Usually, when a book sells a lot of copies and scores a spot on one of the many best seller lists, it ends up being made into a movie soon after. Sometimes this is regrettable, as there are a lot of great books that just are not meant for a movie format. But there are many other wonderful books that truly could become wonderful films. The following three books would make for amazing movies: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, Three Weeks With My Brother by Nicholas Sparks, and Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman saw amazing success, quickly rising to the top of the best seller lists and snagging the Newbery Award, no less! Unfortunately Neil Gaiman was less successful in his attempt to make The Graveyard Book into a smash Hollywood hit. Although Neil Gaiman sold the film rights for The Graveyard Book in 2007, it never actually became a movie. Still, there is hope for The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. The book’s continuing popularity may convince filmmakers to give it a shot.
Three Weeks With My Brother by Nicholas Sparks
Six of the fifteen bestselling novels by Nicholas Sparks have been turned into equally successful movies, and it is only a matter of time before the other Nicholas Sparks books follow suit. Three Weeks With My Brother by Nicholas Sparks has the most potential to become a movie hit. Following the travels of a pair of brother through Easter Island, Cambodia, Peru and many other landmark locations, Three Weeks With My Brother by Nicholas Sparks is a touching novel that could easily be turned into a movie every bit as heartwarming as The Notebook.
Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkien
This book was published posthumously by Tolkien’s son. It is set in Middle Earth, years and years before the existence of the Baggins hobbits we know and love. Admittedly, Children of Hurin is not a masterpiece like the Lord of the Rings Trilogy or The Hobbit, but this is only because Tolkien’s son made few changes to the manuscripts he pieced together after his father’s death. But given a good screenwriter, director and cast, Children of Hurin could see the same level of movie success as The Lord of the Rings trilogy did.
There are dozens of well-written books that could make stellar movies, but it is my belief that The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, Three Weeks With My Brother by Nicholas Sparks, Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkien have the most potential to become smash film hits.