Joe Cianciotto: The Best Movies Based on Books

From the pop culture significance of Stanley Kubrick's The Shining to the continued legacy of Harry Potter, many franchises have spawned from the pages of bestsellers. While every adaptation has something to offer, Joe Cianciotto believes that some book-to-screen adaptations are better than others.

Game of Thrones (2011 - 2019)

George R. R. Martin's epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, became an even bigger name in pop culture through HBO's immensely popular TV adaptation, Game of Thrones. Transferring Martin's Westeros from page to screen was no easy feat, yet Game of Thrones managed to masterfully convey the intense political rivalries and TV's most complex characters.

While deviating from the original books, the series retains the main plot points and the author's vision. Despite its controversial final season, critics and fans consider Game of Thrones one of the best book adaptations ever.

 The Lord of The Rings (2001 - )

Starting with J. R. R. Tolkien's written works, the immensely popular fantasy series The Lord of the Rings has become one of the most celebrated and beloved book-to-screen franchises. Whether it be the original trilogy, The Hobbit, or Amazon's Rings of Power, Tolkien's work continues to live on-screen.

The first LOTR series is widely regarded as one of the most iconic fantasy franchises ever. Even two decades later, fans still enjoy watching The Lord of the Rings and traversing through Middle-earth with the Fellowship, says Joe Cianciotto.

Harry Potter (2001 - )

Despite ending in 2011, the Harry Potter franchise doesn't seem to slow down, as the Fantastic Beasts series, Hogwarts Legacy, and the recently-announced HBO series continue to expand the Wizarding World, notes Joe Cianciotto. The original series reached unprecedented popularity and became one of the most iconic fantasy franchises ever.