Friday Night Lights. Poster of the 2006 TV series and cover of the 1988 book, Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream
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Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream
H.G. Bissinger, 1988
TV series vs book
Peter Berg, 2006-2011

In the small town of Dillon, Texas, one night matters: Friday Night. Eric Taylor has recently been hired as the head football coach for the Dillon High School Panthers, the town’s pride and joy. The series displays the stress that the town gives the high school players to win, and the hope that the team gives to a small town.


The Normal Heart. Poster of the 2014 movie and cover of the 1985 book
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The Normal Heart
Larry Kramer, 1985
movie vs book
Ryan Murphy, 2014

It is summer of 1981. Ned Weeks is an openly gay writer from New York City who travels to celebrate the birthday of his friend Craig Donner at a beach house. The story of the onset of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s, taking an unflinching look at the nation’s sexual politics as gay activists and their allies in the medical community fight to expose the truth about the burgeoning epidemic to a city and nation in denial.


Waco. Poster of the 2018 TV series and cover of the 2007 book, Stalling for Time
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Stalling for Time
Gary Noesner, 2007
TV series vs book
Drew Dowdle, John Erick Dowdle, 2018

Waco is a dramatized exploration of the 51-day 1993 standoff between the FBI, ATF and David Koresh’s religious faction, the Branch Davidians, in Waco, Texas, that culminated in a fatal fire. It investigates the tragedy before and during the standoff, from a variety of viewpoints of those most personally associated with the two sides of the dispute.


Waco. Poster of the 2018 TV series and cover of the 1999 book, A Place Called Waco: A Survivor's Story
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A Place Called Waco: A Survivor's Story
David Thibodeau, Leon Whiteson, 1999
TV series vs book
Drew Dowdle, John Erick Dowdle, 2018

Waco is a dramatized exploration of the 51-day 1993 standoff between the FBI, ATF and David Koresh’s religious faction, the Branch Davidians, in Waco, Texas, that culminated in a fatal fire. It investigates the tragedy before and during the standoff, from a variety of viewpoints of those most personally associated with the two sides of the dispute.


Only the Brave. Poster of the 2017 movie and cover of the 2002 book, 3000 Degrees
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3000 Degrees
Sean Flynn, 2002
movie vs book
Joseph Kosinski, 2017

Based on real events and the experiences of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, this film narrates the heroic journey of a group of community firefighters. Their story showcases their transformation into one of the nation’s most elite firefighting teams, achieved through hope, unwavering determination, and tremendous sacrifices.


Lone Survivor. Poster of the 2013 movie and cover of the 2006 book
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Lone Survivor
Marcus Luttrell, 2006
movie vs book
Peter Berg, 2013

In 2005, Afghanistan, Taliban leader Ahmad Shah is responsible for killing over twenty United States Marines, as well as villagers and refugees who were aiding American forces. As part of the mission, a four-man SEAL reconnaissance and surveillance team is given the task of locating Shah. The four SEALs include team leader Michael Murphy, Marksmen and medic Marcus Luttrell, Matthew Axelson and communications specialist Danny Dietz.


Painkiller. Poster of the 2023 TV series and cover of the 2021 book, Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
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Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
Patrick Radden Keefe, 2021
TV series vs book
Peter Berg, 2023-

This drama unravels the origins and aftermath of America’s opioid epidemic, delving into the lives of its culprits, victims, and a determined investigator in pursuit of the truth.


Painkiller. Poster of the 2023 TV series and cover of the 2003 book, Pain Killer
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Pain Killer
Barry Meier, 2003
TV series vs book
Peter Berg, 2023-

This drama unravels the origins and aftermath of America’s opioid epidemic, delving into the lives of its culprits, victims, and a determined investigator in pursuit of the truth.


The Bang Bang Club. Poster of the 2010 movie and cover of the 2000 book
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The Bang Bang Club
Greg Marinovich, João Silva, 2000
movie vs book
Steven Silver, 2010

The film tells the story of four young men and the extremes they went to in order to capture their pictures in the days prior to the downfall of apartheid in South Africa. Based on the true-life experiences of Greg Marinovich, Kevin Carter, Ken Oosterbroek and Joao Silva.


X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Poster of the 2009 movie and cover of the 1982 comic book, Wolverine
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Wolverine
Roy Thomas, Len Wein, John Romita Sr., 1982
movie vs comic book
Gavin Hood, 2009

In 1845, James Howlett, a boy living in Canada, witnesses his father being killed by groundskeeper Thomas Logan. Six years later, in 1979, Logan works as a logger in Canada, where he lives with his girlfriend Kayla Silverfox. Once the procedure is complete, Stryker orders that Logan’s memory be erased so he can be used as Stryker’s personal weapon, but Logan overhears and escapes to a nearby farm, where an elderly couple takes him in.


John Carter. Poster of the 2012 movie and cover of the 1912 book, A Princess of Mars
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A Princess of Mars
Edgar Rice Burroughs, 1912
movie vs book
Andrew Stanton, 2012

In 1881, Edgar Rice Burroughs attends the funeral of his uncle, John Carter, a former American Civil War Confederate Army captain who died suddenly. A Thern appears in the cave at that moment and, surprised by the two men, attacks them with a knife; Carter kills him but accidentally activates the Thern’s powerful medallion, and is unwittingly transported to a ruined and dying planet, Barsoom.


John Carter. Poster of the 2012 movie and cover of the book novelization
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John Carter
Stuart Moore, 2012
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Andrew Stanton, 2012

In 1881, Edgar Rice Burroughs attends the funeral of his uncle, John Carter, a former American Civil War Confederate Army captain who died suddenly. A Thern appears in the cave at that moment and, surprised by the two men, attacks them with a knife; Carter kills him but accidentally activates the Thern’s powerful medallion, and is unwittingly transported to a ruined and dying planet, Barsoom.