Instead of coming up with brand new ideas, many Hollywood producers are turning to popular books to decide on what they should bring to the big screen. A lot of the time, these book-turned-movies end up being huge hits when they do make it to theaters – including The Hunger Games, Twilight, and Harry Potter. All three of these movies stemmed from a series of books, allowing for their popularity to grow once fans were able to watch the book play out in front of them.
While turning books into movies has proven to be successful, there are downsides to basing a film off of a novel. We have seen many films that do not do get the attention the well-written books deserve – including Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love, Alice Sebold’s Confessions of a Shopaholic, and Sophie Kinsella’s The Lovely Bones.
That doesn’t stop filmmakers, though, who already have a large lineup of books that are currently being made into movies; here are our top 10 books that are soon-to-be films!
[ new page= When the Game Stands Tall ]
10. When the Game Stands Tall
When the Game Stands Tall is novel written by Neil Hayes about a Concord, CA high school, who is known for their stellar high school football program. The story follows the De Le Salle High School football team and Coach Bob Ladouceur as he leads them to a record-breaking winning streak.
The film is directed by Thomas Carter (Save the Last Dance and Coach Carter) and is set to premiere on August 22nd of this year. When the Game Stands Tall (2014) stars Jim Caviezel (Person of Interest) as Coach Ladouceur, leading his team to the single best winning streak in history with Alexander Ludwig (The Hunger Games) and Ser’Darius Blain(Star Trek into Darkness and Footloose) as the star players.
[ new page=If I Stay]
9. If I Stay
Written by Gayle Forman, If I Stay is a heartfelt novel about a young girl with a promising future. However, her life changes in the blink of an eye following a catastrophic car accident that kills her parents. As she has an out-of-body experience with her comatose body, she needs to decide whether she it is worth waking up or not.
With award-winning director RJ Cutler behind the film, fans will be able to see Mia (Chloe Moretz) come to life on August 22nd of this year.
“Live for Love.” - If I Stay (2014)
[ new page=Inherent Vice ]
8. Inherent Vice
If you enjoy reading dark crime dramas, then you don’t need to look any farther. Written by Thomas Pynchon, Inherent Vice is a twisted story of a private eye, Doc Sportello, who is in search for his missing ex-girlfriend.
The film has already been cast and fans are incredibly excited to see that many large names will bring this book to life on the big screen – including Reese Witherspoon, Jena Malone, Sasha Pieterse, Josh Brolin, Joaquin Phoenix, Owen Wilson, and Benicio Del Toro. With Paul Thomas Anderson returning to direct the film, Inherent Vice (2015) is already rumored to be a contender at the 2015 Academy Awards and will premiere in January of 2015.
[ new page=The Best of Me ]
7. The Best of Me
Nicholas Sparks has a gift of bringing readers and viewers to tears with his heartfelt plot lines – including The Notebook, Dear John, and The Last Song. In Sparks’ newest book, readers are taken on a journey of two young lovers as the reunite years later.
The film features Liana Liberato and Luke Bracey portraying the teenage versions of Michelle Monaghan and James Marsden, setting the film up to premiere in October as a tear-jerker.
“You never forget your first love.” - The Best of Me (2014)
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6. Fallen
Written by Lauren Kate, Fallen is a story of a young girl who is forced to attend a reform school after being blamed for someone else’s death. When she finds her attention is being drawn to a boy she goes to school with, she starts to learn secrets about whom he is, why she ended up there, and a curse that has haunted her for years.
The film will be directed by Scott Hicks (The Lucky One and No Reservations) and will star Addison Timlin (That Awkward Moment) as Lucinda Price in her struggle to reveal the secrets that have turned her life upside down.
[ new page=Fifty Shades of Grey ]
5. Fifty Shades of Grey
Fifty Shades of Grey became an instantaneous hit upon it’s release by author E.L. James. With a sexual twist on a classic love story, fans immediately came together in expressing their love for the fictitious character, Christian Grey.
Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) will be brought to the screen in February 2015 with Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele and Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey in a flick that is rumored to be rated NC-17.
“Mr. Grey will see you now.” - Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
[ new page=Maze Runner ]
4. Maze Runner
The New York best-selling book Maze Runner, written by James Dashner, is a favorite among many Hunger Games and Divergent fans. The story follows a boy and girl as they attempt to escape a deadly maze they are trapped in.
20th Century Fox is bringing the book to life with Dylan O’Brien (Teen Wolf) and Kaya Scodelario (Clash of the Titans) as the two stars of the film. Maze Runner (2014) is set to premiere in September of this year and is rumored to measure up to the popularity of the Hunger Games: Mockingjay.
“If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.” - Maze Runner (2014)
[ new page=Gone Girl ]
3. Gone Girl
The author of Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn, takes readers on a journey as Nick Dunne is forced to prove to police he is not responsible for the disappearance of his wife.
New Regency Pictures will be premiering Gone Girl (2014) in early October, starring Ben Affleck in his attempt to solve the disappearance before police accuse him of the crime.
“You don’t know what you’ve got til’ it’s…” - Gone Girl (2014)
[ new page=The Giver ]
2. The Giver
Lois Lowry presents readers with an amusing plot line in The Giver, where a community is designed to make choices for it’s citizens. When Jonas turns 12, however, his world is flipped upside down as he begins to reveal secrets behind this utopian community.
The Weinstein Company will be premiering The Giver (2014) in September with Breton Thwaites, Taylor Swift, Katie Holmes, Meryl Streep, and Jeff Bridges as the cast. With the award-winning crew and cast, the film is set to be huge hit as the classic book makes it’s way to theaters.
“Search for truth. Find Freedom.” - The Giver (2014)
[ new page=The Hunger Games: Mockingjay ]
1. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay
In the third book of Susan Collin’s Hunger Games series, we begin to conclude the epic story of Katniss, Peeta, and Gale in their attempt to receive justice against the city’s capitol.
In the third film of the four-film series, the entire cast is back – including Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth – and is set to premiere in November. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014) will pick up where The Hunger Games: Catching Fire left off, leading viewers through a thrilling journey to cancel the gruesome Hunger Games for good.
“Panem today, Panem tomorrow, Panem forever.” - The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)