TV Shows based on book adaptations have sparked a thrilling trend in recent years. Surpassing the allure of film versions, audiences are now eagerly anticipating rich and detailed visual experiences. They yearn for characters and plotlines to be meticulously explored through episodes and seasons, leaving a lasting and compelling impact.
Description: Pictured: Charithra Chandran (Sabina Pleasance).Photo byImage Credit: Sophie Mutevelian.
It's not just about star-studded casts and high production values. The real magic lies in the original author's involvement, which brings unparalleled authenticity and depth to the adaptations. This is why hit TV shows like Game of Thrones and House of Dragons have developed a cult-like fan following, as they stay true to the spirit of the original books.
Let's take a look at some successful TV shows based on best-selling books.
1. Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
This fantasy series became viewers' favorite with its twisting plots and characters, set in the fictional Essos and Westeros continents. This series is adapted from the Game of Thrones book by George R. R. Martin from his A Song of Ice and Fire series. Being declared the greatest TV show of all time by Spin Genie, it explores themes of survival, power, and betrayal with a vast cast, political intrigue, and mythical creatures, making it a phenomenon in current culture. This can be clearly proved through its peaking 9.2 IMDb rating.
2. Bridgerton (2020- )
The hit Netflix series is based on the book series of the same name by Julia Quinn. Each book, written between 2000 and 2006, describes the lives of one of the eight siblings of the Bridgerton family as they look for happiness and love across the elite society in England’s Regency era. Making Netflix history by hitting 82 million viewers, as mentioned by Forbes, the audience is given a treat of the social season where marriageable nobles were introduced into society.
3. House of The Dragon (2022- )
Exploring the theme of an internal succession war within the House of Targaryen at the peak of its power, the series expands on the Game of Thrones universe being set 200 years before. It is from the historical novel Fire & Bood by the same author, George R. R. Martin, and has won major awards at the Golden Globes, Emmys, and more. According to Statista, the first episode of the series garnered a viewership of 10 million, just in the U.S. alone, closely competing with the success of Games of Thrones.
4. 3 Body Problem (2024- )
A series shrouded with intense controversies, not just in its storyline but also in its adaptation into a series. The 3 Body Problem is a science fiction series based on the first novel of a trilogy of novels called The Remembrance of Earth’s Past by author Liu Cixin. The story shows a fictional past, present, and future where Earth successfully communicates with an alien civilization from a nearby system of three stars, the size of the sun, orbiting each other, portraying the orbital mechanic’s 3 body problem.
The book had been popular worldwide for years, and people had been anticipating a TV show adaptation. So much so that, as mentioned by The Independent, there were huge rights acquisition quarrels, loss of millions of funds, and even threats and murder over its journey to become a TV series.
5. Reacher (2022- )
Former military policeman Jack Reacher solves crimes and paves the way for his own type of street justice. This action-packed drama is based on the book series, which includes short stories, novels, and novellas by Jim Grant, who writes under the pen name Lee Child. According to Screenrant, the audience received the books so widely that several production houses tried to create various film and series versions with big names cast as the leads, such as Tom Cruise.
6. Sherlock (2010-2017)
Sherlock is a British mystery crime drama series based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective stories. The show stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes, garnering a wide audience and becoming a household name. It is named the UK’s third most popular drama series in the 21st Century and has won many awards for its writing and acting.
Sherlock solves various mysteries in modern-day London by using his abilities and with the help of his flatmate and friend Dr John Watson, who returned from military service in Afghanistan, played by Martin Freeman. It is a must-watch because it is a riveting and compelling series that keeps you amused and at the edge of your seat!
7. You (2018-2024)
One of the most popular series of recent times that has everyone hooked and waiting for more is the American psychological thriller You. This is about a bookstore manager and serial killer falling in love with women in various parts of life, with extreme obsession. Based on the thriller novel series You by Caroline Kepnes, it is described by Du Clarion as a chilling take on love, technology, and control.
8. The Handmaid's Tale (2017- )
The Handmaid's Tale is an American dystopian television series based on the novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood. The story is set in a version of the United States of America, overthrown by religious fundamentalists, causing problems, with the major being that women no longer have civil autonomy or rights. It keeps viewers captivated by touching on important topics such as the repercussions of extreme patriarchy and body autonomy, which still stay relevant in today’s day and age.
9. Tokyo Vice (2022- )
A Western journalist working for a publication in Tokyo takes on the Yakuza, the city’s most powerful crime bosses, under the city’s official line that ‘murder doesn’t take place in Tokyo.’ Sounds captivating, doesn’t it? Well, this American crime drama television series is based on the 2009 memoir published by Jake Adelstein of the same name.
Exploring the Asian underground crime world and the series, for the most part, being based on a true story, this one is not to be missed.
10. The Last Kingdom (2015-2022)
A treat for history buffs, The Last Kingdom is a British historical drama series set in the years 866-878, when the entrance of the Great Heathen Army led by Guthrum and Ubba Ragnarsson in England redefines the relationship between the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings.
The series is based on Bernard Cornwell's novels of the Saxon Stories. Screenrant claims that it is one of Netflix’s most surpassing shows. The series' popularity resulted from the novels' already existing popularity before the show was produced.
11. True Blood (2008-2014)
This series is based on Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire Mysteries novels. With a total of seven seasons, viewers fascinated by the world of vampires will have a binge-watching ride with this one.
The story starts in Louisiana, where vampires have made their presence known to humans. Sookie Stackhouse, the telepathic waitress, is followed throughout the series as she attempts to solve serial murders motivated by vampire hatred.
Winning several awards, such as a Golden Globe and an Emmy, True Blood was a pioneer in its time. Medium dubbed it the best vampire show ever made.
12. Expanse (2015-2022)
The Expanse is an American sci-fi television series based on a novel series of the same name by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, who also served as producers and writers for the show. This pretty much guaranteed its success from the start.
The series shows political tensions between the Earth, Mars, and the Belt. The disappearance of a rich girl turned political activist links the lines of an accidental ship captain, a U.N. politician, and Detective Ceres, unraveling the greatest conspiracy in that world. Being dubbed as addictive, epic, and whip-smart by reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, the plot honors world subjects and battles with wealth, class, and societal prejudices in a plot we’re unfamiliar with but can somehow relate to.
13. Pretty Little Liars (2010-2017)
An American mystery teen drama with a vast and stellar cast, Pretty Little Liars has been no short of a cultural trophy for American TV. Based on the young adult novel series of the same name by Sara Shepard, it follows four former best friends uniting a year later after the disappearance of the clique's leader as they begin to receive threats through messages by a mysterious person named ‘A.’ A is aware of their lies and mistakes, and a hunt is launched where more past mysteries are uncovered.
You can hate the girls but relate to them simultaneously, and as Paste Magazine says, it is absolutely irresistible.
14. The Wheel of Time (2021- )
Set in a fantasy world where magic prevails but with limited access to some, a woman named Moiraine crosses five young men and women, sparking a world-spanning and dangerous journey to identify the person who might be the reincarnation of the Dragon with power and prophesying to either destroy the world or save it.
This Amazon Prime Video fantasy series is based on a book series of the same name written by Robert Jordan. Business Insider mentions that these series also inspired Games of Thrones’ George R. R. Martin for his own books.
15. The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022- )
Showing the magic of that one summer, this American coming-of-age romantic drama series shows a love triangle between a girl and two brothers. Perfectly portraying the story of first love, first heartbreak, and all in between and later, this show has captivated the younger audience by a storm ever since its release.
This, too, has been adapted from Jenny Han's already popular novel trilogy of the same name. The AV Club dubs it a delight to watch and also has great depth.
16. Hannibal (2013-2015)
An American psychological thriller that will send you on a whirlwind, this show explores a series of family murders in which Will, a criminal profiler and hunter of criminals, determines the culprits to be each of the families' missing children.
It is based on Red Dragon, a psychological horror novel by Thomas Harris published in 1981. The Guardian proclaimed it to be the greatest show on TV at the time, with all the ingredients of a beautiful yet messed-up series showing the horrors of human beings' dark side of reality.
17. The Leftovers (2014-2017)
Covering the long-presiding hot topic of global extinction, The Leftovers is set in a time when 2% of the global human population has disappeared mysteriously. A small group of people in New York try to continue living their lives while coping with the tragedy of the unexplained situation.
This captivating American supernatural mystery drama TV series is based on Tom Perrota’s novel of the same name. The Guardian dubbed this a perfectly grim yet utterly compelling post-apocalypse drama.
18. The Lincoln Lawyer (2022- )
The Lincoln Lawyer is an American legal drama TV series based on the novel The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly. The main protagonist, Nickey Haller, is a lawyer practicing out of Lincoln in Los Angeles. When a Beverly Hills playboy is arrested for assaulting a woman he picked up in a bar, he chooses Haller to defend him. This is his highest-paying client in years, so he accepts. But little does he know about the chaos that is just setting the stage and about to turn.
Forbes directly says it’s worth your time to watch and praises the Netflix show for executing the book in good detail.
19. Big Little Lies (2017-2019)
Another highly successful series on the list with a stellar cast that includes big names such as Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, and more is Big Little Lies. It is an American black comedy drama TV series based on the novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty.
It is a gripping tale about the lives of three women whose perfect lives begin to fall apart, revealing the lies and dark secrets underneath. The theme of family and betrayal is also explored in this, and Times Magazine calls it a vision of female solidarity amidst everything else.
20. Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023- )
Perhaps the best-known book before the film and series adaptation in this list is Percy Jackson’s story. Percy Jackson and The Olympians visually represent the Rick Riordan book series franchise.
A story about a troubled young boy finding out his father is a Greek God and, thus, him being a demigod, it has all the elements of Percy, the main protagonist, undergoing dangerous quests and realizing who he truly is, his power, and responsibilities. Safe to say, it is as addicting as the book series.
21. The Man in the High Castle (2015-2019)
Ever wondered what the world would be like if the Axis powers, Fascist Italy, Imperial Japan, and Nazi Germany had won World War 2? Well, this series imagines a world where that is a reality.
The Man in the High Castle is an American Dystopian alternate history TV series based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Philip K. Dick, expanding it a bit to cater to the time periods after it was published. Amazon Prime has dubbed it its most challenging yet to accurately depict the answers to your what-ifs.
22. 13 Reasons Why (2017-2020)
This series was the talk of the town while being aired and for the right reasons as well. The show portrays the story of Hannah Baker, a teenager in high school who died by suicide. All her reasons are told in a set of tapes mailed to people who she thought influenced her decision. And the rest of the chaos unfolds.
This is based on Jay Asher's book of the same name, written in the rawest and simplest way possible while also inciting great curiosity from its readers and later viewers. Forbes even recommended binge-watching it due to the great suspense in the series, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats.
23. The Night Manager (2016-2025)
The Night Manager is a British spy thriller TV series based on the 1993 novel by John le Carre of the same name. Jonathan Pine is an ex-soldier and currently the night manager of a luxury hotel in Egypt. The British intelligence agency recruits him to infiltrate an arms' inner circle. The Atlantic calls it a dazzling six-part spy story that shines not only because of the story but also because of its stellar cast and production.
24. Alex Rider (2020-2024)
With another British spy series on the list, Alex Rider is a British teenager recruited by MI6 for his extraordinary martial arts, sharpshooting, and scuba diving skills. The series presents his adventures and missions around the world to save the world.
This is based on the book of the same name, also written by Anthony Horowitz. Mostly the catcher of the amusement of the youth, it is a fun watch and a great series to invest time in.
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