From timeless classics to contemporary bestsellers, some of the best movies were adaptations of great books. Some of the best movies ever made, from Jane Austen's Emma to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, have roots in books.
The marriage of literature and film has long been captivating, and with its vast audience reach, Netflix has brought some famous books to the big screen, allowing cinephiles to share in the thrill of these stories. Below is an exploration of some of the best Netflix book-to-movie adaptations that have left viewers fawning for a sequel.
Extraction
Tyler Rake, a fearless black market mercenary, embarks on the most deadly extraction of his career when he's enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord.
- Release Date
- 2020/04/24 00:00
- Director
- Sam Hargrave
- Cast
- Chris Hemsworth, David Harbour, Golshifteh Farahani, Derek Luke
- Rating
- R
- Main Genre
- Action
Sam Hargrave's Extraction is an adaptation of the graphic novel Ciudad, written by Ande Parks, Fernando León González, Eric Skillman, and the Russo brothers. It premiered on Netflix in April 2020. The movie's entire premise entails a vicious mercenary named Tyler who takes the promise to save the teenage son of an Indian criminal lord from Bangladesh.
While several deviations may separate the film from its source material, the general premise is the same. Netflix stated in July 2020 that the movie had been watched in its first four weeks of release by 99 million households. By November of the same year, it would gain a solid foot as the number four most-watched straight-to-streaming title of 2020 up to that point by Variety.
From the mind-blowing, high-octane action sequences to the cast's performance to the cinematography, it's not hard to see why this movie was a huge success and is considered one of Netflix's best films. The sequel was released in 2023 and featured Chris Hemsworth, who plays the main character, as one of the producers. According to Netflix, fans can also expect Extraction 3, which is currently in its developmental stages.
9 The Kissing Booth (2018)
The Kissing Booth
- Release Date
- May 11, 2018
- Director
- Vince Marcello
- Cast
- Megan du Plessis, Lincoln Pearson, Caitlyn de Abrue, Jack Fokkens, Stephen Jennings, Chloe Williams
- Main Genre
- Comedy
The Kissing Booth is based on Beth Reekles' 2012 novel of the same title and was released on Netflix in May 2018. The storyline revolves around Elle, a late bloomer whose lifelong friendship with a boy named Lee is at risk due to her developing romantic feelings for a high school senior and bad boy, Noah, who happens to be Lee's elder brother. Joey King brings her A-game to the show, starring as Elle alongside Jacob Elordi and Joel Courtney, who both star as Noah and Lee, respectively.
What Makes The Kissing Booth Great
Although the film had been deemed "sexist" for portraying certain themes, it ended up being, according to Netflix's CCO, Ted Sarandos, a "hugely popular original movie." The original novel was hugely popular on Wattpad and is one of the reasons fans fawned over the film, despite some describing it as cliché. Other reasons include how the two main characters, Lee and Elle, enjoyed a platonic relationship throughout. Because of this commercial success, the film was eventually produced into a trilogy, with the other parts, The Kissing Booth 2 and 3, released in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
8 The Silence (2019)
The Silence
- Release Date
- May 16, 2019
- Director
- John R. Leonetti
- Cast
- Kiernan Shipka, Miranda Otto, Stanley Tucci, John Corbett, Kyle Harrison Breitkopf, Kate Corbett
- Rating
- PG-13
- Main Genre
- Horror
In The Silence, an incredible adaptation of Tim Lebbon's horror novel of the same title, Ally, an autistic teen, and her family seek safety in a house in a distant area when a swarm of creatures known as vesps assault the earth. The vesps are unearthed by a group of cave research teams in their research process, and the vesps are out to obliterate humanity. The movie's cast members include Stanley Tucci, Kiernan Shipka, and Miranda Otto.
What Makes The Silence Great
The movie brings to life the literal definition of silence. Its attempt at depicting a world where creatures hunt by sounds is quite an exciting idea and has drawn comparisons to John Krasinski's A Quiet Place. Although described as "barely a horror movie," this movie has what it takes to keep viewers closely glued to the end, including heart-racing suspense and intense moments of terror.
7 The Gray Man (2022)
The Gray Man premiered in July 2022 and features an all-star cast, including Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Regé-Jean Page, Billy Bob Thornton, and Jessica Henwick. The movie is based on Mark Greaney's Gray Man novels and is the first film in the franchise. The story follows an unknown CIA top asset who triggers a global hunt when he discovers some dark agency secrets involving his superiors.
What Makes The Gray Man Great
Over the first three days, the movie amassed an 88.5 million hours stream, making it the most-watched film in 84 countries around the time. Shot on a production budget of $200 million, the movie is known as one of the most expensive film projects by Netflix. Though it was criticized for a cliché and cheesy plotline, fans appreciated the many comedic moments, the fast pacing, and the action sequences. The Gray Man is a reaffirmation of the Russo brothers' incredible mastery of filmmaking. Judging from the streaming numbers and the announcement of a coming sequel, some critics surmise that the film was worth the budget and offers enough eye candy to forgive its shortcomings.
6 Nappily Ever After (2018)
The American romantic comedy film Nappily Ever After was directed by Haifaa al-Mansour, based on Trisha R. Thomas' novel. Nappily Ever After stars Sanaa Lathan, Ernie Hudson, and Lyriq Bent. The plot follows a woman with a seemingly perfect life: a good job, a successful boyfriend, and amazing hair. However, after an ugly discovery, she soon realizes her life isn't so picture-perfect. Luckily, a compassionate barber, whom she soon starts dating, is there to help her pick up the pieces. Sanaa Lathan, who plays Violet Jones, the lead character, had to shave her hair completely to embody the role of Violet Jones.
What Makes Nappily Ever After Great
Nappily Ever After is the perfect film for a date night because of its feel-good moments, humor, emotional depth, and how it draws the parallels between self-love and romantic love, showing the heroine's personal and emotional growth. Its positive messages on breaking free from gender and beauty expectations, and toxicity in general, is one of its most brilliant features and what makes it stand out as one of the best book-to-movie adaptations in Netflix's catalog.
5 Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (2018)
Andy Serkis' adventure drama film, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, is an adaptation of collected stories in All the Mowgli Stories by Rudyard Kipling. It features voice performances from A-list actors Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Naomi Harris, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Serkis. The Hindustan Timescalls it "a nuanced, visually dazzling update of the Jungle Book for Netflix." It centers on the story of Mowgli, who loses his only parent as an infant to a tiger attack. Mowgli has only himself and the wolves of the jungle as he grows into a man, constantly targeted by the vicious Shere Khan.
What Makes Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle Great
The shooting was done in locations in South Africa to capture the essence of the African Savannah and terrestrial lands and at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, England. The Netflix film was often compared to Disney's remake, with debates on which one was the better version of the tale. Still, director Andy Serkis' directorial skills are evident through the cast's immaculate performance, while some add that its difference from the Disney version is what makes it worth watching. Its visuals and juxtaposition of the beauty and danger of reality is a major reason it's regarded as a great film.
4 Burning Betrayal (2023)
Betrayal has been one of the most prominent themes in some of the best stories ever told since the dawn of time. Burning Betrayal, where the theme reigns supreme, offers an interesting tale. The film Burning Betrayal is an adaptation of the novel O Lado Bom de Ser Traída by Sue Hecker. Upon gaining the knowledge that her fiancé's been cheating on her for two years, a young woman becomes devastated and furious. In response, she finds an opportunity for a sexual awakening that comes with its dangerous consequences.
What Makes Burning Betrayal Great
The literal translation of the novel's title, "The Good Side of Being Betrayed," prepares one for a rollercoaster experience, although one is never prepared enough for what entirely comes with it. It stars Giovanna Lancellotti and Bruno Montaleone, among the stellar cast. It has been described as "an intense romantic drama with a dangerous ending for its main character." What makes it worth watching is how the film expertly brings to life the emotionally charged scenes from the book and is a feast for the eyes and senses, especially for lovers of the erotic thriller genre.
3 Black Crab (2022)
Black Crab or Svart Krabba is a Swedish action thriller starring Noomi Rapace, Jakob Oftebro, Erik Enge, and Dar Salim. It follows the story of Caroline Edh, a speed skater, who is forced to accompany a group of soldiers on a dangerous mission to skate across sea ice behind enemy lines. The group's mission is to deliver a covert package that could end a war. Noomi Rapace, who plays Caroline Edh, executes her character with every vigor required. The movie is an adaptation of the 2002 novel Svart krabba [sv] by Jerker Virdborg and premiered in March 2022 on Netflix. The screenplay for the adaptation was written by Adam Berg (also the director) and Pelle Rådström.
What Makes Black Crab Great
Black Crab offers a real-life view into a war-torn world so brilliantly portrayed with striking cinematography (for which it won a Guldbagge award) and a cast performance so good it makes the film look like it was based on a true story, not a book. This, audiences say, is why, despite being a low-budget movie, Black Crab is one of the best post-apocalyptic action thrillers that Netflix has put out.
2 The Perfect Find (2023)
For a forty-year-old woman, her career and everything else is on the line. In The Perfect Find, a woman stakes everything on a passionate, covert relationship with a man 15 years younger than her who has the power to ruin her comeback. After premiering at Tribeca Festival inJune 2023, where it won the Audience Award for Narrative Feature, the movie was released on Netflix in June 2023. It stars Gabrielle Union in the lead role as Jenna. Other cast members include Keith Powers, Aisha Hinds, D. B. Woodside, La La Anthony, and Gina Torres.
What Makes The Perfect Find Great
For their performance, Gabrielle Union and Keith Powers were praised for bringing a palpable chemistry to the film, helping it achieve its status as "a low-key rom-com suitable for a comfy couch watch." Audiences rated The Perfect Find highly for its "forbidden romance" element, hilarious escapades, and heated scenes. The soundtrack was also a plus, featuring classics like "You Can't Lose a Broken Heart," "Leave the Door Open," and "Walk."
1 Beasts of No Nation (2015)
Beasts of No Nation
- Release Date
- September 11, 2015
- Director
- Cary Fukunaga
- Cast
- Abraham Attah, Emmanuel Affadzi, Ricky Adelayitor, Andrew Adote, Vera Nyarkoah Antwi, Ama Abebrese
- Genres
- Drama, Documentary, War
The multiple award-winning movie Beasts of No Nation is about a child soldier confiscated into an army at the break of a civil war in Africa was released by Netflix in October 2015 globally, in partnership with Bleecker Street, which was in charge of its theatrical release. It is an adaptation of the 2005 novel of the same title by Nigerian author Uzodinma Iweala, famous for its immersive first-person narrative. The film was described as a "sobering, uncompromising, yet still somehow hopeful picture of war's human cost" on Rotten Tomatoes.
What Makes Beasts of No Nation Great
Among the things that made this movie stand out include the child actor Abraham Attah's stunning performance as Agu and Idris Elba, stealing the show again with his commanding presence as Commandant. The film features Elba in one of his best performances. Beasts of No Nation is raw, powerful, and emotionally chilling; it is also the first original feature film by Netflix. It unfolds its tragedy with striking cinematography and plot sequences so brilliantly layered that audiences and critics find it shocking that it was snubbed by the Oscars.
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