It seems that every year, more and more books are adapted for the big or small screen. Some may argue that each year is better than the last, but a good adaptation is often in the eye of the beholder. As one searches for adaptations, they’re in large supply and often readily available to be consumed thanks to streaming services.
2023 has seen its fair share of book-to-screen adaptations, and luckily audiences have been gifted with some wonderful adaptations to appreciate and entertain. Adaptations have seen success in and out of movie theaters, with series also taking up a significant amount of space in the industry. A comprehensive list could take forever to compile, but here are just a few of our personal favorites.
5. Daisy Jones & The Six (Prime)
| Good Reads Score | Rotten Tomatoes |
|---|---|
| 4.2 | 82% |
Where To Buy/Watch
You’d be hard-pressed not to have stumbled across Taylor Jenkins Reid’s brilliant dive into the music industry of the 1970s. Luckily, Amazon Prime dropped the 10-episode miniseries in March, and we were all treated to an incredible adaptation with fantastic performances (Riley Keough and Sam Clafin are outstanding) and an earwormmy soundtrack to boot.
Its format, interspersed with documentary-style interviews may even make this adaptation superior to its source material (in this reader’s opinion anyway).
Whether you’re there for the costumes, the characters, or the songs, Daisy Jones & The Six delivers on all fronts and it’s why it is a must-watch adaptation for music lovers.
4. Silo (Apple TV+)
| Good Reads Score | Rotten Tomatoes |
|---|---|
| 4.1 | 62% |
Where To Buy/Watch
Lovers of sci-fi and dystopian fiction got a treat this past year with the AppleTV+ adaptation of Hugh Howey’s Silo novel series. Set in a fictional reality where an unexplained apocalyptic event forced humanity to live underground in self-sustaining silos, the outside world is apparently uninhabitable and the atmosphere is filled with toxicity that will kill anyone who leaves its safety.
When certain residents of the silo begin to question whether or not the outside world is as dangerous as they’ve been led to believe, it sets off a chain reaction of questions and resistance against those in charge of this society.
Related10 Sci-Fi Adaptations That Are Actually Good
If you’ve already seen the Apple TV+ show and still have questions about the ending, we’ve got them answered all in one place here.
3. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Theatrical Release)
| Good Reads Score | Rotten Tomatoes |
|---|---|
| 3.9 | 89% |
Where To Buy/Watch
Who knew that 2023 would be the year that the Hunger Games series would get its resurgence? This adaptation of the prequel novel to the original series follows the rise of the ultimate villain President Snow, and takes a look at an earlier iteration of the Hunger Games franchise
Will the box office success of this latest installment lead to more films down the road? Only time will tell, but this may give way to introducing The Hunger Games to a whole new generation.
2. Nimona (Netflix)
| Good Reads Score | Rotten Tomatoes |
|---|---|
| 4.1 | 91% |
Where To Buy/Watch
What’s not to love about an unhinged, adorable shape-shifting anti-hero, am I right? This animated adaptation of the popular graphic novel is a delightful romp through a fantastical world of magic, mayhem, and ultimately acceptance. The animation is superb and lends an additional sense of whimsy to the already colourful tale.
This film is a fun take on the original tale, slightly updated for a modern audience and enjoyable for all.
RelatedNimona: The Biggest Differences Between The Book and the Netflix Movie
1. The Color Purple (Theatrical Release)
| Good Reads Score | Rotten Tomatoes |
|---|---|
| 4.2 | 95% |
Where To Buy/Watch
Remakes aren’t always great successes, since it can be difficult to top a great first version of a film, but this year’s take on The Color Purple proves that it is possible. Combining the original story with elements of the stage musical adaptation of the novel, the star-studded film takes Alice Walker’s source material to new heights.
RelatedWhy Are Book Adaptations Always So Controversial?
This year has brought about some wonderful adaptations of books both new and old. We can’t wait to see what the new year gives us. Fingers crossed for more great book-to-screen adaptations in 2024!
*Disclosure: We only recommend books that we love and would read ourselves. This post contains affiliate links, as we are part of the Amazon Services LCC Associate Program and others, which may earn us a small commission, at no additional cost to you.
