We have to admit, most of our favourite films are in fact those that have been based on books. And although we’re all familiar with the likes of Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, you might be surprised how many award-winning films have been based on books.
So, if you’re running out of things to watch and read this lockdown, read our list of the best films based on books that we think you’ll love.
Little Women (2019)
Based on: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.
Little Women is a coming-of-age novel that follows the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—and details their lives from childhood to womanhood. It is loosely based on the lives of the author and her three sisters.
12 Years a Slave (2014)
Based on: The 1853 slave memoir, Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup.
A New York State-born free African-American man is kidnapped in Washington, D.C., by two conmen in 1841 and sold into slavery. The man was put to work on plantations in the state of Louisiana for 12 years before being released. The memoirs and film follow Northup's experiences and accounts of slavery in this moving and powerful film.
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Based on: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.
You've definitely already seen this iconic musical film, but we still think it's a classic that deserves a place on this list. The story of Dorothy and Toto's adventures in the Merry Old Land of Oz have entertained audiences young and old for generations and continue to do so.
The Colour Purple (1985)
Based on: The Colour Purple by Alice Walker.
Another very moving film, it follows the life of Celie, a young black girl growing up in the early 1900's in Georgia. The first time we meet Celie, she is 14 - and pregnant - by her father. We stay with her for the next 30 years throughout her tough life.
Gone Girl (2014)
Based on: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.
This psychological thriller starring Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck will have you gripped from start to finish. When his wife, Amy, goes missing, husband Nick finds himself the prime suspect in the investigation.
Hidden Figures (2016)
Based on: Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly.
This film follows the story of three African American female mathematicians who worked at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in a unit segregated by race and sex during the 60s.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Based on: Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King.
Banker Andy Dufresne, is sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary for the murders of his wife and her lover, despite his claims of innocence. Over the following two decades, he befriends a fellow prisoner, contraband smuggler Ellis "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman).
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Based on: The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger.
Starring Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly, a powerful fashion magazine editor, and Anne Hathaway as Andrea "Andy" Sachs, a college graduate who goes to New York City and lands a job as Priestly's co-assistant, it's both very funny and entertaining.
Atonement (2007)
Based on: Atonement by Ian McEwan.
Romance, war and drama, this film takes place over the course of six decades starring James McAvoy and Kiera Knightly.
Eat, Pray, Love (2010)
Based on: Eat, Pray, Love. By Elizabeth Gilbert.
Starring Julia Roberts, it finds a newly divorced Elizabeth at a crossroads in her life. She chooses to step out of her comfort zone and embarks on a journey around the world to enjoy the true pleasures of life.
Forrest Gump (1994)
Based on: Forrest Gump by Winston Groom.
This iconic film follows the life of Forrest Gump, played by Tom Hanks, a slow but kind-hearted man from Alabama who witnesses and unknowingly influences several defining historical events in history.
Harry Potter (2001)
Based on: The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling.
Harry Potter films never seem to get old. With a total of eight films in the series, it's a great set of films to binge on over a long weekend in front of the TV.
Girl on the Train (2016)
Based on: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.
Rachel, played by Emily Bunt, becomes entangled in a missing persons investigation that has a huge impact on her life.
The Help (2011)
Based on: The Help by Kathryn Stockett.
An aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 60s decides to write a book detailing the African American maids' point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis.
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Based on: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.
The story follows the three Dashwood sisters as they must move with their widowed mother from the estate on which they grew up, Norland Park after Norland is passed down to John, the product of Mr. Dashwood's first marriage, and his young son, the four Dashwood women need to look for a new home.
The Pianist (2002)
Based on: The Pianist by the Polish-Jewish pianist and composer Władysław Szpilman, a Holocaust survivor.
A Polish Jewish musician struggles to survive the destruction of Warsaw during the Second World War between the years of 1939 and 1945. This emotional and moving film has won countless awards.
The Notebook (2004)
Based on: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks.
The Notebook follows the heartwarming story of a young man who falls in love with a rich young woman who are soon separated because of their social differences. Make sure you have plenty of tissues on hand for this tear-jerker.
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Based on: Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding.
A true British comedy, this film follows Bridget, a 32-year-old English single woman, who writes a diary all about her life. She soon gets entangled in a love triangle when two men vie for her affection.
Rebecca (2020)
Based on: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.
This slightly harrowing romantic thriller was re-released in 2020 starring Lily James and Armie Hammer and follows the story of a young newlywed who finds herself battling the shadow of his first wife, Rebecca, whose legacy lives on in the house long after her death.
Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)
Based on: The Shopaholic series of novels by Sophie Kinsella.
In need of some lighthearted entertainment? This film follows the life of Rebecca Bloomwood a shopping addict who finds herself needing to pay off her huge debts. Amidst the struggle, she finds herself falling in love with a wealthy entrepreneur and realising what is most important in life.
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