The Best Book To Film Adaptations Of 2022
Some of the best movies of 2022 are based on books. Novels and literarture at large has provided excellent source material for films since the invention of the medium. But which 2022 adaptations are the best? You can help decide by voting up your favorites, not just the 2022 movie based on a book that you think should be at the top of the list. From family friendly movies like The Tiger Rising to historical thrillers like Munich: The Edge of War, this list of 2022 movies that were adapted from books has something for everyone. Be sure to vote up your favorites so other movie fans know what to watch next.
Check back throughout the year as new and upcoming 2022 adapted films are added to the list.
1Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jason SegelLife doesn't stop when you lose a loved one and that couldn't be more true for Lennie as she navigates two suitors at the most difficult time in her life so far. Josephine Decker brings the novel, The Sky Is Everywhere to life in this thoughtful romantic drama.
Tucked among the redwood trees of Northern California and surrounded by her grandmother's roses, 17-year-old Lennie Walker, a radiant musical prodigy, struggles with overwhelming grief following the sudden loss of her older sister, Bailey.
2Daisy Edgar-Jones, Taylor John Smith, Harris DickinsonBased on the best-selling book of the same name, Where the Crawdads Sing follows a young woman abandoned by her family in a North Carolina marsh. As she grows up the town turns on her, making things complicated when a football player turns up dead. Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as Kya, with Taylor John Smith and Harris Dickinson plays the two supporting men in her life.
Where the Crawdads Sing is a mystery drama based on the best-selling novel by Delia Owens. The story revolves around Kya (Daisy Edgar-Jones), an abandoned girl who grows up in the marshes of North Carolina and becomes a respected naturalist. The narrative, woven through two timelines, follows Kya’s lonely childhood and her later life when she becomes embroiled in a murder case: the town’s golden boy is found dead, and Kya is the prime suspect. The film investigates themes of isolation, nature versus nurture, and the resilience of the human spirit amidst prejudice and abandonment.
3Jessica Brown Findlay, George MacKay, Jeremy IronsHere's a gripping historical thriller about the start of WWII, based on the best selling novel, Munich, by Robert Harris.
Munich: The Edge of War, set against the backdrop of impending World War II, delves into a tense, historical drama revolving around the 1938 Munich Agreement negotiations. The story follows a British civil servant (George MacKay) and a German diplomat (Jannis Niewöhner), former friends, who find themselves on opposite sides of a political chess game. Together, they become engaged in a precarious mission to prevent the inevitable conflict. The film also depicts the British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain (Jeremy Irons). It confronts the complex machinations of diplomacy on the precipice of war.- #353 of 375 onThe Best Movies Based On Books
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4Queen Latifah, Dennis Quaid, Christian ConveryTwo decades later, the best selling novel becomes a film starring Queen Latifah and Dennis Quaid. If you loved the book, The Tiger Rising, be sure to watch the film and as the poster says: "let your imagination run wild."
When 12-year-old Rob Horton discovers a caged tiger in the woods near his home, his imagination runs wild as his life begins to change in the most unexpected ways. With help from a wise but mysterious maid and the stubborn new girl at school, Rob navigates through childhood memories, heartache and wondrous adventures.More The Tiger Rising
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5Sam Rockwell, Zazie Beetz, Marc MaronAs Mr. Wolf and his crew know, it pays to be bad. Based on Aaron Blabey's children's book of the same name, The Bad Guys follows a crime gang as they try to be good after a heist gone wrong. Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina, Richard Ayoade, Craig Robinson, Marc Maron, and Zazie Beetz lend their voices.
The Bad Guys is an animated heist comedy that turns the caper genre on its head. The film follows a notorious gang of criminal animals, led by the suave wolf Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), who have spent their lives building their reputation as the most wanted villains around. After a particularly audacious heist goes awry, they're finally caught and must face justice. In a bid to avoid prison, the gang concocts a scheme to pull off their most challenging con yet - becoming model citizens. The voice cast includes Marc Maron, Awkwafina, and Craig Robinson. The themes include redemption, identity, and the question of whether true change is possible for society's outcasts.More The Bad Guys- #245 of 447 onThe 400+ Best Animated Kids Movies
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6Emma Corrin, Jack O'Connell, Matthew DuckettAfter falling out of love with her husband, Lady Chatterley pursues a torrid affair with the gamekeeper on their estate.
7Florence Pugh, Ciarán Hinds, Niamh AlgarA nurse in 19th-century Ireland is hired to investigate the case of a child who has not eaten for four months.
8Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig, Don CheadleWhite Noise is a darkly comedic exploration of an ordinary family's struggle with the pervasive unease of modern life and their attempts to deal with unexpected disasters. Based on Don DeLillo's novel and directed by Noah Baumbach. The film follows the Gladney family, led by professor Jack (Adam Driver) and his wife, Babette (Greta Gerwig) whose life is turned upside down when an 'Airborne Toxic Event' forces them to confront their mortality head-on. White Noise cleverly tackles themes of consumerism, media saturation, and the search for meaning amidst chaos. The film examines how the family must confront the fear of death and the overwhelming saturation of information.More White Noise- #48 of 48 onThe 40+ Best Don Cheadle Movies
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9Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie BuckleyWomen in an isolated religious colony struggle to reconcile with their faith after a series of sexual assaults.More Women Talking- #82 of 101 onThe Best Women Directed Movies Of 2022
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10Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Margaret ChoFire Island is a modern romantic comedy that gives a fresh, LGBTQ+ twist to the classic "Pride and Prejudice" narrative, set against the backdrop of the iconic gay vacation destination of the same name. The story follows a group of friends who embark on a week of fun and frolics, even as they navigate the complexities of contemporary gay life, including social stratification and the search for meaningful connections. Joel Kim Booster leads the ensemble, both as the main character and as the film's screenwriter, alongside Saturday Night Live's Bowen Yang. The film delivers laughs with heart, offering sharp social commentary and celebrating the joy and solidarity within the queer community.
11Tom Prior, Nicholas Woodeson, Oleg ZagorodniiAt the height of the Cold War, a troubled soldier forms a forbidden love triangle with a fighter pilot and his female comrade amid the dangerous surroundings of a Soviet air force base.
12Leighton Meester, Christina Wolfe, Ziyad BakriKim Farrant brings Sarah Alderson's novel The Weekend Away to life in this Netflix Original thriller. You'll be on the edge of yur seat with each twist and turn in this mystery set in Croatia.
When her best friend vanishes during a girls trip to Croatia, a woman races to figure out what happened. However, each clue yields another unsettling deception.
13Charlie Hunnam, Mel Gibson, Morena BaccarinBased on Last Looks by Howard Michael GouldMel Gibson, Chalie Hunnam, and Morena Baccarin navigate the glitz and glamor of Hollywood in this mystery thriller. You'll also find yourself chuckling a time or two as Gibson plays an eccentric television personality. Now it's up to Hunnam as a jaded private eye who attempts to solve the murder of Alastair Pinch's (Mel Gibson) wife.
Charlie Waldo is a former cop who left the force to live a life of simplicity and solitude in the woods. Alistair Pinch is an eccentric actor who spends his days drunk on the set of his TV show. When Pinch's wife is found dead, he becomes the prime suspect and convinces Waldo to come out of retirement to investigate what happened. The case finds Charlie contending with gangsters and Hollywood executives, all in pursuit of clearing Pinch's name -- or confirming his guilt.More Last Looks- #112 of 112 onThe 100+ Best Mystery Thrillers, Ranked
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14Dakota Johnson, Cosmo Jarvis, Nikki Amuka-BirdJane Austen's last finished novel is getting a modern adaption starring Dakota Johnson and Cosmo Jarvis. In this romantic Netflix original, expect modern references to wine, “playlists”, and lots and lots of yearning.
In the 2022 adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel Persuasion, Anne Elliot (Dakota Johnson) contends with the societal pressures and deep regrets of her past choices. Eight years prior, Anne was persuaded to reject a marriage proposal from the dashing but poor Frederick Wentworth. When Wentworth, now a decorated naval officer, re-enters Anne's life, she is forced to confront her long-hidden feelings amidst the eccentricities and vanities of her social circle. The film looks at themes of second chances, enduring love, and the layers of the British class system with a modern sensibility.More Persuasion- #19 of 63 onThe Best Historical Films Of 2022
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15Abigail Cowen, Tom Lewis, Logan Marshall-GreenAn adaptation of the novel, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers that was published in 1991. Redeeming Love is a romantic drama of epic proportions, set against beautiful California landscapes during the Gold Rush with exciting perfromances from Abigail Cowen and Tom Lewis.
A young couple's relationship clashes with the harsh realities of the California Gold Rush of 1850. Angel, experiencing love for the first time and facing demons that seem unsurmountable, runs from the new life she doesn't think she deserves. When Michael sets out to find her, Angel discovers that she has the power to choose the life she wants.
16Christian Bale, Harry Melling, Gillian AndersonThe Pale Blue Eye is a gothic thriller that takes viewers to 1830 at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where a young cadet's murder prompts an investigation. The film centers on a world-weary detective, Augustus Landor (Christian Bale), who is tasked with solving the chilling mystery. He enlists one of the cadets to aid in the investigation, who turns out to be a young Edgar Allan Poe (Harry Melling). As they travel deeper into the case, they uncover a series of gruesome murders wrapped in a dark web of secrets and occult practices. Directed by Scott Cooper, the film creates a haunting tale that presents themes of obsession, the supernatural, and the macabre - much like the works of Poe himself.More The Pale Blue Eye- #17 of 18 on18 Dark Academia Movies That Deliver A Lesson In Drama
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17Jim Parsons, Ben Aldridge, Sally FieldWriter Michael Ausiello embarks on a roller-coaster ride of emotions when his partner gets diagnosed with terminal cancer.
18Allison Janney, John Macmillan, Cynthia Addai-RobinsonFamily tensions ramp up among siblings in the week leading up to their half-sister's wedding in the country.
19Mila Kunis, Connie Britton, Chiara AureliaA writer's perfectly crafted New York City life starts to unravel when a true-crime documentary forces her to confront her harrowing high school history.
20Kunal Nayyar, Christina Hendricks, Lucy HaleA.J. Fikry's wife has died, his bookstore is in trouble, and now his prized rare edition of Poe poems has been stolen. However, when a mysterious package appears, its arrival gives him the chance to start his life over and see things anew.- 21Kaitlyn Dever, Bradley Whitford, Isabela MercedRosaline, a 2022 twist on Shakespeare's classic "Romeo and Juliet," reframes the tale from the viewpoint of Romeo's ex-lover, Rosaline (Kaitlyn Dever). The film offers a comedic take on the story of the jilted maiden who, still in love with Romeo, schemes to thwart his romance with Juliet in the hopes of winning him back. While attempting to break up the star-crossed lovers, Rosaline unwittingly embarks on her journey of self-discovery and finds herself grappling with her ideas of love and independence. The movie approaches the timeless theme of love with a fresh perspective and highlights how personal growth can often be an unintended consequence of a broken heart.
22Bella Ramsey, Lesley Sharp, Andrew ScottLena Dunham's joyous adaptation of Karen Cushman's mid level kid's novel of the same name stars Bella Ramsey and Andrew Scott.
Catherine Called Birdy is a medieval comedy-drama that brings to life the diary of Catherine, a spirited 14-year-old girl challenging societal norms in 1290 England. Directed by Lena Dunham and based on the novel by Karen Cushman, the film follows Birdy (Bella Ramsey), as she navigates her coming of age and resists her father's attempts to marry her off to a wealthy suitor. Birdy's rebellious antics against gender roles and expectations color her humorous and touching journey toward self-discovery. Catherine Called Birdy is a tale of youthful defiance and the pursuit of personal freedom.- #21 of 52 onThe Best Movies With A Little Girl Protagonist
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23Matt Hookings, Ray Winstone, Russell CroweAt the turn of the 19th century, Pugilism is the sport of kings and a gifted young boxer, James Belchar, fights his way into becoming the champion of England.
24Ana de Armas, Bobby Cannavale, Adrien BrodyEveryone's favorite bombshell is getting the biopic and adaptation treatment in Netflix's Blonde. Based on Joyce Carol Oates' historical fiction book of the same name, the film features Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe, Adrein Brody, Bobby Cannavale, as the men in her life.
Blonde, the audacious biopic directed by Andrew Dominik, plumbs the depths of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe (Ana de Armas) and her tumultuous life, both on and off the silver screen. The film examines the fractured landscape of stardom and personal trauma. We witness Norma Jeane's metamorphosis into Marilyn, exploring her inner psyche and the conflicts between her public persona and private travails. From her volatile childhood to high-profile relationships and professional struggles, Blonde smudges the lines between fact and fiction, presenting a haunting, stylized contemplation of fame, identity, and desire, while deconstructing the myth of the ultimate blonde bombshell.
25Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller, Jurnee Smollett-BellMiles Teller and Chris Hemsworth lead this dystopian thriller where convicts can live in luxury if they test out emotion-altering drugs. Unexpected twists turn them against each other as the experiment starts to get out of hand. This Netflix original, based on George Saunders' short story Escape from Spiderhead, sees Hemsworth as more morally complicated than we've seen from him before.
Spiderhead is a futuristic psychological thriller set in a state-of-the-art penitentiary overseen by the enigmatic Steve Abnesti (Chris Hemsworth). Abnesti conducts emotion-altering drug experiments on the prison's inmates, promising them reduced sentences in exchange for their participation. The story thickens when inmate Jeff (Miles Teller), begins to question the morality of the experiments and his autonomy. As the film progresses, it investigates themes of free will, guilt, and the ethics of manipulation. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, Spiderhead challenges viewers to ponder the limits of mind control and the principles of punishment and redemption.
26Freida Pinto, Sope Dirisu, Oliver Jackson-CohenFans of Jane Austen will be most pleased with this period romantic comedy about revenge and love in regency London. Based on the book of the same name with direction from Emma Holly Jones,Freida Pinto plays a vicar's daughter who agrees to trick the most eligible bachelor in Britain after he rejects her best friend.
Mr. Malcolm's List is a Regency-era romantic dramedy that centers around the wealthy and eligible bachelor Mr. Malcolm (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù), who has a list of qualities any potential wife must meet. When he spurns a hopeful suitor, Julia (Zawe Ashton), for failing to meet his criteria, she enlists her friend Selina (Freida Pinto), to enact her revenge. Posing as the perfect match, Selina aims to meet all the items on Mr. Malcolm's list, only to find herself falling for him. The film addresses themes of societal expectations, deception, and genuine affection.
27Ralph Fiennes, Jessica Chastain, Matt SmithWhile driving to a party at a grand villa, a wealthy couple on the verge of divorce accidentally hit and kill a young Moroccan man who was selling fossils on the roadside.
28David Earl, Chris Hayward, Louise BrealeyThis indie darling stole hearts at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival for its heartfelt and hilarious retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. David Earl plays Brian, a lonely but sweet inventor who decides to create a robot when he comes across an abandoned washing machine in the Welsh countryside. When his plan unexpectedly works he must cope with protecting his creation from the world. Brian and Charles is a weird but quotable adaptation of an English classic.
Brian and Charles is set in the quaint Welsh countryside, where Brian (David Earl), a lonely and quirky inventor, creates Charles (Chris Hayward), an artificially intelligent robot built from various household items. Despite the robot’s massive, ungainly appearance and initial inability to function properly, a deep and comedic friendship develops between creator and creation. The film charmingly layers themes of companionship, innovation, and the human need for connection. The eccentric duo encounters adventures and hurdles, including integrating Charles into the skeptical local community, leading to moments of heartwarming humor and poignant reflection on the nature of friendship.
29Lesley Manville, Isabelle Huppert, Jason IsaacsIn the heartwarming tale of Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, we follow Ada Harris (Lesley Manville), a widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London who becomes utterly enchanted by a couture Dior dress. Determined to own one herself, Mrs. Harris scrimps, saves, and eventually travels to Paris, defying her station and the snooty elitism of the fashion world. Along her journey, she not only touches the lives of those around her but also rediscovers her own sense of self and zest for life. This charming film celebrates themes of the transformative power of beauty and the breaking down of class barriers.- #17 of 17 on17 Movies About Fashion That Have Us Ready For The Runway
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30Ewan McGregor, Gregory Mann, David BradleyA grieving father's wish magically brings a wooden marionette to life, giving him a chance to care for the child. However, the pair must struggle to find a place for themselves as Italy becomes embroiled in fascism.
