IBP - Films Inspired by Classic Literature

[Charlynn]

Sometimes, Hollywood takes a classic novel and reworks it to fit today's day and age. Although they keep the general plot and themes the same, they make it accessible for today's audience by changing the time frame, the language, and the setting. I think this is a great way to inspire young adult readers to pick up a classic book or play. If they liked the movie, chances are they just might like the classic literature that inspired it as well. (This is something that I am working on for my Inquiry Based Project for my course Libraries, Literature, and Young Adults. My topic: Revitalizing the Classics Through the Use of Pop Culture.) Below is a list of the movies which I could personally think of which applied to this rule of creation and of the films I had to look up in order to discover their classic connections. If preceded by a special mark (*), this signifies that these movies are more commonly accepted/known to be a part of this group. Also listed is the original work which inspired the film.

* Clueless - Emma

* Ten Things I Hate About You – Taming of the Shrew

* She's the Man – Twelfth Night

* O - Othello

* She's All That - Pygmalion

* Bride and Prejudice – Pride and Prejudice

* High School Musical – Romeo and Juliet

* Pretty Woman - Pygmalion

* The Lion King – Hamlet

* Get Over It – A Midsummer Nights Dream

* Deliver Us From Eva – Taming of the Shrew

* West Side Story – Romeo and Juliet

King of Texas – King Lear

Shakespeare in Love – Romeo and Juliet (and also of Shakespeare's life)

Romeo Must Die – Romeo and Juliet

Let the Devil Wear Black – Hamlet

Scotland, PA – Macbeth

Midsummer – A Midsummer Night's Dream

The Tempest (1998) – The Tempest

A Thousand Acres – King Lear

Love is All There Is – Romeo and Juliet

Men of Respect – Macbeth

My Own Private Idaho – Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2

China Girl – Romeo and Juliet

Tempest (1982) – The Tempest

Forbidden Planet – The Tempest

Kiss Me, Kate – The Taming of the Shrew

Bridget Jones' Diary – Pride and Prejudice

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – Sense and Sensibility

Twilight – Pride and Prejudice

You've Got Mail – Pride and Prejudice

Metropolitan – Mansfield Park

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past – A Christmas Carol (There are MANY adaptations, some more closely set than others) for this book.)

Oliver and Company – Oliver Twist (Again, there many adaptations of the work.)

Just One of the Guys – Twelfth Night

Motocrossed – Twelfth Night



If you can personally think of any other movies which should be added to this, PLEASE share!!!