Read the Book, Watch the Movie
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll's whimsical tale of a girl's journey through a fantastical world has inspired numerous film adaptations. The 1951 Disney animated version brought the colourful characters to life, while the 1972 musical and Tim Burton's 2010 reimagining offered fresh takes on Alice's surreal adventures.
Book: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Streaming: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972) directed by William Sterling
DVD: Alice in Wonderland (1951) directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske
DVD: Alice in Wonderland (2010) directed by Tim Burton
Lord of the Flies
William Golding's Lord of the Flies explores the descent into savagery of a group of British schoolboys stranded on a deserted island. The 1963 film adaptation, directed by Peter Brook, faithfully captures the novel's raw intensity and psychological depth, bringing Golding's allegorical tale to the screen with stark realism.
Book: Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Streaming: Lord of the Flies (1963) directed by Peter Brook
DVD: Lord of the Flies (1963) directed by Peter Brook
The Jungle Book
Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book has inspired multiple film adaptations, each offering a unique interpretation of Mowgli's adventures. The 1942 live-action version brought a sense of realism to the jungle setting, while Disney's 1967 animated musical infused the story with catchy songs and colourful characters. The 2016 CGI/live-action hybrid blended cutting-edge technology with a return to Kipling's darker themes.
Book: The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
Streaming: The Jungle Book (1942) directed by Zoltan Corda
DVD: The Jungle Book (1967) directed by Wolfgang Reitherman
DVD: The Jungle Book (2016) directed by Jon Favreau
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird was adapted into an equally acclaimed film in 1962. Gregory Peck's portrayal of Atticus Finch became an iconic representation of moral courage, bringing Lee's powerful story of racial injustice in the American South to a wider audience.
Book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Streaming: To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) directed by Robert Mulligan
DVD: To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) directed by Robert Mulligan
Animal Farm
George Orwell's allegorical novella Animal Farm received its first major film adaptation in 1954. This animated version, while softening some of Orwell's harsher critiques, still managed to convey the book's satirical take on the corrupting nature of power and the dangers of totalitarianism.
Book: Animal Farm by George Orwell
Streaming: Animal Farm (1954) directed by John Halas & Joy Batchelor
Dracula
Bram Stoker's 1897 gothic horror novel has inspired countless film adaptations. The unauthorised 1922 German film Nosferatu closely followed Stoker's plot while changing names and details. The 1979 Dracula starring Frank Langella took a more romantic approach to the vampire count, blending horror with sensuality.
Book: Dracula by Bram Stoker
Streaming: Nosferatu (1922) directed by F.W. Murnau
DVD: Dracula (1979) directed by John Badham