Das Boot. Poster of the 1985 TV series and cover of the 1973 book
VS3
Das Boot
Lothar-Günther Buchheim, 1973
TV series vs book
Wolfgang Petersen, 1985-1987

Lt. Werner is a war correspondent on the German submarine U-96 in October 1941. He is driven by its captain and chief engineer to a raucous French bordello where he meets some of the crew. Thomsen, another captain, gives a crude drunken speech to celebrate his Ritterkreuz award, in which he mocks Adolf Hitler.


Das Boot. Poster of the 1981 movie and cover of the 1973 book
VS3
Das Boot
Lothar-Günther Buchheim, 1973
movie vs book
Wolfgang Petersen, 1981

Werner is a war correspondent on the German submarine U-96 in October 1941. As time passes, he observes ideological differences between the new crew members and the hardened veterans, particularly the captain, who is embittered and cynical about the war.


The NeverEnding Story. Poster of the 1984 movie and cover of the 1979 book, The Neverending Story
VS3
The Neverending Story
Michael Ende, 1979
movie vs book
Wolfgang Petersen, 1984

10-year-old Bastian Bux is a shy and outcast bibliophile who lives in the fictional city of De Forest, Washington. The Childlike Empress who rules Fantasia has fallen ill, and the young warrior Atreyu is tasked to discover a cure, believing that once the Empress is well, the Nothing will no longer be a threat.


Troy. Poster of the 2004 movie and cover of the -750 book, The Iliad
VS3
The Iliad
Homer, -750
movie vs book
Wolfgang Petersen, 2004

A battle between the Greek armies of King Agamemnon of Mycenae and King Triopas of Thessaly is quickly averted when the great warrior Achilles, fighting for Agamemnon, defeats Boagrius, Triopas’ champion, in single combat after Achilles was initially absent from the battle. Upon learning of this, Menelaus meets with Agamemnon, his elder brother, and asks him to help take Troy.


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.


Enemy Mine. Poster of the 1985 movie and cover of the book novelization
VS3
Enemy Mine
Barry B. Longyear, David Gerrold, 1985
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Wolfgang Petersen, 1985

In the late 21st century, an interstellar war between humans (associated as the Bilateral Terran Alliance, or BTA) and Dracs is fought. During one such battle, Davidge and Drac pilot Jeriba Shigan engage in a dogfight which results in them both crash-landing on Fyrine IV.


Outbreak. Poster of the 1995 movie and cover of the 1994 book, The Hot Zone
VS3
The Hot Zone
Richard Preston, 1994
movie vs book
Wolfgang Petersen, 1995

In 1967, during the Kisangani Mutinies, a virus called Motaba, which causes a deadly fever, is discovered in the African jungle. Twenty-eight years later, Colonel Sam Daniels, a USAMRIID virologist, is sent to investigate an outbreak in Zaire. He and his crew—Lieutenant Colonel Casey Schuler and new recruit Major Salt—gather information and return to the United States.


Outbreak. Poster of the 1995 movie and cover of the book novelization
VS3
Outbreak
Robert Tine, 1995
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Wolfgang Petersen, 1995

In 1967, during the Kisangani Mutinies, a virus called Motaba, which causes a deadly fever, is discovered in the African jungle. Twenty-eight years later, Colonel Sam Daniels, a USAMRIID virologist, is sent to investigate an outbreak in Zaire. He and his crew—Lieutenant Colonel Casey Schuler and new recruit Major Salt—gather information and return to the United States.


Air Force One. Poster of the 1997 movie and cover of the book novelization
VS3
Air Force One
Max Allan Collins, 1997
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Wolfgang Petersen, 1997

A combined Russian-American special forces operation captures General Ivan Radek, the dictator of Kazakhstan. After takeoff, Secret Service agent Gibbs, who is secretly a mole and Radek agent, enables Korshunov and his accomplices to obtain weapons and storm the plane, killing many of the other agents and military personnel before taking the civilians hostage.


The Perfect Storm. Poster of the 2000 movie and cover of the 1997 book
VS3
The Perfect Storm
Sebastian Junger, 1997
movie vs book
Wolfgang Petersen, 2000

In October 1991, the commercial fishing boat Andrea Gail returns to port in Gloucester, Massachusetts, with a poor catch. Desperate to redeem himself, Captain Tyne convinces the Andrea Gail crew to join him for one more late-season fishing expedition. The crew heads out past their usual fishing grounds on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, leaving a developing tropical storm behind them.


Poseidon. Poster of the 2006 movie and cover of the 1969 book, The Poseidon Adventure
VS3
The Poseidon Adventure
Paul Gallico, 1969
movie vs book
Wolfgang Petersen, 2006

The RMS Poseidon, a luxury ocean liner, is making a transatlantic crossing. In the ballroom, a badly injured Captain Bradford attempts to restore order and assures the surviving passengers that help is on the way, and tries to persuade them to stay put.