No matter the era, books have served as a perfect source material for films. Whether it’s your favorite novel ever or a recommendation from a friend, when the books you read become film adaptations, you’re immediately given the chance to see how the movie in your mind actually translates to the screen.
In 2025, we were gifted an array of films, both on the big screen and on streaming services, inspired by some of literature’s best. From two new adaptations of a Stephen King novel to the back half of an origin story that has been adapted into a musical. Whatever genre you fancy, the year in film brought books to life in extraordinary fashion.
10
‘The Woman in Cabin 10’
In the Netflix film adaptation of Ruth Ware’s novel, The Woman in Cabin 10, the thrills are brought to the high seas. In the psychological thriller directed by Simon Stone, journalist Lo Blacklock (Keira Knightley) goes on assignment covering a charity charter aboard a luxury yacht to Norway. While on board, she witnesses a violent event and becomes convinced that a woman was thrown overboard, but the crew is adamant that all passengers are accounted for. While no one believes her, Lo investigates, which puts her life in danger as she becomes desperate to prove what she saw was real, all while grappling with her own self-doubt and leagues of trauma.
If you put a much darker tone onto an Agatha Christie mystery, you get The Woman in Cabin 10. Despite the luxury yacht that dreams are made of, the film is rightly claustrophobic. There is simply nowhere to run; all you can do is try to hide. Though it feels a bit contrived and overstuffed, The Woman in Cabin 10 is a wonder film for mystery lovers. Especially if they’re already finished the streamer’s most recent mystery, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. The Woman in Cabin 10 is not as simple as a generic whodunit. With a killer ensemble behind Knightley, The Woman in Cabin 10 includes dazzling performances from Guy Pierce, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Hannah Waddingham. The Woman in Cabin 10 is a thrilling hour-and-a-half adventure that does a fine job bringing the book to life.
9
‘The Life List’
Adapted from the best-selling novel, The Life List brings Lori Nelson Spielman to life. Released by Netflix, the Adam Brooks-directed film follows Alex Rose (Sofia Carson) as she attempts to complete her childhood “bucket list” of goals to earn her inheritance from her late mother, Elizabeth (Connie Britton). As Alex goes about her journey, it leads her to learn of self-discovery, grief processing, and rediscovering her true self. And of course, like any romcom should include, a little love along the way. Bringing the theme of finding purpose by revisiting youthful dreams, The Life List was a cozy comfort watch that helps you realize how to live life to its fullest.
The film checks off all the boxes you want from a romantic comedy, though it’s a tad formulaic. That said, Carson does a remarkable job at carrying the film, leading audiences along on her journey through heart and sentimentality. Though it was never intended to be groundbreaking cinema, The Life List is a feel-good, tearjerker that will make you feel content in the end.
8
‘The Long Walk’
After more than four decades, The Long Walk finally found its way to the big screen for a major adaptation. In the adrenaline-fueled dystopian survival thriller, 50 boys are pitted against one another in an annually televised competitive walking marathon, meant to inspire viewers. Each boy must maintain a pace of three miles per hour while walking nonstop for days, and failure to do so after three warnings results in death. The boy who lasts the longest wins a large cash prize and the fulfillment of one wish of his choice. A film that once felt like fiction, The Long Walk was The Hunger Games before Suzanne Collins created her brilliant series.
Set against a realistic yet dystopian 1970s America, the film is a visceral story of survival, control, and the depths of human endurance. The Long Walk opens audiences’ eyes to the lengths to which people will go for sacrifice, hope, and to rebel against an oppressive system. A brutal depiction of authoritarianism, capitalism, and societal manipulation, The Long Walk couldn’t be more fitting as a modern cautionary tale today. The Long Walk isn’t a flashy King adaptation compared to many others, but it’s gripping nonetheless. Led by strong performances fromCooper Hoffman and David Jonsson, the life-or-death thriller is a must-watch.
7
‘The Running Man’
There are just some writer-director pairs that seem like a dream. One such dream pairing came to fruition when Edgar Wright brought Steven King’s The Running Man back to life. As the second film adaptation after the 1987 film, the 2025 version swaps out Arnold Schwarzenegger for today’s top action star, Glen Powell. The dystopian science fiction thriller is set in a poverty-stricken future in which a deadly reality TV show forces a desperate man, Ben Richards (Powell), to survive 30 days while being hunted by assassins and the public for a massive cash prize to save his sick daughter. The Hunger Games on steroids, the deadly competition is ripe for a modern audience thanks to Wright’s signature style.
An absolutely relentless high-stakes thriller, The Running Man thrives thanks in part to the strong vision and endless thrill ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Powell, for his part, does a stellar job taking on the central role as the hunted. With a wide-spanning cast that includes everyone from Josh Brolin and Coleman Domingo to Michael Cera and Emilia Jones, Wright’s iteration of The Running Man is a more faithful adaptation, honoring the book’s darker themes of corporate control and media manipulation. The Running Man is destined to be your dad’s new favorite action film.
6
‘On Swift Horses’
2025 may be the year of Jacob Elordi in the world of book adaptations for cinema. The first of two to make this list is the sweet and sentimental take on Shannon Pufahl‘s 2019 novel On Swift Horses. Officially released in April, the historical romantic drama that brings a post-Korean War forbidden love to life as Muriel (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Lee (Will Poulter) begin a bright new life together. But everything changes when her charismatic, gambler brother-in-law, Julius (Elordi), arrives. Lee is keen for the three of them to build a new life in San Diego, but Julius decides to travel to Las Vegas instead, where he finds work in a casino and meets Henry (Diego Calva), a co-worker he falls for. Feeling unfulfilled, Muriel seeks a secret life of her own, drawn to the world of horse racing and to Julius, though it’s her lesbian neighbor Sandra (Sasha Calle) who turns it all upside down.
Taking audiences on a stunning journey of self-discovery, On Swift Horses brings to light startling taboos in a starkly restricted era through a fascinating exploration of love, society, morality, and sexuality. Filled with sincerity and heartbreak, On Swift Horses is a tender adaptation led by a truly wonderful cast.
5
‘The Thursday Murder Club’
There’s something about a cozy murder mystery that seems to warm our hearts. Not because of the death, but because of the mystery that ensues. One of the most delightful films to hit Netflix this year was The Thursday Murder Club. Based on Richard Osman‘s 2020 novel, the film follows four seniors—Elizabeth Best (Helen Mirren), Ron Ritchie (Pierce Brosnan), Professor Ibrahim Arif (Ben Kingsley), and Joyce Medowcroft (Celia Imrie)— living in a retirement home who meet weekly to solve cold-case mysteries, murder arrives on their doorstep as they have a real-life investigation on their hands.
Filled with humor, friendship, mischief, baked goods, and an enticing mystery, The Thursday Murder Club utilizes the tropes that make the genre shine while putting a charming spotlight on a generation of individuals who refuse to be put out to pasture. The film, which also includes Jonathan Pryce and David Tennant, warmed audiences’ hearts, making us all eager for more. With mysteries remaining a favorite genre, The Thursday Murder Club continues to prove why we love to solve them alongside our characters.
4
‘Mickey 17’
Gone are the days when audiences only knew Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen. As his career has evolved, he’s taken on more daring roles, including this year’s Mickey 17. Based on Edward Ashton’s novel set in 2054, the story follows a man who joins a space colony as an “Expendable,” a disposable worker cloned every time he dies. When Mickey 17 seemingly dies but returns, the colony prints Mickey 18, creating two identical Mickeys vying for existence amidst class struggles, corporate control, and alien threats. Directed by Bong Joon Ho, Mickey 17 tackles themes of identity, death, and survival in a brilliant way.
Set on harsh, hostile ice planet Niflheim, where humans struggle for survival and clash with native species, Mickey 17 looks and feels like a brilliant science fiction film, but the humanity that both actor and director infuse into the story brings forth an excellent story that integrates an array of styles, from slapstick comedy to absurdism with hints of horror tossed in for good fun. A strong exploration of the dehumanization of our future, Mickey 17 is elaborate in scale and fantastical in scope.
3
‘Wicked: For Good’
Who can say if we’ve been changed for the better? What we can all agree upon is that we’ve been changed for good. In Wicked: For Good, the second half of the hit musical comes to life in a beautiful conclusion. Based on Gregory Maguire‘s 1995 novel, which was a reimagining of L. Frank Baum‘s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the sequel film follows Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) on their diverging paths as political turmoil in Oz jeopardizes their friendship and their futures. Showing how the two witches earned their public-facing “good” and “wicked” monikers, Wicked: For Good puts a bow on the epic musical story.
Directed by Jon M. Chu, the film honors both the stage show and the book, introducing themes and plotlines only found in the latter. Additionally, Stephen Schwartz wrote two new songs, “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble,” for the two leading ladies. Though it has a darker overall tone than the first film, Wicked: For Good satisfied musical-theater lovers with its final moments, which paid homage to the musical’s original artwork.
2
‘One Battle After Another’
Inspired by Thomas Pynchon‘s novel Vineland, writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson‘s One Battle After Another brings Leonardo DiCaprio to the action-thriller world with a rambunctious approach. DiCaprio plays Bob, a washed-up, paranoid revolutionary who lives off the grid, surviving with his spirited, self-reliant daughter, Willa (Chase Infiniti). When his nemesis resurfaces (Sean Penn), and Willa goes missing, the former radical scrambles to find her as both father and daughter battle the consequences of their pasts. A wild, action-packed black comedy, One Battle After Another seeks to find purpose in a chaotic America through a generational clash.
At its core, One Battle After Another is about a father’s quest to find his missing daughter. Within, it’s a satirical commentary about political extremism. With a dark tone, DiCaprio delivers one of his most unhinged performances, a drastic yet welcome change from much of his previous work. With strong performances from the entire ensemble, the standout performance comes from Teyana Taylor. A breakout role that deserves all the award-season buzz.
1
‘Frankenstein’
Sometimes it’s the passion projects that turn out to be the most glorious creations. We’re talking about both Guillermo del Toro and the Creature (Elordi), of course. Taking some liberties but staying closer to Mary Shelley’s novel than the 1931 film, Frankenstein brings a new monstrous creation to life as egotistical scientist Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac), whose experiment in creating life from death has dangerous consequences. Filled with breathtaking visuals under del Toro’s extraordinary vision, Frankenstein reignited our love for gothic thrillers.
A striking, visually extraordinary film, Frankenstein uses a Gothic romantic lens, as del Toro takes a highly sophisticated, ambitious approach to create a Frankenstein that transforms a tragic story into a more empathetic portrayal of the monster we’ve always feared yet revered. Layering in the emotional toll trauma can have on an individual, del Toro ensured that this version of the story found humanity, even if it meant you feared it. del Toro’s film is a cinematic masterpiece and deserves to become the ultimate Frankenstein film for all time.
Frankenstein
- Release Date
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October 17, 2025
- Runtime
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149 Minutes
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