From a spy thriller adapted from a Pulitzer-Prize winning novel to black comedy adaptations based on bestselling books, The POST has got you covered.
Love books and love watching them come alive through film and series adaptations? Well, this year is turning out to be a great one for people like you and me, with streaming platforms releasing a slew of noteworthy and bingeable content for every genre you can think of.
There are the likes of Bridgerton, which released its third season this year, as well as Rings of Power which premiered its second season a little over a week ago. Other much talked about titles are Three-Body Problem, adapted from Chinese author Liu Cixin’s Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy, and House of the Dragon, which is based on parts of George R.R. Martin’s 2018 book Fire & Blood.
There’s a fair share of book-to-film adaptations, too, like the saccharine Anne Hathaway-Nicholas Galitzine starrer The Idea of You (I have to admit I loved this a little too much) and It Ends with Us, which was sort of controversial because of the Justin Baldoni-Blake Lively brouhaha.
So if you’re looking for which series to binge watch next or which film to schedule on your Friday movie night, The POST gathers here some of the titles we recommend adding to your stream list.
Shogun by James Clavell, Disney+
This series, set in a Japan ruled by powerful lords (daimyō) and their fierce samurai in the 1600s, is by far my favorite book-to-series adaptation this 2024. The casting is pitch perfect, acting stellar, and the cinematography gorgeous, but best of all, it has some of the best female characters in recent pop culture history.
This show cemented Hiroyuki Sanada’s status as one of Asia’s most legendary actors, in the revered company of the likes of Tony Leung and Jet Li. But it was charismatic Anna Sawai as the fiercely loyal and brilliant interpreter Mariko Toda who truly owned the show. In Gen Z speak, the girl ate and left no crumbs.
And just in case you need more proof of why this series is a must watch, Shogun made history on Sunday night, September 8, by winning the most Emmys ever for a single season of a television series with 14 at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen, HBO Go
This is another adaptation that I looked forward to because the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is one of my all-time favorites, and also because the series stars Robert Downey Jr in various antagonist roles.
Equal parts spy thriller and sweeping epic of love and betrayal, The Sympathizer follows the story of a half-French, half-Vietnamese army captain (Hoa Xuande) who is exiled to the U.S. after the fall of Saigon. But he is no ordinary immigrant, he is a mole secretly gathering information and dutifully reporting back to his communist superiors in Vietnam. Bold, insightful, and imaginative, this is one of HBO’s best—and that says a lot.
The Perfect Couple by Elin Hildebrand, Netflix
This new series on Netflix boasts a powerful cast led by Nicole Kidman and co-stars Liev Schreiber and Dakota Fanning. Amelia’s (Eve Hewson) wedding day should be a moment to remember, after all she is about to be married into the wealthy Nantucket Winbury family. But even before the lavish oceanfront nuptials commence, the maid of honor is found dead in the harbor—and everyone present for the weekend wedding is a suspect.
Critics praise the series for its twists and reveals and for balancing dark comedy and suspense, making it a perfect cozy (or not) mystery on a lazy weekend.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, Netflix
Ever wondered what a blend of crime procedural and teen drama would look like? No need to look further as this riveting series has the best of both genres—and a few more.
Five years ago, a murder-suicide gripped a small town in Buckinghamshire: local school girl Andie (India Lillie Davis) was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal (Rahul Pattni), who then took his own life. The tragedy still haunts the townspeople, especially Pip (Emma Myers), a high-school student turned investigator who was childhood friends with Sal. Pip decides to reexamine the closed case which sees her going down a dangerous rabbit hole of dark secrets and even darker mysteries.
Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen, Apple TV+
This black comedy-slash-crime drama follows a former police detective demoted to being a restaurant inspector, Andrew Yancy (Vince Vaughn), who stumbles upon a case involving a severed arm. Seeing this as an opportunity to redeem himself and earn back his detective badge, he takes on the case only to find himself in the depths of the criminal underworld.
Watch for the comedy, Vaughn’s memorable performance and the breathtaking beauty of Florida and the Bahamas. Oh, there really is a bad monkey, too.
The Imaginary by A.F. Harold, Netflix
Directed by former Studio Ghibli animator Yoshiyuki Momose, this visually arresting animated film captures the beauty and innocence of childhood imagination–in both heartwarming and heartbreaking ways.
The movie follows Amanda and her imaginary friend Rudger who share a deep connection, one which will be threatened by the sudden appearance of “imaginary friend hunter” Mr. Bunting who threatens to destroy Rudger forever. Rudger runs away with other lost imaginaries to escape the clutches of the evil Mr. Bunting. Will he be able to return to Amanda’s side before she forgets him and he disappears into just a figment of her childhood memory? This film brims with heart, nostalgia, and wisdom—it will stay with you for a long time.
The Dark Manual by Colin O’ Sullivan, Sunny on Apple TV+
Ah, this one’s another unexpected favorite. The story follows Suzie Sakamoto (Rashida Jones) a woman living in Japan who spirals into a state of debilitating grief after her son and husband go missing in a plane crash.
To help her cope, her husband’s electronics company provides her with Sunny, a “domestic robot” to assist her in the now-empty home. As the truth of her family’s disappearance unravels, Sunny seems to be the unlikely key to discovering the truth of her husband and son’s fate. Rashida Jones is a powerhouse, while the series is one of the most imaginative I’ve come across in recent years. Plus it’s set in Kyoto—what more can you ask for?
Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman, Apple TV+
Anything with Natalie Portman in it, I devour. As a fan of the Black Swan star and Harvard alum for as long as I can remember, Lady in the Lake is a shoo-in on my to-watch list. The series is an adaptation of critically acclaimed crime writer Laura Lippman’s 2019 novel, which was inspired by two unrelated deaths in Baltimore in 1969.
The show follows Maddie Schwartz (Portman), a middle-aged Jewish housewife turned investigative reporter, and Cleo Sherwood (Moses Ingram), a young African American woman whose murder has been forgotten. Maddie investigates Cleo’s life, desperate to uncover the truth of her death, but someone’s not too happy with this new development.
Don’t be discouraged by some of the reviews, this slow burn of a series is well acted, impeccably written, and thoroughly gripping.
Stolen by Ann-Helén Laestadius, Netflix
Well, to be honest, this one’s not for everyone. For many, it may seem painfully boring, but if you love learning about other cultures, then I suggest you give this coming-of-age tale a try. Based on real events, the story follows the daughter of Sweden’s Sámi reindeer herders, who is left traumatized after a man brutally kills her beloved calf. Her attempts to report the crime, however, go unheeded. After a decade, she takes the matter into her own hands.
The film, which is based on the 2021 novel of the same name by Ann-Helén Laestadius, is an incisive look into the plight of the Sami people set against a stunning backdrop of snow and reindeer—which make it a worthy addition to your to-watch list, if this genre is your cup of tea.
