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Sometimes, watching movies based on books can be a double-edged sword. If you're a tried-and-true fan of the book, and you know the ins and outs of all the characters' motivations, it can feel like you've been shut out of the internal workings of the story. Not to mention the sets and costumes can look totally different! But sometimes filmmakers strike gold, and a book to movie adaptation is exactly what readers everywhere envisioned. Whether you're a "I have to read the book before I see the movie" kind of person, or you can't remember the last time you picked up a novel, these are some movies based on books you won't want to miss! Don't forget about The 15 Best TV Shows Based On Books To Watch In 2024 too ;).
Mother's Instinct
Image via Amazon
This book adaptation stars Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway as best friends whose relationship is put to the ultimate test after tragedy. When Céline's (Hathaway) son falls off a balcony and she has to come to terms with her grief, Alice (Chastain) begins noticing Céline's bizarre behavior — and is left questioning her own maternal instincts.
Mother's Instinct will be released in 2024 and in addition to Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway, Josh Charles, Baylen D. Bielitz, Anders Danielsen Lie, and Eamon Patrick O'Connell star.
The Princess Diaries 3
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Considering The Princess Diaries 2 featured Mia at 21 years old, I know that The Princess Diaries 3 will deviate from Meg Cabot's books. I also know that the third installment in the beloved movie series will continue the story the other two movies have already set up. Before Gary Marshall (the movies' director) passed away, he told People that film lead Anne Hathaway and he hoped to set the third movie in New York City. I would love to see that!
The Princess Diaries 3 is currently in pre-production and we're hoping to see Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews, and Chris Pine return. Hopefully Heather Matarazzo as Lily, too!
It Ends With Us
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Lily Bloom (played by Blake Lively in the new film) finally moves out of her small town to open a flower shop in Boston. After a memorable evening with Ryle, it feels like life is starting to work itself out. But when Lily comes face-to-face with her first love Atlas, Lily realizes she can't hide from her past anymore.
It Ends With Us will hit theaters June 21, 2024 and stars Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate, and Hasan Minhaj.
Beach Read
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Rom-com author January Andrews is not happy. Her father has passed and she's currently staying in the old beach house he was sharing with his mistress. To top it all off, she's got the worst case of writer's block, and her panic only spirals when she reconnects with novelist Gus Everett, her academic arch-nemesis from their college days. But the more she gets to know Gus (plus the fact they decide to swap genres to help with their writer's block), the more she starts to see the silver linings in life.
Beach Read is in pre-production, and while we don't have a cast yet, we know that Dollface director Yulin Kuang is writing and directing the movie!
Meet Me At The Lake
Image via Amazon
This movie based on a book follows Fern during two different times in her life: in her early 20s, she spent the most magical 24 hours with a boy named Will. They shared the hopes and dreams they didn't dare tell anyone else, and even though they agreed to meet back up a year later, Fern never saw Will again. That is, until ten years later, when she returns to her mother's lakeside resort after her mother's death and finds him there.
Meet Me At The Lake is currently in pre-production, and while we don't have any casting info, we do know that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are producing this book to movie adaptation!
The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants 3
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Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, which released in 2008, covers multiple books in this series, which makes me think this new movie based on the books will focus on the final installment: Sisterhood Everlasting. The book is all about the five sisters reuniting after ten years — and about the love that connected them from the beginning. Not only would this be a natural next step for the film series, but it would also serve as an emotional and beautiful conclusion!
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 3 is in pre-production, but it sounds like we'll see Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, and Amber Tamblyn all return!
The Chronicles of Narnia
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Following the success of Barbie, Greta Gerwig is back with her take on The Chronicles of Narnia. While I don't have word on *which* of the seven books will be used in the adaptation (although my guess is The Magician's Nephew), I do know that they're all filled with magic, themes of family, and enduring hope.
At the moment, Greta Gerwig's The Chronicles of Narnia project is in pre-production, so while we don't know the cast yet, I'd love to see William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley, or Ben Barnes from the original films make a cameo!
Book Lovers
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Nora is a Manhattan literary agent convinced love will never find her, and decides to join her sister on a North Carolina mountain getaway (a getaway, I might add, where she keeps running into prickly book editor Charlie). But the more time Nora spends with Charlie, the more she wants to know — about him and herself.
Book Lovers is currently in pre-production. While we don't have an official casting announcement, I would love to see Joe Keery as Charlie!
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
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Evelyn Hugo is FINALLY telling her story in this movie based on a book. In an exclusive interview with a promising young journalist, the fictional Hollywood star reveals all the secrets and scandals the world has always wanted to know. Turns out, there's even more to her seven marriages than anyone could have guessed.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo doesn't have a release date or official casting yet, but Jessica Chastain (who's been the fancast for Celia St. James for years), released a statement saying she won't be involved in the film.
Crying in H Mart
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This memoir follows indie rockstar Michelle Zauner as she chronicles her Korean-American childhood, and her relationship with her mother, from their bond over food to spending time journeying around Korea together. But when her mother passes away, Michelle has to figure out what life looks like without her.
Crying in H Mart is in pre-production, so there's no official casting announcements yet. We do know, however, that White Lotus star Will Sharpe will be directing this book adaptation.
Argylle
Image via Universal Pictures
This book-to-movie adaptation follows introverted spy writer Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard), who gets sucked into the spy world after her fictional books start to reflect the real world a little too much. It's totally giving Kingsman: The Secret Service with a little bit of Nim's Island magic.
Argylle is available on Apple TV+ now and stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Dua Lipa, Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, and Samuel L. Jackson. Dua Lipa is also releasing music for the film!
Dune 2
Image via Warner Bros. Entertainment
After Paul (Timothée Chalamet) joins Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen, he learns more about his destiny, and realizes he has to choose between the love of his life and fate of the universe. Still reeling from the loss of his father, Paul does everything he can to avoid the future he keeps seeing in visions.
Dune 2 is in theaters now and alongside Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, we'll see Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Rebecca Ferguson, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skargard, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, and Charlotte Rampling.
The Color Purple
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In this brand new adaptation of the Broadway musical, in the face of abuse and racism she endures, Celie (Fantasia Barrino) dreams of reuniting with her sister Nettie in Africa after they're separated as teenagers. Not only is the story emotional and gripping, but the costumes, music, and characters come together to form something truly unforgettable.
The Color Purple is available to stream on Max now. In addition to Fantasia Barrino, the movie stars Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.
Red, White & Royal Blue
Image via Prime Video
Rom-com lovers couldn't get enough of this book when it went viral on TikTok — and when the movie based on the romance book hit Prime Video! Taylor Zakhar Perez plays Alex Claremont-Diaz, the son of the POTUS (who's played by icon Uma Thurman), whose relationship with Prince Henry (Nicholas Galitzine) quickly turns from hate to romance.
Red, White, & Royal Blue is available to stream on Prime Video, and stars Taylor Zakhar Perez, Nicholas Galitzine, Uma Thurman.
Sitting In Bars With Cake
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Yara Shahidi's Jane is a talented baker who's literally juts trying to make it through her '20s. Her best friend Corinne (Odessa A’zion) convinces Jane to start bringing her delicious cakes into bars — but when Corinne gets a life-changing diagnosis, the women use their year of cake to find joy in the hardest of times.
Sitting in Bars With Cake is on Prime Video now and stars Martha Kelly, Ron Livingston, and Bette Midler alongside Yara Shahidi and Odessa A’zion.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
Image via Lionsgate
Judy Blume's iconic book finally got the film treatment, and it stars Rachel McAdams no less! This book adaptation is all about Margaret, who's doing her best to get through middle school — and all the isolation, confusion, and crushes that come with it — when her family moves from the city into the suburbs.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret is available on Starz, and stars Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel McAdams, Elle Graham, Kathy Bates, and Benny Safdie.
What do you think is the best book to movie adaptation? Check back here for more recent movies based on books (as well as the latest news on these flicks), and don't forget to check out The 19 Most-Anticipated Spring Movies For 2024!
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Lead image via Amazon.
This post has been updated.
