Moviefone logo
Trending
'Zootopia 2' Teaser Trailer
'Superman' Trailer
'Ironheart' Trailer
'Peacemaker' Season 2 Teaser Trailer
Prime Video
MurderbotMurderbot
Stick Season 1 - Pool Party Prep Clip
Stick
Black Bag - Cate Blanchett Exclusive Interview
Black Bag
Thunderbolts* - Official Behind the Scenes Clip
Thunderbolts*
Wicked: For Good - Official Poster
Wicked: For Good
Elio - Freeze Frame Clip
Elio
Squid Game Season 3 - Official Poster
Squid Game
Cleaner - Daisy Ridley Exclusive Interview
Cleaner
Deep Cover - Orlando Bloom, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Nick Mohammed
Deep Cover
The Friend - Bill Murray Exclusive Interview
The Friend
The Morning Show Season 4 - Billy Crudup as Cory Ellison
The Morning Show
The Studio Season 1 - Seth Rogen in the New Episode Clip
The Studio
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery - First Look at Daniel Craig and Josh O’Connor
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Elio - Teaser Clip
Elio
The Morning Show Season 4 - Reese Witherspoon as Bradley Jackson
The Morning Show
In The Lost Lands - Dave Bautista Exclusive Interview
In the Lost Lands
The Stranger In My Home - Official Poster
The Stranger in My Home
  1. News

13 Really Good Children's Movies Based on Books You Loved As a Kid

Moviefone
February 27, 2018 - 1 min read

“A Wrinkle in Time” is the latest beloved children's book to get the big screen treatment. It s a long list of page-to-screen titles that were once the subject of boring book reports that became rewatchable classics. Here are our top ten picks for the best live-action films based on books you loved as a kid, or books that your kids now love. Because reading is cool. 

'The Neverending Story' (1984)

Director Wolfgang Peterson's 'The Neverending Story.'

'Paddington' (2014)

The modern-day retelling of the story of the beloved bear left in Paddington Station in London. Who can't like this little bear who adores his new family and messes up pretty much anything he touches. But once he pulls out those little marmalade sandwiches, everything is right with the world again.

The Harry Potter Movies (2001 - 2011)

Probably the best known series of children’s films, based on the book series by J.K. Rowling. What? You’ve never heard of the boy who lived? You are clearly a Muggle and probably never noticed people running through the wall on Platform 9 3/4 to get to Hogwarts.

‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ (1971)

Forget the Johnny Depp remake from 2005. The original, starring Gene Wilder as the crazy, snarky, and kind of cruel candy mogul, is a classic. Maybe skip that boat ride through the tunnel, though. #NightmareFuel. 

‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939)

The creme of the crop as far as fantasy films go. L Frank Baum's book “The Wizard of Oz” is as beloved as the movie based on it. Generations of kids have seen this film over and over again, for good reason: Almost 80 years since its release, it still holds up.

'Babe' (1995)

If anything is going to make you give up bacon, it’s the story of this little (talking) pig who saves the day. "Babe," based on "The Sheep-Pig" by Dick King-Smith, will make you cry, fall in love with adorable little farm animals, and quote the best praise in history: "That'll do, Pig. That'll do."

‘The Parent Trap’ (1961)

Whether you’re watching the original film from 1961 with Hayley Mills playing separated twins, or the 1998 version with Lindsey Lohan, “The Parent Trap” will charm the pants off you. Who out there hasn’t always wished that there was someone just like them to be their bestie forever and ever? Both versions are way more entertaining that the source material from David Swift and Erich Kästner.

'Charlotte's Web' (2006)

Yeah, we skipped this adaptation of the kid's classic when it first hit theaters, too. And we regret it. The movie is about as wholesome as it gets, with a very endearing performance from Dakota Fanning in her prime. 

'Coraline' (2009)

As Neil Gaiman adaptations go, this is one of the best and most underrated. It's your classic story of a girl discovering a secret door that leads to a darker, mirror version of our world that said girl has to get back from. Along the way, she learns a lot about life and death. It's for the kid in your brood that likes more adult-y themes mixed with their kiddie fare.

'The Jungle Book' (2016)

We're just gonna leave this right here... You know why it's good. Like us, you saw it a fabillion times in theaters and on DVD. Moving on... 

'Holes' (2003)

Watch a pre-meltdown Shia LeBeouf charm the hell out of audiences in his decent-sized Disney hit, based on the popular 1998 book by Louis Sachar.

'Mary Poppins' (1964)

An oldie but a goodie. Author P.L. Travers created the best nanny ever, and Disney turned her into a childhood icon. 

'How to Train Your Dragon' (2010)

We forget these fan-favorites are based on books, too. The original film and its underrated sequel are the rare adaptations that sur the source material. 

babe
Moviefone
Article by Moviefone
Moviefone Writers

Related News

‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Director Rob Marshall on His Approach to ‘The Little Mermaid’
‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Director Rob Marshall on His Approach to ‘The Little Mermaid’
Mary Poppins Fights the Brexit Apocalypse in 'Late Show' Spoof
Mary Poppins Fights the Brexit Apocalypse in 'Late Show' Spoof
2019 Costume Designers Guild Awards Led by 'Black Panther,' 'Mary Poppins'
2019 Costume Designers Guild Awards Led by 'Black Panther,' 'Mary Poppins'
'Mary Poppins Returns' Director Rob Marshall on Embracing the Disney Classic's Legacy
'Mary Poppins Returns' Director Rob Marshall on Embracing the Disney Classic's Legacy
'Mary Poppins Returns' Unveils New Character Posters, Teaser
'Mary Poppins Returns' Unveils New Character Posters, Teaser
'Mary Poppins Returns' Featurette Offers Glimpse Into Film's Complex Dance Numbers
'Mary Poppins Returns' Featurette Offers Glimpse Into Film's Complex Dance Numbers

More News on Moviefone

TV Review: ‘Duster’
TV Review: ‘Duster’
'Karate Kid: Legends': Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio and Ben Wang
'Karate Kid: Legends': Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio and Ben Wang
Carey Mulligan in Talks for Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’
Carey Mulligan in Talks for Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’
Movie Review: ‘Karate Kid: Legends’
Movie Review: ‘Karate Kid: Legends’
Movie Review: ‘Mountainhead’
Movie Review: ‘Mountainhead’
Movie Review: ‘The Phoenician Scheme’
Movie Review: ‘The Phoenician Scheme’
Jason Momoa, Noah Centineo and More on for ‘Street Fighter’
Jason Momoa, Noah Centineo and More on for ‘Street Fighter’
Movie Review: ‘Bring Her Back’
Movie Review: ‘Bring Her Back’
David Leitch to Direct ‘Gears of War’ Movie
David Leitch to Direct ‘Gears of War’ Movie
Netflix TUDUM 2025: The Live Event Recap
Netflix TUDUM 2025: The Live Event Recap
‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Delayed to December 2026
‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Delayed to December 2026
Movie Review: ‘Fountain of Youth’
Movie Review: ‘Fountain of Youth’
Moviefone Mobile App

Movie and TV Reviews

The Phoenician Scheme poster
The Phoenician Scheme
Movie Review
85
Mountainhead poster
Mountainhead
Movie Review
65
Fountain of Youth poster
Fountain of Youth
Movie Review
55

Top Movies

Mountainhead poster
Mountainhead
Humanity is in their hands.
60
Mickey 17 poster
Mickey 17
He's dying to save mankind.
69
Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One poster
Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One
We all share the same fate.
75

Top Series

Dept. Q poster
Dept. Q
Not all causes are lost.
79
The Better Sister poster
The Better Sister
In this family, deceit runs deep.
82
Your Friends & Neighbors poster
Your Friends & Neighbors
Live your best lie.
69

Follow Moviefone

RSS

Latest Trailers

'Squid Game' Season 3 Trailer 1:47'Squid Game' Season 3 Trailer
'Frankenstein' Teaser Trailer2:13'Frankenstein' Teaser Trailer
'Happy Gilmore 2' Trailer 2:19'Happy Gilmore 2' Trailer
'Not a Box' Season 1 Trailer1:05'Not a Box' Season 1 Trailer
'The Stranger in My Home' Trailer2:14'The Stranger in My Home' Trailer
'The Home' Trailer1:57'The Home' Trailer
Moviefone logo

our Newsletter

Movies by Keyword
TV Show Clips
Apple TV+
Cinemark Theatres
Made In Hollywood Teen
Family Movies
TV GenresWar Politics TV Shows
Marvel Cinematic Universe
James McAvoy
We Live in Time
RSS
Copyright © 2025 Moviefone Media LLC
Asset 1 This product uses the TMDb API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDb.