We all know the phrase: The book was better.
But every once in a while, a film adaptation manages to do something extraordinary—it takes a good story and turns it into something unforgettable. The casting is perfect. The chemistry is electric. The setting, music, and pacing just work. And suddenly, you’re watching a movie that outshines its literary roots.
The issue isn’t that the book itself isn’t good. If a book makes it to the level of being adapted, it has to be a bestseller and have a huge fanbase. It’s just that sometimes the screenplay pulls different elements or themes from the original work that make the onscreen story not only a representation of the original work, but sometimes even better.
Here are some of my favorite movies (most of them romances) that I enjoyed just as much or more than the original works.
🌒 Practical Magic (1998) Based on the novel by Alice Hoffman
- Sisters, spells, second chances, and margaritas at midnight. Romance + magic + Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman = my favorite movie ever. But even though this is a chick flick (and not a romcom), the two male characters (hero and villain) almost steal the movie. Aidan Quinn and Goran Visnjic bring the novel’s male leads to life, which is probably why I prefer the movie version.
💌 The Notebook (2004) Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks
- The rain. The passion. Ryan Gosling. This movie has the iconic kiss of the early 2000s and remains a romantic staple. I loved this book because of the heroine, but seeing it on screen made me fall in love hero as well. I rewatch this movie at least once a year!
🖊️ Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) Based on the novel by Helen Fielding
- The book is hilarious, but the movie has Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, and a heroine whose awkward charm is impossible not to love. I have to admit I’m a newcomer to the book and the movie, but after having recently read the book for the first time, and then watched the movie, I’m hooked on both… and have decided that I prefer the movie a bit more.
🏰 The Princess Bride (1987) Based on the novel by William Goldman
- The book is clever, but the movie is legendary. Romance, sword fights, rodents of unusual size, and true love. And this is a rare situation where I saw the movie before the reading the book. While I did love the book, I still love the movie more. And I heard scuttlebutt on the internet (so it must be true!) that there’s going to be some sort of part 2 or prequel or something of this story. I guess I’ll have to wait and see.
☕ Sense and Sensibility (1995) Based on the novel by Jane Austen
- I am a huge Jane Austen fan (like most romance writers), but I think that Emma Thompson’s 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility elevates the emotional impact of the story. Emma Thompson’s screenplay and the gorgeous cast sealed the deal. Not the mention the amazing cindemaphotograpy… and Snape (Alan Rickman) is in it!
🧠 Silver Linings Playbook (2012) Based on the novel by Matthew Quick
- A book about healing turned into a film full of unexpected tenderness and chemistry. Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper made this one sing… and dance. I loved the book, but it was sadder than the movie and I think that’s why I prefer the movie version. It’s loaded with every emotion available and draws out the happily ever after until I almost couldn’t bear it. Bring tissues!
💍 Crazy Rich Asians (2018) Based on the novel by Kevin Kwan
- Lavish, colorful, emotional. The movie distilled the sprawling book into a gorgeous, joyful romantic comedy with serious heart. I loved this character-driven book, but I felt like the movie explored more of the humor and joy of this story.
🌟 Stardust (2007) Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman
- While the book has a lot of fans, the film brought more romance, humor, and adventure. Plus, a swashbuckling Robert De Niro? Yes, please. Considering this is old school romantic fantasy, I still think both this book and movie were far ahead of its time.
👠 The Devil Wears Prada (2006) Based on the novel by Lauren Weisberger
- Meryl Streep. That’s it. That’s the reason the movie eclipses the book. Her performance in this movie is one of my all-time favorite roles that she’s ever played. While the book was sharp and biting in a fun way, the movie was so over-the-top that I was both laughing and crying along with the young women who work at Runway Magazine.
