A movie gains interest when we know it is based on true events. And when there is also a book behind it, that book becomes essential.

Schindler's List. The 1993 movie compared to the 1982 book
Steven Spielberg, 1993

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Schindler's List
Thomas Keneally, 1982
Goodfellas. The 1990 movie compared to the 1985 book, Wiseguy
Martin Scorsese, 1990

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Wiseguy
Nicholas Pileggi, 1985
Catch Me If You Can. The 2002 movie compared to the 1980 book, Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake
Steven Spielberg, 2002

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Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake
Frank W. Abagnale, Stan Redding, 1980
The Revenant. The 2015 movie compared to the 2002 book
Alejandro G. Iñárritu, 2015

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The Revenant
Michael Punke, 2002
City of God. The 2002 movie compared to the 1997 book
Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund, 2002

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City of God
Paulo Lins, 1997
12 Years a Slave. The 2013 movie compared to the 1853 book, Twelve Years a Slave
Steve McQueen, 2013

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Twelve Years a Slave
Solomon Northup, 1853
The King's Speech. The 2010 movie compared to the 2010 book
Tom Hooper, 2010

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The King's Speech
Mark Logue, 2010
Into the Wild. The 2007 movie compared to the 1996 book
Sean Penn, 2007

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Into the Wild
Jon Krakauer, 1996
Argo. The 2012 movie compared to the 1999 book, The Master of Disguise: My Secret Life in the CIA
Ben Affleck, 2012

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The Master of Disguise: My Secret Life in the CIA
Antonio J. Méndez, Malcolm McConnell, 1999
Zodiac. The 2007 movie compared to the 1986 book
David Fincher, 2007

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Zodiac
Robert Graysmith, 1986
The Pursuit of Happyness. The 2006 movie compared to the 2006 book
Gabriele Muccino, 2006

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The Pursuit of Happyness
Chris Gardner, 2006
Captain Phillips. The 2013 movie compared to the 2010 book, A Captain's Duty
Paul Greengrass, 2013

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A Captain's Duty
Richard Phillips, Stephan Talty, 2010
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“If I want to write a movie, I'll write a screenplay, but if I have an idea for a book, it's something that I think can only be done novelistically.”

BRET EASTON ELLIS (Writer)