drawing of two bookworms facing each other, one holds a book, one a movie and popcorn

Did you watch it or read it?

Published on by notthatrebecca

Last year was a big one for book-to-movie adaptations and 2025 is shaping up the same. Setting aside the argument about which one was better, we just want to know which you did last year. Did you watch the movie or read the book? Many times, nothing in the movie or its credits clues you in that they adapted the story from a book. If you liked some of these movies, you might want to check out the book and vice-versa.

Here, we present, in no particular order, our not-exhaustive list of last year’s books to movies. If you missed one, check out the other and let us know which was better. Each movie is linked on the image; find links to the book(s) in the text.

KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

Yes, all of these movies about Apes taking over initially come from the imagination of one author and book, Planet of the Apes, by Pierre Boulle. The DVD of the latest chapter in the Apes vs. Man saga is on shelves now.		giant ape with crown standing behind a smaller, armed ape, a young woman, and a bird of prey, titled, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
THE BIKERIDERS

The Bikeriders movie takes its content from a book by photojournalist Danny Lyon, published in 1968. This book, also called The Bikeriders, is available as an ebook and audiobook at the library. Written by Harper Blackwood, it draws from Danny Lyon’s initial work, diving deep into the lives of the Chicago Outlaws Motorcycle Club’s riders.		A motorcycle gang drives down the road. Pictured in the background are two men and one woman, dressed in motorcycle leathers.
THE WATCHERS

If horror and scary stories are your thing, you’ll want to watch and read The Watchers. It’s a spine-chilling horror adventure set in the remote and sinister forests of Ireland. You can’t see them. But they can see you. The watchers emerge to observe their captive humans and terrible things happen to anyone who doesn’t reach the bunker in time.
The book is available on Hoopla and from the digital library as both an ebook and audiobook. The DVD is on shelves to check out.		skeletal black moth in front of a blond woman's face. Title below is The Watchers.
HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON

In the classic children’s book, Harold is a child who discovers that anything and everything he draws with his purple crayon comes to life. In the movie, Harold is a grown-up who finds that the magic possibilities of his imagination present the opportunity for creatively dangerous high jinks.		A man dressed all in blue leads a group of young people down a sidewalk, with fantastic imaginative drawings in purple surrounding them.
THE WILD ROBOT

A robot called Roz finds herself without humans or purpose on an isolated island. With no clue what to do, she taps into her survival instincts to adapt to her surroundings, finds shelter and escapes predators. The Wild Robot was the pick for our Book Scouts family book club before the movie release.
You can find both the book and movie in our catalog.		A friendly robot holding a tiny duck in its hand, lifting it up to see it closely.
CONCLAVE

Behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, one hundred and eighteen cardinals from all over the globe will gather to cast their votes in the world’s most secretive election. They are holy men. But they are not immune to the human temptations of power and glory.
Find the book by Robert Harris and the movie on DVD.		three cardinals and one nun stand in a group, looking outward, the title Conclave above them.
DUNE: PROPHECY

Dune: Prophecy, is based on both Frank Herbert’s Dune, and Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Although it’s the second movie released in the Dune stories, Prophecy is a prequel story.		Futuristic close up of a woman in high necked dress looking into the distance. Behind her, a man with beard and long hair looks at her.
WICKED

Before it hit Broadway and became a movie, it was a book. If you didn’t know, now you do. If you’re a huge fan, there’s a Wicked Years series of books by Gregory Maguire to read.		Witch dressed in black holds hands with a witch dressed in pink. Both stand in front of a giant keyhole showing a city beyond.
SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE

It is 1985 in a small Irish town. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man, faces into his busiest season. Early one morning, while delivering an order to the local convent, Bill makes a discovery which forces him to confront both his past and the complicit silences of a town controlled by the church.

The book, written by Irish writer Claire Keegan, is excellent and more like a novella. The movie had a limited release in theaters, so you may have missed it.		man with a dark coat and stocking cap with a pensive expression
THE RETURN

This movie version of The Odyssey released late in 2024.
After 20 years, Odysseus finally returns to Ithaca, where he finds his wife held prisoner by suitors vying to be king and his son facing death at their hands. To win back his family and all he has lost, Odysseus must rediscover his strength.		close up of man with scars and long unkempt hair and beard standing in front of a concerned looking woman

Did you catch any of these books to movies last year? If you’ve watched and read them, we want to know: which did you think was better, the movie or the book?