5 Movies Better Than Their Books

Yeah, you read that right. Believe it or not, there are movies that exist that actually execute a book's story better than the book itself (if it even follows the book). Now, keep in mind that I am not all-knowing and haven't read every book or seen every movie. This list are just the movies I've had this experience with. You may not even know some of these movies were based on books.

1. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

A lot of fangirls are going to hate me for this one, especially since it's the first on the list, but... the movie was better. Sure, the movie did kind of drop the whole "Katniss is preggers" facade, but at least the audience didn't have to deal with the book's writing/Katniss's narrative. The movie flows smoothly, whereas the book is chock-full of choppy sentences that makes it nerve-wracking to read (at least, that's how it was for me). Unlike with the book, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. However, I can't say the same for its sequel.

2. The Giver

Another debatable pick, but hear me out. Lois Lowry's book is nothing short of great, but the last thirty pages felt like a second half that was seriously compacted and left almost no closure (Like, did Jonas die or...?)*. In the movie, however, those thirty pages were expanded to just about thirty minutes of screen time, which is something you usually don't see. Sure, the beginning of the movie was a bit rushed compared to the book, some details weren't made as clear, but the filmmakers basically took the book and tweaked it to work as a movie. You almost don't even have to read it (but I still recommend doing so).

*This question is answered in a later book

3. Jurassic Park

First shocker on the list that I bet some of you didn't see coming. Yes, Jurassic Park is based on a book of the same name by Michael Crichton, a personal favorite in sci-fi thrillers. Why is the movie better? Is it accurate? It is accurate for the most part, but Steven Spielberg's direction of the story is much more enjoyable. Maybe it's because of the visually entertaining dinosaurs, the edge-of-your-seat thrills, or Jeff Goldblum. Nonetheless, Spielberg's adaption still stays true to the fictional science of the novel, the characters, and the message: Don't screw with mother nature.

4. The Prestige

It's common knowledge to film enthusiasts at this point that everything Christopher Nolan touches turns into cinematic gold (except for Interstellar, but I'm willing to let that slide). The Prestige is no exception. Where the book is dry and, at times, quite uninteresting, the film takes a complex turn on the story of two magicians trying to out-magic each other. Maybe it's because magic is more entertaining when you see it than reading about it, or maybe, you know, Christopher Nolan made the movie. Either way, if you read the book in hopes to find it as good as the film, you will be greatly disappointed.

5. How to Train Your Dragon (series)

I read the main end credits of movies. I'm weird like that. However, if I had not done it, I wouldn't have known that this spectacular film was actually based on a book series. Perhaps I would have been better off ("Ignorance is bliss" and all that). The book series it is based on (by Cressida Cowell) is nowhere near as good as the adaption. Also, I'm using the word "adaption" loosely. The only aspects that the movies take from the book are the dragons, the Viking-time era, and the character names. Everything else in the book (the potty humor, the poor dialogue, the poor pacing) is left in the dust, and perhaps it is for the better.

Have you guys come across an experience such as these? Do you think I'm wrong? Let me know in the comments!