Every Movie That Came From a Book — And the Ones That Should

BookToMovies is the definitive global archive of every movie adapted from a book. It catalogs over 2,000 confirmed book-to-film adaptations and features a public Adaptation Request Board where fans can vote on which books should become movies next. Think of it as the IMDb of literary adaptations — past, present, and future.

Thousands of movies are based on books. Studies suggest that approximately 50–70% of top-grossing films are adapted from existing literary works including novels, short stories, comics, and memoirs. BookToMovies currently indexes over 2,000 confirmed adaptations with plans to expand to 50,000+.

Use BookToMovies' search feature to look up any book title. Each entry includes development status labels such as Not Optioned, Optioned, In Development, Filming, or Released. Our tracking engine monitors verified sources and studio announcements to keep status information current.

Yes! BookToMovies features an Adaptation Request Board where you can submit books you want to see adapted into films. Other users can upvote your suggestions, and the most-requested titles are tracked and ranked publicly. Visit our Submit a Book page to get started.

Adaptation fidelity measures how closely a film follows its source book. BookToMovies rates fidelity on a 5-point scale: 1 (Loosely Inspired), 2 (Major Changes), 3 (Moderate Adaptation), 4 (Faithful Adaptation), and 5 (Extremely Faithful). This helps readers and viewers set expectations before watching an adaptation.

Research consistently shows that between 50% and 70% of top-grossing Hollywood films are based on pre-existing literary works, including novels, short stories, graphic novels, memoirs, and non-fiction books. When you include adaptations from comic books, stage plays, and other written material, the figure climbs even higher. In the Academy Awards' history, over 60% of Best Picture winners have been literary adaptations. This trend has only intensified in the streaming era, where platforms like Netflix, HBO, and Hulu aggressively acquire book rights for original content.

Stephen King holds the record for the most-adapted living author, with over 50 of his works brought to screen as films, TV movies, and series. His adaptations range from horror classics like The Shining (1980) and It (2017) to dramas like The Shawshank Redemption (1994) and Stand by Me (1986). Historically, William Shakespeare remains the most-adapted author of all time, with hundreds of films based on his plays. Other frequently adapted authors include Agatha Christie, Charles Dickens, and Jane Austen, each with dozens of screen versions of their works.

While "most faithful" is subjective, several adaptations are widely recognized for their remarkable fidelity to their source material. Gone Girl (2014) is often cited as one of the most faithful modern adaptations, largely because author Gillian Flynn wrote the screenplay herself. No Country for Old Men (2007), adapted by the Coen Brothers from Cormac McCarthy's novel, follows the book nearly scene-for-scene. Other highly faithful adaptations include To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), The Road (2009), and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001). On BookToMovies, users and editors rate each adaptation's fidelity on a 5-point scale to help you find the ones that stay truest to the page.

Yes, statistically speaking. Studies from multiple industry sources show that films based on books tend to earn 44% more at the box office compared to original screenplays. Book adaptations also benefit from built-in audiences: readers who loved the book are often eager to see how it translates to screen. Some of the highest-grossing film franchises of all time — including Harry Potter ($7.7B), The Lord of the Rings ($6B), The Hunger Games ($3.3B), and Twilight ($3.3B) — are all book adaptations. Additionally, adapted films receive more Academy Award nominations on average, further boosting their commercial and cultural longevity.

BookToMovies tracks every adaptation through five key development stages: Not Optioned (no known film deal), Optioned (rights acquired by a studio or producer), In Development (writers, directors, or cast are attached), Filming (principal photography is underway), and Released (the adaptation is available to watch). Our tracking engine aggregates information from verified industry sources including trade publications like Deadline, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter, as well as official studio announcements and talent agency disclosures. Status updates are reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy before publication.