11 Book Adaptations That Ended Up Becoming Better Known Than The Original Story

From time to time, films and series appear that bring crowds to theaters – or top the list on streaming platforms around the world. And, in many cases, history has been successful before, but in another way: through the pages of a book. That’s right! The adaptation of literary works for cinema or TV is much more common than we imagine.

With that in mind, the team at awesome.club sought among the most watched and remarkable films of cinema those that were inspired by book stories. We found a list with works that, perhaps, not even the biggest fans could assume to be an adaptation. Check with us.

The Queen’s Gambit series brings the orphan girl who reveals herself to be a true master in the game of chess. On screen, the plot pleased the critics and enchanted the public, but what many may not know is that this story came out of a book with the same name, written by Walter Tevis. The success of the production was so great that the book won a new edition, with the cover identical to the series.

With none other than Brad Pitt in the lead role, Fight Club, more than 20 years after its release, is still up-to-date, considered one of the greatest criticisms of consumerism and superficiality. Even more impressive is to think that it is an adaptation of a book of the same name, considered one of the greatest modern classics, written in 1996 by Chuck Palahniuk.

The Gossip Girl series was very successful from the late 2000s around the world. In Brazil, the six seasons were shown on open TV — and some on closed channels. The series became a rage, especially for those who were teenagers between 2007 and 2013. Before that, however, American writer Cecily von Ziegesar was already known for her book collection, in the homonymous work that gave rise to the series.

The Umbrella Academy series shows seven teenagers with superpowers who unite to fight evil, in a saga of fears, conflicts and learnings that attracts the viewer’s attention from beginning to end. And the reader too! Yes, the work on the screens is the adaptation of an American comic book series, award-winning and adored by the public.

Who doesn’t want a trip through enchanting places, with good food, rescue of hope and, still, a great love to top it all off? It was based on these almost universal yearnings that the author of Eat, Pray, Love wrote the book that stayed on the bestseller list in the United States for 158 weeks. The success gave rise to the equally breathtaking film played by Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem.

Also adapted from comic books, this is a series that delights with its photography and attention to detail. The hybrid boy who plays Sweet Tooth, as in literature, goes through several adventures in search of his mother. Unlike comics, which are almost always restricted to a very specific style of reader, the series is very popular on streaming screens around the world.

The book Mulhereszinhas, released more than 150 years ago, has had several adaptations for cinema. But, without a doubt, the most recent one, which, in Brazil, was named Adoráveis ​​Mulheres, reinforced female empowerment and the appreciation of this essence. Showing the lives of four sisters with completely different personalities, the work shows how it is possible to face challenges and grow united by love and empathy.

Another series that originated in comics, Riverdale brings together several characters from Archie Comics, who form a group of teenagers committed to solving some mysteries of the past of the small town where they live. The production, initially conceived to be a film, became a series in four seasons – and already has confirmation until the sixth!

The movie Silver Linings Playbook won an Oscar for actress Jennifer Lawrence and received very positive reviews from the specialized press. The success of the big screen was first noticed in bookstores (the book that gave rise to the film was published in 2008) and it was not by chance. The work portrays the daily challenge of two young people who identify themselves in the search for emotional balance and happiness.

The movie Forrest Gump is already over 25 years old, but it is still very much alive in the memory of most people. What many of us have not even imagined is that this cinema masterpiece is the adaptation of a book from the 1980s. Among the stories told by Forrest, we can see historical facts, but it is the innocent way and his lightness in the face of life. that marks readers and viewers forever.

Released in 2017, the movie Extraordinary moved people in movie theaters around the world. The plot, which shows a story of overcoming and respecting differences, is an adaptation of a book of the same name, published in 2012 and first on The New York Times bestseller list with more than 12 million copies sold.

After this list, we feel like watching some movies and looking for new books on the shelves. Are you on the team who prefer to watch or read stories like these? Do you think the adaptation outperforms the original or not? Tell us in the comments tab and take the opportunity to tag friends who share these opinions!