10 must-see book-to-film adaptations

We're slightly biased, but we think the best films are based on books, from Gregory Peck playing Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird to the BBC's Pride and Prejudice mini series – and so we've made a list of 10 literary adaptations coming to a screen near you this year.

Which book-to-film adaptations are you looking forward to? Tell is in the comments below.

 

The Aftermath

Out now
The Aftermath by Rhidian Brook

Starring Keira Knightley and Jason Clarke, this postwar story is inspired by Brook's own family history: his grandfather, Walter Brook, shared his Hamburg house with a British military family whilst the shattered city was being rebuilt. In The Aftermath, a German architect and his daughter cohabit with a British colonel and his wife – and tensions rise.

Five Feet Apart

22nd March
Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott

This one's for fans of The Fault in Our Stars. In Five Feet Apart, two teenagers with cystic fibrosis meet in hospital and fall in love, despite not being allowed within six feet of each other. It stars Cole Sprouse (Riverdale) and Haley Lu Richardson (The Edge of Seventeen and Recovery Road).

Pet Sematary

4th April
Pet Sematary by Stephen King

Stephen King's iconic and beloved classic was originally adapted in 1989, but we can't wait to watch this year's release, starring John Lithgow, Jason Clarke, and Amy Seimetz. Louis Creed and his family move into a country home and are intrigued by the eerie nearby Pet Sematary – not least for its unusual spelling. After their cat is tragically killed, they bury it in the cemetery. But sometimes, dead is better.

Artemis Fowl

9th August
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

A film for all the bookworms in the family. At only 12 years old, Artemis Fowl is a criminal genius who's just found out that fairies are real. When Artemis captures elf Captain Holly Short for her fairy gold, he messes with the wrong girl – Holly is incredibly dangerous. Judi Dench plays the formidable Commander Root.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

9th August
Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

We've been eagerly awaiting this adaptation for years! 15-year-old Bee does everything she can to track down her agoraphobic architect mother, Bernadette Fox, played by Cate Blanchett, after she disappears.

The Sun is Also a Star

9th August
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Set over one day, The Sun is Also a Star is the story of Natasha and Daniel, two teenagers whose worlds collide when everything is about to change for both of them. This romantic YA adaptation stars Yara Shahidi and Charles Melton (Riverdale).

The Woman in the Window

27th September
The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

Based on the bestselling book by controversial author A.J. Finn aka Dan Mallory, this adaptation is sure to be one of the thrillers of the year, starring Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, and Gary Oldman. For fans of The Girl on the Train, it's about Anna Fox, who lives alone in New York City and begins to spy on her picture-perfect neighbours, only to witness something she wasn't meant to see.

The Goldfinch

11th October
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Donna Tartt won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her thrilling and suspenseful The Goldfinch. Ansel Elgort (The Fault in Our Stars, Baby Driver) plays Theo, who survives a terrorist bombing at an art museum, and Nicole Kidman is Mrs Barbour, the socialite mother who takes him in after he's orphaned. 

The Art of Racing in the Rain

8th November
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

A must-see adaptation for all dog fans, this heartwarming and inspirational tale follows loyal family dog Enzo (Kevin Costner), who tells the story of his human family, how they nearly fell apart, and what he did to bring them back together. It also stars Milo Ventimiglia (This is Us, Gilmore Girls) and Amanda Seyfried.

Northern Lights

Northern Lights by Philip Pullman

We're cheating slightly as His Dark Materials is an upcoming 8-part BBC series, but we couldn't omit the first installment of this bestselling fantasy trilogy. This adaptation stars James McAvoy as the intimidating Lord Asriel, Ruth Wilson as the dangerous Mrs Coulter, and Lin-Manuel Miranda as friendly explorer Lee Scoresby. There isn't an official release date as yet but the trailer launched recently, so hopefully we’ll get to see it this year!

Win a £20 National Book Token!

Comment below – telling us which upcoming book-to-film adaptations you can't wait to watch – and we’ll pick one winner to receive a £20/€25 National Book Token after Thursday 4th April 2019.

Congratulations, Judith A.! 

National Book Tokens gift cards can be bought and spent in thousands of bookshops across the UK and Ireland, including independents, Waterstones, WHSmith, Easons, and Blackwells, and can also be spent online and on eBooks. Find your nearest bookshop.

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  • The prizes are non-transferable and there are no cash alternatives. The Promoter reserves the right to amend the specification of the prize or offer an alternative prize.
  • Closing date 11:59pm, Thursday 4th April 2019.
  • The competition is open to UK and Republic of Ireland residents except employees of the Booksellers Association and Book Tokens Ltd., and employees of participating bookshops.
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