedia
4
68
31
Total Recall
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone
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... more on Wikipedia
More Total Recall
#105 of 369 The Best Movies Based On Books#131 of 1,540 The Most Rewatchable Movies
5
75
39
Apocalypse Now
Marlon Brando, Harrison Ford
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... more on Wikipedia
More Apocalypse Now
15 Stories From The Wild Life Of David Hackworth, Who Inspired Two 'Apocalypse Now' CharactersBehind-The-Scenes Stories About Marlon Brando In 'Apocalypse Now'
6
100
70
Brokeback Mountain
Anne Hathaway, Jake Gyllenhaal
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... more on Wikipedia
7
67
40
Sleepy Hollow
Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci
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... more on Wikipedia

8
69
42
The Birds
Alfred Hitchcock, Tippi Hedren
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... more on Wikipedia
More The Birds
#51 of 84 Great Movies That Take Place in Autumn#38 of 720 The Best Horror Movies Of All Time
9
58
36
Minority Report
Cameron Diaz, Tom Cruise
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... more on Wikipedia
More Minority Report
Every Warning Sci-Fi Writer Philip K. Dick Gave Us About Technology That Is Coming True#291 of 355 The Best Rainy Day Movies
10
53
37
Memento
Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss
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.... more on Wikipedia
11
52
38
Million Dollar Baby
Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman
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... more on Wikipedia
More Million Dollar Baby
#66 of 1,189 Every Oscar Winning Film Ever#22 of 170 The Most Utterly Depressing Movies Ever Made
12
53
41
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Audrey Hepburn, Mickey Rooney
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... more on Wikipedia
13
42
35
The Running Man
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Brown
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... more on Wikipedia
More The Running Man
#20 of 70 25+ Great Movies That Have a Ticking Clock#40 of 168 The Best Science Fiction Action Movies
14
36
29
Double Indemnity
Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck
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... more on Wikipedia
More Double Indemnity
#690 of 836 The Greatest Chick Flicks Ever Made#289 of 480 The Greatest Movies For Guys
15
35
30
The Fly
Geena Davis, Jeff Goldblum
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... more on Wikipedia
More The Fly
#1031 of 1,137 The Absolute Funniest Movies Of All Time#3 of 15 15 Nasty Body Horror Films, From 'Hard To Watch' To 'Positively Depraved'
16
31
25
3:10 to Yuma
Christian Bale, Russell Crowe
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,... more on Wikipedia
17
31
26
The Illusionist
Jessica Biel, Edward Norton
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... more on Wikipedia
18
24
18
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
John Wayne, James Stewart
Released: 1962
Directed by: John Ford
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is a 1962 American Western film directed by John Ford... more on Wikipedia
More The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
#5 of 399 The Best Western Movies Ever Made#28 of 176 The Best Movies of the '60s
19
40
41
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett
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... more on Wikipedia
20
33
32
Death in Venice
Dirk Bogarde, Silvana Mangano
Released: 1971
Directed by: Luchino Visconti
Based on Thomas Mann's novella of the same name.
Death in Venice is a 1971 Italian-French drama film directed by Luchino Visconti and starring... more on Wikipedia
More Death in Venice
#77 of 105 The Best Movies About Disease Outbreaks#416 of 553 The Best '70s Movies
21
11
4
Rear Window
Grace Kelly, James Stewart
Released: 1954
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Rear Window is a 1954 American mystery thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and written... more on Wikipedia
22
28
27
The Third Man
Orson Welles, Trevor Howard
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,... more on Wikipedia
More The Third Man
#154 of 242 The Best Psychological Thrillers of All Time#313 of 331 The Top Must-Read Books of All Time
23
18
15
The Mist
Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden
Released: 2007
Directed by: Frank Darabont
The Mist is a 2007 American science fiction horror film directed by Frank Darabont, and based... more on Wikipedia
24
30
33
The Emperor's Club
Kevin Kline, Patrick Dempsey
Released: 2002
Directed by: Michael Hoffman
Based on Ethan Canin's short story, The Palace Thief.
The Emperor's Club is a 2002 American drama film directed by Michael Hoffman and stars Kevin... more on Wikipedia
25
2
0
The Quiet Man
John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara
Released: 1952
Directed by: John Ford
The Quiet Man is a 1952 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by John Ford. It stars... more on Wikipedia