Movies that are as good as the book

[Jabberwocky]

I think most people would agree that the book is usually better, but there are exceptions. One of those is Philip K. Dick's novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The book was narratively disjointed, at times scarcely coherent. Ridley Scott's film version, Blade Runner, is not only visually compelling, it is also thematically more complex with a satisfying ending that the novel lacks.

[Austria and Bavaria]

The Godfather, for the most part.

[Democracy of California]

A Clockwork Orange

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

Do short films count?

[Avuncula]

A Clockwork Orange

Despite the differences between novel and film, I liked both. The author, Anthony Burgess, reviled he movie, said it glorified all he loathed..

[Avuncula]

Lord of The Rings The Two Towers.

An excellent example

[Jabberwocky]

Do short films count?

Sure, why not? It's an open discussion

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

Do short films count?

Sure, why not? It's an open discussion

Then, Erma the short film.

[Avuncula]

Sure, why not? It's an open discussion

Then, Erma the short film.

Not familiar with it. Based upon? Who wrote it? Enquiring minds want to know

[Austria and Bavaria]

Lord of The Rings The Two Towers.

An excellent example

I would disagree. The Two Towers butchered the book.

[Chuching]

The Shawshank Redemption.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

Then, Erma the short film.

Not familiar with it. Based upon? Who wrote it? Enquiring minds want to know

Erma, It's a web comic about this cute ghost girl.

Written by Brandon Santiago.

[Teacrate]

Little Big Man by Thomas Berger, a great novel made into a great film by Arthur Penn.

[Iron Alliance of America]

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. They had to shorten up the movies, of course, but with what Peter Jackson had, he made Lord of the Rings into three consecutive masterpieces.

[The Grande Republic 0f Arcadia]

Man in the High Castle(better than the book)
The Halo movies

[Xelsis]

Prince Caspian, I have to say.

The book was my least favorite of any of the seven, but the film was quite good.

[Methodological Individualism]

Stalker directed by Andrei Tarkovsky and Roadside Picnic by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky.

Which is weird because their stories are as completely different as it is possible to be. And yet, somehow, Tarkovsky made the Zone real.

EDIT: Ah, it probably helps that the Strugatsky bros. also wrote the screenplay. Read that just now on Wiki. Still, an elevated adaptation of a book via a completely different story.

[Paxiosolange]

Harry Potter

[Destructive Government Economic System]

Harry Potter

Even The Half Blood Prince? There wasn't even a battle like in the book at the very end.

[Teacrate]

Man in the High Castle(better than the book)
The Halo movies

Most of the time the movie is better than the Dick novel. He had great ideas, but was too high to be a cohesive writer

[Iron Alliance of America]

Prince Caspian, I have to say.

The book was my least favorite of any of the seven, but the film was quite good.

Really? I never enjoyed any of the Narnia movies aside from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, which so happens to be one of my favorite movies as well.

[Treadwellia]

The first two parts of The Godfather as a film are indeed amazing pieces of cinema. However, Puzo's original novel is fascinating artwork that takes everything and digs into all the splendid little details, some of which the movies fail to touch.

The Warriors is a stronger film than a novel because the film takes the major plot of the book and is willing to kick it up a notch into an absurd, over the top fantasy where the novel is a much grittier, darker, more realistic piece. This isn't to say the book is bad; it's just that the film resonates better with ME.

Stephen King's Misery is one of the few King novels that translates successfully to film. Caan and Bates give vivid life to their characters, particularly Bates, even if the film takes a few minor liberties with some details of the novel. Granted, the book deals with some of the more psychological issues facing the character of Paul Sheldon as he grapples with the craziness of Annie Wilkes.

Jumanji actually takes the children's book it's based on and extrapolates wonderful story additions. The Robin Williams character, the woman character, the cop character... none of that's in the original book, which is strictly based on the two children and their adventures with the game in their house. The movie is actually a BIG step up from the book in terms of complexity and charm.

[Xelsis]

Prince Caspian, I have to say.

The book was my least favorite of any of the seven, but the film was quite good.

Really? I never enjoyed any of the Narnia movies aside from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, which so happens to be one of my favorite movies as well.

I enjoyed Prince Caspian slightly more than The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, actually, though I very much enjoyed both. Caspian was very clearly breaking away from the book significantly, which worked out well when the book was mostly the Pevensies just walking over and then the plot wrapping up. I thought the climactic scenes in both movies were excellent, and while Caspian was a little weirder, I appreciated their efforts to try to develop it. Thinking on it, I would be tempted to say The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe could be listed as better than the book, but with the book being so much better, I'd probably give it the slim win.

Dawn Treader wasn't much good at all, though, filmwise. The book was better than Caspian by quite a margin.

[Anywhere Else But Here]

Harry Potter

Even The Half Blood Prince? There wasn't even a battle like in the book at the very end.

Especially the Half-Blood Prince.

[Pax Nerdvana]

The Lord of the Rings.