5 Books That Were Better Than The Movie

Controversial, but we think you’ll agree.

This is one topic that is sure to divide dinner tables; are books or movies better at conveying a story? And the answer is… it depends. So on the eve of World Book Day, 23rd April, we’ve pulled together our shortlist of five books that we think trumped their movie versions.

Image thanks to @midsummerchild via Instagram

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling

Now, we’re not saying ALL of the Harry Potter books are better than their respective movies, but one that is a no brainer is the first in the series. The book has so much life and imagination, and the pre-pubescent Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint just haven’t grown into their roles… yet.

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

Though we loved the Lord of the Rings movies, Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit series was just too drawn out. Unlike the LOR books, which are big and convoluted novels, The Hobbit is quite a short, succinct book telling a pretty straightforward story. Drawing it out to three long movies was just overkill.

Image thanks to @kenzie.regan via Instagram

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Full of wacky quirkiness and off-beat humour, the movie version of this book with Zoe Deschanel and Sam Rockwell couldn’t quite capture the brilliance of the world Douglas Adams created. Though we do think Martin Freeman made an excellent Arthur Dent.

Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín

While we agree the movie, with the perfectly cast Saoirse Ronan, was pretty damn delightful, we are still drawn back to the book as it does a much better job of creating the chemistry and angst between her love interest in New York and her love interest in Ireland. We’re still not sure if she made the right choice, btw…

Image thanks to @miasbookblog via Instagram

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Yes, Baz Luhrmann’s OTT film was visually stunning, and Leonardo DiCaprio makes a pretty passable Jay Gatsby, but Scott Fitzgerald’s book is so beautifully written and a product of its time. The movie has Baz Luhrmann stamped all over it. It’s so similar to Moulin Rouge in its production values and visual aesthetic, that it’s hard to see them as two separate movies.

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