The Princess Bride. Poster of the 1987 movie and cover of the 1973 book
VS3
The Princess Bride
William Goldman, 1973
movie vs book
Rob Reiner, 1987

The film is an enactment of a book read to a sick boy from Chicago, who is initially dismissive of the story, by his grandfather, with occasional interruptions of the scenes in this frame story. He leaves to seek his fortune so they can marry, but his ship is attacked by the Dread Pirate Roberts, who is infamous for never leaving survivors, and Westley is believed dead.


The Nightmare Before Christmas. Poster of the 1993 movie and cover of the book novelization
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Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
Daphne Skinner, 1994
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Henry Selick, 1993

Halloween Town is a fantasy world filled with various monsters and supernatural beings associated with the holiday. Awed by the unfamiliar holiday, Jack returns to Halloween Town to show the residents his findings, but they fail to grasp the idea of Christmas and compare everything to their ideas of Halloween, although they do relate to one Christmas Town character; its ruler, Santa Claus.


Fright Night. Poster of the 1985 movie and cover of the book novelization
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Fright Night
John Skipp, Craig Spector, 1985
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Tom Holland, 1985

Charley Brewster is a 17-year-old fan of both traditional horror films and a horror TV series entitled Fright Night, hosted by former movie vampire hunter Peter Vincent. One evening, Charley discovers that his new next-door neighbor Jerry Dandrige is a vampire responsible for the disappearances of several victims. Charley tells his mother and asks his friends for help. In desperation, he contacts the authorities.


A Tale of Two Cities. Poster of the 1980 movie and cover of the 1859 book
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A Tale of Two Cities
Charles Dickens, 1859
movie vs book
Jim Goddard, 1980

Dissolute barrister Sydney Carton becomes enchanted and then hopelessly in love with the beautiful Lucie Manette. But Lucie loves and marries Charles Darnay, and remains oblivious to Carton’s undimmed devotion to her. When Darnay is ensnared in the deadly web of the French Revolution and condemned to die by the guillotine, Sydney Carton concocts a dangerous plot to free the husband of the woman he loves.


Just Cause. Poster of the 1995 movie and cover of the 1992 book
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Just Cause
John Katzenbach, 1992
movie vs book
Arne Glimcher, 1995

Paul Armstrong, a liberal Harvard professor and former lawyer opposed to capital punishment, is persuaded by an elderly woman to go to Florida to investigate the conviction of her grandson Bobby Earl Ferguson for murder. Ferguson, a former Cornell University student, was convicted of raping and brutally murdering a young white girl named Joanie Shriver eight years prior.


The Day Christ Died. Poster of the 1980 movie and cover of the 1957 book
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The Day Christ Died
Jim Bishop, 1957
movie vs book
James Cellan Jones, 1980

This movie portrays the events leading up to the death of Jesus Christ, including his arrest on charges of blasphemy, his appearance before Pontius Pilate, and the decision by the people to release Barabbas instead of him. This results in Jesus being subjected to torture and eventually dying on the cross.


The Osterman Weekend. Poster of the 1983 movie and cover of the 1972 book
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The Osterman Weekend
Robert Ludlum, 1972
movie vs book
Sam Peckinpah, 1983

CIA director Maxwell Danforth watches a recording of agent Laurence Fassett and his wife having sex. When Fassett goes into the bathroom to have a shower, two KGB assassins enter the bedroom and kill his wife. The CIA had in fact sanctioned her killing. Fassett, unaware of his employer’s involvement, was consumed by grief and rage. He hunted the assassins, eventually uncovering a Soviet spy network known as Omega.


Whispers. Poster of the 1990 movie and cover of the 1980 book
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Whispers
Dean Koontz, 1980
movie vs book
Douglas Jackson, 1990

Writer Hilary Thomas is being pursued by psychopath Bruno Clavel, a man she once interviewed at his family’s Massachusetts orchard while researching for a book. She eventually kills him, only for the man to show up again, this time sane and without any knowledge of the attacks. The police don’t believe her, but one detective agrees to look into it.