They say that a movie can’t be better than the book – but these 10 adaptations prove otherwise. These 10 movies prove that it is possible to be better than the book. It’s all a matter of opinion, of course. Unless you didn’t like Mean Girls as much as the book, in which case, we have nothing to say to you.

‘The Notebook’

Nicholas Sparks’ novel The Notebook inspired the hit film of the same name. The book was based on a true story, and was Sparks’ first published novel.

Why was it better? The basis is there, but the book lacks the intensity that made the movie so watchable and emotional. Unable to convey the depth and emotional strength of Noah and Allie’s relationship, the story remains the same, but has far less impact than the movie. There was no way of knowing what amazing chemistry Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams would have together — but (unfortunately for Sparks), they completely showed up the book. Plus, Ryan Gosling wasn’t in the book, so it automatically loses.

‘The Devil Wears Prada’

The Devil Wears Prada was inspired by the book of the same name by Lauren Weisberger. It is generally assumed that Weisberger’s book was based on her own experiences working as assistant to Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

Why was it better? Two words: Meryl Streep. Okay, a few more words: Streep can make something out of nothing, and her portrayal of Miranda Priestly brought a complexity to the character that did not exist in the novel.

Less concerned with listing Priestly’s horrible demands than with actually telling a story, the film adaptation took an okay book and turned it into a thoroughly enjoyable film, thanks almost entirely to Streep, the always wonderful Stanley Tucci, and a hilarious turn by Emily Blunt.

‘Howl’s Moving Castle’

This animated classic was inspired by the Diana Wynne Jones novel of the same name. The award-winning novel was published in 1986, and was followed by two sequels — Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways.

Why was it better? Diana Wynne Jones doesn’t know how to write a bad book, but the film adaptation of Howl’s managed to make it even better. The script compacted the story, filtering the somewhat cluttered nature of the original for a streamlined plot. But the real reason that the film is far superior to the book is down to the work by cinematic visionary Hayao Miyazaki.

The glorious animation elevated the story, showcasing the fantastical world created by Jones, as well as new elements added in by Miyazaki. This was a truly magical improvement.

‘Crazy Rich Asians’

Crazy Rich Asians brought life back into romantic comedies in 2018 with the adaptation the first book in Kevin Kwan’s series.

Why was it better? The characters themselves were less vapid stereotypes than in Kevin Kwan’s book. The movie added depth to each of them, such as the relationship Nick had with his best friend Colin and his fiance, Araminta. The movie highlighted Astrid more, despite cutting her relationship with her ex completely out.

I can only assume and hope that both Astrid and Charlie’s parts will be bigger in the adaptation of China Rich Girlfriend.

‘Love, Simon’

Based on the 2015 book Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, Love, Simon was a breakout hit in theatres in 2018 in a new wave of teenage romantic comedies.

Why was it better? Love, Simon felt more natural on screen than it did on the page. The usage of slang and the details about the website were toned down in the movie, making it more authentic and believable.

While Simon made terrible choices in both, I found the movie versions of Simon and his friends more palatable than the book. I mean, there was no need for Leah’s obsession with slash fan fiction to make it to the screen, so the screenwriter leaving that little tidbit out was probably for the best.

‘To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before’

The internet couldn’t get enough of the adaptation of Jenny Han’s 2014 book, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, which hit Netflix last year. With Lana Condor as the adorable Lara Jean and Noah Centineo as the endearing Peter Kavinsky, it’s no wonder Netflix immediately ordered the sequel, P.S. I Still Love You, which is due to come out in 2020.

Why was it better? Everything felt more real in the adaptation of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. Noah Centineo brought so much to the role of Peter that was absent in the book itself, along with he and Lana Condor’s chemistry from the get-go. We didn’t have a chance to catch our breath before we were swept off our feet and spun around like Lara Jean was.

The inclusion of some of the plot of the second book within the first movie made it more fleshed out, giving a heightened sense of drama along with it not ending on a cliffhanger like the book did.

Getting that John Hughes vibe that Lara Jean yearned for gave audiences the same feeling that we got the first time we watched Sixteen Candles.

‘Jurassic Park’

Michael Crichton brought dinosaurs back into vogue with his 1990 book Jurassic Park. Three years later, we got the movie adaptation of the same name that not only changed cinema, but changed the entire world’s view of what we believed dinosaurs looked like and how they behaved.

Why was it better? Hear me out: Jurassic Park may be a modern classic, but that doesn’t mean all of the scientific parts of the book didn’t drag. Easily glossed over and hand-waved for visuals, the movie gave viewers and readers the adrenaline rush that is hard to accomplish in book form.

There’s nothing like the visual of the cup of water shaking, of seeing the T-rex and velociraptors. Ground breaking animatronics, heightened suspense, and small tweaks to the plotline made Jurassic Park the phenomenon that set off a movie franchise that still lives on over 25 years later.

‘Twilight’

Stephanie Meyer’s best-selling series, Twilight, and its 2008 movie adaptation was (and still is) one of the most talked about series even 10 years later. With a new resurgence of fans, it’s mostly made fun of now, but there’s power behind this young adult paranormal franchise.

Why was it better? First off, it was essentially a teenage girl’s fantasy on screen, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. Teenage girls get a bad rap when they like something, and Twilight was one of those things. Stylized thanks to Catherine Hardwicke’s muted tones that she’s now known for, along with great music and perfect casting, Twilight’s adaptation outshone the book series, hands down.

Getting outside points of view in film makes book adaptations work better, since first person point of view and film don’t really mesh well.

‘The Maze Runner’

James Dashner’s The Maze Runner brought Dylan O’Brien to the big screen after mostly being known for his role of Stiles Stilinski on MTV’s Teen Wolf up until that point. Wes Ball’s breakout movie franchise blew fans away, once more bringing young adult book adaptations back into the spotlight.

Why was it better? Simply put: Dylan O’Brien. Dylan brought so much to the role of Thomas that was non-existent in the book. The book version of Thomas had no personality, but Dylan had it in abundance. Wes Ball did an amazing job taking The Maze Runner and expanding the world, giving it life on the big screen that was easy to grab onto. With less emphasis on the slang, more action and suspense, along with tweaking the plot, there is no question that 2014’s The Maze Runner was miles better than the original book. The rest of the series, too, didn’t disappoint and even heightened the stakes of the book series itself.

‘Mean Girls’

Not all Mean Girls fans may know that the cult classic that kicked off the careers of many of today’s stars was based on a nonfiction book, Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman.

Why was it better? Let’s be honest, this is a completely one-sided competition. In Mean Girls, Tina Fey used the very best bits of Queen Bees and Wannabes while creating a cohesive storyline — something lacking (unsurprisingly) in the nonfiction original. Queen Bees and Wannabes might be educational, but it is also severely lacking in one-liners, and in Tina Fey.

The film also gave us joy in the form of Amy Poehler, mouse costumes, the best group conversation ever shown on film, and a somewhat surprisingly deep and important message. Go team!

Related: 6 book series that HBO should adapt to fill the Game of Thrones void