Based on...
Books and films are two closely-related forms of art and entertainment. Since the science of film was first established in the late 1800s filmmakers have been using it to tell stories, and they soon began utilising the existing narratives and characters of novels. These films have succeeded (or not) to varying degrees in the transition, some accurately portraying the writer's intention, some building on it and some disappointing the original readers. No matter how well the adaptation is done however, it is still nice to be reminded that yes, happily, there is more to read than Harry Potter.
For screen translations of Charles Dickens, Agatha Christie, Stephen King and many other notable authors click their links under this category, left. For adaptations of plays and Shakespeare, use the 'Alice's Playhouse' link.
Right: Kubrick's adaptation of Thackeray's novel 'Barry Lyndon'.
Bosch: Season 1 (2014)
8.4/10
Starring: Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Sarah Clarke
Based on Michael Connelly's international bestselling novels. Homicide Detective Harry Bosch finally comes to television. He is relentless. Even in t... Read more
Boy A (2007)
7.6/10
Director: John Crowley
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Peter Mullan, Siobhan Finneran, Skye Bennett, Alfie Owen
A hauntingly ruminative tale of redemption and the pain of starting over, based on the novel by Jonathan Trigell. Jack is a young ex-con desperate to... Read more
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
7.5/10
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves, Tom Waits
This erotically-charged, blood-soaked take on Stoker's classic tale is not the faithful adaptation as promised but is sensational viewing nevertheless... Read more
Bram Stoker's Dracula ( Blu-ray ) (1992)
7.5/10
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves, Tom Waits
This erotically-charged, blood-soaked take on Stoker's classic tale is not the faithful adaptation as promised but is sensational viewing nevertheless... Read more
Breakfast on Pluto (2005)
7.3/10
Director: Neil Jordan
Starring: Eva Birthistle, Liam Cunningham, Bryan Ferry, Brendan Gleeson, Ian Hart, Cillian...
Cillian Murphy goes believably glam as an Irish transvestite who moves to swinging '60s/'70s London. Rejected by almost everyone around her, and lead... Read more
Breakheart Pass (1975)
6.8/10
Director: Tom Gries
Starring: Ben Johnson, Charles Bronson, Charles Durning, Ed Lauter, Jill Ireland, Richard...
Posing as a fugitive from justice, frontier undercover agent John Deakin (Charles Bronson) boards a train to go after a ruthless gang of outlaws. Ingr... Read more
Breaking Vegas (2004)
7.2/10
Who would'nt love to beat the odds? This engaging documentary follows a group of six M.I.T. students who used their impressive math skills to extrac... Read more
Brick Lane (2007)
6.7/10
Director: Sarah Gavron
Starring: Tannishtha Chatterjee, Satish Kaushik, Christopher Simpson, Zafreen , Naeema Beg...
Based on the best-selling novel by Monica Ali and telling the story of Nazneen, who at just seventeen years of age is taken from her Bangladeshi villa... Read more
Brideshead Revisited (2008)
6.7/10
Director: Julian Jarrold
Starring: Matthew Goode, Ben Whishaw, Hayley Atwell, Emma Thompson, Michael Gambon, Greta...
A fresh take on Evelyn Waugh's classic novel, substantially trimmed down compared to the 11-hour BBC mini-series from 1981, but successfully distillin... Read more
Brideshead Revisited (1981)
8.7/10
Director: Charles Sturridge, Michael Lindsay-Hogg
Starring: Jeremy Irons, Anthony Andrews, Diana Quick, Laurence Olivier, Claire Bloom, Step...
When Oxford under-graduate Charles Ryder (Jeremy Irons) meets the charismatic Sebastian Flyte (Anthony Andrews) it is the beginning of a devoted frien... Read more