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'.
Jeeves and Wooster: Series 2 (1991)
8.4/10
Starring: Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Martin Clunes, Robert Daws, Vivian Pickles
Following the immense success of the first series, British greats Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry return to the iconic swing-time roles of P.G. Wodehouse'... Read more
Jeeves and Wooster: Series 3 (1992)
8.4/10
Starring: Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Robert Daws, Julian Firth, Pip Torrens
The perfectly cast Fry and Laurie are back in series three as the comic mayhem spreads across the Atlantic. Wooster flees the idea of marriage, but he... Read more
Jeeves and Wooster: Series 4 (1993)
8.4/10
Starring: Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Robert Daws, Richard Braine, Joesph Mydell
The perfectly cast Fry and Laurie return to the iconic swing-time roles of P.G. Wodehouse's aristocratic Wooster and the ever-dependable Jeeves. Serie... Read more
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds (2006)
8.9/10
Director: David Mallet, Jeff Wayne
Starring: Richard Burton, Justin Hayward, Russell Watson, Tara Blaise
Based on the acclaimed 1978 concept album by Jeff Wayne, this musical version of War of the Worlds was recorded live at Wembley in 2006 combining a sp... Read more
Jessica (2004)
7.9/10
Director: Peter Andrikidis
Starring: Lisa Harrow, Sam Neill, Leeanna Walsman
Based on the novel 'Jessica' by Bryce Courtenay, this epic three-hour-plus period drama traces a woman's harsh, tumultuous life in the Australian bush... Read more
Jesus' Son (1999)
7/10
Director: Alison Maclean
Starring: Billy Crudup, Samantha Morton, Denis Leary, Holly Hunter, Dennis Hopper, Jack Bl...
Billy Crudup plays a well-meaning but drug-addled young man whose trip across the back roads of 70's America with fellow addict and girlfriend Samanth... Read more
Jindabyne (2006)
6.3/10
Director: Ray Lawrence
Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Laura Linney, John Howard, Deborra-Lee Furness, Stelios Yiakmis,...
From the director of 'Lantana', this enigmatic psychodrama examines the consequences of the actions of four men who go on a fishing trip and don't all... Read more
Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973)
6/10
Director: Hall Bartlett
Based on the popular book by Richard Bach, this warm and exhilarating film traces the life of a flock of seagulls, and of one bird in particular who l... Read more
Journey's End (2017)
6.6/10
Director: Saul Dibb
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Sam Claflin, Paul Bettany, Tom Sturridge, Toby Jones, Stephen G...
Led by young officer Stanhope, whose mental health is rapidly disintegrating, a group of British soldiers await their fate in an Aisne dugout during t... Read more
Jude (1996)
7/10
Director: Michael Winterbottom
Starring: Christopher Eccleston, Kate Winslet, Liam Cunningham, Rachel Griffiths
Sumptuously filmed version of Thomas Hardy's 'Jude the Obscure' details the life of Jude Fawley, a stonemason with doomed intellectual aspirations in... Read more