Inspiration for movies comes from many places: plays, songs, true stories even the occasional app can inspire a screenwriter and motivate a studio. But books remain the most frequently visited well for cinematic inspiration.

1. THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)

Based on: A 1992 novella by Stephen King entitled "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption." 

Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is convicted of the murder of his wife and her lover. He claims he is innocent. The film follows Andy as he tries to survive cruel Shawshank State Penitentiary. He's helped and counselled by fellow prisoner, Red, played by Morgan Freeman in an Oscar-nominated performance.

Key difference: Red is an white Irish man in the book, while in the film Freeman's character jokes that he is Irish.

2. HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN (2004)

Based on: The book of the same name by J.K. Rowling, the third in her wildly popular Harry Potter series.

Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) spends his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry tracking the mysterious story of Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), an ally of He Who Must Not Be Named and a prisoner in Azkaban.

Key difference: The Marauders and their map play a huge role in both the book and the movie, but their backstory and the ways that the map is used differ slightly on-screen.

3. GONE GIRL (2014)

Based on: The 2012 beach read classic by Gillian Flynn.Based on: The 2012 beach read classic by Gillian Flynn.

Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike), who has a seemingly perfect suburban life and the seemingly perfect childhood—as illustrated in a successful line of books written by her parents—suddenly disappears and all eyes are on her shady husband Nick (Ben Affleck).

Key difference: Though they still author the Amazing Amy books in the film, Amy's parents play a much smaller role in David Fincher's film. Nick's dad, who also plays a big role in the book, is barely seen on-screen.

4. THE COLOR PURPLE (1985)

Based on: Alice Walker's searing and seminal 1983 novel.

Celie (Whoopi Goldberg) writes letters detailing her often painful life in rural Georgia, her separation from her sister, Nettie (Akosua Busia), her relationships with her husband's son's wife, Sofia (Oprah Winfrey), and her husband's sometimes-mistress, Shug (Margaret Avery).

Key difference: The book delves even deeper into the inner lives of the women in Celie's life and paints a more complex picture of the relationships they share.

5. ATONEMENT (2007)

Based on: Ian McEwan's 2001 metafictional novel.

Precocious and imaginative Briony (Saoirse Ronan) stumbles upon her sister (Keira Knightley) and her boyfriend (James McAvoy) in an intimate moment. Briony misinterprets what's happening, setting in motion a tragic chain of events that affects them all for years.

Key difference: McEwan's book is deliciously cerebral and interior, giving the characters' conflicts, questions, and changes vigorous life. Joe Wright's film must externalize these inner workings and uses a spare, lush cinematic language to do so.

6. THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)

Based on: L. Frank Baum's 1900 book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

 Kansas farmgirl Dorothy (Judy Garland) is transported by tornado to a magical land where she immediately murders someone and steals her shoes. She then forms a gang and sets off to storm a city with a list of demands for the local wizard.

Key difference: Dorothy's iconic ruby red slippers were silver in the book.

7. JURASSIC PARK (1993)

Based on: Michael Crichton's 1990 sci-fi novel.

Dr. John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) has created a theme park in which genetically cloned dinosaurs roam. He invites his grandchildren and some scientists to tour the facility in advance of its opening. Things, uh, do not go well.

Key difference: The book heavily features a dinosaur called the procompsognathus, but the film eliminates the creature entirely, including the book's terrifying opening scene.

8. THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (2001)

Based on: J.R.R. Tolkien's 1954 fantasy novel, part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) finds himself in possession of the One Ring, a powerful force being sought by many, including the villainous wizard Saruman (Christopher Lee).

Key difference: The book opens with an expansive prologue that explains the history of the ring and hobbits, which was mostly scrapped for the film.

9. THE GODFATHER (1972)

Based on: Mario Puzo's 1969 crime novel.

 The Corleones, a New York crime family headed by patriarch Vito (Marlon Brando), fight to stay on top in the years following World War II. Reluctant son Michael (Al Pacino) is drawn deeper and deeper into the family business.

Key difference: Wedding singer Johnny Fontane, who prompts Vito to make a studio boss a bloody offer he can't refuse, had a much bigger part in the book.

These movies give us hope that adaptations of books can be good and sometimes even perfect.