This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is to recommend amazing TV shows and movies people should watch then they’re not reading. I thought it’d be fun to narrow down the list to just book to screen adaptations as that it fits the theme of my blog better, plus there’s so many to choose from!
All readers know the combination of excitement and dread when they hear one of their favourite books is being adapted to the screen. That’s because for every amazing book adaption, there are probably 5 not so amazing adaptations (I’m looking at you Percy Jackson and City of Bones). However when adaptions are done right, they are a thing of beauty. So today I’m going to break down 5 TV show and 5 movie adaptions that I think live up to the source material and are perfect for binge-watching when you’re taking a break from reading!
5 Amazing Binge-worthy TV Shows
1. Outlander
My love for this book and TV show cannot be properly expressed in words. Watching it is an adventure, one that is full of twists and turns that make you high on happiness one second only to have it crushed in the next scene. The actors playing Claire and Jamie have such fantastic chemistry, it is hard not to love them as individuals and together. I don’t believe a period drama about a 20th century woman being transported back in time to 1743 Scotland can be anything less of amazing. As a reviewer pointed out, “Outlander has the most peculiar mix of gothic horror, swashbuckling adventure, magical fantasy” and I love that about it. Try it for the beautiful scenery and storyline, and stay for Jamie’s Scottish accent. All three seasons are on Netflix, just saying. (trigger warning: rape, sexual assault, torture)
2. Big Little Lies
I binge-watched this show in July and finished all 7 episodes in one day. It was such an addictive and thrilling ride. It’s entertaining while also shining light on human nature, and the intricate relationships in marriage and motherhood. The casting is phenomenal. I mean come on, the TV show stars Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon! There’s definitely a good reason why it won big at the Golden Globes and Emmys. Season 2 is coming early next year, so now is the perfect time to catch up on the show. (trigger warning: domestic abuse, rape)
3. Sherlock
A modern day Sherlock Holmes series full of gripping crime-solving and hilarious banter between Sherlock and Watson. Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock is entirely eccentric and indifferent to human emotions, making him the master of serious and comedic relief scenes. The cases being solved are entertaining and educational while the main plot is more than engaging. Kinda makes you want to put on a detective hat and become a forensic criminologist yourself. Each season has around 3 episodes that are one and a half hour long, so it feels like you’re watching a mini movie marathon! (trigger warning: suicide, assault)
4. Thirteen Reasons Why
While not without its flaws, I think this show conveys a strong message about bullying in an engrossing and honest way. It explores the deep rotted insecurities of teenagers and the challenges of surviving high school. It’s raw and unblinking in the way it explores how teenagers unintentionally, or intentionally, hurt each other and the dire consequences that result from it. While the topic being dealt with is heavy, the plot’s mystery makes it an engaging binge-worthy show. (trigger warning: self-harm, rape, suicide, sexual assault)
5. The 100
A sci-fi adventure about a group of juvenile young adults exiled to Earth where decades prior a deadly nuclear war rendered it unliveable. It’s highly suspenseful, action packed and fast-paced, while also holding an air of mystery throughout the seasons. It’s a lot of fun to watch, and it only gets better with each season. The characters are all phenomenally fleshed out, while the plot is ambitious and ruthless in its undertaking. The storyline thickens with each season, making sure there is not a single dull moment in the show. The show currently has 5 seasons so it’s perfect for a binge-watch session!
5 Amazing Movies Done Right
1. Love, Simon
I was planning on mentioning Netflix’s adaption of TATBILB again but then I remembered that I don’t really mention Love, Simon often which is a shame because it’s just as adorable. It’s funny and heartwarming, and made me relive all the emotions I had when I read the book. The characters are all charming and the humorous banter between them is great. The movie has a perfect balance of lightheartedness and emotional depth, plus it’s a super important movie, so go support it!
2. Pride and Prejudice
A classic! I’ve probably seen this movie more than 5 times but there’s always something new to see in it. Jane Austen’s dialogue is adapted perfectly and all the actors do a fantastic job in their role. All the scenes make you feel engaged and the romance is a slow burn to die for. A tale as old as time, it’s a movie you’re able to re-watch forever.
3. Call Me By Your Name
You will rarely hear me say a movie is better than a book, if ever. However, Call Me By Your Name was made to be a movie. It is visually stunning, the cinematography and soundtrack are breathtaking and engross you into the story. The actors give such an authentic performance that makes you feel like you are there in the moment. It is a coming of age love story that’s both beautiful and melancholic and you need to see it if you haven’t already.
4. The Great Gatsby
Another classic turned into a movie wonder! The Great Gatsby is probably my favourite classic and the movie is nothing less of amazing. It’s visually stunning and captures the essence of the book perfectly. The cinematography and soundtrack play a big role in telling the story and creating a certain atmosphere, while the actors give a stellar performance in individual but especially group scenes. Leonardo DiCaprio’s Gatsby is straight out of the book, there couldn’t have been a better casting than this one . The intricate relationship between the characters builds up anticipation and momentum throughout the film so when the credits roll it, it’s though not to think about it long afterwards.
5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Talking about classics, this is probably one of the, if not the best YA adaption I’ve ever seen. The themes of the book are expressed so well in this movie, it really does a great job to make you feel a weird yearning and nostalgia for high school. An amazing coming of age story that is as charming as it gets. I love the portrayal of friendship in this movie, and the message that with the right friends anyone is able to get out of their shell and live their best life. (trigger warning: sexual assault, abuse)
I hope you’re ready for all the incredible binge-worthy content if you decide to watch any of the TV shows/movies on my list!
Have you seen any of the TV shows/movies on my list? Are you a fan? If not, do you think you’re interested to try any of them? What is your favourite book to screen adaptation? Let’s chat in the comments! ♥
I absolutely adore the newer version of “Pride and Prejudice.” It’s magical on a whole new level, and I’ve seen it so many times!
Love seeing “Sherlock” on this list, too. Another favorite TV show that I’ve also rewatched more than once. 🙂
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Ikr?? They’re both adaptions I’ll be able to re-watch for a long time and never get bored 🙂
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I love this P&P adaptation so much. It’s one of my all-time favorite movies. Love, Simon was sooo cute. I was so scared of the adaptation, but ended up loving it so much. Great choices!
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Love, Simon was indeed an amazing adaption, I would have been so disappointed if they had ruined it but it was nothing less of amazing! And yess I could watch Pride and Prejudice forever and never get bored 😀
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I think I actually prefer the Outlander adaptation to books. Great list!
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I can totally see why, the books translate so well to the screen! Plus the actors playing Jamie and Claire couldn’t be more perfect!
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Brilliant list. I was really impressed with Love, Simon. I also really liked Thirteen Reasons Why.
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They’re both amazing adaptation! I could re-watch them for a long time!
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I love big little lies! I also binged it in one day haha. It was thrilling from beginning to end.
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Yesss!! Staying up till 5am to finish the last episode was definitely worth it haha
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I love the 100- probably my favorite show- and Big Little Lies was amazing! I loved the book and when I saw the show I was blown away by it as well! And I agree about Thirteen Reasons Why- in spite of its flaws I think it really took a hard look at bullying and I liked that.
I’m fond of that version of Pride & Prejudice too. The more I see it the more I like it.
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The 100 is great, I really have to catch up on the latest season because I’ve been hearing it’s the best one yet! And yesss, Big Little Lies was incredible, cannot wait to see how they continue the storyline in season 2! 13 Reasons Why definitely gives a different take on the high school experience and bullying so I had to give it props for that! 🙂
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I haven’t seen any of these but I love your take on this week’s topic. A lot of movies were done horribly. But they do have the advantage of bringing awareness to the wonderful books! I had never heard of Divergent without the Divergent movie… and I wouldn’t have gotten into YA, and I wouldn’t be here today… so I have a lot to thank for so-so movie renditions of movies.
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That’s a very good point, I hadn’t though of that before! The Divergent books are what actually got me properly hooked to YA too so they’re very dear to me! I don’t remember the movie being particularly awful but I think my 15-year-old self was just too excited to see the movie after loving the books to notice the quality of work haha
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SO MUCH YAAAAAS TO PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER! I’d also include Love, Rosie in this list. ❤
* TTT: 10 feel-good TV series to binge-watch while studying/rewriting notes
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Yesss, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the ult YA movie adaption! And omg I love Love, Rosie! I haven’t read the book but I’ve seen the movie 3 times because it’s AMAZING.
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I loved this list, and don’t get me wrong when I say this, but I really don’t think you should be promoting 13 Reasons Why to your readership. It is a damaging, graphic, and insensitive show that is rated 18 but marketed at 14/15-year-olds. I mean, it’s ABOUT TEENAGERS yet is a very graphic, harrowing show. When writing the initial season, the producers asked for advice from suicide prevention services on what is triggering for those who are suicidal/suicide survivors, and they IGNORED everything they were told. Just some food for thought. I personally enjoyed the first season, and it took a really good stance on bullying. It’s high time shows really reprimanded bullying and shone a light on the realities of it. I didn’t actually realise how damaging (and belittling) 13 Reasons Why is until someone wrote me a message kind of like I’m writing to you.
I don’t know. It’s difficult. Of course, I’m not saying you shouldn’t talk about the shows you love, and I appreciate your trigger warning. But this show is so so damaging and not everyone is aware of the why/how of it.
Aside from that, you mentioned some of my favourite movies and TV shows!! I especially love Sherlock and The Perks of Being a Wallflower (:
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There’s a lot of shows that deal with rape, suicide and depression by censoring the topics in a way that makes it possible for everyone to watch. But what I think is important about 13 Reasons Why is that it shows you all those aspects in a raw and unflinching way by exposing things as they are, no matter how graphic. I mean that is reality. In reality you can’t just cut to the next scene and leave it to the imagination. In reality it happens and it’s horrifying and gruesome but that’s how it is and it’s really eye-opening.
If anything I think it’s just as bad when others police what people can and cannot watch and shame them for enjoying those things. I think it’s perfectly ok to acknowledge that something is problematic but still find enjoyment in it. Some people like to watch and read things out of pure enjoyment, while others like to watch/read through a critical lens. For example I recently talked about how I found the book All the Bright Places extremely problematic and toxic in the way is portrays suicide and depression, while there’s thousands of other people who adore that book, seeing by the 4.17 rating on Goodreads. I just think people shouldn’t feel like they can’t express their love for a tv show or book out of fear of people calling them out and reader shaming them. It’s impossible for something to appeal to everyone and that’s ok! 🙂
This isn’t anything directly pointed at you haha, I actually love discussing these kinds of topics because the varying opinions means there’s always something new to be learnt! 😀 ❤️
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No I completely agree with you! I think I’m just personally a bit passionate (and potentially triggered) when it comes to 13 Reasons Why and the controversy surrounding it. Obviously it’s a very candid show, and that’s fine for the intended 18+ readership, but not exactly for the 13-17 year olds it’s marketted at, if that makes sense?
But, yes, me too, I like debating these things and seeing what other people think! I’m glad you enjoyed the show and took more from it than I did haha!
P.S. I agree with you on All the Bright Places! I’ll check out your post (: ❤️
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Sherlock made my list as well! Pride and Prejudice is great. I should have put it on my list too. I haven’t seen Outlander yet, but I’d like too. Here is my Top Ten Tuesday.
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I love Outlander-binged all three seasons last year! I also really love Sherlock. I liked the first season of Thirteen Reasons Why, but I don’t really see why they needed to do more, given how short the book is. I also really enjoyed Perks of Being A Wallflower.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2018/09/04/top-ten-tuesday-175/
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I totally agree about the Perks movie!! I thought it was so true to the book and really captured the feel of it
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I feel the same with Outlander and Pride & Prejudice. They’re one of the few shows/movies that stuck close to the source material.
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This is such an amaaaaaazing list!! I love all of it!! Sherlock is fantastic, I love how clever it is. Not enough people watch/know about The 100 so I’m so happy you included it. I’m currently reading Call Me By Your Name but I watched the movie earlier this year, and you are spot on about how it was made to be a movie. The Great Gatsby was just so aesthetically beautiful that I almost don’t notice that Leonardo DiCaprio is Gatsby (almost ;).
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower is my favourite YA adaptation by far. I love everything about that film and I think the casting was spot on. I will forever be bitter about the Percy Jackson adaptations. That series deserves so much more than what they got.
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I like Sherlock too! I wasn’t too keen on the last series but I do still love the show as a whole. Have you seen Wallander? It’s got a similar format to Sherlock, but it’s based on a series of Swedish detective novels, plus Kenneth Branagh and Tom Hiddleston are in it 🙂
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This is a great list! I totally agree with you on Pride and prejudice, and Love Simon.
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I finally saw Outlander earlier this year. It’s entertaining and fun. I still need to watch Love, Simon.
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Oh wow, I love your list. Sherlock, yesss love it, and the P&P adaption and The Great Gatsby are just so good. Book adaptions done right.
My list: https://bookslifeotheroddities.wordpress.com/2018/09/04/ten-great-tv-shows/
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I love Outlander too! I have done the first two books and the first season, and I really want to pick up the other. The 100 has to be one of my favourite shows out there, how did you feel about this last season?
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