Fall is one of my favorite reading seasons, but I am also always happy to curl up with a good book-to-screen adaptation. There is something especially fun about seeing a beloved novel, short story, or literary character brought to life in a completely different way.
I recently came across Literary Hub’s 36 Literary Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Fall roundup, and it sent me down a very enjoyable rabbit hole. They have gathered a huge list of adaptations, documentaries, and book-adjacent releases coming this fall.
Of course, I could not possibly watch all 36. These are the ten literary movies and TV shows that have made it onto my own fall watchlist.
Practical Magic 2
Practical Magic 2 arrives in theaters September 18 and is based on The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman. The Owens sisters, aunts, and daughters return to break a family curse, which makes this feel like a very fitting choice for fall. I am curious to see how the sequel carries forward the magic and family history that made the original such a beloved cult classic. See my review of Practical Magic.
Marble Hall Murders
Marble Hall Murders is based on Anthony Horowitz’s mystery novel and returns Susan Ryeland and Atticus Pünd to the screen. I enjoy a classic-feeling mystery, especially one involving a suspicious manuscript and a possible murder hidden within its pages. This premieres on PBS on September 6.
The Love Hypothesis
Ali Hazelwood’s beloved STEM romance is coming to Prime Video on September 23. With fake dating, academic settings, and an already hugely popular romance at its center, this one has the potential to be a really fun watch.
The Final Problem
Based on Arturo Pérez-Reverte’s novel, The Final Problem follows a retired actor known for playing Sherlock Holmes who must become a real detective when someone is murdered at an isolated hotel. I am always interested in a closed-circle mystery, and this Netflix limited series arrives September 25.
East of Eden
John Steinbeck’s East of Eden is getting a new Netflix limited-series adaptation on October 1. It is a major classic, and I am very curious to see how this version approaches the story and its complicated characters.
Verity
Colleen Hoover’s thriller Verity arrives in theaters October 2. An aspiring writer is hired to complete the work of an injured bestselling author, then finds a manuscript that makes her question everything she has been told. It sounds like the kind of twisty, unsettling story that will be fun to experience on screen. Also, Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson, anyone?!
Klara and the Sun
I have not read Klara and the Sun, but the premise has me curious. The film arrives in theaters October 23, and I am interested to see what Taika Waititi does with this story about an Artificial Friend and the people around her.
The Good Daughter
Karin Slaughter’s The Good Daughter becomes a Peacock series on November 12. The story follows two sisters whose lives were shaped by violence years earlier, only for the past to return. I love a tense family thriller, so this one is definitely on my list.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
I am sure I am not the only one ready to return to Panem. Based on Suzanne Collins’s Sunrise on the Reaping, this new Hunger Games film comes to theaters November 20. Whether you have read every book or just loved the earlier movies, it feels like one of the biggest book-to-screen events of the season.
Pride and Prejudice
Another new Jane Austen adaptation? Of course I am interested. Netflix’s six-part Pride and Prejudice series does not have an exact release date yet, but it is expected this fall. Emma Corrin will play Elizabeth Bennet, with Jack Lowden as Mr. Darcy. I will always be willing to see what a new adaptation does with this story.
There are so many book-to-screen adaptations arriving this fall that I know I will not get to all of them. Still, it is a great reminder that books can keep giving us new experiences long after we have turned the final page.