Filmography › Dick Van Dyke

All the book-based movies and TV shows featuring Dick Van Dyke, ranked

Dick Van Dyke appears in several titles adapted from the pages of books and comic books to the screen, such as Mary Poppins or Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Here, we offer a ranked list, from best to worst, of 6 movies and TV series based on existing source material where Dick Van Dyke appears. Revisit old favorites or discover hidden gems, whether books or film productions. We invite you to watch, read, and vote for any title, joining the debate of whether the book or the movie is better.
Mary Poppins. Poster of the 1964 movie and cover of the 1934 book
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Mary Poppins
P.L. Travers, 1934
movie vs book
Mary Poppins
Robert Stevenson, 1964

In Edwardian London, 1910, George Banks returns home at Cherry Tree Lane to learn from his wife, Winifred, that Katie Nanna has left their service after their children, Jane and Michael, have run away, for the fourth time this week. The children ask their father to help them build a better kite, but he dismisses them.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Poster of the 1968 movie and cover of the 1964 book, Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang: The Magical Car
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Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang: The Magical Car
Ian Fleming, 1964
movie vs book
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Ken Hughes, 1968

The story opens with a montage of European Grand Prix races in which one particular car appears to win every race it runs in from 1907 until its final race in 1909, when the car crashes and catches fire, ending its racing career. While truant from school, they meet Truly Scrumptious, a beautiful, wealthy woman with her own motor car, who brings them home to report their truancy to their father.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Poster of the 1968 movie and cover of the book novelization
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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
John Frederick Burke, 1968
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Ken Hughes, 1968

The story opens with a montage of European Grand Prix races in which one particular car appears to win every race it runs in from 1907 until its final race in 1909, when the car crashes and catches fire, ending its racing career. While truant from school, they meet Truly Scrumptious, a beautiful, wealthy woman with her own motor car, who brings them home to report their truancy to their father.

Night at the Museum. Poster of the 2006 movie and cover of the 1993 book, The Night at the Museum
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The Night at the Museum
Milan Trenc, 1993
movie vs book
Night at the Museum
Shawn Levy, 2006

Larry Daley’s unstable work history causes his ex-wife to believe that he is a bad example to their ten-year-old son Nick, and Larry fears that Nick respects his future stepfather more. Cecil Fredricks, an elderly security guard about to retire from the American Museum of Natural History, hires Larry despite his unpromising résumé.

Night at the Museum. Poster of the 2006 movie and cover of the book novelization
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Night at the Museum: A Junior Novelization
Leslie Goldman, 2006
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Night at the Museum
Shawn Levy, 2006

Larry Daley’s unstable work history causes his ex-wife to believe that he is a bad example to their ten-year-old son Nick, and Larry fears that Nick respects his future stepfather more. Cecil Fredricks, an elderly security guard about to retire from the American Museum of Natural History, hires Larry despite his unpromising résumé.

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. Poster of the 2014 movie and cover of the 1993 book, The Night at the Museum
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The Night at the Museum
Milan Trenc, 1993
movie vs book
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
Shawn Levy, 2014

The Natural History Museum in New York’s exhibits begin acting strangely, and Larry Daley, who is now in charge of night operations, must determine the reason why. The Tablet, which at night magically brings Teddy Roosevelt, Jedediah, and the other exhibits to life, has begun to deteriorate, he discovers. To find out how to stop the magic of the Tablet from vanishing, Larry must journey to London’s British Museum with his son and other museum pals.