Updated July 29
It is always a pleasure to watch screen adaptations of our favourite books, as live-action movies and TV shows can give them a new dimension or new takes. So here is the 2026 release calendar of new movies and shows based on classic books. Keep in mind that this article is updated regularly to add or change information if needed.
ALREADY RELEASED
Wuthering Heights
A movie based on Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë.
Premiered in the US and UK on February 13. Directed by Emerald Fennell, with Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.
Watch in cinemas/theaters
This movie has sparked a lot of interest and generated heated debates. It is very divisive because it is a loose adaptation of the book. Most people who have read it say they didn’t recognise their favourite story in the teasers, trailers, or the movie. They are right. It is not an adaptation, but a modern personal take from a particular director. It focuses on the first part of the story and only on the relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff.
If you have read it first, you may be disappointed by the movie, even angry, if you are unable to separate the book from this new vision. If you watch the movie first, without any knowledge of what’s in the book, you may enjoy it if this personal vision appeals to you. It is very symbolic in its visuals (decor, colours, fleshy walls) and very sexual. You may like it for its aesthetics and music. Don’t try to go deeper.
Maybe the best way to appreciate this movie is to see it as a phantasmagoria, a fantasy from the point of view of a particular woman who shows us the visions and images triggered by her own reading. The way the text and her own mind intersect to create something new and unique. Something that may differ from someone else. Don’t go and watch it as THE “Wuthering Heights”, but as A “Wuthering Heights”.
“He took a sit opposite Catherine, who kept her gaze fixed on him as if she feared he would vanish were she to remove it. He did not raise his to her often: a quick glance now and then sufficed; but it flashed back, each time more confidently, the undisguised delight he drank from hers. They were too much absorbed in their mutual joy to suffer embarrassment.”
Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights Chap 10 (1847)
IMDb 6.1
Rotten Tomatoes 78
Metascore 55
Hamnet
A movie inspired by the life of William Shakespeare, but from the point of view of his wife Anne. It is centred around the time of their only son’s death and how this event fueled Shakespeare’s creativity.
Directed by Chloé Zhao, with Paul Mescal, Jessie Buckley, and Emily Watson
Watch in cinemas/theaters, then on Netflix.
IMDb 7.8
Rotten Tomatoes 93
Metascore 84
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials
A mini TV series in 3 parts, based on The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie, featuring Superintendent Battle.
Directed by Chris Sweeney, with Martin Freeman and Helena Bonham Carter.
Watch on Netflix
It starts in a playful atmosphere during a house party, but a prank leads to murder, suspense and secret societies. The novel bends genres: a humorous cosy mystery with a thriller-like suspense and a dash of spy tension. It is not your typical Agatha Christie. Unfortunately, this adaptation is a flat take that tries to constrain the story into a single tone. But you may like it if you prefer straightforward plots, if modern tropes such as women’s rage inspire you, and if you like a bit of trauma and grieving characters.
“Bundle sat frowning. Seven Dials. Where was that? Some rather slummy district of London, she fancied. The words Seven Dials reminded her of something else, but for the moment she couldn’t think of what… But it was that very night that Gerry Wade had taken such a heavy dose of chloral that he never woke again. Bundle shook her head. She looked round the room and gave a slight shiver… The dead man lying on the bed, and seven clocks ticking on the mantelpiece—ticking loudly, ominously … ticking … ticking…”
Agatha Christie, The Seven Dials Mystery Chap 4 (1929)
IMDb 6.2
Rotten Tomatoes 51
Metascore 58
Dracula Eternal
A horror movie based on Dracula by Bram Stoker. It is a modern rendition of the book set in our modern world.
Released on January 16 in the US. Directed by Alan Smith
IMDb 6.8
The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin
A TV series based on The Arthurian Legend.
Premiered in the US on January 22. With Tom Sharp and Rose Reid.
Watch on Daily Wire +
IMDb 6.1
Rotten Tomatoes 84
Dracula: A Love Tale
A movie based on Dracula by Bram Stoker, but it seems to be more a remake of Coppola’s movie than an adaptation of the book.
Directed by Luc Besson, with Christoph Waltz, Caleb Landry Jones, and Matilda de Angelis.
Watch in cinemas/theaters
IMDb 6.2
Rotten Tomatoes 81
Metascore 44
Young Sherlock
A TV series based on The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle. It is a prequel to the classic detective.
Watch on Prime. Directed by Guy Ritchie, with Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Sherlock.
News: It has been renewed for a new season.
There are very few mentions of Sherlock’s younger years in Arthur Conan Doyle’s original version, so anything can be justified. This series is a mystery spanning 8 episodes, and it is a coherent, plausible and entertaining story.
The cinematography is great with academia and Victorian aesthetics. There are not only deductions and intellectual resolutions but also a good amount of action-packed sequences. The soundtrack is often more modern or with Celtic vibes, which balances the ‘uptight’ Englishness of this period.
IMDb 7.6
Rotten Tomatoes 83
Metascore 66
Othello
A movie based on Othello by William Shakespeare. It seems to be a new take set in our modern world.
Watch in cinemas/theaters. Directed by Tom Morris, with Toby Jones, Caitlin Fitzgerald and David Harewood.
IMDb 7.3
Othello
A filmed stage performance released as a movie, based on Othello by William Shakespeare, but it is set in modern times.
Watch in cinemas/theaters. Directed by Tom Morris, with David Harewood and Toby Jones.
IMDb 7.2
The Bride
A black comedy movie based on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. It’s a modern take set in 1930s Chicago.
Watch in cinemas/theaters. Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, with Jake Gyllenhaal and Christian Bale.
IMDb 6.0
Rotten Tomatoes 73
Metascore 56
Henry David Thoreau
A 3-episode mini-series based on Henry David Thoreau‘s life.
Watch on PBS. Directed by Christopher and Erik Ewers, with George Clooney and Jeff Goldblum
IMDb 8.0
The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes
A YouTube series based on The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle. The first episode was released on March 26. No known date for the second episode for now.
Pinocchio and the Water of Life
An animated movie based on Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi.
Already premiered during the Salerno International Film Festival. Directed by Viktor Lakisov.
IMDb 7.7
Hamlet
A movie based on Hamlet by William Shakespeare. It is set in modern-day London, in a world of business and Asian dysfunctional families.
Watch in cinemas/theaters. Directed by Aneil Karia, with Riz Ahmed.
IMDb 6.3
Metascore 61
Animal Farm
An animated movie based on Animal Farm by George Orwell.
It is a 2025 movie, but the global release was postponed.
Watch in cinemas/theaters. Directed by Andy Serkis, with the voices of Kieran Culkin, Andy Serkis and Kathleen Turner
IMDb 2.8
Rotten Tomatoes 53
Metascore 29
The Other Bennet Sister
A TV series based on Janice Hadlow’s novel, inspired by Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. It is centred on Mary Bennet, one of the Bennet sisters. It is not an adaptation of the book but rather a spin-off series. Season 1 is ongoing and will last for 10 episodes.
Watch on Prime Video, Britbox and BBC One. With Ella Bruccoleri, Indira Varma and Dónal Finn.
News: A Christmas special with 3 new episodes will be aired on BBC TV in December.
IMDb 8.3
Rotten Tomatoes 90
Metascore 80
The House of the Spirits
An 8-episode series based on The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende.
Created by Franscisca Alegria and Fernanda Urrejola. Original version is in Spanish.
Watch on Prime Video.
The Raven
A horror movie based on the poem The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe.
Directed by Gregori J. Martin, with Kristos Andrews and Victoria Baldesarra.
IMDb 5.5
The Stranger
A movie based on The Stranger by Albert Camus.
Already premiered in France and released at festivals in the US and UK. To be released in cinemas throughout 2026. Directed by François Ozon, with Benjamin Voisin, Rebecca Marder and Pierre Lottin.
IMDb 7.1
Rotten Tomatoes 86
Metascore 82
Aladdin
A horror movie based on The Arabian Nights. Directed by Brett Bentman.
IMDb 2.9
Aladdin’s Revenge
A horror movie based on The Arabian Nights. Directed by Brett Bentman.
IMDb 3.6
Lord of the Flies
A mini TV series, in 4 parts, based on Lord of the Flies by William Golding.
Watch on Netflix. Created by Jack Thorne, with Winston Sawyers, Lox Pratt and David McKenna.
IMDb 6.6
Rotten Tomatoes 56
Metascore 83
Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day
A movie based on the novel Night and Day by Virginia Woolf.
Watch in cinemas/theaters in the UK, Ireland and Germany. No known date for the US. Directed by Tina Gharavi, with Haley Bennet, Elyas M’Barek and Lily Allen.
IMDb 6.1
Rotten Tomatoes 81 (reviews)
In the Hand of Dante
A movie based on a book by Nick Tosches, inspired by Dante Alighieri and his narrative poem Divine Comedy. It’s a historical crime story with a dual timeline, one in today’s New York and the other in the 14th century.
Watch on Netflix. Directed by Julian Schnabel, with Al Pacino, Gerard Butler and John Malkovich.
IMDb 4.9
Tomatometer 43
Metascore 32
Les Liaisons Dangereuses
A filmed stage performance released as a movie, based on Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Choderlos de Laclos.
Watch in cinemas/theaters in the UK and Ireland. Directed by Marianne Elliott, with Aidan Turner, Monica Barbaro and Lesley Manville.
IMDb 8.2
Little House on the Prairie
A TV series based on the Little House on the Prairie series of books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Watch on Netflix. Premiered at the Bentonville Film Festival. Created by Rebecca Sonnenshine, with Alice Halsey, Luke Bracey and Crosby Fitzgerald.
News: It has been renewed for a new season.
IMDb 7.2
Rotten Tomatoes 68
Metascore 67
The Odyssey
A movie based on The Odyssey by Homer.
Watch in cinemas/theaters. Directed by Christopher Nolan, with Matt Damon, Lupita Nyong’o, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson.
IMDb 8.5
Rotten Tomatoes 97
Metascore 89
Pinocchio: Unstrung
A horror movie based on Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi.
Watch in cinemas/theaters. Directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield, with Richard Brake and Robert Englund.
IMDb 6.2
Rotten Tomatoes 75
TO BE RELEASED
Sense and Sensibility
A movie based on Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.
To premiere in Australia on September 10, to be released in the UK on September 25, and in the US on October 16. Directed by Georgia Oakley, with Daisy Edgar-Jones, Caitríona Balfe and Fiona Shaw.
East of Eden
A mini TV series based on East of Eden by John Steinbeck. With Florence Pugh, Martha Plimpton and Ciarán Hinds. To be released on Netflix in Autumn/Fall 2026.
The Abomination of Frankenstein
A horror movie based on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
To premiere in the US in April. Postponed to October. Directed by Eric Yoder, with Jacqueline Barone and Kate Lanza.
Aladdin: The Monkey’s Paw
A horror movie based on The Arabian Nights.
To premiere on October 31 in the US (Los Angeles). Directed by Charley McDougall and Nick Sagar.
The Cat in the Hat
An animated movie based on The Cat in the Hat by Dr Seuss.
To premiere in the US on November 6, in cinemas/theaters. Directed by Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja.
Black Cat
An anthology movie based on Edgar Allan Poe‘s short stories.
To premiere in the US on March 13. Postponed to November 13. Directed by Andrew D. Pringle, with Gary Henderson and Kyle Dal Santo.
Ebenezer
A movie based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
To be released on November 13 in the UK and the US. Directed by Ti West, with Johnny Depp as Scrooge and Rupert Grint.
The Divine Comedy: Inferno, Purgatory and Paradise
A TV series based on Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri.
To premiere in the US on November 24.
Dante’s Inferni – A Descent into the Underworld
A movie based on Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri.
To premiere in the US on November 24. Directed by Boris Acosta, with Eric Roberts.
Dune – part 3
A movie based on the Dune series by Frank Herbert.
To premiere in Canada and be released in the US on December 18, in cinemas/theaters. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, with Rebecca Ferguson, Timothée Chalamet and Anya Taylor-Joy.
Elsinore
A biographical movie based on an actor playing Hamlet by William Shakespeare.
To be released on 24 December 2026 (limited), then on unknown dates in 2027. Directed by Simon Stone, with Olivia Colman and Andrew Scott.
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew
A movie based on The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis.
To premiere in the US on November 26, in limited cinemas/theaters, then on Netflix. Postponed to February 12, 2027. Directed by Greta Gerwig, with Daniel Craig and Meryl Streep.
To be released in 2026 on unknown dates
A Talent for Murder
A movie based on Patricia Highsmith as a character. A man wants her to write another Ripley sequel.
Directed by Anton Corbijn, with Helen Mirren
Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 3
A horror movie based on the Winnie-the-Pooh series by A. A. Milne.
Carrie
A TV series based on Carrie by Stephen King. With Summer H. Howell, Matthew Lillard and Heather Graham.
