“Yeah, but the book was better.” How many times have you said that coming out of a movie? I say it nearly all the time because I read everything and then everyone tells me to shut up and throws something at me. There are times; however, when the movie manages to outpace its source material. I’m not talking about great books that are even better movies (The Godfather, The Princess Bride, The Shawshank Redemption, etc.). I’m talking about books that are utter crap and that somehow, someone managed to drag a good story out of the dreck. I’m going to just include Forrest Gump as an emeritus member of the list because I hate the movie (yes, I’m the one) and anyone I’ve ever talked to who has read the book, thinks it killed fine trees for no purpose. The Social Network nearly made the list, but the book by Ben Mezrich isn’t really bad; it’s just the movie is so SO much better. I’m also making this an all fiction list, but if I were doing non-fiction, at the top of the list would be A Beautiful Mind. I defy you to try to slog through that (highly inaccurate) bio of John Nash and then not go running into the arms of one of the best movies of the last decade.
1. Jaws
3. The Prestige
