This year could either be a dream or a nightmare for all the reading enthusiasts out there (we all know book-to-film adaptations can be either a major hit or a serious miss). 2023 seems to be the year of adaptations, with well over 20 page-to-screen adaptations. This list recaps 10 must-sees from nostalgic crowd-pleasers like The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson to classics like an Agatha Christie mystery and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
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Set 64 years before Katniss’ first time in the Hunger Games arena, this prequel focuses on the villain origin story of President Snow. It shows Snow as a somewhat sympathetic 18-year-old boy, set to mentor 16-year-old District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird in the tenth annual Hunger Games.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes – In Theatres November 17, 2023 - Wonka
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Another prequel-esque film adaptation, this version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory follows a bright young Willy Wonka grinding to establish himself as a chocolatier, played by fan-favorite Timothée Chalamet. In this version, we see how Wonka manages to befriend the mysterious Oompa Loompas.
Wonka – In Theatres December 15, 2023 - Percy Jackson and the Olympians
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Us 2000s-2010s babies are happy to hear that the beloved Percy Jackson and the Olympians is finally receiving a second chance at a film adaptation—this time with age-appropriate actors (and Disney backing it). 12-year-old Percy Jackson discovers he’s a modern demigod and sets out to restore Zeus’ stolen lightning bolt.
Percy Jackson and The Olympians – Streaming on Netflix December 20, 2023 - Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
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I certainly have a soft spot for the multi-award-winning LGBT coming-of-age novel Aristotle and Dante. After reading this novel in middle school, I’ve yearned to see it adapted for the screen, and this year, my wish is finally coming true.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe – In Theatres September 8, 2023 - A Haunting in Venice
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A classic Agatha Christine mystery, A Haunting in Venice is the ideal fall spooky film. After a child claims she witnessed a murder at a Halloween party in Venice and no one believes her, she is found dead. Detective Poirot is tasked with solving the case.
A Haunting In Venice – In Theatres September 15, 2023 - Fellow Travelers
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McCarthy-era Washington sets the scene for an unusual romance between two men in this political thriller slash love story. Tracking through the 1960s Vietnam War, the drug-ravaged 1970s and the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, this story follows lovers who face a series of societal challenges.
Fellow Travelers – Now Streaming On Paramount+ - All The Light We Cannot See
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An absolute best-seller and BookTok phenomenon, All The Light We Cannot See is a much-awaited book-to-series adaptation now streaming on Netflix. The story follows a six-year-old blind girl taking refuge with her uncle while the Nazis invaded her hometown of Paris and an incredibly intelligent young German boy recruited for Hitler Youth for his knowledge of radio technology.
All The Light We Cannot See – Now Streaming On Netflix - Priscilla
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After Baz Luhrmann’s hit Elvis biopic, we get a fresh, feminine take from Sofia Coppola through the lens of Elvis’ wife, Priscilla, based on her 1985 memoir Elvis and Me. The film offers a new, less flashy take on Elvis from the perspective of someone who knew him best.
Priscilla – In Theatres November 3, 2023 - Eileen
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Based on an Ottessa Moshfegh novel of the same name, Eileen is an inevitably dark, moody story with a female lead. About as unusual as a Christmas movie can get, Eileen follows infamous actress Anne Hathaway.
Eileen – In Theatres December 1, 2023 - Killers of the Flower Moon
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Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, this new Martin Scorsese adaptation has an absolutely stacked cast. Following FBI investigations, trials and convictions, this film tracks the Osage Reign of Terror in the 1920s through 1930s.
Killers of the Flower Moon – In Theatres October 20, 2023
All these adaptations might be the perfect way to revive many’s love for reading (or at least put a diverse array of riveting books on the radar). There’s something for everyone, whether you’re seeking mystery, nostalgia, history or romance. Personally, I’m starting with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes on November 17!