14 TV Shows Based on Books: What to Binge-Watch After You Binge-Read
There’s a good chance you’ve binge-watched at least one series lately that was based on a book, and you may not have even realized it!
Books can make great material for addictive television shows, so it’s really not much of a surprise that some of the most popular shows got their start on the written page.
Read on to discover some of the best shows adapted from books that you can binge-watch after (or maybe before) you binge-read.
TV Shows Based on Books
The following 14 television series are all based on books. Add some of these to your binge-watch list, or check out the books that inspired them!
1. Game of Thrones
This 8-season fantasy series was based on George R. R. Martin’s book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, of which the first installment was A Game of Thrones.
The show was famous its graphic violence, sex, and for upsetting viewers with the killing of fan favorites. That didn’t seem to deter them from watching though—the series finale was the most watched episode of all HBO shows. Game of Thrones also holds the record for total Emmy Award wins for a scripted television series.
2. Sherlock
Based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic books, this modern update follows Sherlock and Watson through 21st century London. In this version, Watson has just returned from military service in Afghanistan.
Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the titular protagonist, with Martin Freeman as his loyal sidekick Watson. The show consists of four 3-part series and aired between 2010 and 2017.
Available on: Amazon Prime Video, PBS,
3. House of Cards
Before House of Cards captured the drama of American politics, it was a BBC series that did the same for British Parliament. And before that, it was a novel by British author Michael Dobbs, which followed the fictional Chief Whip of the Conservative Party and his manipulative scheme to become Prime Minister.
The TV series was the first to be produced by a studio for Netflix. Spanning six seasons, the series follows Congressman Frank Underwood’s elaborate plan to attain power through manipulation and betrayal after being passed over for Secretary of State
Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
4. Dexter
The first season of this hit Showtime series was based on the 2004 novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay.
It follows the main character, Dexter Morgan, who is a forensic technician specializing in bloodstain patterns by day, and a vigilante serial killer by night, killing murderers who haven’t been served adequate justice.
The series spanned 8 seasons and was nominated for 24 Emmys.
Available on: Hulu, Showtime, Amazon Prime Video
5. Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights was inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist H.G. Bissinger, which was also adapted into a 2004 film of the same name.
The book profiles the town of Odessa, Texas, and its high school football team’s dramatic 1988 season, while also presenting a bitter struggle between sports and education.
Although the TV series never amassed a very large audience, it had a passionate fanbase and was applauded by critics for its realistic portrayal of Middle America and the deep exploration of its main characters.
Available on: Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
6. Mindhunter
Mindhunter is a psychological thriller series based on the 1995 true-crime book, Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit.
The series follows FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench, along with psychologist Wendy Carr, as they launch a research project to interview imprisoned serial killers to understand their psychology.
Available on: Netflix
7. Boardwalk Empire
Based on the 2002 nonfiction book, Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City, the critically acclaimed HBO series stars Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson, a county political figure who rises to prominence and gains control of Atlantic City during Prohibition.
Martin Scorsese served as executive producer of the series and even directed its pilot episode. Boardwalk Empire received 57 Emmy nominations throughout its run and won 20.
Available on: Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max
8. Orange Is the New Black
The widely popular Netflix series was inspired by Piper Kerman’s memoir of the same name, which tells of her year in a women’s prison.
Just like her real-life counterpart, the show’s normally law-abiding protagonist is convicted of a decade-old crime—transporting drug money to an ex-girlfriend—and must face the life-changing realities of prison.
Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
9. The Handmaid’s Tale
The Handmaid’s Tale is based on Margaret Atwood’s modern classic of the same name. The dystopian story is set against a totalitarian regime following a Second American Civil War, wherein fertile women (the “handmaids”) are forced into child-bearing slavery.
The show, starring Elizabeth Moss, was the first show produced by Hulu to win a major award, as well as the first series on a streaming service to win an Emmy for Outstanding Series.
Available on: Hulu, Amazon Prime Video
10. 13 Reasons Why
Based on Jay Asher’s YA novel Thirteen Reasons Why, the series follows high school student Clay Jensen, who receives a box of cassette tapes recorded by another student, Hannah Baker, before she killed herself.
On the tapes, Hannah outlines 13 reasons that led to her decision, which are all tied to different people (including Hannah herself). The show features flashbacks from Hannah’s perspective that offer clarity to the trauma she faced during her time as a student.
The show’s first season in particular received much praise from both critics and viewers, although its graphic depiction of suicide, sexual assault, bullying, and rape has also prompted concerns from mental health professionals.
Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video11. Outlander
Featuring romance, drama, and time travel, Outlander is based on Diana Gabaldon’s ongoing book series. Both the books and show follow Claire Randall, who, during her 1945 honeymoon in Scotland, finds herself suddenly transported to 1743, where she falls in love with the dashing Highland warrior Jamie Fraser.
The show has received numerous awards and nominations. It premiered in 2014, and its sixth season is scheduled for release in 2022.
12. A Series of Unfortunate Events
Netflix’s black comedy-drama is based on the children’s novels of the same name. Both the books and the TV series are characterized by Victorian Gothic tones, dark humor, and sarcastic storytelling.
In addition to the Netflix original show, the books, which debuted in 1999, have also inspired a film starring Jim Carrey, a video game, and assorted merchandise.
Available on: Netflix
13. Bridgerton
Produced by Shonda Rhimes, Bridgerton is the hit period drama based on Julia Quinn’s novels. Both the books and show take place in Regency era London, and follow the eight close-knit siblings of the powerful Bridgerton family as they attempt to find love.
Bridgerton held the record for the most-watched series on Netflix until the popularity of Squid Game exploded in October 2021.
Available on: Netflix
14. The Magicians
Originally airing on SyFy, The Magicians is a fantasy series based on Lev Grossman’s novel of the same name.
Spanning five seasons, the show follows Quentin Coldwater, who enrolls at Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy to be trained as a magician.
As Quentin discovers that the magical worlds he read about as a child are actually quite real and potentially dangerous, his friend, Julia, begins to search for magic outside of the school after being denied admission.
Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
Shows Inspired by Your Favorite Books
Some books, especially those in a series, just seem like they were destined for television. While it can be exciting to watch a show that’s based on a book you loved, the reverse can be just as fun!
If there’s a show from this list that you’ve enjoyed watching, try reading the books that inspired them and take note of what changed and what didn’t on the road to the small screen.
Do you have a favorite TV show based on a book? Share it with us in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 25 Best Movies Based on Books: Read It Then See It
- 12 Short Stories That Were Made into Movies
- 16 of the Best True Crime Documentaries to Watch Now
- 10 Best Books Based on True Stories
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