The books to read before they hit the screen in 2026: From gothic classics to modern thrillers

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From brooding moors to outer space, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of must-see film and TV adaptations. Before these stories hit our screens, why not get ahead of the curve and dive into the novels that inspired them? Whether it’s falling in love at a Bridgerton masquerade, surviving a deadly Hunger Games, or uncovering dark secrets in a chilling thriller, reading the book first lets you savour every twist, turn and forbidden romance.

Here’s your ultimate reading list for the stories everyone will be talking about this year.

Adapted from Julia Quinn’s novel, the fourth season of Bridgerton follows Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) as he meets and falls for the mysterious Lady in Silver (Yerin Ha) at a masquerade ball, only to encounter her again later as his maid – before realising she’s the woman he’s been searching for all along. Premieres on Netflix: 29 January.

Emerald Fennell (Saltburn) directs this gothic adaptation of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel. Margot Robbie stars as Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff in a dark tale of passion, revenge and obsession on the windswept moors. In cinemas: 14 February.

Maggie Gyllenhaal reimagines Mary Shelley’s 1818 classic in The Bride!, a remake of the 1935 film The Bride of Frankenstein. Jessie Buckley stars as the Bride, with Christian Bale as Frankenstein’s monster, delivering a haunting, bold twist on the story of creation and consequence. In cinemas: 6 March.

Based on Patricia Cornwell’s bestselling Kay Scarpetta series, Postmortem stars Nicole Kidman as Dr Kay Scarpetta, a forensic pathologist using advanced technology to solve complex crimes. Jamie Lee Curtis co-stars as Dorothy Scarpetta, Kay’s protective older sister. Premieres on Prime Video: 11 March.

Adapted from Colleen Hoover’s 2022 novel, the story follows Kenna Rowan (Maika Monroe) as she returns to her hometown after prison to reconnect with her daughter, Diem, while facing resistance from Diem’s grandparents and slowly building a forbidden romance with Ledger Ward (Tyriq Withers), the best friend of Diem’s late father. In cinemas: 13 March.

This Apple TV+ thriller is based on Araminta Hall’s 2021 novel Perfect Strangers, which explores a crime that shatters the lives of three lifelong friends. Elisabeth Moss and Kerry Washington star in a tense, suspenseful series of secrets and betrayal. Premieres on Apple TV+: 18 March.

Adapted from Andy Weir’s 2021 science fiction novel, the film stars Ryan Gosling as a man who wakes alone on an interstellar spacecraft with no memory of how he got there – and must find a way to save humanity. In cinemas: 20 March.

Based on Rufi Thorpe’s bestselling novel, this Apple TV+ series follows recent college dropout Margo (Elle Fanning) as she navigates life with a new baby, mounting bills, and eccentric parents – an ex-Hooter’s waitress (Michelle Pfeiffer) and ex-pro wrestler (Nick Offerman). Premieres on Apple TV+: 15 April.

Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of Homer’s epic poem stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, chronicling his perilous journey home after the Trojan War, and Anne Hathaway as his wife Penelope. Adventure, myth, and heroism collide in this cinematic epic. In cinemas: 17 July. 

Based on Margaret Atwood’s 2019 novel, this series picks up five years after The Handmaid’s Tale, following a new generation of women in Gilead as they navigate oppression, rebellion and survival. Ann Dowd, Chase Infiniti and Lucy Halliday lead the cast. Premieres on Disney+: 8 April.

Adapted from Jane Austen’s classic novel, the film follows the Dashwood sisters, Elinor (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Marianne (Esmé Creed-Miles), as they navigate love, heartbreak and social expectations after their father’s death in Georgian-era England. In cinemas: 11 September.

This psychological thriller is based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. A struggling writer is hired to finish a famous author’s series, only to uncover a chilling manuscript revealing dark secrets and drawing her into a dangerous web of obsession and forbidden attraction. Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett star. In cinemas: 2 October.

Adapted from a concept developed by M. Night Shyamalan and Nicholas Sparks, this supernatural romantic thriller stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Tate Donovan, a New York architect seeking a fresh start in Cape Cod. Phoebe Dynevor plays Wren, a mysterious woman who disrupts his carefully ordered life. In cinemas: 23 October.

Based on Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel, this Hunger Games sequel-prequel follows Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) in the Second Quarter Quell, a deadly competition where each district must send double the number of tributes. In cinemas: 20 November.

This six-part series adapts Jane Austen’s classic novel. Emma Corrin stars as Elizabeth Bennet and Jack Lowden as Mr Darcy, with Olivia Colman and Rufus Sewell as the Bennets, capturing the romance, wit and social tension of Regency England. Premieres on Netflix: 2026.