10 Movies You Probably Didn't Know Were Based on Books

If it weren't for some of the marketing materials, most audiences would not know that Daniel Radcliffe's new horror film, 'Horns,' is based on the macabre novel by Joe Hill. Here are ten more movies whose literary origins may surprise you. 

Before John McClane was dispatching terrorists with feet smaller than his sister’s, a version of the action hero originated in the pages of Roderick Thorp’s novel, ‘Nothing Lasts Forever.’

This “fetch” comedy, written by Tina Fey, is loosely based on Rosaline Wiseman’s non-fiction book ‘Queen Bees and Wannabes,’ about how clique-y high school culture can turn teenagers into the film’s titular ladies.

Mel Gibson’s black comedy revenge pic is both a loose remake of the Lee Marvin classic ‘Point Blank,’ and a more faithful adaptation of Donald E. Westlake’s pulp novel, ‘The Hunter.’ While the film’s theatrical cut is entertaining, the director’s cut delivers the real goods.

The greatest trick director Christopher Nolan ever pulled was sneaking this adaptation past audiences. This thrilling drama, about two competing magicians, is a somewhat faithful take on Christopher Priest’s 1995 award-winning novel of the same name.

Liam Neeson’s slow-burn detective thriller is less ‘Taken’ and more ‘Serpico’ meets ‘Seven,’ thanks in large part to the book it’s based on. ‘Tombstones’ is just one of several novels in a popular series written by Lawrence Block.

Taylor (Charlton Heston) and his struggles with those “damn, dirty apes” owe their cinematic legacy to the French novel Rod Serling adapted into this sci-fi classic.

Audiences remember Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’ more for its shower scene than its literary origins. Robert Bloch’s book of the same name is the reason behind why men like Norman Bates “go a little mad sometimes.”

Sylvester Stallone traded Rocky’s gloves for Rambo’s knife to play an emotionally-damaged Vietnam vet struggling to re-enter his normal life. Four films later – with a rumored fifth on the way – few anticipated that David Morrell’s 1972 novel would have launched a franchise.

The title for this live-action/animated hybrid from director Robert Zemeckis is much more poster friendly than that of the book it’s based on, ‘Who Censored Roger Rabbit?’

Jennifer Lawrence is no stranger to starring in movie-to-film adaptations. ‘The Hunger Games’ star won an Oscar for director David O. Russell’s take on Matthew Quick’s novel. The movie also scored nods for Best Picture and Best Actor for Bradley Cooper.