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17 Movies Based on Classic Novels

Looking for Movies Based on Classic Novels? There are some great titles you can stream that have been based on Classic Novels. These films and TV documentaries are a great resource any time of year.

You can also have Movies Based on Books on Netflix if you are looking for something that streams on Netflix.

Movies Based on Classic Novels

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Little House in the Big Woods (Little House, No 1)
  • Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House in the Big Woods, paperback
  • Wilder, Laura Ingalls (Author)

Little House in the Big Woods

Little House in the Big Woods is an autobiographical children's novel written by Laura Ingalls Wilder and published by Harper in 1932 (reviewed in June). It was Wilder's first book published and it inaugurated her Little House series. 

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Charlotte's Web (2006 version)

Julia Roberts is the voice of Charlotte the Spider who sets out to save a sweet little pig in this heartwarming adaptation of the novel.
Charlotte's Web (1973)
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Debbie Reynolds, Paul Lynde (Actors)

Charlotte's Web (1973 version)

Miracles do happen! E.B. White's timeless children's story comes to life in this colorful animated musical.

Black Beauty
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Luke Perry, Bruce Davison, Anthony Del Negro (Actors)

Black Beauty (2015 version)

A father allows his daughter to spend the summer with her grandfather rehabilitating an injured horse, and they learn that love and trust can heal anything.

Black Beauty
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Mona Freeman, Richard Denning, Evelyn Ankers (Actors)

Black Beauty (1946 version)

Widower Squire Weldon, trying to raise his motherless daughter, Anne, presents her with a colt, Black Beauty, in the hope that by disciplining the horse she may learn to discipline herself.
 
Passing through Birtwick Farms, Bill Dixon arouses Anne's interest when he expresses his hope of finding a “very beautiful young colt” when he returns to England in two years.
Little Women
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Laura Dern, James Norton, Timothée Chalamet (Actors)

Little Women (2019 version)

Greta Gerwig's adaptation of the timeless and beloved story of four sisters each determined to live life on their own terms.

Madeline
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Kristian De La Osa, Frances McDormand, Pål Espen Kilstad (Actors)

Madeline

Fearless Madeline (Hatty Jones) is the heroine of this family comedy about a Parisian schoolgirl and her classmates. Based on Ludwig Bemelman's classic book series.
 
The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley (Actors)

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Four siblings play a game of hiding and seek and wind up entering a magical land.

RELATED:  Netflix Book Club (March Picks)

Once there, they discover a world inhabited by beasts, dwarfs, and giants and find themselves in a battle to defeat a witch.

To continue learning, check out The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Movie Study.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Morgan Hallet, Richard Dumont, George Morris (Actors)

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1986)

In this classic anime version of the legendary work, Dorothy and her friends – The Tin Man, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and Toto – explore the magical and mysterious world of Oz.

Peter Pan
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont, Hans Conried (Actors)

Peter Pan

Adventures await when Peter Pan and his friends fly to Never Land.

Swiss Family Robinson
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Reba West, Jeremy Platt, Wendee Swann (Actors)

The Swiss Family Robinson

Surviving shipwreck, the Robinson family finds that life on a bountiful deserted island is filled with adventures, dangers, and family fun. Each episode of this classic adventure brings a lesson of hope, joy, and the value of a strong and loving family.

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The Hundred Dresses
  • Estes, Eleanor (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)

The Hundred Dresses

Inspired by a true story from the author's childhood, this is the story of three girls in the same class at school.

RELATED:  Listen to these 44 Books that Became Movies

Wanda wears the same old dress to school every single day but claims to have a closet full of 100 beautiful dresses at home.

Treasure Island
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Robert Newton, Basil Sydney, Denis O'Dea (Actors)

Treasure Island

Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver search for buried treasure.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

With the land to hold them together, nothing can tear the Logans apart.

Why is the land so important to Cassie's family? It takes the events of one turbulent year- the year of the night riders and the burnings, the year a white girl humiliates Cassie in public simply because she is black- to show Cassie that having a place of their own is the Logan family's lifeblood.

It is the land that gives the Logans their courage and pride- no matter how others may degrade them, the Logans possess something no one can take away.

 

         

The Outsiders
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • C Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Diane Lane (Actors)

The Outsiders

S.E. Hinton's best-selling classic, starting Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Diane Lane, Matt Dillon, Lowe, and Emilio Estevez. Directed by Ford Coppola.
Where the Red Fern Grows
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Dabney Coleman, Joseph Ashton, Dave Matthews (Actors)

Where the Red Fern Grows

In this family-friendly adventure tale, a young boy grows and bonds with his two Redbone hunting dogs. Featuring Grammy-winning songwriter Dave Matthews.

Pippi Longstocking
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Inger Nilsson (Actor)

Pippi Longstocking

A mysterious young girl, Pippi Longstocking, moves into the abandoned Villa Villekulla.
 
The redheaded Pippi, living alone but for a monkey called Mr. Nilsson and her horse Little Old Man, befriends two neighboring children, Tommy and Annika.
 
Join in the fun-filled adventures of the world's strongest girl in her first full-length feature film! Stars Inger Nilsson, Par Sundberg and Maria Persson.

Click here to download this printable.

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If you enjoyed this list of movies, I have a monthly membership for parents and educators that want to teach or supplement lessons with shows and movies.

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With Homeschooling with Shows and Movies membership, you will get resources every month, including:

  • List of This Month’s Suggested Themes
  • List of Monthly Observances
  • List Of Movies for Unit Study
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These resources are worth it if you'd like to easily incorporate shows and movies into your homeschooling.

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