The book-to-movie adaptation genre of movies is a favorite among film lovers as well as readers. When books come out, they establish a dedicated fanbase and the personification of the story/series can be both hit or miss. With the need to please fans of the book, creating movies that tell stories we already know and love is a tall order. However, even with the added pressure, the excitement that builds when a new book becomes greenlit for an onscreen adaptation is unparalleled.

Of course, when creating a film version of a book, it is almost impossible to include every single plot line, scene, and even character. However, the success of book-to-movie adaptations is indisputable with some historically iconic franchises that include the likes of Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and The Lord of the Rings. From young adult fantasy and romance to LGBTQ+ stories, there is a book-to-movie adaptation for everyone. Many movie lovers out there are completely unaware that some of their favorite films began as just words and sentences on a page. During this Pride Month, it is time to explore some of the most notable LGBTQ+ movies that were originally based on books.

9 The Talented Mr. Ripley

In 1999, The Talented Mr. Ripley, a psychological thriller, starred Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The novel with the same name by Patricia Highsmith is what this movie is originally based on. Although people go back and forth between whether Mr. Ripley's character is gay or not, the story told in the novel as well as the movie focuses on making sure that audiences see his character flaws as a serial killer above anything else.

Related: Best LGBTQ+ Movie Villains of All Time, Ranked

8 Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Can You Ever Forgive Me? is based on Lee Israel's memoir with the same title. In the 2018 film adaptation, Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant mix comedy and drama to tell the incredibly true story of the lesbian writer Lee Israel and her illegal partnership with Jack Hock. The events of this story take place in the 1950s and breaks open the reality of the LGBTQ+ experience during this time.

7 Love, Simon

Now this one might come as a surprise, but the young adult LGTBQ+ love story Love, Simon was originally a novel entitled Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli. This novel and movie adaptation beautifully captures the struggles of coming out for LGBTQ+ youth in modern times. The lighthearted fun sprinkled in throughout this movie adaptation balances out the more heartwarming and emotionally charged moments to make it a terrific film for LGBTQ+ youth.

6 The Color Purple

The Color Purple by Alice Walker follows the life, struggles, and triumphs of a young African-American teenager, Celie, as she navigates her youth in rural Georgia. Through her letters to God, Celie's story is one that none of us can forget. This truly remarkable tale is all the emotion and tragedy that will capture your heart and break it at the same time. This story has been recognized in not just a film adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg, but also as a hit Broadway musical starring the incomparable Cynthia Erivo as Celie. What's more, per Playbill, a movie adaptation of the musical is set to arrive in theaters in 2023.

5 Blue is the Warmest Color

Blue is the Warmest Color is one of the most highly acclaimed coming-of-age LGBTQ+ romances to hit the big screen. However, many people are not aware that the Sapphic romance was originally a book, Le bleu est une couleur chaude / Blue Angel by Julie Maroh. In this heartwarming and incredibly revealing story, Adèle, a French teen, becomes involved both emotionally and sexually with an art student named Emma after crossing paths in a lesbian bar. If you have seen this movie, you definitely need to check out the novel.

Related: These Are Some of the Most Romantic LGBTQ+ Movies of All Time

4 The Handmaiden

Based on the novel Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, the 2016 film The Handmaiden is insanely underrated. This film adaptation from South Korea is a mysterious, and sensual tale that follows 2 women who find themselves falling in love in all the chaos of heists, complications of their romance, secrets, and sex. If you are interested in drama, erotic thriller, and, of course, LGBTQ+ romance, definitely check out this film as well as the story's source material in Water's novel.

3 Call Me By Your Name

At this point, the 2017 LGBTQ+ movie Call Me By Your Name is one of the most recognized and highly decorated films in recent history. From its breathtaking cinematography to the stunning performances by Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer in this age-gap LGBTQ+ romance, interest in the book written by Andre Aciman with the same title is bound to happen. If you are in the mood to relive the incredible story told in Call Me By Your Name, the novel is definitely worth visiting.

2 Carol

The 2015 film Carol showed Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara bringing the incredibly complicated romance between Carol and Therese to life on the big screen. The film itself is based on the 1952 LGBTQ+ romance novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith, who had to write under the pseudonym "Claire Morgan." This film and novel is a great portrayal of love in all its complications, layers, and intricacies in both individuals and in society for LGBTQ+ relationships. Definitely check out both the film and Highsmith's novel if you haven't already.

1 Moonlight

Now, anybody who isn't living under a rock remembers La La Land being awarded Best Picture by mistake at the 2017 Academy Awards. And with that awkward moment burned into entertainment notoriety, people will not forget the actual winner, Moonlight. Moonlight was based in Tarell Alvin McCraney's unpublished semi-autobiographical play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue and details the life of Chiron Harris. This incredible movie will break into the harsh realities of adolescence and the beauty of self discovery and acceptance in one's self. Taking a deep dive into the source material for this stellar film will not leave you disappointed.