With the advent of mass cinema, an unspoken confrontation between books and cinema arose in the world. Some people convince that films are more expressive and better immerse in the atmosphere, others argue that only a book can describe the fullness of the characters’ feelings. However, there are many examples that force two opposing camps to reconcile. Let’s talk about the most successful book adaptations.

1. ‘Life Of Pi’ by Ang Lee

Hollywood’s ‘Life of Pi,’ directed by Ang Lee, shocked the public in 2012. The enormous passion and emotion with which the incredible story of the Indian boy Pisin Molitor Patel was told simply could not pass by the critics. The movie with the slogan “believe in the impossible” received eleven Oscar nominations and four statuettes.

2. ‘The Shining’ by Stanley Kubrick

‘The Shining’ is recognized by the international community as a classic of the horror genre. And director Stanley Kubrick became a cult director thanks to this film. Creating a movie based on King’s far from the most spectacular novel, at the expense of rewriting the composition Kubrick managed to make the film truly horrifying. Kubrick’s «The Shining» was warmly received among audiences and film critics. Until 1990, when ‘Misery’ was released, it remained the most profitable film based on the works of Stephen King.

3. ‘The Great Gatsby’ by Baz Luhrmann

The famous American novel ‘The Great Gatsby’ has been repeatedly awarded the screen version. But it was Luhrmann’s expressive language that helped the story of the ‘Jazz Age’ to play with new colors. Needless to say, Baz Luhrmann’s stellar cast made ‘The Great Gatsby’ a commercial success. The artistic component of the work was also highly appreciated by the audience. The British Film Academy and the Oscars awarded ‘Gatsby’ two awards in the categories of ‘The Best Art Direction’ and ‘The Best Costume Design.’

4. ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ by Frank Darabont

Frank Darabont created two cult films based on Stephen King’s novels: ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ and ‘The Green Mile.’ ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ we are considering was released in 1994 and opened a new chapter: both in the life of the director and in cinematography. The film was nominated for seven Oscar`s nominations in 1995.

5. ‘Fight Club’ by David Fincher

Director David Fincher, unlike his colleague Frank Darabont, treated the original with less trepidation. The book of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk was radically remade for the sake of greater cinematography. Nevertheless, the author’s interpretation also pleased the audience: they appreciated the new ending. According to viewers, the film has a psychedelic effect: watching the picture is like trying to change the human consciousness. Even the author himself responded positively about the film.