The best movies based on children’s books, from “Little Women” to “The Wizard of Oz”

There’s always a bit of tension when it comes to filmmakers adapting books that people adore — especially for beloved children’s books that leave an indelible mark on readers at an early age. But some movies really do honor the feeling and message of their source material and show why the author’s words are so rich with cinematic potential.

Certain classics like Little Women have been adapted multiple times, with each generation of moviegoer getting their definitive version. Some movies have become treasured childhood favorites of their own, such as The Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins, arguably overshadowing the books on which they were based.

Here are our favorite children’s book-to-screen adaptations over the years.

The Secret Garden (1993)

Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland gave audiences a widely celebrated adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1911 book. Not the only director to interpret this classic for the screen, her vision maintains the original’s deliberate pace and dark themes, infusing it with a gorgeous gothic atmosphere and sprinkling it with crucial notes of joy and humor. Legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins expertly realizes The Secret Garden‘s mysterious core, while Maggie Smith is — as ever — a scene-stealing delight in the role of Mrs. Medlock. —David Canfield

Matilda (1996)

Roald Dahl’s classic has spawned a celebrated audiobook read by Kate Winslet, a Broadway musical, and several film iterations — the best-known and most beloved of which has to be Danny DeVito’s 1996 version. The warm, spiritually faithful adaptation wasn’t a huge hit when it premiered — its domestic gross couldn’t even match a $36 million budget — but it has endured as a significant part of one of the most popular children’s franchises out there. —D.C.

Little Women (1994)

Louisa May Alcott’s famed accounting of four sisters growing together from childhood to adulthood was transformed into awards bait in this 1994 adaptation. Directed by Gillian Armstrong, Little Women stars Winona Ryder in an Academy Award-nominated performance, and while maintaining the family-friendly nature of the source material — it’s rated PG — the film takes on the hue of Hollywood prestige, a lush cinematic treatment of mid-19th century America. —D.C.

Little Women (2019)

We tend to think that Greta Gerwig’s innovative, impassioned adaptation is the best cinematic take on Louisa May Alcott’s novel to ever hit the screen. Saoirse Ronan and Florence Pugh fiercely lead the charge as March sisters Jo and Amy, but this is a total collaboration, from lush cinematography to a rousing score from Alexandre Desplat. And Gerwig’s command is unmatched. —D.C.

Holes (2003)

Louis Sachar adapted his wildly popular mystery novel himself for Andrew Davis’ 2003 screen adaptation. The movie stars Shia LaBeouf, Patricia Arquette, and Sigourney Weaver, with Sachar maintaining the book’s penchant for surprise, suspense, and giddy momentum. Indeed, it’s a faithful reimagining all around, right down to the sharp humor and edginess that gives the original novel some punch. —D.C.

Coraline (2009)

Neil Gaiman reached out to director Henry Selick directly to make the film adaptation of his spooky children’s novel, thinking he would be a good fit given his previous directorial efforts, 1993’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and 1996’s James and the Giant Peach. The result is a gorgeous stop-motion rendering of the source material, which follows an 11-year-old girl named Coraline who moves with her family into a new house that contains a portal to an alternate universe. Compelled by this idyllic other world, the curious preteen soon discovers there may be a sinister secret behind it all. Coraline features terrific voice performances by Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher, and a tone that perfectly rides the line between creepy and spellbinding. —Kevin Jacobsen

The Harry Potter films (2001–2011)

Kids of the Harry Potter generation grew up with J.K. Rowling’s landmark novel series just as much they did with the enormously successful film franchise. Though the original eight movies were helmed by a collection of directors, featuring two different actors as Dumbledore, and varying mildly in quality from one movie to the next, the fact is that the Harry Potter films instantly emerged as essential companion pieces, rousing tales of wizardry that rightly launched Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson to stardom. Potter fandom remains alive and well more than a decade after the publication of Deathly Hallows, and the movies are no small reason why. —D.C.

A Little Princess (1995)

The film that put Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity) on Hollywood’s radar, A Little Princess marks another brilliantly executed take on the Frances Hodgson Burnett classic. The Mexican-born director employs magical realism to stunning effect in this story of a young girl resigned to a life of servitude in a New York boarding school. It’s a playful, charming family movie, unafraid of naturalism or aesthetic ambition, and an early indication of why Cuarón is one of the best filmmakers working today. —D.C.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Mel Stuart’s alternately haunting, awe-inspiring, and flat-out hilarious adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory helped to inspire a whole candy company. The timeless story was brought to surreal and colorful life in the 1971 movie, introducing generations of viewers to everything from chocolate rivers to Oompa-Loompas to Everlasting Gobstoppers. And the late Gene Wilder gave an iconic performance as the eponymous candyman — one that Johnny Depp could not live up to in Tim Burton’s misguided 2005 remake. —D.C.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023)

It took 53 years for Judy Blume’s foundational coming-of-age novel to be adapted to film, but writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig’s interpretation proves how universal and timeless Blume’s story really is. Set in 1970, the film follows the titular Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson), an 11-year-old navigating the anxieties of puberty on top of family struggles. The book has long been lauded for its direct discussion of menstruation and other facts of life not often found in children’s literature, and the film is a frank yet loving ode to Blume’s vision. Special shoutout to Rachel McAdams as Margaret’s mother, who delivers one of her warmest and most complex performances to date. —K.J.

The Railway Children (1970)

The directorial debut of actor Lionel Jeffries, The Railway Children was a genuine breakthrough in children’s book adaptations. Jeffries took on Edith Nesbit’s story of the Waterbury children back in 1970, translating it into a warm, sprawling, and deeply satisfying portrait of pre-WWI London. Now considered a U.K. classic, The Railway Children is currently ranked 66th on the British Film Institute’s Top 100 British Films. —D.C.

Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)

It didn’t take too long for Hollywood to acquire rights to Wilson Rawls’ 1961 children’s novel Where the Red Fern Grows. Directed by Norman Tokar and released in 1974, the film version is a nicely packaged, not especially surprising take on the book. James Whitmore and Beverly Garland are among the main cast, one reason the film works best now as a nostalgic viewing experience. —D.C.

The Iron Giant (1999)

Loosely based on the 1968 novel of the same name by Ted Hughes, this beloved animated film from writer-director Brad Bird is a highly emotional parable about a boy and the 50-foot robot (voiced by Vin Diesel) he discovers in the woods. It’s the 1950s during the Cold War, and after the boy finds that the robot is friendly, he does his best to protect him from being misused or destroyed by the government. The Iron Giant soars above other animated films released in the ’90s for its transporting nature and relative maturity. —K.J.

The Witches (1990)

There are several reasons to check out The Witches, Nicholas Roeg’s wild Roald Dahl adaptation, but there’s one in particular that trumps them all: Anjelica Huston. In one of her best performances, the actress goes gloriously over-the-top as the Grand High Witch, a work of high-camp that matches the film’s unusual tone perfectly. But while this ranks as a strong adaptation all-around, Dahl didn’t exactly see it that way: Per BBC News, he called this Witches “utterly appalling.” Though remade for Max in 2020, Anne Hathaway could not surpass Huston’s iconic take as the head of the titular terrors. —D.C.

Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

Indie stalwart Spike Jonze brought his original directorial voice to Maurice Sendak’s acclaimed book of the same name, and the results were quietly stunning. The evocative, intensely emotional film features exceptional contributions from all sides of the production process—from Carter Burwell’s lyrical score to co-screenwriter Dave Eggers’ personal touch to the delicate transformations of James Gandolfini, Lauren Ambrose, and others into “wild things.” New York Times critic A.O. Scott named it one of the top five films of the 2000s. —D.C.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

It isn’t every children’s book adaptation that ranks among the best American films ever made, and MGM’s ambitious take on L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is indeed one of the very few. The Judy Garland-starrer is a movie musical of multiple iconic songs and performances, and through its memorable characters and groundbreaking use of Technicolor, it has steadily emerged as one of the signature examples of American popular culture. —D.C.

The Jungle Book (1967; 2016)

Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book is the rare book to spawn multiple excellent adaptations. First, most notably, is the 1967 version animated by Disney, which introduced Mowgli, Baloo, and the rest of the jungle gang to the masses. But Jon Favreau directed an impressive, imaginative remake in 2016, making spiffy use of CGI in order to make the story’s anthropomorphic animals a little more lifelike. —D.C.

Classic Disney Fairy Tales

Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Snow White, The Little Mermaid — it’s hard to think of a more trailblazing group of children’s movies than what peak Disney has had to offer. These fairy tale films span decades — the first, Snow White, from the ’30s; the most recent, Beauty and the Beast, from the early-’90s — and yet, taken together, it’s a satisfying, compatible group that works perfectly as a marathon binge. Disney’s recent efforts to spin these tales into live-action epics have had mixed results, however, to say the least. —D.C.

The Princess Bride (1987)

Rob Reiner’s uproariously fun Princess Bride has only increased in stature over the years as a defining piece of ’80s pop culture, eminently quotable (“You killed my father,” etc.) and deliciously meme-able. It’s another example of an author adapting his own work, with William Goldman skillfully transforming his fantasy-romance into even more of a romp. The Princess Bride was not a significant box office success back when it premiered, but it still managed to shape plenty of childhoods. —D.C.

Mary Poppins (1964)

The beloved Disney adaptation was very loosely based on P.L. Travers’ series of books, though — as memorably documented in the 2013 movie Saving Mr. Banks — she was intimately involved with the making of the movie. Whatever tension and differences around in the lead-up, of course, the finished product was a thing of movie magic, with Julie Andrews bringing the umbrella-twirling nanny to heartwarming life. —D.C.

Anne of Green Gables (1934)

It’s no wonder, given how hugely popular L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables continues to be, that studios and networks have turned to the book as entertainment material again and again. The most notable, of the films, is George Nicholls Jr.’s 1934 version, a surprise hit which led actress Dawn O’Day to change her stage name to — wait for it — Anne Shirley. But there are others worth your time, including Netflix’s surprisingly dark — if equally engrossing — TV series which premiered in March 2017. —D.C.

Watership Down (1978)

One of the most dramatically impressive takes on a children’s favorite, Martin Rosen’s animated Watership Down, adapted from the Richard Adams novel, is arguably the only film on this list that’s very clearly targeted toward an adult audience. The gorgeous animation and drops of animal humor can’t quite shield the grim violence and horror put on-display throughout, and the independent financing makes way for that rare kind of animated movie that’s unhurried — even poetic — in its attempts to grab your attention. —D.C.

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Anyone who’s seen Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox should know that it’s as artistically definitive a treatment of a picture book as you’re going to find. Anderson’s screwball but meticulous aesthetic turns out to be a perfect fit with Roald Dahl, the idiosyncratic humor coming through in surprising ways and the narrative gaining some weirdly thrilling momentum. Plus, the voice cast is hard to beat: George Clooney and Meryl Streep are the ideal Fox couple, while Anderson movie regulars Bill Murray and Willem Dafoe make wonderful contributions in supporting roles. —D.C.

Peter Pan (1953)

J.M. Barrie’s The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up is, at this point, known to be a notoriously dark tale — at least relative to the original. While Barrie digs into Peter Pan’s psyche and behavior rather unsparingly, the Disney film the character spawned nearly 50 years later isn’t so cynical. Instead, the wondrous Peter Pan introduced Neverland, Tinkerbell, and more to the world — things so beloved they served as the inspiration for a theme park ride. —D.C.

The NeverEnding Story (1984)

Wolfgang Petersen’s poignant take on The NeverEnding Story might slightly lack the depth and sophistication of its source material — Michael Ende’s expansive fantasy novel — but the result is still enchanting escapism, with effects and tricks that hold up pretty well. Indeed, despite the film’s combined age and visual ambition, this is a crowd-pleasing family film that hasn’t lost its luster. —D.C.

Shrek (2001)

Shrek is such a wildly original, globally beloved work of pop culture as a movie that its origins as a (very good) fairy-tale picture book by cartoonist William Stieg are easily forgotten. The hugely successful movie certainly birthed a major franchise for DreamWorks, but it still stands out because of the little things — those ridiculously memorable music cues, the finely tuned voice performances of Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy, and of course, the eccentric supporting cast. —D.C.

Hugo (2011)

First published in 2007, Brian Selznick’s The Invention of Hugo Cabret is the most recent book on this list, and Martin Scorsese’s adaptation marks a thrilling change of pace for one of our greatest living directors. It’s an astonishingly smooth transition for Scorsese, maintaining his incomparable skills as a filmmaker while also replacing grit with glamor. The movie is full of visual decadence and thematic intrigue, and of enough interest to adults to net Best Picture and Director nominations at the Oscars while still projecting a sense of wonder. It’s also one of the most emotionally absorbing children’s movies of the 2010s. —D.C.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

Okay, so Chuck Jones’ animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ holiday classic was technically released on TV, and by clocking in at a hair under 30 minutes, it’s not exactly a feature-length movie, either. But the film has become such a staple of holiday viewing for children and adults alike, and is so smartly made both as a comedy and a fable, that it felt wrong not to include it. Plus, we weren’t about to go with that Jim Carrey version instead. —D.C.

Ernest & Celestine (2012)

Based on the Belgian book series of the same name by Gabrielle Vincent, Ernest & Celestine is quite distinct compared to the studio-backed, American films on this list. It’s a gentle, thoughtful, profound, and elegant work of animation that boasts an offbeat sense of humor — lots of animal dentistry commentary here — and a sweetness that never dips into saccharine. In its exploration of friendship and tolerance, however, The Oscar-nominated film boasts the same universality and accessibility as the better-known adaptations out there. —D.C.

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

Animation legend Hayao Miyazaki adapted Diana Wynne Jones’ 1986 novel of the same name to tell a potent anti-war story. The film begins with a young hatmaker named Sophie as she encounters a witch who transforms her into a 90-year-old woman. Sophie sets out to find a way of lifting the curse and goes to the wizard Howl’s castle. But she soon finds herself involved in Howl’s pacifist efforts amid the ongoing war and develops a unique relationship with the mercurial young wizard. Like many Miyazaki films, Howl’s Moving Castle can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike for its strikingly beautiful imagery, memorable characters (Calcifer!), and powerful themes. —K.J.

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