Nothing beats seeing your favorite novel brought to life on the big screen. Look at some of the best movies based on books on Netflix.
Many of the best film ideas come from books, which inspire producers, directors, and performers to make fantastic films.
Additionally, literature has been a significant source of inspiration for filmmakers since cinema’s birth.
High-quality projects may be created because of the tight relationship between the two arts, giving readers and moviegoers more ways to enjoy their favorite stories.
Although readers are usually demanding when a film based on a book is announced, many meet or exceed expectations.
They successfully transfer emotions of the world of letters to the big screen. However, the possibilities are unlimited.
But we’ve compiled a list of some of the best movies based on books on Netflix:
1. The Lord of the Rings (2001)
This cinematic adaptation of a novel is among the most well-known and admired public, both among regular readers of J. R. R. Tolkien and those. They added the books to their library after seeing the movie.
Additionally, the films are set in fictitious Middle-earth. They follow Frodo Baggins and the Fellowship of the Ring on a mission to destroy the One Ring and secure the demise of its maker, the Dark Lord Sauron.
Furthermore, after the Fellowship disbands, Frodo continues his adventure with his faithful friend Sam and the sinister Gollum.
Meanwhile, Aragorn, Gondor’s exiled heir, joins forces with Legolas, Gimli, Boromir, Merry, Pippin, and the wizard Gandalf to liberate the Free Peoples of Middle-earth from Sauron’s armies.
They also rally them in the War of the Ring to aid Frodo by diverting Sauron’s attention away from Frodo.
The top cast includes Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Christopher Lee, Billy Boyd, and Elijah Wood.
2. Brazen (2022)
One of the best movies based on books on Netflix is Brazen. Based on Nora Roberts’ novel Brazen Virtue, Brazen is a 2022 American thriller film directed by Monika Mitchell.
After a challenging book tour, Grace McCabe decides to see her sister Kathleen entangled in a custody fight following a painful divorce.
Grace is taken aback when she arrives in D.C. to find Kathleen living in a run-down neighborhood and supplementing her poor teacher’s pay by moonlighting as a phone sex operator to afford a hotshot lawyer.
According to Kathleen, Fantasy, Inc. ensures complete anonymity for its personnel. Grace, on the other hand, has her reservations, which are confirmed on one eerie cherry blossom-scented night when one of Fantasy, Inc.’s operators is assassinated.
Furthermore, Grace’s life becomes a scene from one of her writings as she is lured in to help investigate the crime. As one of her biggest supporters, investigator Ed Jackson cautions her this isn’t fiction.
Grace could be the next to pass away because she’s building a trap for a killer who’s more twisted than she could have imagined.
And not even Ed may be able to save her from a fateful encounter with lust and death. Some of the top cast include Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler, and Lossen Chambers.
3. Fatherhood (2021)
Fatherhood is a 2021 American comedy-drama film directed by Paul Weitz. It is based on Matthew Logelin’s 2011 novel Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss and Love, written by Weitz and Dana Stevens.
Additionally, After his wife died unexpectedly a day after their daughter was born, a father raised his infant child as a single father.
However, as he sets out to raise his daughter on his own, a widowed new father deals with doubts, worries, sadness, and soiled diapers.
Some of the top cast members include Kevin Hart, Alfre Woodard, Frankie R. Faison, Lil Rel Howery, DeWanda Wise, Anthony Carrigan, and Melody Hurd.
4. Extraction (2020)
Extraction is one of the best movies based on books on Netflix. Extraction is a 2020 American action thriller directed by Sam Hargrave and written by Joe Russo.
It is based on Ande Parks, Joe Russo, Anthony Russo, Fernando León González, and Eric Skillman’s graphic novel Ciudad.
Furthermore, a young child becomes a pawn in a conflict between infamous drug lords in an underworld of weapons dealers and traffickers.
Additionally, Kidnapped inside one of the world’s most impenetrable cities, his rescue necessitates the unrivaled skill of a mercenary named Tyler Rake.
But Rake is a broken man with nothing to lose. He harbors a death wish that makes an already dangerous mission nearly impossible.
Some of the top cast are Chris Hemsworth, Rudhraksh Jaiswal, Randeep Hooda, Golshifteh Farahani, Pankaj Tripathi, and David Harbour.
5. Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Crazy Rich Asians is a 2018 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Jon M. Chu, based on Kevin Kwan’s 2013 novel. Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim wrote the script.
Rachel Chu is an American-born Chinese NYU professor. She travels to Singapore with her boyfriend Nick for the wedding of his closest friend.
Furthermore, Nick’s secret is soon revealed: his family is wealthy and regarded as Asia’s most eligible bachelor. Rachel’s every woman is envious of her and wants to pull her down.
The top cast includes Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, Lisa Lu, Awkwafina, Ken Jeong, and Michelle Yeoh.
6. 365 Days (2020)
365 days is one of the best movies based on books on Netflix. Barbara Biaows and Tomasz Mandes directed the 2020 Polish erotic love drama film 365 Days. It is based on Blanka Lipiska’s first novel of a trilogy.
After his father is slain, Massimo Torricelli, a young and attractive boss of a Sicilian Mafia family, has no choice but to take over. Laura works as a sales director in a posh Warsaw hotel.
Her professional life is booming, but her personal life is uninteresting. She’s giving it her all to save her relationship.
Additionally, she travels to Sicily with her knucklehead boyfriend, Martin, and other buddies.
Furthermore, she does not anticipate Massimo, the island’s most dangerous man, to get in her way, kidnap her, or hold her captive for 365 days. It also forces her to fall in love with him.
Some top cast members include Anna-Maria Sieklucka, Michele Morrone, Bronisław Wrocławski, Otar Saralidze, Magdalena Lamparska, and Natasza Urbańska.
7. The Meg (2018)
The Meg is a 2018 science fiction action film directed by Jon Turteltaub and written by Dean Georgaris, Jon Hoeber, and Erich Hoeber.
However, it is primarily inspired by Steve Alten’s 1997 novel Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror.
Five years ago, skilled sea diver and Naval Captain Jonas Taylor faced an unforeseen peril in the Mariana Trench’s unexplored depths, forcing him to evacuate half his crew and cancel his mission.
Though the tragic incident resulted in his dismissal from service, his unsupported and incredulous claims of what caused it were an attack on his vessel by a mammoth, 70-foot sea creature thought to be extinct for over a million years. That ultimately cost him his career, marriage, and any semblance of honor.
But he’s the one who gets the call when a submersible sinks and becomes inoperable at the bottom of the ocean, carrying his ex-wife among the crew.
Some of the top cast members include Jason Statham, Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, Winston Chao, and Cliff Curtis.
8. The Huntsman (2016)
The Huntsman is also one of the best movies based on books on Netflix. It is a fantasy action-adventure film released in 2016.
It occurs before and after Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) and is both a prequel and a sequel.
An evil sorceress, Queen Ravenna’s abilities enable her to learn that her younger sister Freya, whose abilities have yet to manifest, is not only having an illicit affair with an already married nobleman, Andrew, but is also pregnant with his child.
Additionally, Freya realizes that Andrew not only broke his vow to elope with her but also murdered their kid sometime after she gave birth to a baby girl.
In addition, her broken heart freezes over in grief-fueled wrath, and she kills him with her newly discovered powers. The elemental control of ice.
The top cast includes Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Nick Frost, and Sam Claflin.
9. Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
E. L. James’ sexual romance novel Fifty Shades of Grey was published in 2011. It was the first book in the Fifty Shades of Grey series.
As a favor to her roommate, Kate Kavanagh, Anastasia Steele, an English literature major at Washington State University, agrees to interview Christian Grey, a billionaire, for the college newspaper.
Additionally, Christian Grey expresses an interest in Anastasia throughout the interview. Soon after, he visits Anastasia’s hardware store and offers her a picture session to complement the story she interviewed him for.
Some top cast include Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Jennifer Ehle, Victor Rasuk, and Eloise Mumford.
10. Jack Reacher (2012)
Jack Reacher is also one of the best movies based on books on Netflix. Lee Child’s character, Jack Reacher, is the protagonist in a series of crime thriller novels.
An experienced sniper kills five people in a peaceful Midwest town.
The cops immediately identify and apprehend the criminal, resulting in a slam-dunk case. Instead of confessing, the accused man writes “Get Jack Reacher” on paper.
Additionally, Reacher notices the news broadcast and decides to visit the city. The defense is thrilled, but Reacher has arrived to bury the man.
However, Reacher is taken aback by the accused’s plea and sets out to establish the man’s guilt for himself, but he gets more than he bargained for.
The top cast includes Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins, and David Oyelowo.
11. Ophelia (2018)
Ophelia is a 2018 British-American love drama film directed by Claire McCarthy. It was written by Semi Chellas based on the character of the same name in William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet.
Additionally, the film is based on Lisa Klein’s novel and tells the narrative of Hamlet through the eyes of Ophelia.
Queen Gertrude takes Ophelia into Elsinore Castle as one of her most trusted ladies-in-waiting as a rebellious and motherless child. Ophelia quickly wins the young Prince Hamlet’s heart.
However, as the kingdom is on the verge of war, a passionate romance blooms between the two in secret amidst its political intrigue and betrayal.
Additionally, when Hamlet’s father is murdered, the prince’s wits unravel into an insatiable need for vengeance.
Ophelia deftly navigates the laws of power in Denmark while deciding between her genuine love and her own life.
The top cast includes Daisy Ridley, Naomi Watts, Clive Owen, George MacKay, Tom Felton, and Devon Terrell.
12. Gone Girl (2014)
Next on our list of best movies based on books on Netflix is Gone Girl. Gone Girl is a psychological thriller film directed by David Fincher. It was also written by Gillian Flynn, based on her novel, which was published in 2012.
Also, Nick Dunne says his wife, Amy, has gone missing on their fifth wedding anniversary. Nick’s picture of a happy marriage falls apart under police pressure and a growing media frenzy.
Furthermore, Nick Dunne’s deceptions, lies, and odd conduct soon have everyone thinking the same grim question: Did Nick Dunne murder his wife?
Some of the top cast include Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, and Carrie Coon.
13. Jumper (2008)
The Jumper is a 2008 science fiction action film partially based on Steven Gould’s 1992 novel.
David Rice is a high school student in Ann Arbor who was abandoned by his mother when he was five years old and now lives with his heartless, alcoholic father. He is smitten with Millie, a classmate, and is bullied by at least one classmate.
Furthermore, as he is about to drown on a cold winter day, he realizes he can instantly teleport himself to any location on the planet.
However, he flees his house, travels to New York City, robs a bank vault, and attracts the attention of a covert federal task force. After eight years, the hunters, led by Roland’s assassin, get a lead on David.
In addition, he returns home, looks for Millie, and encourages her to join him on his journey, only to discover later that Roland and his crew are pretty dangerous. Is David’s entourage complete?
The top cast includes Hayden Christensen, Jamie Bell, Rachel Bilson, Max Thieriot, Anna Sophia Robb, Diane Lane, Michael Rooker, and Samuel L. Jackson.
14. The Hunger Games (2012)
The Hunger Games is also one of the best movies based on books on Netflix. It is a 2012 American dystopian action film directed by Gary Ross and based on Suzanne Collins’ 2008 novel of the same name.
Additionally, Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik produced the first installment of The Hunger Games film franchise.
In addition, the totalitarian nation of Panem is divided into 12 districts and the Capitol in a dystopian future.
A lottery selects two young delegates from each section to compete in The Hunger Games yearly.
Meanwhile, the televised games are aired throughout Panem and are half entertainment, part terrible vengeance for the last revolt.
While the residents of Panem are required to watch, the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors.
Some of the top cast include Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, and Donald Sutherland.
15. Half Girlfriend (2017)
Half Girlfriend is an Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film based on Chetan Bhagat’s novel. Mohit Suri directed the film.
Madhav was a Bihari youngster who lived once upon a time. He fell in love with Riya, a girl from Delhi. Madhav had a limited command of the English language.
Additionally, Riya was the one who did it. Madhav desired to be in a relationship, but Riya, on the other hand, did not. Riya only wanted companionship, while Madhav, on the other hand, did not.
Riya proposes a solution: She agrees to be his half-girlfriend. Half Girlfriend stars Arjun Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor in lead roles.
16. Me Before You (2016)
Me Before You is a love drama film directed by Thea Sharrock in her directorial debut. English author Jojo Moyes adapted it from her novel of the same name, published in 2012.
Lou Clark is well-versed in a wide range of topics. For example, she knows how many steps it takes to go from the bus stop to her house.
She knows she enjoys working at The Buttered Bun tea store and may or may not love her boyfriend, Patrick.
Furthermore, Lou is unaware that she is about to lose her work or that anticipating what is to come keeps her calm. Will Traynor is well aware that a car accident robbed him of his will to live.
Me Before You is also one of the best movies based on books on Netflix. Some of its top cast members are Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Janet McTeer, Charles Dance, and Brendan Coyle.
17. Eat, Pray, Love (2010)
Eat, Pray, Love is a biographical romantic drama film based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s 2006 memoir.
Ryan Murphy co-wrote and directed the film, released on August 13, 2010, in the United States.
Liz Gilbert (Roberts) had everything a modern woman should aspire to – a husband, a home, and a great career – yet, like so many others, she was lost, confused, and seeking what she truly desired in life.
Additionally, Gilbert, just divorced and at a crossroads in her life, takes a risk and risks everything to transform her life. Starting on a journey around the world turns into a search for self-discovery.
However, during her travels, she discovers the true pleasure of sustenance via food in Italy, the power of prayer in India, and, finally and surprisingly, the inner serenity and balance of true love in Bali.
Some top cast members include Julia Roberts, James France, Richard Jenkins, Viola Davis, Billy Crudup, and Javier Bardem.
18. I am Legend (2007)
I Am Legend is a 2007 post-apocalyptic action thriller film partially based on Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel.
Furthermore, Francis Lawrence directed the film based on Akiva Goldsman and Mark Protosevich.
In this post-apocalyptic action thriller, Robert Neville (Will Smith) is a scientist who cannot stop the spread of a horrible, incurable, and artificial virus.
Furthermore, Neville is now the last human survivor in what’s left of New York City, if not the entire world.
For the past three years, Neville has been sending daily radio transmissions, hoping to find other survivors.
However, he is not alone. The Infected, mutant plague victims lurk in the shadows, watching Neville’s every move and waiting for him to make a deadly error.
Some of the top cast include Will Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, and Dash Mihok.
19. Rebecca (2020)
Rebecca is a British romantic thriller film directed by Ben Wheatley. It was written by Jane Goldman, Joe Shrapnel, and Anna Waterhouse and was released in 2020.
The film is based on Daphne du Maurier’s novel Rebecca, published in 1938.
A recently married young woman (Lily James) arrives at Manderley, her new husband’s enormous family estate on a windswept English coast, after a whirlwind affair in Monte Carlo with dashing widower Maxim de Winter (Armie Hammer).
Furthermore, she settles into the trappings of her new life, naive and inexperienced, but she is haunted by the ghost of Maxim’s first wife, the elegant and urbane Rebecca, whose haunting legacy is kept alive by Manderley’s evil maid Mrs. Danvers (Kristin Scott Thomas)
Some of the top cast include Lily James, Armie Hammer, and Kristin Scott Thomas.
20. The Last Letter From Your Lover (2021)
Next on Netflix’s list of best movies based on books is The Last Letter From Your Lover.
The Last Letter from Your Lover is a British romantic drama film directed by Augustine Frizzell and written by Nick Payne and Esta Spalding. It is based on Jojo Moyes’ 2012 novel of the same name.
Ellie Haworth, an ambitious journalist, uncovers a trove of secret love letters from 1965 and becomes motivated to solve the mystery of the forbidden affair at their heart in a pair of interwoven stories set in the present and the past.
Ellie’s love story evolves with the help of an eager, adorable archivist who helps her hunt down additional letters as she finds the story of Jennifer Stirling, the wife of a wealthy industrialist, and Anthony O’Hare, the financial journalist assigned to cover him.
The cast members are Felicity Jones, Callum Turner, Joe Alwyn, Nabhaan Rizwan, and Shailene Woodley.
21. Nappily Ever After (2018)
Nappily Ever After is a romantic comedy directed by Haifaa al-Mansour and written by Adam Brooks and Cee Marcellus. It was released in the United States in 2018 and is based on Trisha R. Thomas’ novel of the same name.
Furthermore, Violet Jones (Lathan) is dismayed by her superficial, “perfect” existence, which she initially doesn’t recognize.
Besides, she has everything she ever wanted: a good profession, friends, and a handsome doctor boyfriend (Whittle).
However, as her fairy tale unravels, she does as well. This film demonstrates what a beautiful, intelligent, and accomplished lady can achieve when she turns her gaze inward rather than outward!
Some of the top cast include Sanaa Lathan, Ernie Hudson, Lyriq Bent, Lynn Whitfield, Ricky Whittle, and Camille Guaty.
