Top 20 movies based on books of a year defined by the pandemic and a near-total absence of significant theatrical releases.


Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey. Poster of the 2020 movie and cover of the 2019 comic book, Harley Quinn & the Birds of Prey
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Harley Quinn & the Birds of Prey
Kelley Puckett, Paul Dini, Chuck Dixon, 2019
movie vs comic book
Cathy Yan, 2020

Four years after the defeat of the Enchantress, the Joker breaks up with Harley Quinn, throwing her out on the Gotham City streets. She is taken in by Doc, the owner of a Taiwanese restaurant, and recovers from her relationship by cutting her hair, adopting a spotted hyena (whom she names after Bruce Wayne), and taking up roller derby.


The Invisible Man. Poster of the 2020 movie and cover of the 1897 book
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The Invisible Man
H.G. Wells, 1897
movie vs book
Leigh Whannell, 2020

Cecilia Kass is trapped in a violent , controlling relationship with wealthy optics engineer and businessman Adrian Griffin. The doctor says high levels of diazepam were found in her system. After finding Adrian’s old phone and dumping paint on the figure, a violent struggle ensues before she escapes.


Extraction. Poster of the 2020 movie and cover of the 2014 comic book, Ciudad
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Ciudad
Ande Parks, Joe Russo, Anthony Russo, Fernando León González, Eric Skillman, 2014
movie vs comic book
Sam Hargrave, 2020

After a day at school, Ovi Mahajan –son of an incarcerated Indian drug lord– sneaks out of his house to visit a club, where he is kidnapped by police officers working for rival drug lord Amir Asif. Rake rescues Ovi, kills his captors, and takes him to the extraction point, but his father’s men intentionally fail to transfer the funds.


Enola Holmes. Poster of the 2020 movie and cover of the 2006 book, The Enola Holmes Mysteries: The Case of the Missing Marquess
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The Enola Holmes Mysteries: The Case of the Missing Marquess
Nancy Springer, 2006
movie vs book
Harry Bradbeer, 2020

Enola Holmes is the youngest sibling in the famous Holmes family. Her mother, Eudoria, has taught her everything from chess to jujitsu and encouraged her to be a strong-willed and independent thinking young woman. On the train, she finds the young Viscount Tewkesbury hidden in a travel bag. They travel to London, where they part ways.


The Devil All the Time. Poster of the 2020 movie and cover of the 2011 book
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The Devil All the Time
Donald Ray Pollock, 2011
movie vs book
Antonio Campos, 2020

During World War II, while serving in the Solomon Islands, Marine Willard Russell finds the barely alive Gunnery Sergeant Miller Jones skinned and crucified by Japanese soldiers. After the war, on his way home to Coal Creek, West Virginia, Willard passes through Meade, Ohio, where he meets Charlotte, a waitress at a diner.


Greyhound. Poster of the 2020 movie and cover of the 1955 book, The Good Shepherd
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The Good Shepherd
C.S. Forester, 1955
movie vs book
Aaron Schneider, 2020

The hero of The Good Shepherd is Commander Krause, the captain of the fictional US Navy Mahan-class destroyer USS Keeling in World War II. He finds himself in a difficult position. The captains of the other vessels in the escort group are junior to him in rank, and much younger, but they have been at war for over two years.


The Midnight Sky. Poster of the 2020 movie and cover of the 2016 book, Good Morning, Midnight
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Good Morning, Midnight
Lily Brooks-Dalton, 2016
movie vs book
George Clooney, 2020

Scientist Augustine Lofthouse has devoted his life work to finding habitable planets where humanity can expand. Lofthouse refuses to join the other evacuees of his Arctic base, knowing he hasn’t got long to live due to an unidentified serious illness requiring hemodialysis.


I'm Thinking of Ending Things. Poster of the 2020 movie and cover of the 2016 book
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I'm Thinking of Ending Things
Iain Reid, 2016
movie vs book
Charlie Kaufman, 2020

A young woman contemplates ending her seven-week relationship with her boyfriend, Jake, while taking a trip to meet his parents at their farm. After a heated argument in the parking lot about the lyrics of Baby, It’s Cold Outside, Jake notices the janitor watching them from inside the school and decides to confront him, leaving the young woman alone in the car.


Hamilton. Poster of the 2020 movie and cover of the 2004 book, Alexander Hamilton
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Alexander Hamilton
Ron Chernow, 2004
movie vs book
Thomas Kail, 2020

Divided in two acts, the musical depicts the life and career of Alexander Hamilton, an orphaned immigrant from the Caribbean island of Nevis. The first act covers Hamilton’s arrival in New York City in 1776, his work in the Continental Army as an aide-de-camp to General George Washington during the American Revolution, and his courtship and marriage to Eliza Schuyler.


The Call of the Wild. Poster of the 2020 movie and cover of the 1903 book
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The Call of the Wild
Jack London, 1903
movie vs book
Chris Sanders, 2020

During the late 19th century, Buck, a large, gentle St. Bernard/Scotch Collie, lives contentedly with his master, Judge Miller, in Santa Clara, California. After arriving, Buck returns a dropped harmonica to a man named John Thornton, moments before being sold to Perrault and his assistant Francoise for their dog sled to deliver mail across the Yukon.


News of the World. Poster of the 2020 movie and cover of the 2016 book
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News of the World
Paulette Jiles, 2016
movie vs book
Paul Greengrass, 2020

Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd is a former member of the Confederate Infantry who now makes a living traveling town to town reading newspapers for the populace for ten cents per person. This is further compounded at the next stop, when Kidd is confronted by three ex-Confederate soldiers turned criminals who express an interest in purchasing the girl from Kidd.


Emma.. Poster of the 2020 movie and cover of the 1815 book, Emma
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Emma
Jane Austen, 1815
movie vs book
Autumn de Wilde, 2020

In Regency-era England, wealthy Emma Woodhouse searches for a new companion after her governess, Miss Taylor, marries and becomes Mrs. Weston. Harriet’s parents are unknown but her education has been provided for. Emma believes that Mr. Elton, the local vicar, is in love with Harriet and encourages Harriet to transfer her hopes to him, despite Mr. Knightley’s warning that she should not involve herself in the situation.

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“Making the book into a television show makes it feel so much more real and so much more like a real rock documentary.”

TAYLOR JENKINS REID (Writer)