Don’t Judge a Book by its Movie! This cheeky phrase rings true so often that we can forget how a movie can sometimes bring our imaginations to life. After much hand wringing and searching, below is our list of movies that made a strong attempt to bring a beloved book to life.
Novel: Because of Winn Dixie, Kate DiCamillo
Movie: Because of Winn Dixie (2005)
Novel: Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson
Movie: Bridge to Terabithia, (2007)
Novel: Charlotte’s Web, E.B.White
Movie: Charlotte’s Web (2006)
Novel: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis
Movie: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
Novel: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Ron and Judi Barrett
Movie: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
Novel: Coraline, Neil Gaiman
Movie: Coraline (2009)
Novel: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney
Movie: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010)
Novel: Fantastic Mr. Fox, Roald Dahl
Movie: Fantastic Mr. Fox, (2009)
Novel: Harriet the Spy, Louise Fitzhugh
Movie: Harriet the Spy (1996)
Novel: Harry Potter Series, J.K. Rowlings
Movie: Harry Potter (2001-2011)
Novel: Holes, Louis Sachar
Movie: Holes (2003)
Novel: Hoot, Carl Hiaasen
Movie: Hoot (2006)
Novel: How to Train Your Dragon, Cressida Cowell
Movie: How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
Novel: Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
Movie: Little Women, (1994)
Novel: Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, Volumes 1-3, Daniel Handler
Movie: Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
Novel: The Lorax, Dr. Suess
Movie: Dr. Suess’ The Lorax (2012)
Novel: Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan
Movie: Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)
Novel: The Princess Bride, S. Morgenstern
Movie: The Princess Bride (1987)
Novel: The Phantom Tollbooth, Norton Juster
Movie: The Phantom Tollbooth (1970)
Novel: The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick
Movie: Hugo (2011)
Novel: Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak
Movie: Where the Wild Things Are (2010)
