Book-To-Movie Adaptations Coming Out In 2026

Many books will provide backbone to both theatrical and streaming releases in 2026.

From the long-awaited rom com film adaptation of Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation, which hit Netflix in January, to the Ridley Scott-directed adaptation of The Dog Stars starring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin and Margaret Qualley coming in August, several major releases will come off the page and to life on the big screen.

Still more films to look forward to later in the year are the adaptations of Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games prequel novel, Sunrise on the Reaping, as well as Denis Villeneuve’s third Dune film. Find all the films based on books coming out next year below:

Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Nicola Coughlan, Jessica Gunning, Rebecca Ferguson and more lead the Vertical-acquired Magic Faraway tree film adaptation, coming to theaters August 21. The film also stars Nonso Anozie, Jennifer Saunders, Hiran Abeysekara and Pippa Bennett-Warner.

Anna Todd’s The Last Sunrise has been adapted into a film for Prime Video starring Maia Reficco, Fernando Lindez, Eva Longoria and more. The movie arrives on the streamer August 26. Screenwriter Anna Klassen adapted the first book, and Amazon MGM is eyeing a sequel to the film based on a new novel by Todd, who plans to publish a trilogy.

Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley and more will star in The Dog Stars, directed by Ridley Scott and adapted from Peter Heller’s novel. The post-apocalyptic setting occurs due to a flu plague that wiped out America. Elordi plays a pilot living with an ex-marine. The film was pushed from late March to August 28, 2026.

RELATED: Jacob Elordi & Josh Brolin Navigate “Kill Or Be Killed” Post-Apocalyptic World In Final Trailer For ‘The Dog Stars’

Alex North’s bestselling thriller The Whisper Man film adaptation will arrive on Netflix August 28. Starring Adam Scott, Robert De Niro and Michelle Monaghan, the story watches a widowed crime writer reach out to his estranged father after his son is kidnapped. The father is a former police detective, now retired, and they make the disturbing connection that the abduction may be connected to convicted serial killer, “The Whisper Man.” James Ashcroft (The Rule of Jenny Pen) directed from a script by Ben Jacoby and Chase Palmer, with Hamish Linklater, Owen Teague, Acston Luca Porto, and Will Brill rounding out the cast.

Practical Magic 2, hitting theaters Sept. 11, 2026, will be based on The Book of Magic, the sequel to Alice Hoffman’s first Practical Magic book, producer Denise Di Novi told Entertainment Weekly. Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bulllock will return alongside Dianne West and Stockard Channing. Joey King, Lee Pace, Maisie Williams, Xolo Maridueña and Solly McLeod are newcomers for the sequel film.

RELATED: Everything We Know About ‘Practical Magic 2’ So Far

Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman will star in Prime Video’s film adaptation of The Love Hypothesis, coming to the streamer Sept. 23. A trailer has been released. Based on the book by Ali Hazelwood, the story contains the fake-dating trope and some science.

RELATED: Everything We Know About ‘The Love Hypothesis’ Movie So Far

Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett will lead the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s Verity, a thriller story that stands apart from the other three of her books that got the big screen treatment. The film arrives in theaters Oct. 2, 2026.

RELATED: Everything We Know About Amazon’s ‘Verity’ Movie So Far

Following in the footsteps of the 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel, Focus Features will present a new take on the classic starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Esmé Creed-Miles, Caitríona Balfe, Frank Dillane, Fiona Shaw and many more. The film arrives in theaters Oct. 16, 2026. The trailer is now available to watch.

Starring Austin Abrams and Josh Brolin, Whalefall, based on the book by Daniel Kraus, will swim into theaters Oct. 16 as well. Brian Duffield directed the film from a script he co-wrote with Kraus. The film follows the story of a son who scuba dives for his father’s remains and gets swallowed by a sperm whale in the process.

RELATED: ‘Whalefall’ Trailer: Austin Abrams Has An Hour Of Oxygen To Get Out Of A Sperm Whale’s Stomach

The Taika Waititi-directed adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun, starring Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams, Aran Murphy and Mia Tharia will arrive in theaters Oct. 23. A first look and footage were shown at CinemaCon 2026.

Wildwood by Colin Meloy with Illustrations by Carson Ellis

Laika’s first stop-motion movie since The Missing Link (2019) is an adaptation of The Decemberists’ frontman Colin Meloy’s book Wildwood. Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) lives a pretty ordinary life until her baby brother gets kidnapped by a murder of crows, leading her to launch a rescue mission in the Impassable Wilderness, an enchanted forest hidden just beyond Portland, OR. Her classmate Curtis Mehlberg (Jacob Tremblay) offers to help.

RELATED: ‘Wildwood’ Trailer: Laika Returns To Its Nature With Latest Stop-Motion Fantasy Adventure

The voice cast for the film also includes Carey Mulligan, Richard E. Grant, Awkwafina, Amandla Stenberg, Tom Waits, Charlie Day, Blythe Danner, Arthur Knight, Maya Erskine, Jake Johnson, Tantoo Cardinal, Rob Delaney, Jemaine Clement, Marc Evan Jackson, Len Cariou, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Angela Bassett and Mahershala Ali.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Denis Villeneuve’s final Dune film will pick up with a large time gap after the events of the first book that Frank Herbert wrote. New cast include Robert Pattinson as the major villain as well as two youngsters, one the son of star Jason Momoa, portraying Paul Atreides and Chani’s children.

RELATED: Emily Henry Adapting ‘Funny Story’ Novel Into Feature Film With Lyrical Media and Ryder Picture Company

Films, based on books, that arrived earlier this year (2026):

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Brett Haley directed the movie, which will star Tom Blyth, Emily Bader, Lucien Laviscount, Molly Shannon, Alan Ruck, Miles Heizer and many more. The rom com arrives on Netflix Jan. 9.

RELATED: Everything We Know About The ‘People We Meet On Vacation’ Movie So Far

Though many question whether this film will actually be a true adaptation or more of Cathy’s (Margo Robbie) dream world of sorts, Emerald Fennel’s blockbuster adaptation has drawn much attention and criticism for its avoidance of casting a person of color in the role of Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi). The film arrives in theaters Feb. 13, just in time for Valentine’s Day.