100+ Best Movies Based on Books
100+ Best Movies Based on Books
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100+ Best Movies Based on Books

Books provide the perfect source material for movies. They are complete stories with well-developed characters and plots that can be easily adapted for the big screen. Some of the best movie franchises come from adapting successful books. For example, the Harry Potter series, The Hunger Games, and The Lord of the Rings are all based on novels.

This list compiles the top 100 best-rated movies that were based on books. We've included the book titles they were based on, the author, and where you can watch each of them. So you can see the best movies based on books on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney + and more. The list is ordered based on the highest IMDb rating.

You can use this list as a checklist, by copying it. Simply create your own copy and use it to mark down each of the movies you've watched.

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Entertainment Channel
Entertainment Channel
7th December 2022
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Item
Item
Original Book
Author of the Book
Movie Poster
IMDb Rating
Movie Runtime (mins)
Movie Year
Genres
IMDb Link
Where To Buy Book
Where To Watch in US
Where To Watch in Australia
Where To Watch in Canada
Where To Watch in UK
Complete
1

The Godfather

The Godfather
Mario Puzo
The Godfather
9.20
175
1972
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Apple iTunes
  • + 3
  • Stan
  • Google Play
  • + 3
  • Paramount +
  • Sky Go
2

Schindler's List

Schindler's Ark
Thomas Keneally
Schindler's List
9.00
195
1993
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • History
  • Spectrum TV
  • + 4
  • Stan
  • Google Play
  • + 3
  • Apple iTunes
  • + 3
  • Amazon Prime
3

Fight Club

Fight Club
Chuck Palahniuk
Fight Club
8.80
139
1999
  • Drama
  • Amazon Prime
  • + 3
  • Netflix
  • Google Play
  • + 2
  • Crave
  • Netflix
4

Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump
Winston Groom
Forrest Gump
8.80
142
1994
  • Drama
  • Romance
  • Paramount +
  • + 5
  • Stan
  • Netflix
  • + 2
  • Crave
  • Paramount +
  • Apple TV
  • Google Play
  • + 1
5

Goodfellas

Wiseguy
Nicholas Pileggi
Goodfellas
8.70
145
1990
  • Biography
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • HBO Max
  • Redbox
  • + 3
  • Stan
  • Google Play
  • + 2
  • Netflix
  • Crave
  • Amazon Prime
6

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Ken Kesey
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
8.70
133
1975
  • Drama
  • Amazon Prime
  • Vudu
  • + 2
  • Foxtel
  • Kayo Sports
  • Apple iTunes
  • + 3
  • Amazon
  • Apple iTunes
  • + 2
7

The Silence of the Lambs

The Silence of the Lambs
Thomas Harris
The Silence of the Lambs
8.60
118
1991
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Thriller
  • Hulu
  • Google Play
  • Apple TV
  • + 2
  • Amazon Prime
  • Disney +
  • + 3
  • Amazon
  • Apple TV
  • + 1
8

The Green Mile

The Green Mile
Stephen King
The Green Mile
8.60
189
1999
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Fantasy
  • Mystery
  • HBO Max
  • + 4
  • Amazon
  • Disney +
  • Apple iTunes
  • + 2
  • Amazon Prime
9

Apocalypse Now

Apocalypse Now
Peter Cowie
Apocalypse Now
8.50
147
1979
  • Drama
  • Mystery
  • War
  • Google Play
  • Vudu
  • + 2
  • Stan
  • Google Play
  • + 2
  • Amazon
  • Apple TV
  • Google Play
10

Corduroy

Corduroy
Don Freeman
Corduroy
8.50
16
1984
  • Short
  • Adventure
  • Family
  • Apple iTunes
  • Amazon
  • + 2
  • Google Play
  • Amazon
  • Amazon Prime
11

Suna no onna

The Woman in the Dunes
Kōbō Abe
Suna no onna
8.50
147
1964
  • Drama
  • Thriller
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
12

The Shining

The Shining
Stephen King
The Shining
8.40
146
1980
  • Drama
  • Horror
  • HBO Max
  • + 4
  • Stan
  • Google Play
  • + 3
  • Crave
  • Amazon Prime
13

Das Boot

U-boat War
Lothar-Günther Buchheim
Das Boot
8.40
149
1981
  • Drama
  • War
  • Hulu
  • Google Play
  • Apple TV
  • + 1
  • Amazon
  • Apple TV
  • Microsoft Store
14

Paths of Glory

Paths of Glory
Jeffrey Archer
Paths of Glory
8.40
88
1957
  • Drama
  • War
  • Apple iTunes
  • Amazon
  • + 2
  • Google Play
  • Apple TV
  • + 1
  • Apple iTunes
  • Google Play
  • Amazon Prime
15

A Clockwork Orange

A Clockwork Orange
Anthony Burgess
A Clockwork Orange
8.30
136
1971
  • Crime
  • Sci-Fi
  • Netflix
  • HBO Max
  • + 4
  • Google Play
  • Stan
  • Crave
  • Amazon
16

Aparajito

Aparajito
Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay
Aparajito
8.30
110
1956
  • Drama
  • The Roku Channel
  • + 4
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
  • Amazon Prime
17

Sátántangó

Sátántangó
László Krasznahorkai
Sátántangó
8.30
439
1994
  • Drama
  • The Roku Channel
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
  • Apple TV
18

Metropolis

Metropolis
Thea von Harbou
Metropolis
8.30
153
1927
  • Drama
  • Sci-Fi
  • Amazon Prime
  • + 3
  • Foxtel
  • Amazon
  • Amazon Prime
19

Full Metal Jacket

The Short-Timers
Gustav Hasford
Full Metal Jacket
8.30
116
1987
  • Drama
  • War
  • HBO Max
  • + 3
  • Google Play
  • Crave
  • Amazon
20

Die Hard

Nothing Lasts Forever
Roderick Thorp
Die Hard
8.20
132
1988
  • Action
  • Thriller
  • Hulu
  • Disney +
  • Google Play
  • Apple TV
  • + 1
  • Disney +
  • Amazon Prime
21

The Thing

The Thing
Alan Dean Foster
The Thing
8.20
109
1982
  • Horror
  • Mystery
  • Sci-Fi
  • Amazon Prime
  • Vudu
  • + 1
  • Stan
  • Crave
  • Apple iTunes
  • + 2
22

Huckleberry Finn and His Friends

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Mark Twain
Huckleberry Finn and His Friends
8.20
60
1979
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
23

No Country for Old Men

No Country for Old Men
Cormac McCarthy
No Country for Old Men
8.20
122
2007
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Thriller
  • Disney +
  • Hulu
  • Netflix
  • Stan
  • + 3
  • Netflix
  • Paramount +
24

Shutter Island

Shutter Island
Dennis Lehane
Shutter Island
8.20
138
2010
  • Mystery
  • Thriller
  • Netflix
  • + 4
  • Stan
  • Google Play
  • + 4
  • Apple iTunes
  • + 3
  • Netflix
25

The Great Escape

The Great Escape
Paul Brickhill
The Great Escape
8.20
172
1963
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • History
  • Thriller
  • + 1
  • HBO Max
  • Spectrum TV
  • + 3
  • Google Play
  • Apple TV
  • + 1
  • HBO Max
  • Amazon
26

Ugetsu monogatari

Ugetsu monogatari
Ueda Akinari
Ugetsu monogatari
8.20
96
1953
  • Drama
  • Fantasy
  • War
  • HBO Max
  • Apple iTunes
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
27

Der Untergang

Inside Hitler's Bunker
Joachim Fest
Der Untergang
8.20
156
2004
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • History
  • War
  • Google Play
  • Apple iTunes
  • SBS On Demand
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
28

The Bridge on the River Kwai

Le Pont de la rivière Kwaï
Pierre Boulle
The Bridge on the River Kwai
8.20
161
1957
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • War
  • HBO Max
  • + 4
  • Paramount +
  • Crave
  • Hayu
  • Netflix
  • Amazon
29

Le voyage dans la lune

From the Earth to the Moon and Around the Moon
Jules Verne
Le voyage dans la lune
8.20
13
1902
  • Short
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Comedy
  • + 2
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
30

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
B. Traven
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
8.20
126
1948
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Western
  • Amazon Prime
  • Vudu
  • + 2
  • Google Play
  • Apple TV
  • + 1
  • Netflix
  • Hayu
  • Crave
  • Amazon
31

The Caterpillar and the Polliwog

The Caterpillar and the Polliwog
Jack Kent
The Caterpillar and the Polliwog
8.20
8
1988
  • Animation
  • Short
  • Family
  • Apple TV
  • Apple TV
  • Amazon
  • Apple TV
32

Ford v Ferrari

Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans
A.J. Baime
Ford v Ferrari
8.10
152
2019
  • Action
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Sport
  • Hulu
  • HBO Max
  • Disney +
  • Disney +
  • Disney +
33

Blade Runner

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Philip K. Dick
Blade Runner
8.10
117
1982
  • Action
  • Drama
  • Sci-Fi
  • Thriller
  • HBO Max
  • Google Play
  • + 3
  • Netflix
  • Google Play
  • + 3
  • Crave
  • Amazon Prime
34

The Wizard of Oz

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
L. Frank Baum
The Wizard of Oz
8.10
102
1939
  • Adventure
  • Family
  • Fantasy
  • Musical
  • Amazon Instant Video
  • + 2
  • Stan
  • Apple iTunes
  • + 2
  • Sky Go
35

Gone Girl

Gone Girl
Gillian Flynn
Gone Girl
8.10
149
2014
  • Drama
  • Mystery
  • Thriller
  • Disney +
  • Google Play
  • + 3
  • Disney +
  • Netflix
36

Jaws

Jaws
Peter Benchley
Jaws
8.10
124
1975
  • Adventure
  • Thriller
  • Netflix
  • Amazon Prime
  • Stan
  • Amazon
  • Netflix
  • Amazon
37

The Iron Giant

The Iron Man
Ted Hughes
The Iron Giant
8.10
86
1999
  • Animation
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Comedy
  • + 3
  • Google Play
  • + 2
  • Stan
  • Google Play
  • + 3
  • Crave
  • Amazon
  • Microsoft Store
38

Trainspotting

Trainspotting
Irvine Welsh
Trainspotting
8.10
93
1996
  • Drama
  • Disney +
  • Hulu
  • Apple TV
  • Foxtel
  • + 1
  • Cineplex
  • Apple TV
  • Google Play
39

Viridiana

Halma
Benito Pérez Galdós
Viridiana
8.10
90
1961
  • Drama
  • Amazon Prime
  • Apple TV
  • Apple TV
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
40

Hornblower: Mutiny

Lieutenant Hornblower
C.S. Forester
Hornblower: Mutiny
8.10
98
2001
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • History
  • War
  • Vudu
  • Amazon
  • + 2
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
41

In the Name of the Father

Proved Innocent: The Story of Gerry Conlon of the Guildford Four
Gerry Conlon
In the Name of the Father
8.10
133
1993
  • Biography
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Amazon Prime
  • Vudu
  • + 2
  • Netflix
  • Google Play
  • + 2
  • Netflix
  • Amazon Prime
42

Cool Hand Luke

Cool Hand Luke
Donn Pearce
Cool Hand Luke
8.10
127
1967
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • HBO Max
  • + 3
  • Google Play
  • Netflix
  • Hayu
  • Crave
  • Apple TV
  • Google Play
  • + 2
43

Stand by Me

The Body
Stephen King
Stand by Me
8.10
89
1986
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Spectrum TV
  • + 4
  • Google Play
  • Apple TV
  • Disney +
  • Sky Go
44

The Help

The Help
Kathryn Stockett
The Help
8.10
146
2011
  • Drama
  • The Roku Channel
  • Vudu
  • + 3
  • Disney +
  • Disney +
  • Amazon Prime
45

L'armée des ombres

L'armée des ombres
Joseph Kessel
L'armée des ombres
8.10
145
1969
  • Drama
  • War
  • Amazon Prime
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
46

Kumonosu-jô

Macbeth
William Shakespear
Kumonosu-jô
8.10
110
1957
  • Drama
  • History
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
47

Ah-ga-ssi

Fingersmith
Sarah Waters
Ah-ga-ssi
8.10
145
2016
  • Drama
  • Romance
  • Thriller
  • Vudu
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
48

The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath
John Steinbeck
The Grapes of Wrath
8.10
129
1940
  • Drama
  • Amazon Prime
  • Vudu
  • + 1
  • Google Play
  • Amazon
  • Amazon Prime
49

Dune: Part One

Dune
Frank Herbert
Dune: Part One
8.00
155
2021
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Sci-Fi
  • HBO Max
  • Google Play
  • Netflix
  • + 1
  • Amazon Prime
  • Vudu
  • + 2
  • Amazon Prime
50

The Martian

The Martian
Andy Weir
The Martian
8.00
144
2015
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Sci-Fi
  • Disney +
  • Disney +
  • Disney +
  • Crave
  • Disney +