Dramas Based on a Book

1030

The best dramas adapted from novels, plays and books for the screen. The greatest literature, in the hands of the right director, becomes unforgettable cinema. This list gathers adaptations where characters you loved on the page come to life on screen — some faithful to the source, others bold reinterpretations that stand as works in their own right. Films to add to your reading list and your watchlist at once.

Standouts from This Collection

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994) is a crime drama, directed by Frank Darabont.
The Godfather (1972)
The Godfather (1972) is a crime drama, directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
Macario (1960)
Macario (1960) is a fantasy drama, directed by Roberto Gavaldón.
The Godfather Part II (1974)
The Godfather Part II (1974) is a crime drama, directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
12 Angry Men (1957)
12 Angry Men (1957) is a drama film, directed by Sidney Lumet.
The Green Mile (1999)
The Green Mile (1999) is a fantasy drama, directed by Frank Darabont.

Routes Through This List

Shorter picks (≤100 min) Macario (1960) 12 Angry Men (1957) Paths of Glory (1957) Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (2020) The Father (2020)

Based on true stories GoodFellas (1990) Silenced (2011) Memories of Murder (2003) Prayers for Bobby (2009) The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Classics (pre-1990) The Godfather (1972) Macario (1960) The Godfather Part II (1974) 12 Angry Men (1957) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

All Films

The Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption

The Godfather

The Godfather

Macario

Macario

The Godfather Part II

The Godfather Part II

12 Angry Men

12 Angry Men

The Green Mile

The Green Mile

Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump

GoodFellas

GoodFellas

Fight Club

Fight Club

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Once Upon a Time in America

Once Upon a Time in America

A Dog's Will

A Dog's Will

Drawing Closer

Drawing Closer

The Silence of the Lambs

The Silence of the Lambs

Apocalypse Now

Apocalypse Now

Paths of Glory

Paths of Glory

Gabriel's Inferno: Part II

Gabriel's Inferno: Part II

Josee, the Tiger and the Fish

Josee, the Tiger and the Fish

The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall

The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall

Even If This Love Disappears Tonight

Even If This Love Disappears Tonight

Shutter Island

Shutter Island

The Help

The Help

The Handmaiden

The Handmaiden

Witness for the Prosecution

Witness for the Prosecution

The Art of Racing in the Rain

The Art of Racing in the Rain

Woman in the Dunes

Woman in the Dunes

Silenced

Silenced

Samurai Rebellion

Samurai Rebellion

Be With You

Be With You

Pride & Prejudice

Pride & Prejudice

Call Me by Your Name

Call Me by Your Name

Full Metal Jacket

Full Metal Jacket

There Will Be Blood

There Will Be Blood

Memories of Murder

Memories of Murder

The Father

The Father

Metropolis

Metropolis

The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give

Das Boot

Das Boot

Stalker

Stalker

Prayers for Bobby

Prayers for Bobby

Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables

The Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street

Jojo Rabbit

Jojo Rabbit

Trainspotting

Trainspotting

Ford v Ferrari

Ford v Ferrari

Room

Room

Oppenheimer

Oppenheimer

The Iron Giant

The Iron Giant

Casino

Casino

Love, Simon

Love, Simon

Lion

Lion

Amadeus

Amadeus

Society of the Snow

Society of the Snow

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

Flipped

Flipped

Barry Lyndon

Barry Lyndon

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird

The Wages of Fear

The Wages of Fear

Ugetsu

Ugetsu

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