10 Recently Released and Upcoming Book-To-Film Adaptations Not To Miss

There's seemingly no end of movies and television series that started life as a book. From a range of genres including sci-fi, suspense, domestic thrillers, and children's books, here are nine adaptations that are out now or will be available to watch in the next few months—which gives you a chance to read the book first if that's your modus operandi. 

Lady in the Lake (now on Apple TV+)

Cast includes: Natalie Portman, Moses Ingram, Y'lan Noel, Brett Gelman, Byron Bowers, Noah Jupe

Based on Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman

A divorced reporter in racially torn 1966 Baltimore triggers unanticipated consequences for vulnerable community members while investigating the murder of an African American party girl.

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (now on Netflix) 

Cast includes: Emma Myers, India Lillie Davies, Rahul Pattni, Zain Iqbal

Based on A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Five years after the shattering murder and suicide of two popular teens, a skeptical high school student reexamines the case before uncovering disturbing clues about what really happened.

Check out more in the series: Good Girl, Bad Blood, As Good As Dead, Kill Joy

Mothers' Instinct (now in theaters)

Cast includes: Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Anders Danielson Lie, Josh Charles

Based on Mothers' Instinct by Barbara Abel; translated from the French by Susan Pickford

After the death of their best friends’ son, David and Laetitia Brunelle, wracked with guilt over their role in the tragedy, find their suspicions raised when a mysterious series of “accidents” befall their own son, leading them to believe their former friends are out for revenge. 

It Ends With Us (now in theaters)

Cast includes: Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj, Amy Morton

Based on the novel It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

After building what should be a perfect life with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid, Lily finds herself in a troubled relationship with an abusive husband and must make a decision about her future, as she reencounters Atlas Corrigan, a man with links to her past.

Harold and the Purple Crayon (now in theaters)

Cast includes: Zachary Levi, Lil Rel Howery, Benjamin Bottani, Jemaine Clement, Zooey Deschanel 

Based on Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

One evening Harold decides to go for a walk in the moonlight. Armed only with an oversize purple crayon, young Harold draws himself a landscape full of wonder and excitement. Harold and his trusty crayon travel through woods and across seas and past dragons before returning to bed, safe and sound.

The Perfect Couple (September 5, Netflix)

Cast includes: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Dakota Fanning, Eve Hewson, Billy Howle, Michael Beach

Based on The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand (part of the Nantucket series)

When a bride-to-be is found dead in the harbor, Chief of Police Ed Kapenash searches for the killer within her own wedding party.

The Old Man Season 2 (September 12, FX and Hulu)

Cast includes: Jeff Bridges, John Lithgow, Alia Shawkat, Navid Negahban, Jacqueline Antaramian, Amy Brenneman, Gbenga Akinnagbe 

Based on the novel The Old Man by Thomas Perry

Decades after taking millions of dollars during a mission in Libya and starting over in Vermont under a new name, former Army intelligence offer Dan Chase is forced back on the run after eluding two attackers with an interest in obtaining the loot.

Uglies (September 13, Netflix)

Cast includes: Joey King, Chase Stokes, Keith Powers, Laverne Cox, Brianne Tju

Based on Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Tally is about to turn 16, and she can’t wait. In just a few weeks she’ll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty. And as a pretty, she’ll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun. But Tally’s new friend Shay isn’t sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world—and it isn’t very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally’s choice will change her world forever.

The Wild Robot (in theaters, September 27)

Voice cast includes: Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Mark Hamill

Based on The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

Initializing for the first time on a remote island where she is all alone, Roz the robot learns survival strategies from the island's hostile animals and finally gains acceptance when she cares for an orphaned gosling.

Day of the Jackal (November 7, Peacock)

Cast includes: Eddie Redmayne, Úrsula Corberó, Lashana Lynch, Sule Rimi, Charles Dance, Chukwudi Iwuji,

Based on The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth

After six men fail in individual attempts to assassinate President de Gaulle, Jackal accepts the task and lays careful plans to insure his success.

Book summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.