Roald Dahl is an incredibly famous British author who has created some of the most well-known children's books in history. His work has inspired millions and multiple studios have gone on to adapt them into feature-length productions.
In fact, some of his work has even made it to Broadway, after becoming so successful years after they were originally written. His characters are always wacky and his stories are usually heartfelt, but with a dark twist. There's a lot of great books that still haven't been adapted to the screen and a lot of great movies that can be used as the shining example of a Dahl adaptation.
10 Never Brought To Screen: The Twits
The Twits are two of Dahl's most heinous characters. Horrible, nasty, and just all around crooked, a series of strange animals get their revenge on the Twits after they start to play tricks on them. It's quite a wacky and fun tale.
It's perhaps not suitable for a traditional adaptation but perhaps instead best for an animated story, one aimed at kids but with enough charm that adults can enjoy it as well. They are quite the iconic characters and this way studios wouldn't be worried about a live-action flop.
9 Great Adaptation: Esio Trot
Esio Trot is one of the least talked about adaptations of any of Dahl's work. Featuring the award-winning Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman, the pair play an unlikely couple, brought together by a love of tortoises.
It's quite a harmless and silly story that sees hundreds of tortoises take over Hoffman's character's apartment. It's a touching and charming film though, which was produced by the BBC in Britain and adapted as a TV movie.
8 Never Brought To Screen: George's Marvellous Medicine
George's Marvellous Medicine is perhaps the book that is the most shockingly not adapted to screen. The fact is, George has similar characteristics and charm to some of Dahl's other famous characters like Matilda, Charlie, or James.
He creates a special potion that he gives to his grandma, causing her to grow in size after she was extremely nasty to him. Chaos ensues and it has with it all the trademarks of a classic Dahl story, from a vile villain to a wacky premise.
7 Great Adaptation: Matilda
Matilda may be Dahl's most famous work since it has spawned a Broadway musical, a film adaptation and is one of his best selling books. Even the character of Mrs. Trunchball, the hated headteacher, has become pretty iconic.
There are a few great movies similar to Matilda but none can quite compare. It's at the top of its genre and sees a girl, in an abusive household and school, find out she has magical powers which she uses to get revenge.
6 Never Brought To Screen: The Enormous Crocodile
Another story that would be great for a kid's animation adaptation, this crocodile is incredibly hungry and likes to eat anything he can find. The character is actually the antagonist of the book, which is rare for Dahl to name it after him.
The crocodile continues to eat a great deal, from a playground to a coconut, until he decides to try to eat some children. As can be expected though, all things go wrong when Trunky the Elephant fights back and sends the crocodile into the stratosphere.
5 Great Adaptation: Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory
Willy Wonka is perhaps Dahl's most iconic character and that is in part due to the wonderful performance of Gene Wilder. His take on the chocolatier was absolutely mesmerizing and has gone down in film history.
The movie itself is a great adaptation, full of life, color, and some fantastic songs. It captures the spirit and essence of the original book so well and all of its crazy characters. It certainly cannot be rivaled by the reboot version.
4 Never Brought To Screen: Charlie And The Great Glass Elevator
Considering the success of the original adaptation it's fascinating that no one has adapted the sequel book. Elements of it have shown up in the other films although it has never been treated as a separate entity.
It would be interesting to see some kind of TV or Netflix adaptation that fully brings the two books to life on screen and takes full advantage of some of Dahl's best storytelling.
3 Great Adaptation: James And The Giant Peach
James and the Giant Peach is a childhood favorite for many people. Combining beautiful stop motion effects with great storytelling and an award-winning cast, this really captured the imagination in every way possible.
It's considered to be a classic now and it's easy to see why. With James getting stuck in a peach he comes across a number of strange animals, all of which want to help him and look after him as if he was their son. It's certainly a touching tale.
2 Never Brought To Screen: The Magic Finger
Another fantasy tale about a young girl with magical powers, this novel absolutely deserves to be on screen, because it is a thrilling adventure akin to that of Matilda. The book actually carries important environmental messages.
A young girl starts getting into a rivalry with her neighbors who are actually hunters. When she gets angry she can shoot energy from her finger, meaning she can get revenge on them for their cruelty!
1 Great Adaptation: Fantastic Mr. Fox
Fantastic Mr. Fox is some of Wes Anderson's best work. It has a stellar cast and features another set of beautiful stop motion animation. What's more, it truly is a unique piece of filmmaking.
With the quirkiness of Anderson's directorial style, accompanied by the craziness of Dahl's writing, this rivalry between a farmer and a fox certainly gets out of hand very quickly!
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