That said, here are some movies that are considered to be very faithful adaptations of their source material, generally considered to be among the best:
Generally Considered Faithful:
* The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003): While some changes were made for the screen, Peter Jackson's adaptation of Tolkien's epic is remarkably faithful to the books.
* The Shawshank Redemption (1994): This film stays very true to Stephen King's novella "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption."
* The Godfather (1972): Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of Mario Puzo's novel is considered one of the most faithful and well-made adaptations ever.
* The Silence of the Lambs (1991): This film closely follows the story of Thomas Harris' novel, capturing its suspense and atmosphere.
* No Country for Old Men (2007): The Coen brothers' adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel is considered to be very true to the source material, both in tone and plot.
* The Princess Bride (1987): This film is nearly a scene-for-scene adaptation of William Goldman's novel.
* The Green Mile (1999): This adaptation of Stephen King's novel captures the essence of the story and the characters, while making a few adjustments for the screen.
Faithful in Parts, with Significant Changes:
* The Godfather Part II (1974): While staying faithful to the themes and characters, the film takes significant liberties with the story.
* Fight Club (1999): David Fincher's adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk's novel deviates from the source material in some significant ways, but remains a strong adaptation overall.
* The Social Network (2010): Aaron Sorkin's screenplay takes creative liberties with the story of Facebook's creation, but still captures the spirit of Ben Mezrich's book.
Ultimately, how closely a movie adapts a book is a matter of opinion. Some viewers may find certain changes to be jarring, while others may find them to be creative improvements.
It's always a good idea to read the book first, to see how the movie compares to the source material!