How often does Hollywood turn books into movies? Nine times out of ten that terrific film you just watched was originally a book or at least based on a book and because of the popularity of the movies the books sort of get overshadowed as the years go on. So, we’ve listed 13 famous films that you may not have known were initially just novels in a bookstore.

You never know curiosity may get the better of you and get you tempted to read the original source. Don’t forget to let us know if the book is better than the film!

Movie: 101 dalmations           

Book: The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith

Year Published: 1956

Movie: Mrs Doubtfire

Book: Alias Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine

Year Published: 1987

Movie: Father of The Bride

Book: Father of the Bride by Edward Streeter

Year Published: 1949

Movie: Shrek

Book: Shrek! by William Steig

Year Published: 1990

Movie: Forrest Gump

Book: Forrest Gump by Winston Groom

Year Published: 1986

Movie: Goodfellas

Book: Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family by Nicholas Pileggi

Year Published: 1986

Movie: The Planet of The Apes

Book: La Planète des Singes, known in English as Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle

Year Published: 1963

Movie: Legally Blonde

Book: legally Blonde by Amanda Brown

Year Published: 2001

Movie: Clueless

Book: Emma by Jane Austen

Year Published: 1815

Movie: The Parent Trap

Book: Das doppelte Lottchen (Lisa and Lottie) by Erich Kästner

Year Published: 1949

Movie: The Polar express

Book: The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

Year Published: 1986

Movie: Mean Girls 

Book: Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends & Other Realities of Adolescence

Year Published: 2002

Movie: Pitch Perfect 

Book Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory by Mickey Rapkin

Year Published: 2008