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15 popular movies that are actually based on books
15 popular movies that are actually based on books
Elana RubinOct 27, 2020, 21:23 IST
"Legally Blonde" is actually based on a book.Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Countless films have taken inspiration from books, but most people probably didn't realize these popular movies fell into that category.
"Clueless" and "She's the Man" are both modern-day adaptations of classic works.
The movies "The Cheetah Girls" and "The Princess Diaries" started out as young-adult book series.
The books "Forrest Gump," "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," and "Legally Blonde" were inspired by true people and events.
Whether they were made a few years or a few centuries after their original source materials, some films have become disconnected from the written works that inspired them.
Here are some movies that you probably didn't realize were based on books:
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"Call Me by Your Name" (2017) was a novel before it became an Oscar-nominated mega-hit.
Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet starred in the film.
Sony Pictures Classics
"Forrest Gump" (1994) started out as a 1980s novel.
Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump.
Paramount Pictures
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Cult-classic "Clueless" (1995) is a modern retelling of a Jane Austen novel.
Stacey Dash and Alicia Silverstone played Dionne Davenport and Cher Horowitz.
Paramount Pictures
"The Time Traveler's Wife" (2009) is based on a book by Audrey Niffenegger.
Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams in "The Time Traveler's Wife."
New Line Cinema
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"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" (2011) is based on a book about the 9/11 terror attacks.
Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock starred in "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close."
Warner Bros. Pictures
The Disney Channel original movie "The Cheetah Girls" (2003) is actually based on a book series.
Raven-Symoné starred in "The Cheetah Girls."
Disney Channel
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"Mean Girls" (2004) was inspired by the self-help book "Queen Bees and Wannabes."
The book and film have since inspired a Broadway musical.
Paramount Pictures
"Shrek" (2001) is loosely based on a picture book.
Shrek and Donkey were voiced by Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy, respectively.
DreamWorks
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"The Princess Diaries" (2001) is another film series based on young-adult novels.
Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway in "The Princess Diaries."
Buena Vista Pictures
"Legally Blonde" (2001) was a book before it became an iconic movie.
Reese Witherspoon scored the iconic role of Elle Woods.
YouTube screenshot
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"Room" (2015) is based on a popular novel of the same name.
Jacob Tremblay and Brie Larson in "Room."
A24
"She's the Man" (2006) is actually a modern retelling of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night."
Amanda Bynes starred in "She's the Man."
DreamWorks
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"American Psycho" (2000) was adapted from a book.
Christian Bale played Patrick Bateman.
American Psycho screengrab
"Pitch Perfect (2012) was inspired by a nonfiction story about real collegiate a capella groups.
The cast included stars like Rebel Wilson and Anna Kendrick.
Universal Pictures
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A Stephen King novella inspired "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994).
Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins starred in the classic drama.
Columbia Pictures via YouTube