If there’s one thing that characterizes a good book, it’s how easily readers can imagine the characters and the situations. Authors work differently in this regard, but it’s often that the best reads include a natural translation to the readers’ minds. If we add the thriller genre to that equation, then the reader may sense a bit of discomfort. Or, as others like to call it, they will feel fear for the characters and situations they’re in.
As common as it is, sometimes, when adapting those books to the big screen, the result may not be the same. Some even fail to embody the same feeling the book produced, and it could be due to many factors: poor character development, editing out the essential parts, etc. What’s curious is that not even the author writing the screenplay means that the work will be great. It takes a good screenwriter, and sometimes the original author isn’t one.
On the following list, you will find different adaptations that, one way or another, ended up being solid thrillers in movie format. Curiously, and as sinful as that may sound, some of them are actually better as films than as books. These are some amazing thrillers that were based on and/or inspired by books.
The following article may contain mild spoilers
Gone Girl (2014)
Gone Girl
- Release Date
- October 1, 2014
- Director
- David Fincher
- Cast
- Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Carrie Coon, Kim Dickens
- Rating
- R
- Main Genre
- Drama
- Runtime
- 145
Inspired by the Gillian Flynn bestseller of the same name, Gone Girl tells two stories. On one hand, we have a family and an entire community shaken by the disappearance of Amy Dunne. All eyes suspiciously look at her husband, Nick, who doesn’t show much empathy during the events. But the other story is a revealing glance into the truth about the Dunnes. Amy wasn’t a perfect wife, and she isn’t actually missing. She just ran off. Nick isn’t exactly a victim and has some secrets of his own. It’s a situation that’s so rotten and well-depicted that this film will make you second-guess before starting a relationship.
What Makes it Amazing?
One of the most underrated films by David Fincher, Gone Girl is a solid thriller that uses a far-from-traditional narrative style to engage the audience. At first, you can’t help but connect with Amy and her image, condemning Nick and accusing him because “it’s usually the husband.” However, Fincher does a great job at turning the tables and portraying a side of Amy that’s darker and much more sinister than people could have possibly thought of. Without a doubt, one of the great villains of the Fincher-verse, wonderfully played by Rosamund Pike, who got nominated at the Academy Awards for her portrayal.
You can stream Gone Girl on Max.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Silence of the Lambs
- Release Date
- February 1, 1991
- Director
- jonathan demme
- Cast
- Jodie Foster, Scott Glenn, Anthony Hopkins, Ted Levine, Brooke Smith, Anthony Heald
- Rating
- R
- Main Genre
- Crime
- Runtime
- 118
The Silence of the Lambs was based on the 1988 novel by Thomas Harris, which was actually a sequel to his own Red Dragon. Jonathan Demme’s stems from that one, as Hannibal Lecter has already been captured and now helps Clarice Starling during her investigation of the murders by serial killer Buffalo Bill. Needless to say, it’s one of the best horror thrillers in cinema history and one of the few films to win the Big Five sweep at the Oscars.
Why it Makes the List
Demme’s adaptation of Ted Tally’s screenplay resulted in one of cinema’s most important films. The genre balance between horror, thriller, and drama is sharp and precise, and never overwhelming. Additionally, Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins, playing Clarice and Hannibal, respectively, will go down in history as two of the greatest performances in genre films of all time. This is probably one of the cases in which the film is better than the book.
You can stream The Silence of the Lambs on Max.
Mystic River (2003)
Mystic River
- Release Date
- January 1, 2003
- Director
- Clint Eastwood
- Cast
- Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney
- Rating
- R
- Main Genre
- Crime
Crime thriller Mystic River was directed by Clint Eastwood and adapted by Brian Helgeland from the novel by Dennis Lehane. In the film, the community of Charlestown in Boston is shaken by the murder of a teenage girl, the daughter of Jimmy Markum, an ex-convict who hasn’t abandoned his mob roots. Sean and Dave were Jimmy’s friends when they were kids, but after Dave was kidnapped, things weren’t the same. Now Sean is the detective investigating the murder, and Dave is unfortunately seen as a potential suspect by Jimmy.
What Makes it Great?
Eastwood’s excellent film is a compelling exploration of guilt, seen from all sides of the conflict. Jimmy’s quest for revenge is only driven by desperation, and it lacks logic. But if this keeps him in power, he will do whatever’s necessary to keep it. It also speaks about the lack of sensibility that’s present in social circles where tradition beats everything else and trauma always comes second. It’s one of Sean Penn’s greatest performances ever, and he actually won an Academy Award for his role in the film.
You can rent or buy Mystic River on Prime Video or Apple TV+.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
The Talented Mr. Ripley
- Release Date
- December 25, 1999
- Director
- Anthony Minghella
- Cast
- Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett, Philip Seymour Hoffman
- Rating
- R
- Main Genre
- Thriller
- Runtime
- 2hr 19min
Written and directed by Anthony Minghella in 1999, The Talented Mr. Ripley is based on the character created by Patricia Highsmith in the ’50s and brought to life in movies several times. In fact, this wasn’t the first time The Talented Mr. Ripley was adapted for the big screen. René Clément’s Purple Noon was a critically acclaimed 1960 film that also portrayed the adventures of the clever young man who uses every resource available to invade the life of millionaire Dickie Greenleaf and ultimately become him.
Why it Makes the List
Minghella’s psychological thriller is a modern masterpiece of the genre. It’s beautifully acted by Matt Damon in the best performance of his entire career, and it was recognized at the Academy Awards with five nominations. Its screenplay navigates with great pace through the ordeal Tom Ripley designs to trick just about everybody, and ultimately win over the hearts of the characters and the audience. It’s a modern and highly rewatchable Hitchcockian movie that doesn’t disappoint one bit.
You can stream The Talented Mr. Ripley on Paramount+.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
- Release Date
- December 14, 2011
- Director
- David Fincher
- Cast
- Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Robin Wright, Stellan Skarsgård, Christopher Plummer, Joely Richardson
- Rating
- R
- Main Genre
- Crime
- Runtime
- 160
David Fincher teamed up with screenwriting legend Steven Zaillian to adapt the American version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, based on the Stieg Larsson book. The result was an action thriller that audiences received well but quickly forgot about. It has a cult following, but ultimately, the story about Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander investigating a girl’s disappearance and its link with the wealthy family she came from ended up being one of Fincher’s less successful films.
Why Does it Make the List?
In retrospect, the adaptation is just exceptional. Zaillian does a great job at giving some shape to Salander’s character from a cinematic point of view, and this does well because she’s fascinating as a dark and silent character. As usual, Fincher adds an aesthetic layer that makes the film slick and beautiful to look at. How we didn’t get a sequel to this one is just tragic.
You can rent or buy The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on Prime Video or Apple TV+.
Misery (1990)
Misery
- Release Date
- November 30, 1990
- Director
- Rob Reiner
- Cast
- James Caan, Kathy Bates, Richard Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen, Lauren Bacall, Graham Jarvis
- Rating
- R
- Main Genre
- Drama
- Runtime
- 107
For Misery, director Rob Reiner insisted the adaptation of Stephen King’s novel had to be helmed by American playwright William Goldman. The result was an exceptional horror thriller that’s considered by many to be one of Stephen King’s best movies adapted from his work.
The story is about Paul Sheldon, an American novelist who retreats to write his latest work, a novel in which Misery, the star character of his career, will die. On the road, while returning, Sheldon suffers an almost-lethal accident and gets picked up by a woman. It turns out that Annie Wilkes is one of Sheldon’s faithful fans, and she won’t exactly be happy about Misery’s demise.
Why Is it Amazing?
It’s arguably one of the best horror films of the ’90s, if not the best. Goldman didn’t filter anything out of the book, and after a few tweaks, he translated the essence of the story to the big screen with enough humor and darkness. Reiner persists in staying in horror territory, and never attempts to portray Wilkes’ character as ridiculous. Wilkes is played by Kathy Bates, and her Academy Award-winning performance is one of the greats in the universe of Stephen King films.
You can stream Misery on Max.
Rebecca (1940)
Alfred Hitchcock’s adaptation of the 1938 novel by Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca, is a stellar exercise in tension that hasn’t lost one bit of authenticity more than 80 years since its release. In the film, millionaire Maxim de Winter marries again after losing Rebecca, his first wife. The new Mrs. de Winter starts noticing a strange pattern, as the presence of Rebecca seems to be overwhelming for everyone at home.
What Makes it Great?
One of Hitchcock’s earliest attempts at suspense is a noteworthy psychological thriller led by two of the greats from that Hollywood period: Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier. While the film follows the typical trope of the “hysterical woman,” it’s never excessive because of Hitchcock’s persistence in balancing drama and thriller elements throughout the whole film. This was the only Hitchcock film to ever win the Academy Award for Best Picture. It was remade as a Netflix production in 2020, but this version wasn’t as well received.
No Country for Old Men (2007)
No Country for Old Men
- Release Date
- November 8, 2007
- Director
- Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
- Cast
- Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt
- Rating
- R
- Main Genre
- Crime
- Runtime
- 122
The superb Western noir by the Coen brothers was based on the 2005 novel by Cormac McCarthy. No Country for Old Men tells the story of a war veteran who finds a large sum of money and runs away with it. The thing is, a ruthless killer and a bounty hunter start chasing him, and the local sheriff tries to solve the crime. The cat-and-mouse scenario is perfectly adapted by the brothers, who have a particular vision when making thrillers.
Why it Belongs Here
Constantly, the film plays with its inherent horror theme. This makes it a thrilling and scary film with minimal doses of humor that don’t feel invasive, most of the time, it’s just random. The performances by Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones, and Javier Bardem are exceptional and carry the film towards the end with natural dramatic gravity until it all blows up in the end, Coens-style, and chaos ensues. It won four Academy Awards, including the top prize of Best Picture, one for Javier Bardem for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and the Coens got their much-deserved Oscar in the Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay categories.
You can stream No Country for Old Men on Showtime.
Psycho (1960)
Psycho
- Release Date
- June 22, 1960
- Director
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Cast
- Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, John McIntire, Simon Oakland
- Rating
- R
- Main Genre
- Horror
- Runtime
- 109
Alfred Hitchcock’s early slasher thriller, Psycho, was adapted by Joseph Stefano from the novel by Robert Bloch. It tells the story of Marion Crane, a woman who decides to run away with a large sum of money. While on the run, Crane must pull over and stop at a road motel that’s managed by Norman Bates, a shy young man who lives with his mother. After having dinner, Marion retreats to her room and takes a shower. Minutes later, someone enters the bathroom and stabs her to death.
Who was it? Marion’s sister Lila attempts to find out, and Marion’s boyfriend, Sam, comes with her. It all has to do with what lies in the dark at the Bates Motel.
Why Is it Amazing?
The classic of classics, Psycho, is an extraordinary horror thriller made by a master of suspense. Hitchcock knew how to do pure horror, but he always stayed in thriller territory, which is a shame. Psycho is undoubtedly a genre masterclass that features a rebellious director breaking every rule in the book and remodeling the narrative structure audiences were used to. That day in 1960, cinemas suddenly weren’t safe from the director who terrorized viewers by artistically showing bloody murder.
You can rent or buy Psycho on Prime Video or Apple TV+.
Shutter Island (2010)
Shutter Island
- Release Date
- February 14, 2010
- Director
- Martin Scorsese
- Cast
- Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max Von Sydow, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer
- Rating
- R
- Main Genre
- Drama
- Runtime
- 138
The modern thriller by Martin Scorsese, Shutter Island, tells the story of two US marshals who arrive at a psychiatric facility located on Shutter Island, where one of the patients has gone missing. As they begin investigating, they realize nothing is exactly right about the place, and the place may be linked to one of them. That’s about as much as we can tell you about the thriller that’s based on the novel by Dennis Lehane.
What Makes it Great?
This extremely mysterious film is one of Scorsese’s closest approaches to horror, but it’s only because of a visual language that’s much more grim than what he used before in his career. It has a mind-boggling ending that will probably make you want to watch the film again. The ensemble cast led by Leonardo DiCaprio is probably one of the best in Scorsese’s career: Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Max von Sydow, Ted Levine, and Patricia Clarkson, among others.
You can stream Shutter Island on Paramount+.
Children of Men (2006)
Children of Men
- Release Date
- September 19, 2006
- Director
- Alfonso Cuarón
- Cast
- Juan Gabriel Yacuzzi, Mishal Husain, Rob Curling, Jon Chevalier, Rita Davies, Kim Fenton
- Rating
- R
- Main Genre
- Adventure
- Runtime
- 109
Children of Men is a dystopian thriller directed by Alfonso Cuarón. It is based on the 1992 novel The Children of Men by P.D. James, and it tells the story of humankind dealing with its potential extinction after an ecocide deems everyone infertile. Theo has some connections with the rebels attempting to fight against authoritarian governments and their followers, and he comes upon something extraordinary: a refugee named Kee who’s advanced into pregnancy. Using all of his resources, Theo tries to help her escape the society that’s about to collapse.
Why it Makes the List
The film is very well written and credited to five screenwriters who did their best to adapt James’ groundbreaking work of social criticism. It’s also considered a technical achievement by Cuarón because of his method of non-traditional camera work and single-shot sequences that, to this day, remain a mystery in regards to how he shot them. It was nominated for three Academy Awards, but it didn’t win any. Today, it’s considered to be one of the best films of the 21st century.
You can rent or buy Children of Men on Prime Video or Vudu.
Patriot Games (1992)
Patriot Games was Jack Ryan’s second Hollywood presentation after The Hunt for Red October was made in 1990. In the film based on Tom Clancy’s homonymous novel, Harrison Ford gives life to Ryan, the former CIA analyst who prevents a kidnapping attempt on an Irish politician, and an IRA splinter cell starts hunting him and his family down. Curiously, Clancy wasn’t very happy with Ford playing Ryan because of the difference between Ford’s and the character’s age, but it all turned out OK, as Patriot Games is one of the most successful movie adaptations of the Jack Ryan series.
Why Is it Great?
The casting of Harrison Ford as Ryan and Sean Bean as the antagonist, Sean Miller, is spot on. The film moves back and forth between being a political and an action thriller, and never loses the balance necessary to keep the focus on a personal vendetta that has international repercussions. It’s a notable genre film in a decade that’s full of good thrillers.
You can rent or buy Patriot Games on Prime Video or Apple TV+.
The Client (1994)
In 1994, Joel Schumacher made the legal thriller The Client. Based on John Grisham’s novel, the film tells the story of 11-year-old Mark, a rebellious child who witnesses a murder while misbehaving alongside his brother in the woods. Mark gets instantly targeted by the mob, and realizing this, he decides to “hire” a lawyer who can represent him. Susan Sarandon gives life to Reggie Love, the skeptical attorney who takes Mark’s case after much persistence.
Why it Belongs Here
The film is one of the ’90s’ most prominent legal dramas. It’s very well-acted by Sarandon (who was actually nominated for an Academy Award for her work on the film), but Brad Renfro and Tommy Lee Jones both shine as well, playing Mark Sway and Roy Foltrigg, respectively. Schumacher insists on injecting suspense constantly and makes The Client a pretty good exercise in tension that’s tragically underseen by modern audiences.
You can rent or buy The Client on Prime Video or Apple TV+.
Kiss the Girls (1997)
Based on James Patterson’s psychological thriller of the same name, Kiss the Girls tells the story of detective/psychologist Alex Cross as he comes across the case of a serial killer who’s kidnapped his niece Naomi. After a dead body shows up in the woods, Cross realizes it may be the work of a psychopath who’s holding many women captive. Fortunately, one of them manages to escape, and she starts helping Cross find the masked man known as Casanova.
Why Is it Amazing?
People often confuse Kiss the Girls with Along Came a Spider, but it’s because they’re part of the same universe of characters. Kiss the Girls is vastly superior to its sequel, but weirdly, critics don’t exactly love it. It’s one of the best films featuring Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd, and it’s a very good adaptation of a work by Patterson, an author whose work hasn’t exactly been successfully adapted for the big screen. This is a very underrated thriller.
You can stream Kiss the Girls on Paramount+.
Gone Baby Gone (2007)
Gone Baby Gone
- Release Date
- June 6, 2007
- Director
- Ben Affleck
- Cast
- Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, John Ashton, Amy Ryan
- Rating
- R
- Main Genre
- Crime
- Runtime
- 114
In his debut as a director, Ben Affleck directs his brother Casey in a great “murder mystery” movie. Gone Baby Gone is based on another work by Dennis Lehane, and tells the story of two private investigators who are looking for a missing young girl who was abducted from her mother’s apartment. But as they continue digging deep, they start realizing something’s off about the case, and it reeks of an inside job.
What Makes it Amazing?
In 2008, Amy Ryan, who plays Helene, the girl’s mother, swept the awards season and even got nominated for an Academy Award. Her performance is staggering and one of the best in the genre. The film also proved Affleck could do more than just try to act.
It’s a solid thriller that features a noteworthy ensemble cast and a great ending that will leave you in a state of hopeless despair. It comfortably sits with a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, not bad for a directorial debut by a guy who nobody believed could make a big Hollywood film.
You can stream Gone Baby Gone on Showtime.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
