From classics like Psycho to fantasy epics like The Lord of the Rings, some of the best stories hail from the pages of books. When done right, there’s something utterly satisfying about bringing these worlds to life on screens big and small alike. If history has taught us anything, it’s that audiences love a good book adaption.
Early hits like Mickey 17 and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy suggest 2025 is another big year for book adaptations. Here are 10 adaptations of best-selling books to watch in 2025 with confirmed release dates.
Long Bright River
Liz Moore’s fast-paced thriller sees two sisters on opposite ends of their opioid-riddled neighborhood: Mickey is a police officer while Kacey lives on the streets at the mercy of her addiction. However, when Kacey goes missing, Mickey gets pulled into a tangled web of mystery and murder. Moore herself is a writer and executive producer in the Long Bright River series, which sees Amanda Seyfried take center stage as Mickey alongside Ashleigh Cummings’ Kacey.
Long Bright River released March 13, 2025, on Peacock.
Ransom Canyon
Ransom Canyon chronicles the stories of three ranching dynasty families and their fight over land. Think Yellowstone meets romance. The Netflix series is based on Jodi Thomas’ best-selling Ransom Canyon book series that began in 2016. Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly take lead in the adaptation as Staten Kirkland and Quinn O’Grady, the star-crossed lovers at the center of the Western-romance.
Ransom Canyon releases April 17, 2025, on Netflix.
Forever
Mara Brock Akil details the love story of two Black teens (Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr.) as they navigate some of the awkward “firsts” of young love in Forever. Akil labels the series a reimagining of Judy Blume’s 1975 novel Forever, crediting Blume as shaping her own writing voice (Netflix). With its realistic insight into teenage sexuality, Blume’s once (sometimes still) controversial novel rightfully ranks as one of literature’s most influential books. In 2025, Akil seeks to capture Blume’s vision while telling the story through a Black lens in a modern Los Angeles setting.
Forever releases May 8, 2025, on Netflix.
Fear Street: Prom Queen
Netflix adds a fourth installment to its popular Fear Street series. Unlike its predecessors, Fear Street: Prom Queen is the first entry to directly adapt one of R.L. Stine’s books: The Prom Queen. The movie returns audiences to Shadyside in 1988. However, what kicks off with the expected prom queen competitiveness takes a deadly turn when the girls start disappearing one by one.
Fear Street: Prom Queen releases May 3, 2025, on Netflix.
Animal Farm
Despite being on required reading lists everywhere, George Orwell’s Animal Farm hasn’t seen a screen adaptation since 1999’s overlooked TV movie. Following a group of animals’ rebellion against their human caretaker, the allegory-heavy story isn’t what most consider “easily adaptable.” Still, Andy Serkis plans to do just that with his new animated comedy-drama, starring recognizable names like Kieran Culkin and Kathleen Turner. Animal Farm’s icon status makes it worth the watch alone, but seeing how and if Serkis plans to update the material adds another element of intrigue.
Animal Farm releases July 11, 2025, in theaters.
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Despite I Know What You Did Last Summer’s standing as a teen slasher staple, not everyone knows it’s based on a 1973 novel of the same name by Lois Duncan. After four friends hide their involvement in a horrible accident, a mystery figure appears a year later seeking revenge. Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, and Freddie Prinze Jr. helped make the story iconic in 1997. Now, Hewitt and Prinze make their returns in the I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot that is sure to delight horror fans.
I Know What You Did Last Summer releases July 18, 2025, in theaters.
The Bad Guys 2
Looking for a movie for the whole family? The Bad Guys 2 has you covered. The sequel to 2022’s The Bad Guys features the titular squad teaming up with a female crew of criminals for a final job. Like its predecessor, The Bad Guys 2 pulls from Aaron Blabey’s best-settling graphic novel series of the same name. While kids will find plenty of laughs in the movie, adults will, too. The Bad Guys franchise pokes fun at tropey heist and action movie cliches, with the Ocean’s series at the receiving end of many of these jokes.
The Bad Guys 2 releases August 1, 2025, in theaters.
The Running Man
Although Edgar Wright has paid homage to Stephen King plenty of times in his filmography, The Running Man marks his first official adaptation of the horror author’s work. Previously adapted in the Arnold Schwarzenegger-led film in 1982, the story (written under King’s pen name, Richard Bachman) centers on Ben Richards, a man intent on surviving one of reality TV’s deadliest games where professional killers hunt down contestants. A little bit Squid Game and a little bit The Most Dangerous Game, Wright’s take on The Running Man fits nicely into pop culture’s dystopian resurgence.
The Running Man releases November 7, 2025, in theaters.
Frankenstein
While there have been countless Frankenstein adaptations since Mary Shelley first published the novel in 1818, we haven’t got one from Guillermo del Toro yet. The long-awaited movie from the acclaimed director stars Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi as Victor Frankenstein and Frankenstein’s monster, respectively. Mia Goth and Christoph Waltz round out the main cast. Based on the inclusion of Dr. Pretorius, it seems like Del Toro’s Frankenstein will also delve into Bride of Frankenstein territory.
Frankenstein releases on Netflix in November 2025.
The Housemaid
Millie’s attempt at a fresh start begins and ends after taking a job as a live-in nanny for the Winchesters, an affluent family with a host of secrets. Fast-paced and twisty, The Housemaid is the right type of mystery-thriller to succeed on the big screen, with two sequels to pull from should it spawn a franchise. Honestly, Freida McFadden’s first book-to-screen adaptation comes long overdue. With a bibliography full of delicious popcorn thrillers, McFadden’s books are ready for more cinematic love.
The Housemaid releases December 25, 2025, in theaters.
Where to watch the best book adaptations of 2025
While some book adaptations like Fear Street: Prom Queen are coming directly to Netflix, others like The Running Man have a theatrical release before they drop on streaming. Here’s where you can watch 10 of 2025’s best book adaptations.
