The Killing Fields. Poster of the 1984 movie and cover of the 1985 book, The Death and Life of Dith Pran
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The Death and Life of Dith Pran
Sydney Schanberg, 1985
movie vs book
Roland Joffé, 1984

In the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, during May 1973, the Cambodian national army wages a civil war with the communist Khmer Rouge group, a result of the Vietnam War spilling over Cambodia’s borders. Knowing that Pran will be imprisoned or killed, Rockoff and fellow photographer Jon Swain of The Sunday Times try to forge a British passport for Pran, but the deception fails when the image of Pran on the passport photo fades to nothing, as they lack adequate photographic developer.


The Killing Fields. Poster of the 1984 movie and cover of the book novelization
VS3
The Killing Fields
Christopher Hudson, 1984
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Roland Joffé, 1984

In the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, during May 1973, the Cambodian national army wages a civil war with the communist Khmer Rouge group, a result of the Vietnam War spilling over Cambodia’s borders. Knowing that Pran will be imprisoned or killed, Rockoff and fellow photographer Jon Swain of The Sunday Times try to forge a British passport for Pran, but the deception fails when the image of Pran on the passport photo fades to nothing, as they lack adequate photographic developer.


Empire of the Sun. Poster of the 1987 movie and cover of the 1984 book
VS3
Empire of the Sun
J.G. Ballard, 1984
movie vs book
Steven Spielberg, 1987

Amid Japan’s invasion of China during World War II, Jamie Graham, a British upper middle class schoolboy, enjoys a privileged life in the Shanghai International Settlement. Jamie sees his house lit and thinks his family has returned, only to discover it is occupied by Japanese troops.


Dangerous Liaisons. Poster of the 1988 movie and cover of the 1782 book
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Dangerous Liaisons
Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, 1782
movie vs book
Stephen Frears, 1988

In pre-Revolution Paris, the Marquise de Merteuil plots revenge against her ex-lover, the Comte de Bastide, who recently ended their relationship. Valmont declines, as he is plotting a seduction of his own: Madame de Tourvel, the wife of a member of Parliament away in Burgundy, who is currently a houseguest of Valmont’s aunt, Madame de Rosemonde.


Of Mice and Men. Poster of the 1992 movie and cover of the 1937 book
VS3
Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck, 1937
movie vs book
Gary Sinise, 1992

During the Great Depression, the quick-witted George Milton looks after his physically strong yet mentally disabled companion Lennie Small. George, aware that Curley’s wife will bring trouble upon the men due to her sexual allure and persistent flirting, strictly instructs Lennie to keep away and not to look at her.


Secretariat. Poster of the 2010 movie and cover of the 1988 book, Secretariat: The Making of a Champion
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Secretariat: The Making of a Champion
William Nack, 1988
movie vs book
Randall Wallace, 2010

Housewife and mother Penny Chenery agrees to take over her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery – with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin – manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years.


In the Line of Fire. Poster of the 1993 movie and cover of the book novelization
VS3
In the Line of Fire
Max Allan Collins, 1993
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Wolfgang Petersen, 1993

Veteran Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan is a man haunted by his failure to save President Kennedy while serving protection detail in Dallas. Thirty years later, a man calling himself “Booth” threatens the life of the current President, forcing Horrigan to come back to protection detail to confront the ghosts from his past.


Alive. Poster of the 1993 movie and cover of the 1974 book
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Alive
Piers Paul Read, 1974
movie vs book
Frank Marshall, 1993

Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 flies over the Andes on October 13, 1972. The raucous rugby players and a few of their relatives and friends are eagerly looking forward to an upcoming match in Chile. Upon emerging from clouds, the plane encounters turbulence and collides with a mountain. Stranded in the snow swept Andes, the survivors are forced to use desperate measures to survive after a plane crash.


Warm Bodies. Poster of the 2013 movie and cover of the 2010 book
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Warm Bodies
Isaac Marion, 2010
movie vs book
Jonathan Levine, 2013

About eight years after a zombie apocalypse, R, a zombie, spends his days wandering around an airport which is now filled with his fellow undead, including his best friend M. R and M achieve rudimentary communication with grunts and moans and occasional near-words.


Penguins of Madagascar. Poster of the 2014 movie and cover of the book novelization
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Penguins of Madagascar
Tracey West, 2014
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Eric Darnell, Simon J. Smith, 2014

Prior to the events of the first film, Skipper, Rico, and Kowalski are chicks in a penguin colony in Antarctica. After the events of the third film, Skipper, Rico, and Kowalski celebrate Private’s birthday by breaking into Fort Knox, to get Cheesy Dibbles from a vending machine, though what Private really wants is to no longer be considered a mascot but a member of the team.


The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Poster of the 2005 movie and cover of the 1979 book
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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams, 1979
movie vs book
Garth Jennings, 2005

Arthur Dent discovers that his house is to be immediately demolished to make way for a bypass. He tries delaying the bulldozers by lying down in front of them. Ford Prefect, a friend of Arthur’s, convinces him to go to a pub with him. Over several pints of beer, Ford explains that he is an alien from the vicinity of Betelgeuse, and a journalist working on the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, a universal guide book.


Bird Box. Poster of the 2018 movie and cover of the 2014 book
VS3
Bird Box
Josh Malerman, 2014
movie vs book
Susanne Bier, 2018

In a post-apocalyptic world, Malorie Hayes advises two young, unnamed children that they will be going downstream on a river in a rowboat. From this point, the film alternates between two stages of Malorie’s story, separated by five years, until they conjoin: An injured Malorie then watches Jessica walk into the path of an oncoming truck, killing herself.