When classic children’s books become blockbuster Hollywood movies
Timothée Chalamet stars in “Wonka,” an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Once upon a time, there was this elegant boy – a smart chocolate connoisseur – who went on a mission to come up with the right recipe for the best desserts.
This could serve as the opening line to the novel of one of this holiday season’s most anticipated desserts, “Wonka,” director Paul King’s stunning origin story of the iconic character, Willy Wonka, created by author Roald Dahl. He is the strange man and talented chocolatier who stole the show in the movie “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
The film opens on Friday.
Starring beloved Timothée Chalamet as a younger version of that character, “Wonka” is an original work that follows a long tradition of film adaptations of beloved children’s books.
It’s fertile ground from which to harvest, with a crop that includes J.M. Barrie’s ageless creation of Peter Pan, a character who has appeared in numerous film and stage incarnations – as well as Dodie Smith’s “The One Hundred and One Dalmatians,” which was adapted by Disney. In a series of animated and live-action films that graced the world with one of screen’s most despicable villains, the anti-canine Cruella De Vil. Like Wonka, it all led to an origin story – with Emma Stone in the titular lead.
So, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite movies based on children’s novels, highlighting a few that you may not know much about. We intentionally excluded young adult novels such as “Twilight” and “Hunger Games” since that is a completely separate genre in itself.
Unless otherwise noted, each of these films is widely available to stream or rent on multiple sites.
“Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”: Let’s forget that pointless remake of Tim Burton’s 2005 hit, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” and that awful performance by Johnny Depp as Wonka. The sweet spot in this adaptation story is director Mel Stewart’s hilarious 1971 original, which received the Golden Ticket mostly for its endearing turn from Gene Wilder as the eccentric chocolatier. There’s a lot to like here, including the game’s British cast, comic-looking sets, and a good selection of musical numbers/tunes. Our favorite part was that spoiled brat Veruca Salt (Julie Dawn Cole) only got sweets. Where to see it: Available to stream or rent on multiple platforms.
“Harry Potter” series: J. K. Rowling’s vividly conceived world of fantasy continues to enchant—both on stage and on film—a testament to the eight-part film cycle in which the magic continues. The series effortlessly captured the magic and spirit of the seven-book saga, giving us just the right person for its boy wizard, the much-loved, bespectacled Daniel Radcliffe. He and his charming wizards – Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) – square off with Harry’s arch-nemesis Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and other Hogwarts double-types in one of those rare occasions when the cast and setting felt as if they had jumped straight from Page to land on the screen. Note: A spoof of the Potter play, “Potted Potter,” runs at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater in San Francisco from December 19-January. 7(www.pottedpotter.com). Where to see it: All eight films are widely available on streaming and rental sites.
“The Wizard of Oz”: This undisputed 1939 classic stands the ultimate test – time – and continues to fend off contemporary competitors seeking to dethrone it from the top of the rankings as the best film adaptation of a children’s story. Good luck with that. Director Victor Fleming’s monumental project remains forever embedded in our collective psyche, influencing and delighting generation after generation. It is blessed with unforgettable characters – the tin man (Jack Haley) searching for a heart, the cowardly lion prone to crying (Bert Lahr), the kind but clumsy Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), and that evil Green Queen, the Wicked Witch of Evil. West Witch (Margaret Hamilton) – It also gave us a popular girl power heroine in the form of Dorothy (Judy Garland) who stole our hearts along with her cute and mischievous dog Toto. Few children’s films can compare to this Over the Rainbow classic. Where to see it: Available to stream or rent on multiple platforms.
“Kiki Delivery Service”: One of our most innovative and inspiring animated storytellers, Hayao Miyazaki, often references or plays with the works of other authors. (“Ponyo” is partly inspired by “The Little Mermaid”). His beautiful 1989 film, “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” was based on Eiko Kadono’s book about an unconventional young witch and her cute black cat sidekick who runs a broom delivery service that would put Amazon to shame. It doesn’t have many of the narrative themes we see in his greatest hits, like “Spirited Away,” “Princess Mononoke,” and “Howl’s Moving Castle,” it’s very charming and speaks eloquently about accepting and embracing our true identity.
“Paddington”: Oh, that silly old bear. Ooops. Bruin is wrong. This other beloved creature, the marmalade sandwich-loving Peruvian creature dreamed up by British author Michael Bond, came to CGI life in 2014 via “Wonka” director Paul King. The director maintains the whimsy of the world Bond imagined, but also opens it up in the first Bear movie, which starred Nicole Kidman, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, and even more so in 2017’s best sequel, Paddington, which lands at the box office. A crime committed by a pompous actor (gloriously foiled by Hugh Grant). And if the Oscar were to go for Best Voice Performance, Ben Whishaw, who plays Paddington, would be great. A new part of the Paddington film series is scheduled to be released in 2025).
“Mary Poppins”: This 1964 Disney Julie Andrews/Dick Van Dyke witch – like “The Wizard of Oz” – never goes out of style. What is her secret? These two larger-than-life heroes, a beautiful story, and the songbook of Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman, who produced some of the most humble movie tunes ever – the Oscar-winning “Chim Chim Cher-ee” and the “Let’s Go Fly” “Kite.” “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” to name a few. While many adored it, author PL Travers didn’t criticize it for adding too much sugar to her series of novels about a magical nanny who works to improve the lives of Banks’ brood. (The 2013 film Saving Mr. Banks with Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson focused on the acrimonious relationship between Walt Disney and Travers.) No matter how it goes down, “Mary Poppins” remains a flowing musical that can chase storm clouds away in a way that’s supremely fragile, experimental and beguiling. Disney attempted to produce a sequel to “Mary Poppins Returns” in 2018, but it failed to take off.
“little Women”: There have been many versions of author Louisa May Alcott’s cherished tale of the lives of the four March sisters in 1860s Massachusetts, their relationships to each other, and the challenges of the era, including sexual perceptions. Greta Gerwig’s 2019 lively adaptation stars Saoirse Ronan, with the family writer, Jo, and Pisces Gerwig tweaking the story slightly, and the changes made sense and created a more satisfying experience — particularly giving Florence Pugh the role of the mercurial sister Amy. More screen time. Gerwig blends humor and pathos and consistently shows a deep love for the 1868 novel.
“Safer”: What becomes glaringly apparent when putting together a list of the best films based on children’s literature is the lack of diverse contenders. Martin Ritt helped change that with his moving, Oscar-nominated 1972 adaptation of the award-winning 1969 novel by William H. Armstrong. The “Sounder” in the title is a hunting dog, the pet of the Morgans — a black Louisiana farming family who barely gets by. The three central performances of Paul Winfield, Cicely Tyson, as the parents, and Kevin Hawkes, as their son, received unanimous praise, and the film, despite being predicted by naysayers to be a flop, turned out to be a huge success. “Sounder” is still less well-known than animal classics like “Old Yeller” and “Where the Red Fern Grows,” but it’s the best of the bunch.
“luscious”: “Mad Max: Fury Road” producer George Miller made this heart-warming film in 1995, based on Dick King Smith’s “The Sheep-Pig.” The film follows the adventures of a cute and brave little pig named Pip and how adopted farmer Hoggett (James Cromwell) believes the unthinkable – that this trouble-prone pig has what it takes to be a working sheepdog. It reportedly took director Chris Noonan six years to make this film (the animated effects are sensational). All that toil and time has paid off, producing a beloved, timeless classic that can turn kids and perhaps yourself into devout vegans. I’ll also admit that the ending tears me up every time. It led to a darker, more satirical sequel by Miller – 1998’s “Babe: Pig in the City” – which is good but might scare kids.
“Are you there, God? It’s me, Margaret.”: Few films more truthfully – and above all – depict the inner thoughts and emotions of an 11-year-old girl than Kelly Fremon Craig’s 2023 adaptation of Judy Blume’s beloved and unfairly controversial 1970 novel. Set in that era, the film explores questions of Margaret about faith, her body, her friends, and her family. Of course, there’s childish talk, but thankfully that’s not the dominant theme in what should become a classic example of how to do a coming-of-age film right. As Margaret’s mother, Rachel McAdams radiates genuine compassion and goodness. Be on the lookout for this Blume cameo.
“The Jungle Book”: Rudyard Kipling’s 1894 collection of stories about the lost boy Mowgli and his attempt to communicate with forest creatures great and small – sometimes to his detriment – inspired many filmmakers. But the results haven’t always been great (Andy Serkis’ ambitious 2018 flop, “Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle,” was one casualty). The two best examples are Disney’s energetic 1967 animated production and Jon Favreau’s 2016 spectacle, which combined a Disney musical with more of Kipling’s work and came out a winner. Favreau used CGI right to create a suspenseful and fascinating adaptation. Who is better at voicing Shere Khan and Kaa than Idris Elba and Scarlett Johansson, respectively? This is what you call inspired casting.
“A Muppet’s Christmas Carol”: There have been plenty of cinematic interpretations of Charles Dickens’ holiday favorite – from silent films to the old-school 1951 film with Alastair Sim and even Bill Murray’s irreverent – and not exactly successful – “Scrooged” from 1988. But leave it to Kermit, as overworked/underpaid Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy as his wife Emily, and other Muppets to make us laugh and cry. (Robin the Frog as Little Tim turned me into a puddle.) And who better to play the humble Ebenezer than Michael Caine? It’s a holiday classic worth seeing every year.
Two versions of “Pinocchio”: Disney’s frequent modus operandi has been to tone down the source material for family consumption. For example, “Peter Pan” lost its edge under Disney’s watch, as did this 1940 adaptation of Italian author Carlo Collodi’s influential 1883 classic about the grieving father Geppetto who creates a curious, trouble-prone boy out of wood. In the book, Pinocchio was naughty. In the movie, he is somewhat innocent and naive. The animated film still holds up well to this day and features the Disney anthem “When You Wish on a Star” but differs from the tone of Collodi’s story. For a more modern look, you can’t go wrong with Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio,” a Netflix adaptation that tells a dark and terrifying story about death. It’s unfortunate that this 2022 Oscar winner delivered some weak songs that conflicted with the movie itself.
