Five 'masterpiece' book-to-screen adaptations released in 2026 you don't want to miss

From Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights to the hockey romance Heated Rivalry, 2026 has delivered exceptional book-to-screen adaptations including Wicked: For Good, Hamnet and Frankenstein

The past 12 months have proven monumental for bringing beloved novels to life on screen, with Emerald Fennell's take on Wuthering Heights tipped to become 2026's first major theatrical success.

Without relying on A-list celebrities or massive production costs, the film version of Rachel Reid's Heated Rivalry has emerged as a worldwide sensation, earning recognition as the finest book-to-screen transformation of the year. Additional standout releases have included Wicked: For Good, Hamnet, and a fresh interpretation of the timeless tale, Frankenstein.

Here's a roundup of five outstanding adaptations currently streaming or in theaters - these are must-see viewing experiences and are taking the entertainment world by storm.

We Were Liars

We Were Liars was originally a 2014 young-adult novel by E. Lockhart. The novel has received critical acclaim and won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fiction. Since then the book has been adapted into a TV series on Amazon Prime, reports the Express.

The story sees a 17-year-old girl from a wealthy family, Cady Sinclair, who spends her summers on a private island. After suffering a terrible accident, she struggles to remember events her increasingly frightening past. The book has a rating of 3.65/5 on Goodreads while the series has an IMDB rating of 6.8/10.

Hamnet

Hamnet is a 2025 historical drama film directed by Chloé Zhao, who co-wrote the screenplay with Maggie O'Farrell, based on the 2020 novel by O'Farrell.

The film dramatises the family life of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes Hathaway as they cope with the death of their 11-year-old son Hamnet. It has a rating of 4.2/5 on Goodreads and 8/10 on IMDB.

Wicked For Good

Wicked: For Good (also known as Wicked: Part Two) is a 2025 American musical fantasy film directed by Jon M. Chu and penned by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox the-mirror-icon_entertainment_movies_books.

Serving as the sequel to Wicked (2024), it brings to life the second act of the 2003 stage musical by Stephen Schwartz and Holzman, which was loosely inspired by Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel - a fresh take on L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its 1939 film adaptation.

Set in the Land of Oz before and during the events of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the film tracks Elphaba and Glinda as they embrace their new personas as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. The book has a Goodreads rating of 3.51/5, while the second film is rated 6.7 on IMDB.

Frankenstein

Frankenstein is a 2025 American Gothic science fiction drama film produced, written, and directed by Guillermo del Toro. The screenplay is adapted from Mary Shelley's 1818 novel.

The film features Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as the Creature, with Mia Goth and Christoph Waltz in supporting roles. The narrative follows Frankenstein, an arrogant scientist whose ambitious experiment to create life leads to perilous ramifications. Goodreads users have the book a rating of 3.91/5, while IMDB film fanatics scored it 7.5/10.

Heated Rivalry

Heated Rivalry is a Canadian sports romance television series created, written, and directed by Jacob Tierney for Crave. It is adapted from the Game Changers novel series by Rachel Reid, taking its title from the second book.

The series features Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov, two professional hockey players who sustain a clandestine, long-term romantic relationship whilst playing for opposing teams. It's rated 4.31/5 on Goodreads and 8.9/10 on IMDB.