Films that are better than the books they're based on

[Drizzle]

So I'm about two thirds of the way through Peter Benchley's Jaws. I've never read it until now even though I've always loved the movie. So far, the book goes off on so many tangents regarding the mafia and an affair between two of the characters and many of the characters are such s***bags that you're actually rooting for the shark. The film improves on it so much.

So tell me, folks...which movies have you seen that you thought were better than the book they were based on? I know it's rare, since 9 times out of 10 the book usually is superior, but there are the exceptions to the rule.

 

[Grootster]

The original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

 

[OutOfBoose]

Fight Club, I think.
Blade Runner and Total Recall. But I'm not sure they can be considered as adaptations. More like inspired by.

 

[Rowsdower!]

Definitely Fight Club. That's really the only one I can think of though.

 

[James]

Even Chuck Palahniuk has said he prefers the film over his book.

 

[Ivan Drago]

Some will disagree, but Jurassic Park. I've always felt that movie was a better, streamlined version of the novel.

Never was a huge fan of the Michael Crichton book.

 

[OutOfBoose]

I honestly agree on Jurassic Park. I prefer the film.

 

[Drizzle]

I'd also agree on Jurassic Park, although I liked the book as well.

As for Fight Club, it's for the reason of Chuck Palahniuk saying the movie is better that I still haven't read it.

Another movie I preferred to the book was American Psycho. Mainly because Bale is just so much fun to watch in the role and also because the book gets too unnecessarily graphic for its own good at times.

 

[childeroland]

The Godfather I and II (which uses the Don's youth storyline) are the classic examples.

 

[Schlosser85]

Jaws easily

 

[Rowsdower!]

Jurassic Park the novel is vastly superior to the movie in every possible way, IMO.

Anyway, in some ways I'd say The Lord of the Rings. The movies are paced better than the books and they cut out most of the superfluous stuff like Bombadil and the Scouring of the Shire. Though the books are superior in other ways so it's a toss-up.

 

[dude stannis]

Haven't read it, but Die Hard seems pretty unanimous.

 

[gwynplaine]

I love them both equally, but I like Kubrick's ending for The Shining better than King's one.

 

[gwynplaine]

Haven't read it, but Die Hard seems pretty unanimous.

Good one, also maybe First Blood, but I haven't read the book either.

 

[Steamteck]

Some will disagree, but Jurassic Park. I've always felt that movie was a better, streamlined version of the novel.

Never was a huge fan of the Michael Crichton book.

I for one, will agree with you.

 

[TheFlamingCoco]

I read Wizard of Oz once. That one had the Tinman literally chopping himself apart, among other things.

The movie is less weird/violent and more family-friendly/cute. I prefer the Garland adaptation.

 

[st barbara]

I found the characters in "The Warriors" more likeable (if less realistic) in the film than in the book.

 

[Grootster]

The Giver

 

[Orba]

Last of the Mohicans

 

[SPO2 Dalisay]

The Great Santini

 

[Sundancer]

Lord of the Rings. Kept to a tighter narrative

 

[Batmannerism]

Have to disagree with the Godfather, which is an amazing book ( no disrespect for the film, which is also awesome)0? - LOTR films do have a tighter story but book 2 ends on a massive cliffhanger which IMO is far superior to the film. It's tough, I'd call it a draw, as for the Hobbit, the book is vastly better than the film.

This is also my unpopular film opinion.....every Harry Potter film is better than The book. The films cut out the hundreds of pages of unnecessary derivative crap that the books wallow in.

Deathly Hallows (book) managed to take a climax that readers had waited a decade for and made it very underwhelming.

Dangerous Liaisons film is more enjoyable than the book IMO (and the film Valmont is much funnier)

Oh wait KickAss the film is much less messed up than the comic and Stardust is a lot more fun than the book (and has a better ending ....do does Watchmen! Another unpopular film opinion.)

 

[sycamore]

Lord of the Rings. Kept to a tighter narrative

God no. Books are brillant, movies are a poor CGI fest.

 

[LTuser]

Some will disagree, but Jurassic Park. I've always felt that movie was a better, streamlined version of the novel.

Never was a huge fan of the Michael Crichton book.

The film Sphere, based on his book, i also felt was better than the book..

And for me, MY fave book adaptation into film, was the first Firestarter..

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

Agree with Jaws and Blade Runner. Also Robert Wise's 1963 classic The Haunting. I enjoyed Shirley Jackson's book The Haunting of Hill House but I think the movie was far better overall and far more chilling. The less said about the 1999 remake the better.