Adapting books to screen is never an easy task, but sometimes movies recreate iconic characters in a way that surpasses the original. Most of the time, even thebest book adaptationsnever come close to surpassing the original, but occasionally there is the rare gem that seemingly manages to achieve the impossible. With so manygreat books that have not yet been adapted to the screen, the potential is there for new stories to do the same.
Books have always been Hollywood’s go-to for adaptations, but the number of book adaptations across movies, TV, and streaming has increased in the modern era. The length of a book series typically translates better to the TV format as it allows for more characterization to be brought to the screen, more closely mirroring the character development a 300-page novel allows for. This makes the fact that some movies surpass their original source material even more impressive, able to improve upon the book characters even with such limited runtimes.
10Mark Watney
The Martian (2015)
The Martian,both the book and the film, came as a surprise, both because of the limited characters used within the story and the real science behind the survival story at the narrative’s core. The main character, Mark Watney, is a botanist who accompanies a NASA team on a manned mission to Mars. However, when a dust storm blows through their base of operations, Watney is left stranded while the rest of the team makes their journey home.
The Martianwas nominated for seven different Academy Awards, and though it did not win at the Academy Awards it did win Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and Best Actor - Musical or Comedy.
In the book, the character of Mark Watney is incredibly analytical and not terribly relatable.He has to be, if he is going to survive on a planet that is, for all intents and purposes, hostile to him. The movie dials down the scientific jargon that is thoroughly explained by Watney in the novel and gives him more of a personality, playing up his drily humorous attitude and self-assurance.
9Emily Nelson
A Simple Favor (2018)
WhenA Simple Favororiginally released, no one was expecting the film to be as good of a satire of the mystery genre as it was. Following single mother and vlogger Stephanie Smothers, the movie examines her growing friendship with the mysterious Emily Nelson, a businesswoman who is the mother of one of Stephanie’s son’s classmates.The mystery of the film kicks off when Emily disappears, leading Stephanie down an unexpected path.
The movieA Simple Favormakes one chilling twist to Emily’s characterthat cements her place as a villain much better than the book originally did. In the movie, it is made clear that Emily killed her sister, Faith. This is never committed to in the book, and because the movie went to these lengths they have made Emily so much more of a villain than she was in the original book.
8Anton Chigurh
No Country For Old Men (2007)
The author Cormac McCarthy is best known for his hopeless themes and distinct cadence of writing, elements incorporated into many of his books, such asBlood MeridianandThe Road.No Country for Old Menis no different, offering a dark look at the character of Anton Chigurh, a hitman who becomes the perfect vessel for analyzing themes of human greed and violence. Though these themes are present in the book, the movie takes them a step further, offering even more analysis by changing a few key events.
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As one example, in both the book and film versions ofNo Country for Old Men,Chigurh undertakes the task of grabbing a sum of money. Though this is not greatly explored in the novel, as Chigurh eventually returns the money, the movie makes it seem as though he keeps it, but he also makes the effort to hide it from Sheriff Bell.Chigurh’s selfishness makes him a more complicated, more human character, holding a glaring mirror to humanity as a whole.
7Paul Atreides
Dune (2021) & Dune: Part Two (2024)
TheDunefranchise has been receiving new installments since the release of the originalDunefilm in 1984, though the novel was released much earlier, dating back to 1965. Branching out into a greater series,Dunefollows Paul Atreides' rise to power as the messianic figure, the “Lisan al-Gaib,” beginning with the planet of Arrakis and extending his influence into the galaxy as a whole.In the books, Paul is beloved, but in Villeneuve’s films he is a through and through conqueror.
Dune
Dune is a sci-fi franchise created by Frank Herbert with the 1965 novel of the same name. In 1984, the first live-action adaptation was released from director David Lynch and starring Kyle MacLachlan. About 20 years later, a TV mini-series was released, followed by a new adaptation starring Timothée Chalamet.
In a specific choice made by the director, Paul is much more vicious in the films, especiallyDune: Part Two,than he is in the original book. The 1965 novel portrays him as a lovable and reluctant Messiah, becoming a member of the Fremen through and through before fighting on their behalf. Though he initially fights against his destiny, the movie sees Paul indulge in this power-hungry position, further complicating his character and subsequently placing the blame on his shoulders for the actions he would later take.
6Hannibal Lecter
Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
Hannibal Lecter is one of the most iconic fictional serial killers of all time, appearing in both movie and television adaptations of the original source material. Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of the character inSilence of the Lambsis by far the most famous, with Mads Mikkelsen’s rendition inHannibalbeing a close second. ThoughHannibalis well known for the liberties it takes with the original property,Silence of the Lambsmade its own changes to the character that turned Hannibal into the horrifying figure fans know today.
The focus on Hannibal’s relationship with Clarice not only helps to show how manipulative he is as a character, but also adds a horrifying element of tension involving Hannibal that was not so present in the original novel.
Though the novel goes into greater depth into the mind of Hannibal Lecter than the film has time for, the film instead makes the incredible decision to focus on his chilling dynamic with Clarice Starling. This is emphasized several times throughout the film, both in her visits with Hannibal and otherwise. The focus on Hannibal’s relationship with Clarice not only helps to show how manipulative he is as a character, but also adds a horrifying element of tension involving Hannibal that was not so present in the original novel.
5Dr. Ian Malcolm
Jurassic Park (1993)
Dr. Ian Malcolm is one of the most iconic characters to come out ofJurassic Park,both due to a thoughtful script and a passionate performance by actor Jeff Goldblum. The original film is full of memorable moments from the character, including a quotable monologue about the state of scientific discovery that feels salient even today. However, where the scientist was thoughtful, flirty, and a bit sarcastic in the movie, he had a very different characterization in the original novel.
In the originalJurassic Parkby Michael Crichton, Dr. Malcolm is primarily used for exposition.He is long-winded and a bit bland, portrayed as a coward who would leave children behind to fend off the dinosaurs to save himself. Dr. Malcolm is ultimately killed off in the book, but in the movie, he is only injured, allowing him to reappear in subsequent movies, much to the films' benefit.
4Don Corleone
The Godfather (1972)
Often considered one of thebest movies of all time,The Godfatherfocuses on the Corleone family, a family that has made its name in the crime world as a mafia family. The main character, Michael, is anup-and-comer in the family, juxtaposed against the powerful family don Vito Corleone.Marlon Brando’s performance of Vitois the definitive version of the character that has cemented itself in public minds for decades.
The Godfatherwon three Academy Awards, those being Best Actor for Marlon Brandon’s performance as Vito Corleone, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture.
In the original book, Vito is incredibly cold, even toward his own family. This is changed in the movie, as while he is still a cold mafia boss, he still presents himself as loving his family, improving his character by further complicating his relationships with his family. If he truly does love his family, then the extremes he later goes to both for them and to keep the money coming in become even more compelling.
3Rick Deckard
Blade Runner (1982)
The originalBlade Runnermovie is based on the novelDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?Both the film and the novel follow Rick Deckard as he hunts down replicants, androids who bear a striking resemblance to humanity, and seek to answer the question of whether or not they should be considered human. However,theBlade Runnermovie portrays Rick Deckard very differently than the book.
This is clear throughout the movie, but perhaps it is the most obvious in the final moments when Deckard faces off against Roy, a replicant Deckard has been chasing with the goal of ending his life. In the movie, Roy saves Deckard from falling to his death before giving a beautiful speech about what it means to be alive, then passing away peacefully.The book instead shows Deckard gunning him down, engaging much less with that central question and making Deckard a less sympathetic character.
2Tyler Durden/The Narrator
Fight Club (1999)
Fight Club’s movie adaptation makes key changes to the original bookwhile still being an incredible work in its own right. One of the greatest twists in movie history was that The Narrator and Tyler Durden were the same person all along. Though this was present in the original book, the way to this conclusion and the eventual way the ending is presented inFight Clubare incredibly different.
Fight Club
Cast
Fight Club, released in 1999 and directed by David Fincher, stars Edward Norton as an insomniac who forms an underground fight club with a soap salesman, played by Brad Pitt.
The iconic ending to the film sees Tyler Durden end his own life in a shocking fashion, subsequently erasing him from The Narrator’s mind entirely. It is because of this that he stops seeing Tyler, essentially ending his influence and their connection.This ending is not present in the novel, and its edition added context not only to Tyler’s character as he was willing to do this, but also to his relationship with The Narrator as a part of his mind.
1Patrick Bateman
American Psycho (2000)
With a narrative that revolves around the mind and actions of a serial killer, the story ofAmerican Psychomanages to, at the same time, be both a compelling horror movie and a scathing satire of Wall Street’s elite. TheAmerican Psychomovie makes several changes from the original novel, both good and bad. Some of the best changes to the novel come in the character of Patrick Bateman himself, changing his psychology and adding some mystery to the film.
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Throughout the movie, Bateman is seen killing indiscriminately with little explanation.He is left more of an open-endedcharacter in the film, ambiguous as to why he does what he does.The novel leaves nothing to the imagination in this regard, thoroughly explaining Bateman’s psychology to the novel’s detriment, as it takes away some of the fear of the unknown that comes with a villain like Bateman.
