Book-to-movie adaptations are more common in Hollywood than one might realize. Many screenplays are based on novels or non-fiction books, and sometimes their titles are changed so that the film is unrecognizable from the source material. One of the industry's most acclaimed directors is also someone who has quite a few book adaptations under his belt.
Martin Scorsese is an iconic director, known for doing everything from gangster movies to children's films. A lot of the work he has put out there is adapted from famous (or, in some cases, not-so-famous) books, and these are some of the most iconic. Check out some of these stories if you're looking for a new read and a big Scorsese fan!
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Display card main info widgetKillers of the Flower Moon
Display card main info widget endCheck out the inspiration behind Scorsese's most recent offering, Killers of the Flower Moon, written by David Grann. This non-fiction book explores one of the darkest crimes in American history, where members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma began to be killed under mysterious circumstances, as the then-new FBI is called in to investigate the conspiracy.
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Display card main info widgetThe Wolf of Wall Street
Display card main info widget endThe Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort follows Belfort's story as one of the most infamous kingpins in finance, detailing his rise and epic fall. It's a story of insane greed and excess, as Belfort built a fortune and spent it just as quickly. It was, of course, also made into a highly successful film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Margot Robbie.
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Display card main info widgetThe Invention of Hugo Cabret
$18 $25 Save $7Display card main info widget endThe Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick is a classic children's novel full of wonder and whimsy. It follows a young orphan named Hugo who is a clockkeeper and lives in a world of secrecy. When his story collides with that of a bookish girl and an old man who runs a toy booth, his whole life is turned around. The book is famous for its gorgeous illustrations throughout and was adapted into the movie Hugo by Martin Scorsese.
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Display card main info widgetThe Age of Innocence
Display card main info widget endEdith Wharton's classic novel is a love story that takes place in New York City in the 19th century and explores the effect of living in a society that is restrictive with specific expectations. The story follows a young lawyer named Newland Archer who is engaged to a woman but is really in love with her more scandalous cousin. The book was adapted into a film by Martin Scorsese starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Winona Ryder.
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Display card main info widgetThe Last Temptation of Christ
Display card main info widget endScorsese's film, The Last Temptation of Christ, was based on a book, and not just the bible. The original novel by Nikos Kazantzakis is a reinterpretation of the gospel story that follows the life of Jesus Christ and was controversial for its very human portrayal of the man. It has also been heralded as a literary triumph and is a very moving and spiritual story.
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Display card main info widgetThe Gangs of New York
Display card main info widget endThis fascinating non-fiction book was the basis for Martin Scorsese's film of the same name and takes a look at the history of the city's dark underworld. The book tells of a New York in a turbulent and violent era, where infamous gangs and criminals ruled the streets. It's a compelling look at a real era of history that's often sensationalized in the media.
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Display card main info widgetWiseguy
Display card main info widget endCheck out the true-crime thriller that inspired Goodfellas, one of Scorsese's most iconic films. Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi follows the life of Henry Hill, a working-class kid from Brooklyn who grew into a mafia gangster as an adult. It's a chronicle of what life in the mob is like from a person who was involved in that dark and complicated world.
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Display card main info widgetCasino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas
Display card main info widget endCasino, written by Nicholas Pileggi, who was also responsible for the book that inspired Goodfellas, is the true crime classic that inspired another Scorsese film - Casino. This book tells the story of how the mob lost its hold on one of its biggest money-making machines: the gambling industry in Las Vegas.
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Display card main info widgetCape Fear
$12 $16 Save $4Display card main info widget endThis classic suspense novel by John D. MacDonald (originally published under the title The Executioners) was the inspiration for two Hollywood films: one in 1962 directed by J. Lee Thompson and the 1991 Martin Scorsese version. The story follows a normal family that is haunted by an obsessed criminal, hellbent on revenge against the lawyer father who put him behind bars.
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Display card main info widgetShutter Island
$10 $12 Save $2Display card main info widget endThis novel by Dennis Lehane was adapted by Martin Scorsese into his 2010 film, Shutter Island, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The story follows a U.S. Marshal who is sent to a hospital for the criminally insane to investigate the disappearance of a patient who is known to be a murderer and finds he must confront his own fears if he wants to make it out alive.
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Display card main info widgetSilence
Display card main info widget endSilence, the bestselling classic by Shusaku Endo, follows two Portuguese Jesuit priests who travel to a country that is hostile to their beliefs. As they watch their Japanese Christian brethren lay down their lives for the faith they refuse to denounce, the priests must confront horrible tragedies that test their own beliefs. This book was adapted into a film in 2016 by Martin Scorsese.
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Display card main info widgetI Heard You Paint Houses
Display card main info widget endI Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt was the inspiration for Scorsese's iconic film, The Irishman. This book explores, and by all accounts solves, the mystery surrounding Jimmy Hoffa, a labor union boss who went missing under mysterious circumstances. The book tells the story of Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran and his mob hits, including the mafia's role in the assassination of JFK.
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Display card main info widgetBringing Out the Dead
Display card main info widget endBringing Out the Dead by Joe Connelly, which inspired the Martin Scorsese film of the same name, follows Frank Pierce, an EMT in Hell's Kitchen, New York City, who is being destroyed by the grief and guilt in his line of work. The story is about Frank trying to remember why he became an EMT in the first place while being haunted by a resurrected patient who just wants to be released into death.
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Display card main info widgetHoward Hughes: His Life and Madness
Display card main info widget endThis book, detailing the life and times of Howard Hughes, inspired the major motion picture The Aviator, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Authors Donald L. Bartlett and James B. Steele examine Hughes's public image of secrecy and reclusiveness and try to break through it and learn more about the real man behind it all.
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Display card main info widgetSister of The Road
Display card main info widget endSister of the Road inspired one of Scorsese's lesser-known films, Boxcar Bertha. This book by Dr. Ben Reitman is an autobiography of Bertha Thompson, a Depression-era criminal and wanderer, and it details her "hobo" lifestyle and her life amongst the fringes of society at the time.
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Display card main info widgetThe Color of Money
Display card main info widget endThis book, written by Walter Tevis, was the source material behind Martin Scorsese's 1986 film of the same name, which was a sequel to The Hustler. After conquering the underground pool circuit, "Fast" Eddie Felson has put that life behind him for a while, but is ready to re-enter it, though he finds that the world has changed drastically since he left.
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FAQs
How Many Movies Has Martin Scorsese Directed?
Martin Scorcese is incredibly prolific and has directed 26 feature films, 17 documentaries, and co-directed one anthology movie. Of those, 17 were adapted from previously written books.
Has Martin Scorsese Written Any Movies?
Though he's mostly known as a director, Scorsese has also contributed to the writing of some of his films, either as the main or co-writer. The films that he has writing credits on include Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Mean Streets, The Last Temptation of Christ, Casino, and The Age of Innocence.
Must-Reads For Scorcese Fans
Martin Scorsese is one of the most iconic directors still working today, and he seems to be adept at choosing his source material. Many directors are influenced by written works, and Scorsese has a way of bringing those stories to life, whether they're fiction or non-fiction.
Big film fans and those who closely follow Scorcese's work will likely want to read the inspirations for some of his films sometime. If you decide to check any of these books out and order them from Amazon, don't forget to try their 30-day trial of Prime for fast and free shipping!