The Godfather. Poster of the 1972 movie and cover of the 1969 book
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The Godfather
Mario Puzo, 1969
movie vs book
Francis Ford Coppola, 1972

The offspring of the head of New York’s most influential Mafia dynasty returns from war with a resolve to forge his own path, only to find himself drawn into a conflict between his father’s entrenched traditions and the encroaching rivals endangering the family’s enterprise.


The Godfather: Part II. Poster of the 1974 movie and cover of the 1969 book, The Sicilian
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The Sicilian
Mario Puzo, 1969
movie vs book
Francis Ford Coppola, 1974

In 1950, Michael Corleone, the son of American Mafia Don Vito Corleone, is preparing to return home to America after his exile in Sicily. Don Croce and Michael’s father have allied to help the famous bandit Salvatore ‘Turi’ Guiliano escape Sicily and go with Michael to America.


Lonesome Dove. Poster of the 1989 TV series and cover of the 1985 book
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Lonesome Dove
Larry McMurtry, 1985
TV series vs book
Simon Wincer, 1989

Two ex-Texas Rangers revive their sense of adventure by embarking on a cattle drive to the Montana Territory, accompanied by fellow residents from a small Texas town.


Apocalypse Now. Poster of the 1979 movie and cover of the 1899 book, Heart of Darkness
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Heart of Darkness
Joseph Conrad, 1899
movie vs book
Francis Ford Coppola, 1979

During the Vietnam War, U.S. Army 5th Special Forces soldier Colonel Walter E. Kurtz has apparently gone insane and is waging a brutal guerrilla war against terrified NVA and PLAF forces without permission, directions or resupply from his commanders. Captain Benjamin L. Willard is summoned to I Field Force headquarters in Nha Trang, briefed on the situation by two Army commanders and a CIA officer, and ordered to terminate Kurtz’s command… with extreme prejudice.


12 Mighty Orphans. Poster of the 2021 movie and cover of the 2007 book, Twelve Mighty Orphans
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Twelve Mighty Orphans
Jim Dent, 2007
movie vs book
Ty Roberts, 2021

Haunted by his mysterious past, a devoted high school football coach leads a scrawny team of orphans to the state championship during the Great Depression and inspires a broken nation along the way.


Thank You for Smoking. Poster of the 2005 movie and cover of the 1994 book
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Thank You for Smoking
Christopher Buckley, 1994
movie vs book
Jason Reitman, 2005

Nick Naylor is a handsome, smooth-talking tobacco spokesman who attempts to influence the act of people in daily life and the vice-president of a tobacco lobby called the Academy of Tobacco Studies, which has been researching whether smoking tobacco causes lung diseases or not.


The Natural. Poster of the 1984 movie and cover of the 1952 book
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The Natural
Bernard Malamud, 1952
movie vs book
Barry Levinson, 1984

An unknown middle-aged batter named Roy Hobbs with a mysterious past appears out of nowhere to take a losing 1930s baseball team to the top of the league in this magical sports fantasy. Hobbs lives the fame he should have had earlier when, as a rising pitcher, he is inexplicably shot by a young woman.


True Grit. Poster of the 1969 movie and cover of the 1968 book
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True Grit
Charles Portis, 1968
movie vs book
Henry Hathaway, 1969

In 1880, Frank Ross, of Yell County, Arkansas, is murdered and robbed by his hired hand, Tom Chaney. Mattie has heard that Cogburn has ‘true grit’. She gives Cogburn a payment to track and capture Chaney, who has taken up with outlaw ‘Lucky’ Ned Pepper in Indian Territory. A young Texas Ranger, La Boeuf, is also pursuing Chaney and joins forces with Cogburn, despite Mattie’s protest.


M.A.S.H. Poster of the 1970 movie and cover of the 1968 book, MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors
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MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors
Richard Hooker, 1968
movie vs book
Robert Altman, 1970

In 1951, the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in South Korea is assigned two new surgeons, Hawkeye Pierce and Duke Forrest, who arrive in a stolen Army Jeep. The three doctors have little respect for military protocol, having been drafted into the Army, and are prone to pranks, womanizing, and heavy drinking.


Open Range. Poster of the 2003 movie and cover of the 1990 book
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Open Range
Lauran Paine, 1990
movie vs book
Kevin Costner, 2003

In Montana in 1882, Boss Spearman is an open range cattleman, who, with hired hands Charley, Mose, and Button, is driving a herd cross country. The town is controlled by a ruthless Irish immigrant land baron, Denton Baxter, who hates open-rangers. Mose is badly beaten and jailed by the marshal, Poole. The only friendly inhabitant is Percy, a livery stable owner.


Bullitt. Poster of the 1968 movie and cover of the 1963 book, Mute Witness
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Mute Witness
Robert L. Pike (Robert L. Fish), 1963
movie vs book
Peter Yates, 1968

Senator Walter Chalmers is aiming to take down mob boss Pete Ross with the help of testimony from the criminal’s hothead brother Johnny, who is in protective custody in San Francisco under the watch of police lieutenant Frank Bullitt. When a pair of mob hitmen enter the scene, Bullitt follows their trail through a maze of complications and double-crosses.


The Road. Poster of the 2009 movie and cover of the 2006 book
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The Road
Cormac McCarthy, 2006
movie vs book
John Hillcoat, 2009

A man and his young son struggle to survive after a global cataclysm has caused an extinction event. They scavenge for supplies and avoid roaming gangs as they travel on a road to the coast in the hope that it will be warmer. Years earlier, the man’s wife gives birth to their son shortly after the catastrophe and she gradually loses hope. Removing her coat and hat, she walks into the woods, never to be seen again.