29 Movies Based on Books That Are Actually Worth Watching

There are a lot of movies based on books. There are very few good movies based on books. 

That’s not a knock on Hollywood–it can be challenging to fit a novel’s worth of plot and character development into a few hours of entertainment. That’s why the best films based on books often feel more like a companion piece than a true retelling of a best-selling paperback. Some, like the 2019 movie adaptation of Little Women, play with the story or add in new scenes to appeal to a modern audience. Others benefit from the glitz and glam that Hollywood brings. Netflix’s film version of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, for example, comes with an engaging soundtrack that elevates the romance onscreen. 

Below you’ll find some of the best movies based on books available for streaming right now. We also included the real-life novels that inspired them so you can add to your reading list. No chance of boredom here. (Need more? We’ve also got a guide to the best movies based on romance novels.)

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