Some books make you want to see the movie. Some movies instantly make you want to pick up the book. And sometimes, you fall in love with the movie first—only to discover there’s a whole story behind it just waiting to be read. In all cases, I’m sold.

Here are my top 5 favorite movies based on books—films that stuck with me long after the credits rolled.

I first heard about the book back in 2003 through online forums. It seemed like ever...