# The 10 Greatest Movies Based on Books, Ranked

> A list of the top 10 movies adapted from books, ranked by impact and quality.
- Title: The 10 Greatest Movies Based on Books, Ranked · Collider
- Summary: A list of the top 10 movies adapted from books, ranked by impact and quality. The 10 greatest movies based on books, ranked from 'The Lord of the Rings' to…
- Keywords: the lord of the rings, goodfellas, shawshank redemption, silence of the lambs, schindler's list, apocalypse now, harakiri, mishima, stalker, godfather, entertainment, culture
- Source: Collider — https://collider.com/best-movies-based-on-books-novels-ranked
- Author: Diego Pineda Pacheco
- Published: 2026-10-19T17:12:12+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: the lord of the rings, goodfellas, shawshank redemption, silence of the lambs, schindler's list, apocalypse now, harakiri, mishima, stalker, godfather, entertainment, culture
## 1. The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings trilogy, based on J.R.R. Tolkien's work, is ranked the greatest movie adaptation.

> The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
## 2. The Godfather
The Godfather, based on Mario Puzo's novel, is praised as the greatest film ever made.

> The Godfather (1972)
## 3. Stalker
Stalker, based on Arkady and Boris Strugatsky's novel, is one of the best sci-fi movies ever made.

> Stalker (1979)
## 4. Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters, based on Yukio Mishima's works, is one of the greatest Japanese movies.

> Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985)
## 5. Harakiri
Harakiri, based on Yasuhiko Takiguchi's story, is a legendary Japanese action movie.

> Harakiri (1962)
## 6. Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now, based on Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, is one of the best films of the 1970s.

> Apocalypse Now (1979)
## 7. Schindler's List
Schindler's List, based on Thomas Keneally's work, is one of the best movies based on true events.

> Schindler's List (1993)
## 8. The Silence of the Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs, based on Thomas Harris's novel, is a psychological thriller.

> The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
## 9. The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption, based on Stephen King's novella, is one of the most-watched movies on IMDb.

> The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
## 10. Goodfellas
Goodfellas, based on Nicholas Pileggi's non-fiction book, is the best gangster biopic ever.

> Goodfellas (1990)
## Key takeaway

The 10 greatest movies based on books, ranked from 'The Lord of the Rings' to 'Goodfellas'.