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You can start and finish this challenge whenever you like!
Some of these books are classics all on their own and for some of them their film adaptation is more popular. Either way, here are some classic spooky stories to read, then watch an adaptation to compare! (of course there is no way to track what you've watched on here so you can also choose not to watch any)
They are listed in chronological order of when the book was first published. Each one has a note with the most popular adaptions as far as I'm aware, but may not contain all of the possibilities. I usually dislike book covers that mention or show the film adaptations, but for this challenge I specifically hunted down editions that do this if I could!
Bonus:
Read any short stories by Edgar Allen Poe and/or Lovecraft then find some adaptations (either a film or a single episode from an anthology show)
Films based on Edgar Allen Poe stories:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Films_based_on_works_by_Edgar_Allan_Poe
https://screenrant.com/best-creepy-horror-movies-inspired-edgar-alan-poe-imdb-raven-black-cat-masque-red-death/
Films based on Lovecraft stories:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Films_based_on_works_by_H._P._Lovecraft
https://screenrant.com/best-hp-lovecraft-movie-adaptations/
Even more bonuses:
The only Stephen King book added here is The Shining, but he has so many more very well known spooky books/films, like Carrie, It, Misery, etc.
They are listed in chronological order of when the book was first published. Each one has a note with the most popular adaptions as far as I'm aware, but may not contain all of the possibilities. I usually dislike book covers that mention or show the film adaptations, but for this challenge I specifically hunted down editions that do this if I could!
Bonus:
Read any short stories by Edgar Allen Poe and/or Lovecraft then find some adaptations (either a film or a single episode from an anthology show)
Films based on Edgar Allen Poe stories:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Films_based_on_works_by_Edgar_Allan_Poe
https://screenrant.com/best-creepy-horror-movies-inspired-edgar-alan-poe-imdb-raven-black-cat-masque-red-death/
Films based on Lovecraft stories:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Films_based_on_works_by_H._P._Lovecraft
https://screenrant.com/best-hp-lovecraft-movie-adaptations/
Even more bonuses:
The only Stephen King book added here is The Shining, but he has so many more very well known spooky books/films, like Carrie, It, Misery, etc.
Challenge Books
1
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
First Published 1818
Adaptations:
1931 film staring Boris Karloff
plus many more
Adaptations:
1931 film staring Boris Karloff
plus many more
2
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Robert Louis Stevenson
First Published 1886
So many adaptations
So many adaptations
3
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde
First Published 1891
Adaptations:
1945 The Picture of Dorian Gray
2009 Dorian Gray
Adaptations:
1945 The Picture of Dorian Gray
2009 Dorian Gray
4
Dracula
Bram Stoker
First Published 1897
Adaptations:
1931 film staring Béla Lugosi
1958 film staring Christopher Lee
1992 film staring Gary Oldman
plus many more
Adaptations:
1931 film staring Béla Lugosi
1958 film staring Christopher Lee
1992 film staring Gary Oldman
plus many more
5
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Jack Finney
First Published 1954
Book was originally published as "The Body Snatchers"
Adaptations:
1956 Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Book was originally published as "The Body Snatchers"
Adaptations:
1956 Invasion of the Body Snatchers
6
The Haunting of Hill House
Shirley Jackson
First Published 1959
Adaptations:
1961 The Haunting film
1999 The Haunting film
2018 The Haunting of Hill House TV mini series
Adaptations:
1961 The Haunting film
1999 The Haunting film
2018 The Haunting of Hill House TV mini series
8
Rosemary's Baby
Ira Levin
First Published 1967
Adaptations:
1968 film
2014 two-part miniseries
Adaptations:
1968 film
2014 two-part miniseries
9
The Exorcist
William Peter Blatty
First Published 1971
Adaptations:
1973 film
Adaptations:
1973 film
11
Jaws
Peter Benchley
First Published 1974
This is more natural disaster thriller than horror but I'm counting it!
Adaptations:
1975 film
This is more natural disaster thriller than horror but I'm counting it!
Adaptations:
1975 film
12
Interview with the Vampire
Anne Rice
First Published 1976
Adaptations:
1994 film
2022 tv show
Adaptations:
1994 film
2022 tv show