In a recent Marie Claire article titled “Hollywood Loves Books,” the author Kate Dwyer observed that the proliferation of streaming services was “fueling a golden age of adaptations.” This is a trend we’ve been noticing for the past few years, and one that shows no signs of tapering off. This is great news is you enjoy experiencing a beloved book in a new way or if you are led to discover a new beloved book after watching an adaptation of it.
Below are some films and shows based on books that are available now, as well as upcoming ones to keep an eye out for. The list includes literary fiction, sci-fi and fantasy bestsellers, a children’s classic, and even a few works of nonfiction. We’ve included a catalog link to the book or books they’re based on so you can learn more and borrow the book.
Passing (in theaters and streaming on Netflix)
Cast includes: Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, André Holland
Based on the 1929 novel Passing by Nella Larsen
Clare Kendry, a beautiful light-skinned African American woman married to a white man who is unaware of her heritage, long ago cut all ties to her past, but a reunion with a childhood friend forces her to confront her lies.
Dune (in theaters and streaming on HBO Max)
Cast includes:Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista
Based on the first half of Dune by Frank Herbert
The science-fiction classic follows the adventures of Paul Atreides, the son of a betrayed duke, who is given up for dead on a treacherous desert planet and adopted by its fierce, nomadic people, who help him unravel his most unexpected destiny.
Maid (streaming on Netflix)
Cast includes: Margaret Qualley, Andie MacDowell, Nick Robinson, Anika Noni Rose, Billy Burke, Raymond Ablack
Based on Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive by Stephanie Land
A journalist describes the years she worked in low-paying domestic work under wealthy employers, contrasting the privileges of the upper-middle class to the realities of the overworked laborers supporting them.
The Lost Daughter (streaming on Netflix)
Cast includes: Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson, Jessie Buckley, Peter Sarsgaard, Ed Harris
Based on Elene Ferrante’s novel The Lost Daughter
When Leda’s daughters leave home to be with their father, she decides to take a trip to a small coastal town in Italy, but soon after she arrives memories from her unsettled past come back to haunt her.
Dopesick (streaming now on Hulu)
Cast includes Michael Keaton, Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Stuhlbarg, Will Poulter
Based on journalist Beth Macy’s 2018 book Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America
Chronicles America’s more than twenty-year struggle with opioid addiction, from the introduction of OxyContin in 1996, through the spread of addiction in distressed communities in Central Appalachia, to the current national crisis.
Fever Dream (streaming on Netflix)
Cast includes María Valverde, Dolores Fonzi, Germán Palacios
Based on the novel Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin
A first English translation by an award-winning Spanish author follows the nightmarish experiences of a dying woman and a boy beside her hospital bed, who explore the dynamics of broken souls, toxic relationships and the power and desperation of family.
The Last Duel (in theaters now, streaming on Disney+ beginning December 1)
Cast includes Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer, Ben Affleck
Based on The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval France by Eric Jager
Presents a case of scandal, crime, and justice in medieval France, where a Norman knight returns from Scotland and finds his wife accusing an old friend and fellow courtier of raping her, leading to a battle to the death.
Read more about upcoming adaptations here.
Source: NYPL
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