SHORT STORY 2 FEATURE FILM
Arrival, Benjamin Button, Rear Window +
Over the years, multiple short stories have given way to iconic feature films. In the span of mere pages, we are transported to tales of different characters. From favorites including Brokeback Mountain to classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey plus everything in between, take a chance and read the shorts adapted for the big screen.
Arrival, based on “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang
Amy Adams starred in the hit adaptation of Ted Chiang’s 1998 short story “Story of Your Life.” At 39 pages, the source material for Arrival is just as stunning and thought-provoking as the film. Read it here.
Brokeback Mountain, based on “Brokeback Mountain” by Annie Proulx
Annie Proulx’s emotional story about two cowboys who fall in love in the Wyoming mountains was a feature film by storied director Ang Lee. It was initially published in The New Yorker in 1997 and is just as steamy and heartbreaking as the movie. Read it here.
Secret Life of Walter Mitty, based on “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” by James Thurber
James Thurber’s short story was published in The New Yorker in 1939, but Ben Stiller’s film didn’t come out until 2013. The imaginative short is often part of high school English, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t revisit it. Read it here.
2001: A Space Odyssey, based on “The Sentinel” by Arthur C. Clarke
1968s 2001: A Space Odyssey is a classic sci-fi movie. At only six pages long, Arthur C. Clarke’s 1948 story “The Sentinel” was completely expanded upon by Stanley Kubrick. Read it here.
Secretary, based on “Secretary” by Mary Gaitskill from Bad Behavior (1989)
Secretary is one of our favorite films here at PROVOKR. The raunchy workplace drama delivered some of the best sex scenes ever — and the short story it’s based on by Mary Gaskill is just as steamy. Read it here.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, based on “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Brad Pitt brought F. Scott Fitzgerald’s titular character to life in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The 1922 article is one of the longest on the list, but it’s worth the read. Find it here.
Total Recall, based on “We Can Remember it For You Wholesale” by Philip K. Dick
Famous sci-fi author Philip K. Dick penned the source material for numerous feature film adaptations, including the short story that later became Total Recall. The original “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale” comes in at 19 pages long. Read it here.
Minority Report, based on “The Minority Report” by Philip K. Dick
Also from Dick is “The Minority Report.” The 20-page short story was adapted into a 2002 film starring Tom Cruise. Read it here.
Rear Window, based on “It Had to Be Murder” by Cornell Woolrich
Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 classic, Rear Window, comes from “It Had to Be Murder” by Cornell Woolrich. The 13-page story is just as thrilling as its film counterpart. Read it here.
Sleepy Hollow, based on “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving is likely the shortest on this list, but that doesn’t mean it’s the worst. The classic short was adapted into a film by Tim Burton in 1999 starring Johnny Depp. Read it here.
