5 Film Adaptations That Are Better Than the Books

Seems impossible, right? For years we have seen fans lament about how a film has been unable to exactly capture the books that we love and adore. We complain that all the little details that make the books more creative weren’t included in the film and we pout.

But sometimes, films can visually capture those emotions in a completely new way and have a much more cohesive storytelling than its book counterpart. Plus, it leaves out the long, boring bits.

The first story off the top of my head, although not a film, definitely has to be the Game of Thrones series as compared to the long and rather dreary A Song of Ice and Fire series. Now let’s look at some films that turned out better than the books it shares its story from:

American Psycho

There’s no doubt that the movie is a step-up from the novel, mainly because of the performance that Christian Bale brought. Bale was over the top and really did get the perfect blend between being a crazy murderer and someone who was actually quite charming. It’s something that a book can never do, and is the big reason that the movie is the better of the two.

The Shawshank Redemption

Shawshank Redemption is a perfect example of being a story to life in a way that writing can sometimes be limited to. The cinematic version of Shawshank Redemption is just that; an experience that was great on paper, but awe-inspiring to see it brought to life.

The Silence Of The Lambs

The movie had fans on the edge of their seat throughout, with an incredible amount of tension from start to finish. Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins were both excellent in their performances, and the fact it dominated the Academy Awards is a real showcase of how good the movie was.

The Notebook

The 2004 movie adaptation took this story to new heights, becoming a major hit that led to the story being even more well-known by people. The chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdam is a big reason why this movie was so good. They were able to make audiences fall in love with them and their story, bringing all the incredible highs and lows that come along with their relationship.

Fight Club

The movie brings a lot more to the story than the book does, adding more details and making things even more dramatic. Normally, that is the other way around, with the books often providing further information and having story elements that the movie doesn’t. Of course, this film has an amazing cast who all bring their very best to the forefront, and overall, it just creates a stunning movie that outshines the book.