Originally by Ranker TVList RulesVote up the best TV series based on novels or short stories. No comic book adaptations.
Fun fact: Game of Thrones isn't the only good TV show based on a book streaming on the airwaves! Though more and more people are complaining about sequels and reboots and re-imaginings at the movies, it's the golden age of television, with awesome shows inspired by books everywhere you look. The small screen has the benefit of being much more long form, and therefore a great place to showcase something based on a book or series of books. With television adaptations of books you have the ability to learn love and live with characters for the long haul, just as with a novel or series of novels.
Naturally as TV has been around for quite some time, there have been great book adaptations throughout the years. There have also been plenty of books adapted for TV in the form of the miniseries or TV movie, but that's another list and you won't find them here (otherwise Band of Brothers would most certainly have made the cut). Instead we are just focusing on traditional TV programs that are based on or inspired by books from genre like fantasy and sci-fi to mysteries, historical classics and more.
Be it current and recent shows like Nancy Drew or The Magicians, critically acclaimed shows that have ended such as Boardwalk Empire and Orange Is the New Black, a show that started out amazing while it was based on it's book series... then derailed (Dexter), or a classic TV show you might not have realized was based on a book at all (M*A*S*H*), this list has them all. What it doesn't have are comic book adaptations and superhero TV shows. This list is all about novels, book series and short stories. Even teen and YA book series - like the two times the Melinda Metz Roswell High book series has been adapted - count, as do shows that are based on books and movies, or that continue telling a book's story past the movie adaptation.
These are the best shows based on books to ever air on television! Vote up the best of these shows below - whether because they nailed the adaptation or because they were top-notch, quality programming in their own right. Maybe the best overall shows rise to the top.
1
1,765753Outlander
Caitriona Balfe, Sam HeughanPremiered: 2014
Genres (Tv): Historical drama, Adventure, Romance, Fantasy
Based on Diana Gabaldon's novel of the same name and eight published sequels (since 1991).
Outlander (Starz, 2014) is a historical drama television series developed by Ronald D. Moore,... more
2
2,2661,227Game of Thrones
Peter Dinklage, Lena HeadeyPremiered: 2011-04-17
Genres (Tv): Medieval fantasy, Drama, Adventure film, Epic, Action
Based on George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire book series (five published since 1996).
- 31,754974
Sherlock
Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin FreemanPremiered: 2010
Genres (Tv): Crime drama, Mystery
Based on the series by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, including four novels and 56 short stories (1887-1927).
Sherlock (BBC One, 2010) is a British crime television series created by Steven Moffat and... more - 4502212
Good Omens
David Tennant, Michael SheenPremiered: 2019
Genres (Tv): Comedy, Fantasy
Based on the 1990 Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman novel of the same name.
Good Omens (Amazon Video, 2019) is a six-part television serial based on the novel by Terry... more - 51,250881
The Vampire Diaries
Nina Dobrev, Paul WesleyPremiered: 2009
Genres (Tv): Supernatural, Drama, Horror, Fantasy
Based on the L. J. Smith book series of the same name.
The Vampire Diaries (The CW, 2009) is an American supernatural teen drama television series... more - 61,189819
The 100
Eliza Taylor, Paige TurcoPremiered: 2013
Genres (Tv): Drama, Dystopian, Sci-fi, Action
Based on Kass Morgan's series of four novels (2013-2016).
The 100 (The CW, 2014) is an American post-apocalyptic science fiction drama television series... more ![]()
7830521A Series of Unfortunate Events
Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick WarburtonPremiered: 2017
Genres (Tv): Comedy, Drama
Based on the series of 13 novels by Lemony Snicket, AKA Daniel Handler (1999-2006).
A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017, Netflix) is a black comedy-drama TV series based on the... more- 81,138824
The Handmaid's Tale
Elisabeth Moss, Joseph FiennesPremiered: 2017
Genres (Tv): Drama, Dystopian fiction
Based on Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel.
The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu, 2017) is an American web television series created by Bruce Miller,... more - 9440286
Pride and Prejudice
Colin Firth, Lucy DavisPremiered: 1995
Genres (Tv): Miniseries, Drama, Costume drama
Based on Jane Austen's 1813 novel of the same name.
Pride and Prejudice is a six-episode 1995 British television drama, adapted by Andrew Davies... more - 1029890
The Witcher
Henry Cavill, Freya AllanPremiered: 2019
Genres (Tv): Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Drama
Based on the series of short stories and novels by Andrzej Sapkowski.
The Witcher (Netflix, 2019) is a fantasy action-adventure series based on the series of short... more - 1115377
The Haunting of Hill House
Michiel Huisman, Carla GuginoPremiered: 2018
Genres (Tv): Supernatural horror
Based on the 1959 Shirley Jackson novel of the same name.
The Haunting of Hill House is the first season of the Netflix supernatural anthology... more - 12343188
A Discovery of Witches
Teresa Palmer, Matthew GoodePremiered: 2018
Genres (Tv): Fantasy, Drama, Romance
Based on the Deborah Harkness All Souls trilogy series.
A Discovery of Witches (2018, Sky One) is a British fantasy drama series based on the All... more - 13453310
Anne with an E
Amybeth McNulty, Geraldine JamesPremiered: 2017
Genres (Tv): Drama, Coming of age
Based on the 1908 Lucy Maud Montgomery novel Anne of Green Gables.
Anne with an E (Netflix, 2017) is a Canadian television series created by Moira... more ![]()
14477344Big Little Lies
Reese Witherspoon, Nicole KidmanPremiered: 2017
Genres (Tv): Comedy
Based on the 2014 Liane Moriarty novel of the same name.
Big Little Lies (HBO, 2017) is an American dramatic miniseries created by David E. Kelley,... more- 15872764
Bones
Emily Deschanel, David BoreanazPremiered: 2005
Genres (Tv): Crime drama, Comedy-drama, Police procedural
Based on the Kathy Reichs's Temperance Brennan book series (20 novels, since 1997).
Bones (Fox, 2005) is an American procedural comedy-drama television series created by Hart... more - 16702644
M*A*S*H
Alan Alda, Wayne RogersPremiered: 1972
Genres (Tv): Black comedy, Medical drama, Sitcom, Satire, Military
Based on the 1968 Richard Hooker & W. C. Heinz novel of the same name.
M*A*S*H is an American television series developed by Larry Gelbart, adapted from the 1970... more - 17857704
Pretty Little Liars
Troian Bellisario, Ashley BensonPremiered: 2010
Genres (Tv): Teen drama, Mystery, Crime thriller
Based on the Sara Shepard book series of the same name.
Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family, 2010) is an American teen drama mystery–thriller television... more - 18236184
Poldark
Aidan Turner, Eleanor TomlinsonPremiered: 2015
Genres (Tv): Historical drama
Based on the novels of the same title written by Winston Graham.
Poldark (BBC One, 2015) is a British-American drama television series created by Debbie... more - 19796713
True Blood
Anna Paquin, Stephen MoyerPremiered: 2008
Genres (Tv): Fantasy, Horror, Drama
Based on the Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse book series.
True Blood (HBO, 2008) is an American fantasy horror drama television series created by Alan... more - 20982894
Dexter
Michael C. Hall, Jennifer CarpenterPremiered: 2006
Genres (Tv): Crime drama, Psychological thriller, Mystery, Dark comedy, Police procedural
Based on Jeff Lindsay's novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter and seven sequels (2004-2015).
Dexter (Showtime, 2006) is an American crime drama mystery series developed by James Manos... more - 21607564
Hannibal
Hugh Dancy, Mads MikkelsenPremiered: 2013
Genres (Tv): Psychological horror, Psychological thriller, Crime drama, Crime thriller
Based on the 1999 Thomas Harris novel of the same name.
Hannibal (NBC, 2013) is an American psychological thriller–horror television series developed... more - 22167142
The Alienist
Daniel Brühl, Luke EvansPremiered: 2018
Genres (Tv): Crime, Drama
Based on the 1994 Caleb Carr novel of the same name.
The Alienist (TNT, 2018) is an American television period drama event series created by Cary... more - 23815626
The Magicians
Jason Ralph, Stella MaevePremiered: 2015
Genres (Tv): Fantasy
Based on the Lev Grossman book series of the same name.
The Magicians (Syfy, 2015) is an American fantasy television series created by Sera Gamble and... more - 24541567
Elementary
Jonny Lee Miller, Lucy LiuPremiered: 2012
Genres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Drama, Mystery
Based on the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes book series.
Elementary (CBS, 2012) is an American procedural drama series created by Robert Doherty, based... more - 25423429
Little House on the Prairie
Cameron Bancroft, Erin CottrellPremiered: 2005
Genres (Tv): Miniseries, Children's television series
Based on the Little House in the Big Woods (1932) and Little House on the Prairie (1935) by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
7
14
