Joseph Morganti
Top 10 Adapted Screenplays of All Time
Some of the best films of all time were adapted from something. Meaning they’re sourced from other material. A couple articles back, we talked about the Top 10 Adapted Screenplays From the Last Decade. In this article, we’re going to take a look at the Top 10 Adapted Screenplays of All Time.
All of them played an important role in the world of cinema and are fantastic films on their own. Let’s dive into the list!
1. Stand by Me (1986)
If you haven’t seen Stand by Me yet, you’re missing out. It’s based on Stephen King’s short story “The Body”, and it’s a coming of age dark comedy about four boys who decide to follow train tracks to find a body. Sounds odd right? The truth is it’s a beautiful film that stayed pretty close to the source material.

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2. Fight Club (1999)
The first rule about a fight club...you mention it in a top 10 adapted screenplays list. It’s based on Chuck Palahniuk’s book of the same name. If you haven’t seen it yet, try to go into it without any knowledge beforehand. It’s unsettling in the best way possible.

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3. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
I don’t know where to begin with A Clockwork Orange. Set in a fictional world where the young rule and the old don’t, this dark yet comical film is about a man who falls under the same threats he once created. It’s based on the novel with the same name by Anthony Burgess.

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4. 12 Angry Men (1957)
Set in one setting, 12 Angry Men is about 12 men on a jury who argue over whether or not the man on trial is guilty or not. It might sound boring, but it’s a fantastic film. It’s based on the television screenplay of the same name by Reginald Rose.

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5. The Graduate (1967)
The Graduate is a dark comedy about a man who recently graduated from college and doesn’t know what he wants to do in life. He ends up sleeping with his girlfriend’s mother (Thus the birth of the term Mrs. Robinson). It’s based on the novella of the same name by Charles Webb.

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6. Forrest Gump (1994)
I’m pretty sure every human at this point has seen Forrest Gump. Forrest Gump is a comedy about a man who is mentally disabled and how his life unfolds while he accomplishes greatness. It’s based on the novel of the same name by Winston Groom.

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7. The Godfather (1972)
The Godfather is an all-time classic. In simple terms, it’s a beautifully written mafia movie. Watch it, and I promise you you’ll enjoy it. It’s based on the book of the same name by Mario Puzo.

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