The movie was so beatiful, breathtaking visualy, and emotionally. The book was hard for me to get through, and in my head I pictured everything in very drab colors. I think because of the writing. The movie is actually one of my favorite movies.
I am going to name a few too : Sarah’s key and The Devil wears Prada 🙂 (Btw the way I thought Sarah’s key was a great book too but I really enjoyed the movie more.
That’s also the only example of this i can can up with, although I admit, I’ve seen a lot of movies where I have not read the book, and so don’t have a truly comprehensive range of examples to compare.
Ironically, I happen to be watching an oldie but goodie right now (on TV.) The Towering Inferno. The cast is GREAT and the movie is still entertaining. However, my husband agrees with me — the book was better: The Glass Inferno.
i think it’s difficult to transfer a book to film because you don’t get to really know what’s happening inside the characters minds or really much of their backstories. Usually any attempts come across as cheesy; like narration etc. On trueblood I thought Alexander who play Eric is a great actor but he wasn’t what I pictured Eric looking like. The Vampire Academy I won’t even get into that was a nightmare of a film they should’ve stayed true to the books and shot it more like a thriller than a teen comedy.
i think the way the books ended was better than the show. The last 2 seasons weren’t very good. Arlene I’m the books was an awful person and it would’ve been better to see that on the show
@Tyra I saw the movie first and loved it. Then, I read the book. The different ending upset me so much, I actually threw the book across the room and cried.
@Christine, exactly, that whole ending was pointless, after all that happened and I positively hated the mother character. She was nicer in the movie but still. It
Forrest Gump! Book was HORRIBLE. I enjoyed The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society but liked the movie better. Shawshank Redemption better but that was a short story ?
I am just finishing the book, The Secret Life of Bees & have really loved it. I saw the movie version first & hoped the book would be as good. Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, & Alicia Keys . . . I wondered how their acting/singing could be beat. It wasn’t; just a different experience. I have enjoyed both.
@Barbara really? I love to watch the movies so I can use those faces when I re-read but I feel like the movie is always so hurried and missing some very important pieces
That is definitely true, as with most movies made based off books. There were holes and cuts. But they changed the ending a bit in the movie and I liked the way the movie concluded more than the book I didn’t feel like I got satisfaction or justification for the character in the books. It was just prejudice the whole way through. But the movie combated that theme, and I walked away more satisfied for it.
@Faby though I know my interpretation is not the norm for that story! So many people love that book. And to each their own in their feelings towards it, ya know?
Eat pray love. I have the book which I brought after I saw the film but haven’t read it yet. I have heard loads of people saying that the books is crap. Also p.s I love you. I love the film but I dnfed the book
The Whale Rider The Minority Report Blade Runner (vs Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?) Fight Club Jaws Silence of the Lambs Fried Green Tomatoes (at the Whistle Stop Cafe) The Princess Bride No Country for Old Men (well, equally good) High Fidelity (equally good) The Girl on the Train
The only times I’ve found the movie better than the book is when I watched the movie prior to reading the book. So I’m not sure how to tell when a movie or book is ever really better than the other because my imagination has shaped the story by whichever I saw first. That said, there have been times I’ve watched the movie first and enjoyed the book more.
Jurassic Park…..seriously tedious……..yes it technically makes more sense then the film – yes it is more in depth etc etc etc……..but O.M.G it is sooooooooooooooooo slow to get to the point and so dull! No sense of excitement or impending chaos/trouble/doom!
@Claire that’s a first. I was incredibly disappointed with the movies, especially deathly hallows. And it’s not like they didn’t have the budget to do a good job.
Not the entire movie, but I’ve always thought the way the “big reveal” was handled in the Twilight movie was so much better than the book. The book was a bit anticlimactic in my opinion.
It’s very rare, the book’s almost always much better! To me, the Hulu show Handmaids Tale was actually better than the book…?…I also preferred the Love, Simon movie over the book.
The Giver. I watched the movie before the book because I didn’t know it was book or else I wouldn’t have watched it first. So I read it when I found out and it was a HORRIBLE novel.
Practical Magic and Blackklansman were both better movies than books. Also, while the movie of The Hate You Give isn’t necessarily better than the book, it is sufficiently different and fantastic that the book should be read first AND then seen in movie format.
V for Vendetta, they portrayed V better in the movie where you are uncertain to support his side or not. He never kills anyone innocent but in the book he seems a lot more physcho
Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage
Misery ? I loved the book but the movie was better in my opinion
What dreams may come
Agree with this one! I loved the movie!
The movie was so beatiful, breathtaking visualy, and emotionally. The book was hard for me to get through, and in my head I pictured everything in very drab colors. I think because of the writing. The movie is actually one of my favorite movies.
@Christina I love that movie!
The Notebook
None!
Stardust
Misery and Silence of the Lambs.
I am going to name a few too : Sarah’s key and The Devil wears Prada 🙂 (Btw the way I thought Sarah’s key was a great book too but I really enjoyed the movie more.
Fried green tomatoes
Stand by Me, Jaws, Blade Runner.
Stand By Me! One if my favorites.
The Jane Austen Book Club
The Lord of the Rings movies were way better than the books imo
The Kissing Booth
The notebook!
Jaws
The last king of Scotland
The Bible
Lord of The Rings. Couldn’t get into the books at all but loved the movies
Nick Stebbins I did try lol. I think I got half way through The Two Towers before I gave up
The Prestige
Cold mountain
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Salmon fishing in the Yemen!
Green Mile
I love that movie! (the book wasn’t bad either)
@Holly book wasn’t bad but movie was better. Something about Tom Hanks. Lol
@Andrea gotta love Tom Hanks!!
Have you read the Onion article about Tom Hanks vowing to play every American in a movie yet? It was hilarious and fake, but I love Tom Hanks!
A Man Called Ove.
@Charlotte I loved both!
The Perfect Storm
V For Vendetta,
Silence Of The Lambs
Ps I love you.
The 100 (actually a serie based on the books)
Shutter Island
Forrest Gump
Dumplin’. Was expecting so much more from the book. Although the movie is not that great, for me it was better than the book.
The Sand Pebbles
Oh! That’s an old one . . . agree! Steve McQueen . .. right?
@Tesa, yes the acting and cinematography (especially of the last scene) was stunning. Complex characters richly portrayed.
That’s also the only example of this i can can up with, although I admit, I’ve seen a lot of movies where I have not read the book, and so don’t have a truly comprehensive range of examples to compare.
Ironically, I happen to be watching an oldie but goodie right now (on TV.) The Towering Inferno. The cast is GREAT and the movie is still entertaining. However, my husband agrees with me — the book was better: The Glass Inferno.
The Host
Dracula
Stardust and Coraline.
@Sparky definitely Stardust. I love that movie
Ps I love you and Chocolat
jaws
Divergent series ??
Love, Rosie ❤️
@Daphne yes I nearly went for that one too. It’s a great film xx
I read the book and it’s frustrating. ?
The Shawshank Redemption
Not a movie, but I think the tv series of The Handmaid’s Tale is better than the book.
Bourne Identity
Bridget Jones Diary.
Not a movie, but I like the show Game of Thrones better than the books
The tv show TrueBlood was better than the books which is so rare. The Vampire Academy books were a million times better than the film.
@Dawn I agree a 100%
i think it’s difficult to transfer a book to film because you don’t get to really know what’s happening inside the characters minds or really much of their backstories. Usually any attempts come across as cheesy; like narration etc. On trueblood I thought Alexander who play Eric is a great actor but he wasn’t what I pictured Eric looking like. The Vampire Academy I won’t even get into that was a nightmare of a film they should’ve stayed true to the books and shot it more like a thriller than a teen comedy.
@Dawn …. I’m just so happy the True Blood series kept Layfayette … I loved him on the show and he dies immediately in book one. He was my fave!
@Kelly He was the best character! I thought it was a bit daft to kill him in the first book. Jason in the show was better though to give them credit.
I loved the books better than the series. I think that at some parts the series veered to far from the books.
i think the way the books ended was better than the show. The last 2 seasons weren’t very good. Arlene I’m the books was an awful person and it would’ve been better to see that on the show
Agreed. ^^
Shawshank Redemption ❤
Power of One
I thought that Where The Heart Is was just as good as the book.
Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas @Hardy.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Silver linings playbook
None ever.
1) How to Train Your Dragon
2) The Devil Wears Prada
3) Far From the Maddening Crowd
My Sister’s Keeper, end of story
@Tyra I saw the movie first and loved it. Then, I read the book. The different ending upset me so much, I actually threw the book across the room and cried.
I read the book first and loved it. Was disappointed so much had changed, including the ending.
@Christine, exactly, that whole ending was pointless, after all that happened and I positively hated the mother character. She was nicer in the movie but still. It
Detective
Bourne Identity
Ready player one
Forrest Gump
@Alexandra Wait, there really is a book?
Yeah there is
Nicholas Sparks’ books.
Also, Lord of the rings trilogy.
Forrest Gump! Book was HORRIBLE. I enjoyed The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society but liked the movie better. Shawshank Redemption better but that was a short story ?
Yes, Forrest Gump was awful!!!
The Help
@Marci that made me cry so much
Charlotte’s Web – Tried to read book several times but just couldn’t
Voyage of the Dawn Trader by C.S. Lewis.
Howl’s Moving Castle!
PS I Love You, the book was utter tripe.
I am just finishing the book, The Secret Life of Bees & have really loved it. I saw the movie version first & hoped the book would be as good. Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, & Alicia Keys . . . I wondered how their acting/singing could be beat. It wasn’t; just a different experience. I have enjoyed both.
@Sandy both are excellent
Legends of the Fall
The great Gatsby
Stand By Me/The Body.
Abraham Lincoln Vampire Killer
Brooklyn
I had no idea it was a book. I love the movie
@Katrina it’s a way better movie imo
crazy Rich Asians
@Barbara really? I love to watch the movies so I can use those faces when I re-read but I feel like the movie is always so hurried and missing some very important pieces
That is definitely true, as with most movies made based off books. There were holes and cuts. But they changed the ending a bit in the movie and I liked the way the movie concluded more than the book I didn’t feel like I got satisfaction or justification for the character in the books. It was just prejudice the whole way through. But the movie combated that theme, and I walked away more satisfied for it.
@Faby though I know my interpretation is not the norm for that story! So many people love that book. And to each their own in their feelings towards it, ya know?
Fried Green Tomatos
Paper Towns
Thinner – HAHA! Jk ???
Handmaid’s Tale. I like the show so much better than the book.
A Christmas Story. The book is good, but the movie is better.
The Last of the Mohicans.
No question about it – Forrest Gump. The book is dreadful.
“PS I Love You”, definitely the movie is better!
Geisha
Coraline
Fight Club
Hunger Games series. The books were NOT well written even though the story basis was great.
Fifty Shades
Lord of the rings
Eat pray love. I have the book which I brought after I saw the film but haven’t read it yet. I have heard loads of people saying that the books is crap. Also p.s I love you. I love the film but I dnfed the book
A Simple Favor
Dexter and The Green Mile
“Brooklyn”, “Love Simon” (except for the Leah character) and “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before”
Yentl
Stardust – some of the best characters were brought to life so much more in the movie
Princess Bride, Winter’s Tale, Woman in Black.
Slumdog millionaire
Follow
Forrest Gump
The Hobbit. Though to be fair, I don’t think it’s “better”, just “more”.
Practical Magic
The Whale Rider
The Minority Report
Blade Runner (vs Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?)
Fight Club
Jaws
Silence of the Lambs
Fried Green Tomatoes (at the Whistle Stop Cafe)
The Princess Bride
No Country for Old Men (well, equally good)
High Fidelity (equally good)
The Girl on the Train
Practical Magic
Brian de Palmas Version of Carrie ( and I love Stephen king)
The Da Vinci Code
I’m listening to Angels vs demons right now. That’s next
Not better but equally good – “The Princess Bride”
Forrest Gump.
Fight club
Pay it Forward.
Gone Girl
Forrest Gump
The Green Mile
The Prestige
Cold Mountain
The only times I’ve found the movie better than the book is when I watched the movie prior to reading the book. So I’m not sure how to tell when a movie or book is ever really better than the other because my imagination has shaped the story by whichever I saw first. That said, there have been times I’ve watched the movie first and enjoyed the book more.
I’m interested to hear, from these suggestions, whether you watched the movie before reading the book. Or am I the only one whose had this experience?
@Alice I watched The Notebook before I read the book but a lot of people say the film is better.
atonement
In the heart of the sea
Jurassic Park…..seriously tedious……..yes it technically makes more sense then the film – yes it is more in depth etc etc etc……..but O.M.G it is sooooooooooooooooo slow to get to the point and so dull! No sense of excitement or impending chaos/trouble/doom!
@Sarah one if my favorite movie scenes ever is the first time they see the dinosaurs. Brilliant. Still gives me chills.
Nerve
Last Unicorn
This is Where I Leave You
About a Boy
Cloud Atlas
Forrest Gump, Dances with Wolves
Stardust
Harry Potter.
@Claire that’s a first. I was incredibly disappointed with the movies, especially deathly hallows. And it’s not like they didn’t have the budget to do a good job.
@Alice I liked them. But everyone has their take on things. I did like the books, just didn’t think they were as good as advertised.
All the Harry Potter
Little Women & The Golden Compass >_>
@Lynn I loved little women the book and the film…can’t really choose between them
@Lynn Golden compass ended before the book. They really need to do the other 2
Blood and Chocolate.
She Devil.
The Notebook
Fight Club
Sharp Objects
Maze Runner
The Never Ending story only because I grew up watching the movie and read the book years after
Not the entire movie, but I’ve always thought the way the “big reveal” was handled in the Twilight movie was so much better than the book. The book was a bit anticlimactic in my opinion.
Haven’t seen one yet ?
The Painted Veil.
The Shining
Stardust
Only Tom Clancys
It wasn’t better, but it matched the book: No Country for Old Men
Sam Faith Agree.. both great!
@Sam I thought the movie was weird. The ending didnt really agree with me
Loved the film. Need to read the book.
The Hobbit
Gone with the Wind
It’s very rare, the book’s almost always much better! To me, the Hulu show Handmaids Tale was actually better than the book…?…I also preferred the Love, Simon movie over the book.
If I Stay.
Bladerunner {original} was better than “Do Androids dream of Electric Sheep” The Martian by Andy Weir {although I do like the Audio book over text}.
A Simple Favor. The Davinci Code. Now, I LOVE The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and I love what they’ve done with the the show.
Also, World War Z.
The Godfather
World war Z.
The Life of Pi
Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit
@Asma I was about to write these! I’ve just watched the extended versions of the Hobbit
The Haunting of Hill House!!
I’ve just started watching that…
haven’t seen it all but going to go back to it – The BFG
THE GODFATHER. Movie was superior. Book’s writing was amateurish, and I couldn’t get through it.
Fight club. Great concept in the book, I feel like they really brought it alive and rounded it out in the movie.
The Giver. I watched the movie before the book because I didn’t know it was book or else I wouldn’t have watched it first. So I read it when I found out and it was a HORRIBLE novel.
Practical Magic and Blackklansman were both better movies than books. Also, while the movie of The Hate You Give isn’t necessarily better than the book, it is sufficiently different and fantastic that the book should be read first AND then seen in movie format.
V for Vendetta, they portrayed V better in the movie where you are uncertain to support his side or not. He never kills anyone innocent but in the book he seems a lot more physcho
Not a movie, but a TV series. The 100 TV show is far superior than the book series.
The Relic
Mary Poppins and Mary Poppins Returns(Comes Back)
Dances with Wolves
Fight Club
Godfather , although the book was good
Schindler’s List
The Thornbirds…..
Atonement
@Kathleen yessss! I couldn’t get into it
@Pama I know! And I feel really guilty about it because I liked the movie so much!
@Kathleen the movie was great. I was really disappointed
The Pelican Brief (and pretty much all John Grisham books that got made into movies)