Neil Gaiman is a popular bestselling author, writing across multiple genres. He’s written full-length novels, children’s books, comic books, and has even done some screenwriting. With such a wide range of works, it’s no surprise that several of his books have been chosen for a film or TV adaptation. They continue to prove popular as well, as there are currently two of his works in production. His novel Good Omens, co-written with Terry Prachett, began filming season two of the hit show late last year. A comic series he did for DC, Sandman, is also set to release a TV series on Netflix later this year, and Gaiman himself has said that it will surprise people.
It’s no surprise that turning books into movies has always been popular in the film industry — many people want to see their beloved characters brought to life on the big screen. While their success varies, sometimes being a perfect realization of the novel while other times taking too many creative liberties for the fans to enjoy, directors keep adapting them regardless. The same goes for Neil Gaiman books. Take a look at the best adaptations of his work out there as we eagerly await the upcoming projects.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
5 Lucifer
Warner Bros. Television Distribution
While Lucifer is a very popular show, it places on the bottom of this list due to how it adapts Gaiman’s work. The show takes a character he created for the Sandman comics and gives him his own story and plot line. Essentially, Lucifer, who is DC’s version of the Devil, grows bored with Hell and leaves in direct defiance of his father. He settles in LA instead, where he runs a nightclub and becomes a consultant for the police department as he uses his supernatural abilities to figure out people’s deepest desires and solve the cases.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
Though Lucifer is a DC character, the show seems to exist in a universe of its own, not bringing in any of the other Sandman characters, or even any DC superheroes. It had its ups and downs too, starting on Fox for three seasons before declining viewership led to its initial cancellation, and then was picked up by Netflix for another three seasons, where it remained a hit. Critics tended to praise Tom Ellis for his performance as Lucifer, but criticized that it was just another crime procedural show, believing they could have done more with the characters and unique storyline.
4 American Gods
Lionsgate Television
The three-season show American Gods was made for Starz network, bringing the Neil Gaiman books of the same name to life. The main character, Shadow Moon, is released from prison a few days earlier than intended to attend his wife’s funeral. On the way home, he discovers a mysterious man named Mr. Wednesday, accepting a job offer from him upon finding his old job no longer exists. He then finds himself in a previously hidden world, not only discovering that magic is real, but finding a brewing conflict between the Old Gods and New Gods.
The first season was, arguably, the best season the show had. It fell off in season two in both plot and viewership, and though it began a comeback in season three, it was canceled before the rest of Gaiman’s five-season plan could continue. Still, as it brought the book to life in some surprising and unexpected ways, what we do see of the book is still a great experience for fans.
3 Stardust
Paramount Pictures
Stardust is a romantic fantasy adventure movie that remains faithful to the Neil Gaiman books. The King of Stormhold throws a ruby into the sky before he dies, proclaiming that his successor would be the first of his sons to recover it. It hits a star when it goes up, and both come crashing back down to the ground. The main character, Tristan, sees the falling star and vows to retrieve it in order to win Victoria’s hand in marriage. However, he’s in for a surprise when he meets the star, Yvaine, and the trouble she brings as he tries to take her back to his home.
The movie combines multiple genres without a hitch, capturing not only the heart of the story as it does, but the exact kind of humor and tone of the Neil Gaiman books, as well. It received positive reviews from critics, and was a hit with audiences around the world. Some of this success could be due to Gaiman’s insistence on being a part of the movie’s development, no matter how small. It went on to receive a Saturn Award nomination for best fantasy film, and won the best dramatic presentation (long-form) from the Hugo Awards.
2 Good Omens
The show was a success after the release of season one, following the Neil Gaiman book pretty closely with only a few scenes cut for the sake of time. Though some critics seemed to believe it could have benefited from a little more changes from the source material, fans of the book immediately loved it. It became so popular that people began to ask if a season two would come out, and even though season one made it through the entirety of the sole book, it was renewed due to its overwhelming popularity. As Gaiman continues to write the script, he is already teasing fans with season two, making the future of Good Omens look promising.
1 Coraline
Focus Features
Coraline is a stop-motion horror film based on the children’s book of the same name. The main character, Coraline, is struggling to adapt to her new life as her parents neglect her. She finds a small door in their apartment that, at first, only opens to reveal a brick wall, but later becomes a portal to a seemingly perfect parallel universe. Things in the Other World are not what they seem, however, as what appears to be the perfect world to Coraline is actually a trick to try and get her to stay in the fantasy forever.
There are a few key differences made from the Neil Gaiman book to movie in order to help the plot, but overall, it was a pretty faithful adaptation. It was an overwhelming success, perfectly capturing the story Gaiman had written while keeping the same terrifying tone throughout the movie. Its universal acclaim led to it being the third highest-grossing stop-motion movie of all time, and it continues to scare audiences to this day, regardless of whether they have watched it before or not. The movie was nominated for several best animated film awards, including from the Academy Awards, the BAFTAs, and the Golden Globes.
