This year’s Oscar nominations have a wide variety of movies ranging from psychological drama, and absurdist comedy to anti-war and fantasy genres. And it is not surprising to know that many of these movies are book adaptations. They first came alive through letters before they transversed onto the screen.
Book lovers know that most of the time movies are not made according to our liking. The movies are mostly the tip of the iceberg while a whole lot more said on paper. Sometimes it is the most amusing particulars or the critical details that the filmmakers leave out as they convert the story into reels. Here are some of the best book adaptations that went on to the Academy Awards.
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Top 10 Oscar-Winning Book Adaptations
Schindler’s List (1993)
Steven Spielberg‘s 1993 historical drama was based on Thomas Keneally’s 1982 novel ‘Schindler’s Ark’. The book won the booker Prize the same year and was well-received worldwide. The film went on to win seven Oscars including the Best Picture and Best Director awards. It was Liam Neeson who starred as Oskar Schindler, the Holocaust savior.
Gone With The Wind (1939)
The classic movie ‘Gone With The Wind’ is one of the best-known and most successful films of all time. The movie is adapted from Margaret Mitchell’s novel of the same name. The book was published in 1936 and won the 1937 Pulitzer Prize. The movie that came out in 1939 resounded the book’s success and won ten Academy Awards. The movie was directed by Victor Fleming and starred Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable.
The Silence Of The Lambs (1990)
This movie went on to win the five major Academy Awards for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The 1991 psychological horror film was based on Thomas Harris’ 1988 novel. Anthony Hopkin’s portrayal of the cannibalistic serial killer has been etched into every viewer’s memory.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return Of Kings (2003)
The only fantasy film ever to win Best Picture in the history of Academy Awards is also based on a book. The movie is based on the third and final volume of J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ series. ‘The Return Of Kings’ was originally published in 1955 and was made into a movie in 2003. The epic fantasy movie bagged all eleven Oscars that it was nominated for.
Forrest Gump (1994)
The novel ‘Forrest Gump’ was written by Winston Groom in 1986. It was adapted into a movie in 1994 and it went on to become the second highest-grossing film that year. Tom Hanks played the titular role whose colorful life unwhirled on the screens. The movie won six Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor.
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Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Indian author Vikas Swarup’s book ‘Q & A’ is the inspiration behind the 2008 movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. The movie was directed by Danny Boyle and starred Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, and Freida Pinto in major roles. The dramatic film went on to win eight Academy Awards including Best Director.
The Exorcist (1973)
The movie ‘The Exorcist’ was released in 1973 and depicted a girl who was possessed by an evil spirit. The movie was based on the book of the same name by William Peter Blatty. In the book, the author writes about the real-world experience of a young boy named Roland Doe, possessed by a powerful dark spirit. He was treated with the help of psychiatric doctors and Jesuit priests. This supernatural movie is one of the greatest horror films of all time. In addition, the movie also made history at the Oscars, by becoming the first horror film to be nominated for Best Picture. ‘The Exorcist’ won two Academy Awards.
Argo (2012)
The CIA officer Antonio J. Mendez’s book ‘The Master Of Disguise‘ is based on the 1979 incident of American Caper. It was adapted to the screen as a historical drama in 2012 and named ‘Argo’. The critically acclaimed movie went on to win three Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Editing.
To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ is one of the classic examples of modern American literature. The novel was adapted to an Oscar-winning film of the same name by Robert Mulligan. The movie adaptation went on to win three Academy Awards in 1962 including Best Actor and Best Art Direction.
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
The book adaptation of ‘A Beautiful Mind: The Life Of Mathematical Genius and Nobel Laureate John Nash’ by Sylvia Nasar ended up as the 2001 movie ‘A Beautiful Mind‘. The book won the Pulitzer prize in 1998. It was Russel Crowe who portrayed John Nash. The movie won three Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.
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