24 TV Shows And Movies You Didn't Know Were Based On Books

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·3-min read

Most people know that movies like Little Women and P.S. I Love You are based on books...but did you know about all the TV shows and movies on this list?

1.The Parent Trap is actually based on the 1949 German book, Lisa and Lottie,` by Erich Kästner.

Lindsay Lohan sits with her arm around another Lindsay Lohan, both smiling and wearing matching white shirts and shorts, in a scene from
Lindsay Lohan sits with her arm around another Lindsay Lohan, both smiling and wearing matching white shirts and shorts, in a scene from
Hayley Mills as twins peeking from behind a tree in a scene from
Hayley Mills as twins peeking from behind a tree in a scene from
Cover of the book
Cover of the book

Courtesy Everett Collection, Ig Publishing / Via barnesandnoble.com

2.The Boss Baby is actually based on the 2010 picture book by Marla Frazee.

Poster for
Poster for
Book cover of
Book cover of

20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection, Beach Lane Books / Via barnesandnoble.com

3.Shrek is actually based on the 1990 picture book, Shrek!, by William Steig.

Shrek speaks to Donkey in a field of sunflowers. Shrek is wearing his typical outfit of a white tunic, brown vest, and brown belt
Shrek speaks to Donkey in a field of sunflowers. Shrek is wearing his typical outfit of a white tunic, brown vest, and brown belt
Book cover for
Book cover for

DreamWorks/Courtesy Everett Collection, Square Fish / Via barnesandnoble.com

4.You is actually based on the 2014 book written by Caroline Kepnes.

Penn Badgley, wearing a black cap and gray coat, stands outside in front of a building
Penn Badgley, wearing a black cap and gray coat, stands outside in front of a building
Cover of the book
Cover of the book

Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection, Atria/Emily Bestler Books / Via barnesandnoble.com

5.Mindhunter is actually based on the 1995 non-fiction book, Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit, by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker.

Holt McCallany and Jonathan Groff, dressed in suits, are seated at a table in an interrogation room. Jonathan holds a photograph shown to a subject
Holt McCallany and Jonathan Groff, dressed in suits, are seated at a table in an interrogation room. Jonathan holds a photograph shown to a subject
Book cover of
Book cover of

Patrick Harbron / Netflix / Everett Collection, Gallery Books / Via barnesandnoble.com

6.Die Hard is actually based 1979's Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp.

Bruce Willis in an action scene holding a gun and wearing a torn tank top in the movie
Bruce Willis in an action scene holding a gun and wearing a torn tank top in the movie
Book cover of
Book cover of

20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection, Graymalkin Media / Via barnesandnoble.com

7.Mrs. Doubtfire is actually inspired by the 1987 novel, Madame Doubtfire, written by Anne Fine.

Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire vacuuming a carpet in a domestic setting, wearing a blouse, apron, and a skirt
Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire vacuuming a carpet in a domestic setting, wearing a blouse, apron, and a skirt
Cover of
Cover of

20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection, Puffin Books / Via amazon.com

8.Fight Club is actually based on the 1996 novel by Chuck Palahniuk.

Brad Pitt in character as Tyler Durden, wearing a retro shirt and leather jacket, in a scene from the film
Brad Pitt in character as Tyler Durden, wearing a retro shirt and leather jacket, in a scene from the film
Book cover with the title
Book cover with the title

20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection, Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. / Via barnesandnoble.com

9.Freaky Friday is based on the 1972 novel written by Mary Rodgers.

Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan in a scene from
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan in a scene from
Jodie Foster, in a striped shirt, stands next to a translucent image of Barbara Harris in a scene from the movie
Jodie Foster, in a striped shirt, stands next to a translucent image of Barbara Harris in a scene from the movie
Cover of the book
Cover of the book

Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection, Courtesy Everett Collection, HarperCollins / Via barnesandnoble.com

10.Jurassic Park is actually based on the 1990 novel written by Michael Crichton.

Laura Dern and Sam Neill are dressed in casual adventure attire, looking concerned. The background suggests an outdoor setting
Laura Dern and Sam Neill are dressed in casual adventure attire, looking concerned. The background suggests an outdoor setting
Cover of Michael Crichton's book
Cover of Michael Crichton's book

MCA/Courtesy Everett Collection, Random House Publishing Group / Via barnesandnoble.com

11.Who Framed Roger Rabbit is actually based on the 1981 novel, Who Censored Roger Rabbit?, by Gary K. Wolf.

Bob Hoskins as Eddie Valiant is wearing a trench coat and hat, with the animated character Roger Rabbit sitting on his shoulder
Bob Hoskins as Eddie Valiant is wearing a trench coat and hat, with the animated character Roger Rabbit sitting on his shoulder
Cover of
Cover of

Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection, CreateSpace Publishing / Via barnesandnoble.com

12.Pitch Perfect is actually inspired by the 2008 non-fiction book, Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate a Cappella Glory, written by journalist Mickey Rapkin.

Anna Kendrick in the center with a group of women, including Rebel Wilson, Alexis Knapp, and Brittany Snow, in a scene from the movie
Anna Kendrick in the center with a group of women, including Rebel Wilson, Alexis Knapp, and Brittany Snow, in a scene from the movie
Book cover of
Book cover of

Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection, Penguin Publishing Group / Via barnesandnoble.com

13.Practical Magic is actually based on the 1995 novel written by Alice Hoffman.

Sandra Bullock in a white tank top and jeans stands next to Nicole Kidman in a green dress, seated on a kitchen counter, from the movie
Sandra Bullock in a white tank top and jeans stands next to Nicole Kidman in a green dress, seated on a kitchen counter, from the movie
Book cover of
Book cover of

Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection, Penguin Publishing Group / Via barnesandnoble.com

14.Dexter is actually based on the 2004 book, Darkly Dreaming Dexter, by Jeff Lindsay.

Michael C. Hall is leaning on a table in a room with scientific equipment and framed blood splatter artwork on the walls
Michael C. Hall is leaning on a table in a room with scientific equipment and framed blood splatter artwork on the walls
Book cover for
Book cover for

Showtime Networks Inc./Courtesy Everett Collection, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group / Via barnesandnoble.com

15.Bones is actually based on the Temperance Brennan series written by Kathy Reichs.

Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz as their characters from Bones, examining evidence with a man in a vest at the Magic Palace
Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz as their characters from Bones, examining evidence with a man in a vest at the Magic Palace
Cover of
Cover of

20th Century Fox / Everett Collection, Scribner / Via barnesandnoble.com

16.Howl's Moving Castle is actually inspired by the 1986 novel written by Diana Wynne Jones.

Sophie and Howl from
Sophie and Howl from
Cover of
Cover of

Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection, HarperCollins / Via barnesandnoble.com

17.Poor Things is actually based on the 1992 novel by Alasdair Gray.

Emma Stone, dressed in a Victorian-style outfit, holds a book titled
Emma Stone, dressed in a Victorian-style outfit, holds a book titled
Cover of the novel “Poor Things” by Alasdair Gray, featuring a woman wearing an elaborate dress, described as a “booby-trapped version of Frankenstein” by the New York Times
Cover of the novel “Poor Things” by Alasdair Gray, featuring a woman wearing an elaborate dress, described as a “booby-trapped version of Frankenstein” by the New York Times

Searchlight Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection, HarperCollins / Via barnesandnoble.com

18.Friday Night Lights is actually inspired by the 1990 non-fiction book, Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream, written by H.G. Bissinger.

Kyle Chandler as Coach Eric Taylor on a football field, wearing a headset and
Kyle Chandler as Coach Eric Taylor on a football field, wearing a headset and
Book cover for
Book cover for

NBC / Everett Collection, Hachette Books / Via barnesandnoble.com

19.The Wire is actually inspired by the 1991 non-fiction book, Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, written by David Simon.

a scene from
a scene from
Cover of
Cover of

HBO / Courtesy Everett Collection, Picador / Via barnesandnoble.com

20.Queen Sugar is actually based on the 2014 book written by Natalie Baszile.

(from left): Rutina Wesley, Dawn-Lyen Gardner
(from left): Rutina Wesley, Dawn-Lyen Gardner
Book cover of
Book cover of

OWN / Everett Collection, Penguin Publishing Group / Via barnesandnoble.com

21.How To Train Your Dragon is actually inspired by the 2003 book written by Cressida Cowell.

Hiccup and Toothless from
Hiccup and Toothless from
Cover of
Cover of

DreamWorks/Courtesy Everett Collection, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers / Via barnesandnoble.com

22.The Prestige is actually based on the 1995 novel by Christopher Priest.

A man, dressed in a period costume with a cravat and waistcoat, reads a book with a serious expression in a dimly lit setting
A man, dressed in a period costume with a cravat and waistcoat, reads a book with a serious expression in a dimly lit setting
Cover of
Cover of

Touchstone Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection, Tor Publishing Group / Via barnesandnoble.com

23.Goodfellas is actually inspired by the 1985 non-fiction book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi.

Movie poster for Goodfellas featuring Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Paul Sorvino, and Joe Pesci in formal attire
Movie poster for Goodfellas featuring Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Paul Sorvino, and Joe Pesci in formal attire
Cover of the book
Cover of the book

Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection, Simon & Schuster / Via barnesandnoble.com

24.Forrest Gump is actually based on the 1986 novel by Winston Groom.

Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump, dressed in a light suit and checkered shirt, seated on a bench with a suitcase and a box of chocolates on his lap
Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump, dressed in a light suit and checkered shirt, seated on a bench with a suitcase and a box of chocolates on his lap
Cover of the book
Cover of the book

Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group / Via barnesandnoble.com

Any other TV shows or movies you think should be on this list? Let us know in the comments!

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