Buzz
While many assume that most movie adaptations come from well-known novels, this isn't always true. Over the years, numerous acclaimed films have been based on short stories published in newspapers or anthologies, with both famous and lesser-known authors seeing their brief tales transformed into cinematic hits.
Movies such as Apocalypse Now, Minority Report, 3:10 to Yuma, and Johnny Mnemonic all originated from short stories. Additionally, Agatha Christie—whose works are surpassed in sales only by the Bible and Shakespeare—has had her novels and short stories adapted countless times. Fans of detective stories remain captivated by the clever Mrs. Marple and the meticulous Hercule Poirot as they unravel mysteries.
No matter which films you love, it's likely that at least one of them was adapted from a short story or novella, just like the ten featured on our list.
10. The Living Daylights (Ian Fleming)
Octopussy and The Living Daylights served as the 14th and concluding installment in Ian Fleming's James Bond series. The titular tales were compiled posthumously in 1964, with two more stories included in subsequent editions. Both “Octopussy” and “The Living Daylights” were eventually adapted into films, though they had initially appeared in various magazines prior to this collection.
“The Living Daylights” spans roughly 36 pages, depending on the edition. On YouTube, Dan Stevens narrates the entire story in under 28 minutes! A visit to the library reveals that most of Fleming’s works were relatively brief, which contrasts sharply with the lengthy, action-driven films they inspired. Despite Fleming’s untimely death, the 007 franchise was already well-established by the time of this story’s release. The 1987 adaptation, featuring Timothy Dalton as Bond, grossed $191.2 million globally—an impressive feat for a movie based on a short story.
9. Jumanji (Chris Van Allsburg)
The 1995 film Jumanji was adapted from a children’s book by American author and illustrator Chris Van Allsburg, who also created The Polar Express, another illustrated book turned into a movie starring Tom Hanks. As often happens with book-to-film adaptations, Jumanji underwent several changes, including shifting the main characters and introducing adult roles, with Robin Williams playing a key part.
Jumanji achieved such popularity that it inspired an animated TV series running from 1996 to 1999. Van Allsburg, a multiple award-winning author, later wrote “Zathura” (2002), a sci-fi follow-up to “Jumanji,” which was adapted into Zathura: A Space Adventure
8. The Illusionist (Steven Millhauser)
The 2006 movie The Illusionist, featuring Edward Norton and Jessica Biel, is a creative adaptation of Steven Millhauser’s Pulitzer Prize-winning short story, “Eisenheim the Illusionist,” from his collection The Barnum Museum: Stories. The narrative follows Eisenheim, originally named Eduard Abramovich, a magician in 19th-century Vienna. The film explores themes of magic, social class, politics, and romance, as Abramovich reunites with his childhood sweetheart, sparking a fierce rivalry with her aristocratic fiancé.
Directed by Neil Burger, the film takes liberties with Millhauser’s original story, yet remains captivating and engaging. It achieved global box office success, earning approximately $87 million.
7. The Birds (Daphne du Maurier)
Daphne du Maurier’s short story “The Birds” first appeared in her collection The Apple Tree: A Short Novel and Other Long Stories and has been reprinted under various titles over the years. The tale portrays birds across Britain and Europe launching violent attacks on humans, symbolizing rebellion against human dominance. Du Maurier drew inspiration from witnessing a farmer attacked by a flock of gulls, likely poisoned, while plowing his field.
Alfred Hitchcock was captivated by the story and loosely adapted it into a 1963 film bearing the same title. The two versions differ significantly, with changes in characters and settings. While the original story unfolds in London, Hitchcock’s adaptation is set in California.
Notably, Hitchcock and Du Maurier had previously collaborated on the 1940 film Rebecca, which received a remake by Ben Wheatley in 2020.
6. The Killers (Ernest Hemingway)
The 1946 American film noir The Killers, featuring Ava Gardner and introducing Burt Lancaster, draws partial inspiration from Ernest Hemingway’s 1927 short story of the same name. The plot revolves around a gripping investigation into the planned murder of a former boxer who turned to crime after his boxing career ended prematurely.
Directed by Robert Siodmak and released in August 1946, the film’s screenplay was credited to Anthony Veiller, with contributions from John Huston and Richard Brooks. It achieved critical acclaim, earning four Academy Award nominations. Hemingway, who was typically critical of Hollywood’s treatment of his works, reportedly held this adaptation in high regard.
In 1956, Andrei Tarkovsky and two classmates at the State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow created a 21-minute student film based on the story. Additionally, a 1964 remake directed by Don Siegel featured Ronald Reagan in his final acting role before transitioning into politics.
5. Million Dollar Baby (Jerry Boyd aka F.X. Toole)
Clint Eastwood’s 2004 film Million Dollar Baby, starring himself, Hillary Swank, and Morgan Freeman, was inspired by a short story titled “Million $$$ Baby” from F.X. Toole’s collection Rope Burns. Toole, born Jerold (Jerry) Hayden Boyd in Ireland, had a deep passion for boxing, which informed his vivid storytelling. The story’s title was reportedly inspired by the nose art of a World War II bomber. Boyd adopted the pseudonym F.X. Toole to separate his writing career from his professional life.
Paul Haggis penned the screenplay, and despite Eastwood’s involvement, the film faced delays due to social controversies surrounding the project. Sadly, Boyd passed away before witnessing his story’s adaptation win four Oscars, including Best Director for Eastwood, who became the oldest director to win the award at the time.
4. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Arthur C. Clarke)
The 1968 science fiction masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey, delving into themes of evolution, artificial intelligence, and nuclear war, was inspired by Arthur C. Clarke’s short stories “The Sentinel” and “Encounter in the Dawn.” Director Stanley Kubrick collaborated with Clarke to adapt these stories into a novel, credited to Clarke, which later became a groundbreaking film. Released a year before the moon landing, it remains one of the most influential sci-fi works. Clarke later wrote sequels, including 2010: Odyssey Two (1984), which was also adapted into a film.
Clarke and Kubrick aimed for scientific accuracy, adhering to the laws of physics. They likely didn’t anticipate how prophetic their vision would become. Many technologies depicted in the film, such as flat screens, tablets, and voice-activated devices, are now everyday realities. With input from NASA scientists, the film’s predictions about space travel and its effects on the human body continue to be studied today.
3. The Shawshank Redemption (Stephen King)
The Shawshank Redemption, a 1994 film directed by Frank Darabont and starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. It is based on Stephen King’s 1982 novella “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” from his collection Different Seasons. King holds the record for the most adaptations of works by a living author, with 34 stories and novels turned into films.
Despite receiving seven Oscar nominations, The Shawshank Redemption didn’t win any awards. Although it underperformed at the box office, it became a cultural phenomenon, topping rental charts in 1995 and earning a permanent place in cinematic history.
Most of the filming for the movie took place in Mansfield, Ohio, specifically at the Ohio State Reformatory, rather than in Maine, the fictional location of Shawshank State Prison. The iconic tree featured in the film no longer exists, having been destroyed by lightning and strong winds. Additionally, despite popular belief, no treasure is buried along the low stone wall.
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (F. Scott Fitzgerald)
F. Scott Fitzgerald, renowned for his masterpiece The Great Gatsby, which debuted as a film in 1926 and has seen three subsequent adaptations, also penned the intriguing short story behind The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Originally published in 1922, the story spanned fewer than 10,000 words. Decades later, the 2008 film adaptation, directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, and Tilda Swinton, brought the tale to life, with Eric Roth and Robin Swicord expanding the narrative.
The narrative follows Benjamin Button, a man born elderly who ages in reverse, ultimately dying as an infant. Translating such a complex concept into a believable story was challenging enough, but the film adaptation faced even greater hurdles. Multiple directors abandoned the project due to unresolved narrative issues and budget constraints. After securing a director, cast, and a more cost-effective filming location, Hurricane Katrina disrupted production in New Orleans. Filming eventually occurred between November 2006 and September 2007, followed by an extensive post-production phase—a remarkable journey for such a brief tale!
1. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (James Thurber)
James Thurber's 1939 short story, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” spanning just 10 pages, was adapted into a film for the first time in 1947. Although Thurber contributed to the movie's production, he reportedly disliked the final outcome.
The 2013 adaptation, featuring Ben Stiller, follows a Life magazine employee responsible for managing negative images, whose job faces obsolescence due to the rise of digital technology. Walter Mitty, a chronic daydreamer who fantasizes about heroic adventures, finally takes action when he loses the negative intended for the magazine's final cover, embarking on a daring quest that transforms his mundane life into the adventure he always imagined.
While the film deviates significantly from Thurber's original story and garnered mixed critical reception, it serves as an inspiring tale of escapism, culminating in a heartfelt message encouraging viewers to embrace life's possibilities.
