Gli sceneggiatori di Film hanno da sempre attinto a piene mani dai libri di Fantascienza per raccontare storie fantastiche sul grande (e sul piccolo) schermo. In alcuni casi, rari per la verità, facendo un lavoro persino migliore (o per meglio dire, ancora più emozionante) di quello narrato sulla carta stampata. Un binomio certo che non sempre ha avuto successo, ma che in ogni caso ci ha portati a considerare (o riconsiderare) opere e storie che fino a quel momento vivevano soltanto nella nostra immaginazione.
Alcune trasposizioni sono effettivamente una versione visiva del libro, altre si sono lasciate più o meno liberamente ispirare dalla storia e dai personaggi. Ma quelle che vi proponiamo in questa lista, valgono se non altro una (doppia) occasione: quella di guardare per chi ha letto e quella di leggere per chi ha guardato. Con, si spera, reciproca soddisfazione.
Disclaimer: ci sono stati innumerevoli passaggi nei decenni passati, ma proprio per lo spirito delle nostre pagine, in questo listone vi parleremo solo di quelle uscite negli ultimi anni, dal 2010 a oggi.
Non Lasciarmi di Kazuo Ishiguro (2005, Einaudi)
never-let-me-go
drama, romance, sci-fi, thriller | october-15-2010-united-states
Director: Mark RomanekWriter: Kazuo Ishiguro, Alex GarlandStars: Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield
Summary: the-lives-of-three-friends-from-their-early-school-days-into-young-adulthood-when-the-reality-of-the-world-they-live-in-comes-knocking
Countries: United KingdomLanguages: English
Territori Oscuri – The Dark Fields – Limitless (2011, Rizzoli)
Limitless
| March 18, 2011 (United States)
Director: Neil BurgerWriter: Leslie Dixon, Alan GlynnStars: Bradley Cooper, Anna Friel, Abbie Cornish
Summary: A mysterious pill that enables the user to access 100% of his brain's abilities transforms a struggling writer into a financial wizard, but it also puts him in a new world with many dangers.
Countries: United StatesLanguages: English, Russian, Italian, Mandarin, French
I Guardiani del Destino di Philip K. Dick (2011, Fanucci)
The Adjustment Bureau
| March 4, 2011 (United States)
Director: George NolfiWriter: George Nolfi, Philip K. DickStars: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Lisa Thoreson
Summary: The affair between a politician and a contemporary dancer is affected by mysterious forces keeping the lovers apart.
Countries: United StatesLanguages: English
La cosa (Who Goes There?, 1938) di John Wood Campbell
The Thing
| October 14, 2011 (United States)
Director: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.Writer: Eric Heisserer, John W. Campbell Jr.Stars: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen
Summary: At an Antarctica research site, the discovery of an alien craft leads to a confrontation between graduate student Kate Lloyd and scientist Dr. Sander Halvorson.
Countries: Canada, United StatesLanguages: English, Norwegian, Danish
Ricordiamo per voi (Total Recall – Atto di Forza) di Philip K. Dick
Total Recall
| August 3, 2012 (United States)
Director: Len WisemanWriter: Kurt Wimmer, Mark Bomback, Ronald ShusettStars: Colin Farrell, Bokeem Woodbine, Bryan Cranston
Summary: A factory worker, Douglas Quaid, begins to suspect that he is a spy after visiting Rekall - a company that provides its clients with implanted fake memories of a life they would like to have... Read all
Countries: United States, CanadaLanguages: English, Ukrainian
Sotto le lune di Marte (John Carter) di Edgar Rice Burroughs (2011)
John Carter
| March 9, 2012 (United States)
Director: Andrew StantonWriter: Andrew Stanton, Mark Andrews, Michael ChabonStars: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe
Summary: Transported to Barsoom, a Civil War vet discovers a barren planet seemingly inhabited by 12-foot tall barbarians. Finding himself prisoner of these creatures, he escapes, only to encounter W... Read all
Countries: United StatesLanguages: English
L’atlante delle nuvole (Cloud Atlas) di David Mitchell (2012, Sperling & Kupfer)
Cloud Atlas
| October 26, 2012 (United States)
Director: Tom Tykwer, Lana Wachowski, Lilly WachowskiWriter: David Mitchell, Lana Wachowski, Tom TykwerStars: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant
Summary: An exploration of how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past, present and future, as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero, and an act of kindness ripples acro... Read all
Countries: United States, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, ChinaLanguages: English, Spanish, Ukrainian, Korean
Hunger Games di Suzanne Collins (2012, Mondadori)
The Hunger Games
| March 23, 2012 (United States)
Director: Gary RossWriter: Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins, Billy RayStars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
Summary: Katniss Everdeen voluntarily takes her younger sister's place in the Hunger Games: a televised competition in which two teenagers from each of the twelve Districts of Panem are chosen at ran... Read all
Countries: United StatesLanguages: English
Ender’s Game (Il gioco di Ender) di Orson Scott Card (1987, Cosmo Oro)
Ender's Game
| November 1, 2013 (United States)
Director: Gavin HoodWriter: Gavin Hood, Orson Scott CardStars: Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld
Summary: Young Ender Wiggin is recruited by the International Military to lead the fight against the Formics, an insectoid alien race who had previously tried to invade Earth and had inflicted heavy ... Read all
Countries: United StatesLanguages: English
World War Z di Max Brooks (2006)
World War Z
| June 21, 2013 (United States)
Director: Marc ForsterWriter: Matthew Michael Carnahan, Drew Goddard, Damon LindelofStars: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz
Summary: Former United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop a zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatens to destroy humanity itsel... Read all
Countries: United States, United Kingdom, MaltaLanguages: English, Spanish, Hebrew, Arabic
The Host di Stephanie Meyer (2013, Rizzoli)
The Host
| March 29, 2013 (United States)
Director: Andrew NiccolWriter: Andrew Niccol, Stephenie MeyerStars: Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons, Jake Abel
Summary: When an unseen enemy threatens mankind by taking over their bodies and erasing their memories, Melanie Stryder risks everything to protect the people she cares about.
Countries: United States, SwitzerlandLanguages: English
Under the Skin di Michel Faber (2001, Einaudi)
under-the-skin
drama, horror, mystery, sci-fi, thriller | march-14-2014-united-kingdom
Director: Jonathan GlazerWriter: Walter Campbell, Jonathan Glazer, Michel FaberStars: Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy McWilliams, Lynsey Taylor Mackay
Summary: a-mysterious-young-woman-seduces-lonely-men-in-the-evening-hours-in-scotland-however-events-lead-her-to-begin-a-process-of-self-discovery
Countries: United Kingdom, SwitzerlandLanguages: English
Maze Runner di James Dashner (2014, Fanucci)
The Maze Runner
| September 19, 2014 (United States)
Director: Wes BallWriter: Noah Oppenheim, Grant Pierce Myers, T.S. NowlinStars: Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Will Poulter
Summary: Thomas is deposited in a community of boys after his memory is erased, soon learning they're all trapped in a maze that will require him to join forces with fellow "runners" for a shot at es... Read all
Countries: United Kingdom, United StatesLanguages: English
Divergent di Veronica Roth (2014, De Agostini)
Divergent
| March 21, 2014 (United States)
Director: Neil BurgerWriter: Evan Daugherty, Vanessa Taylor, Veronica RothStars: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet
Summary: In a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris learns she's Divergent and won't fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four must find out wha... Read all
Countries: United StatesLanguages: English, Spanish
Predestination – All You Zombies di Robert A. Heinlein (1959)
predestination
action, drama, sci-fi, thriller | january-9-2015-united-states
Director: Michael Spierig, Peter SpierigWriter: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig, Robert A. HeinleinStars: Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook, Noah Taylor
Summary: for-his-final-assignment-a-top-temporal-agent-must-pursue-the-one-criminal-that-has-eluded-him-throughout-time-the-chase-turns-into-a-unique-surprising-and-mind-bending-exploration-of-lov-read-a
Countries: Australia, United StatesLanguages: English
The Giver – Il mondo di Jonas di Lois Lowry (1995, Mondadori)
The Giver
| August 15, 2014 (United States)
Director: Phillip NoyceWriter: Michael Mitnick, Robert B. Weide, Lois LowryStars: Brenton Thwaites, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep
Summary: In a seemingly perfect community without war, pain, suffering, differences, or choices, a young boy is chosen to learn from an elderly man about the true pain and pleasure of the "real" worl... Read all
Countries: United States, South Africa, CanadaLanguages: English
High Rise – Il Condominio di J. G. Ballard (1976)
high-rise
drama, sci-fi | april-28-2016-united-states
Director: Ben WheatleyWriter: Amy Jump, J.G. BallardStars: Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller
Summary: life-for-the-residents-of-a-tower-block-begins-to-run-out-of-control
Countries: United Kingdom, BelgiumLanguages: English
The Martian – Sopravvissuto di Andy Weir (2015, Newton Compton)
The Martian
| October 2, 2015 (United States)
Director: Ridley ScottWriter: Drew Goddard, Andy WeirStars: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig
Summary: An astronaut becomes stranded on Mars after his team assume him dead, and must rely on his ingenuity to find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive and can survive until a potential rescu... Read all
Countries: United States, United Kingdom, Hungary, JordanLanguages: English, Mandarin
Arrival – Storia della tua vita di Ted Chiang
Arrival
| November 11, 2016 (United States)
Director: Denis VilleneuveWriter: Eric Heisserer, Ted ChiangStars: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker
Summary: A linguist works with the military to communicate with alien lifeforms after twelve mysterious spacecraft appear around the world.
Countries: United States, CanadaLanguages: English, Russian, Mandarin
Annientamento di Jeff VanderMeer (Einaudi)
annihilation
adventure, drama, horror, mystery, sci-fi, thriller | february-23-2018-united-states
Director: Alex GarlandWriter: Alex Garland, Jeff VanderMeerStars: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson
Summary: a-biologist-signs-up-for-a-dangerous-secret-expedition-into-a-mysterious-zone-where-the-laws-of-nature-dont-apply
Countries: United States, United KingdomLanguages: English
Fahrenheit 451 di Ray Bradbury (1999, Mondadori)
Fahrenheit 451
| May 20, 2018 (Russia)
Director: Ramin BahraniWriter: Ray Bradbury, Ramin Bahrani, Amir NaderiStars: Michael B. Jordan, Aaron Davis, Cindy Katz
Summary: In a terrifying care-free future, a young man, Guy Montag, whose job as a fireman is to burn all books, questions his actions after meeting a young woman - and begins to rebel against societ... Read all
Countries: United StatesLanguages: English
Macchine Mortali di Philip Reeve (2001)
Mortal Engines
| December 14, 2018 (United States)
Director: Christian RiversWriter: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter JacksonStars: Hera Hilmar, Robert Sheehan, Hugo Weaving
Summary: In a post-apocalyptic world where cities ride on wheels and consume each other to survive, two people meet in London and try to stop a conspiracy.
Countries: United States, New Zealand, Japan, ChinaLanguages: English
Ready Player One di Ernest Cline (2011, Mondadori)
Ready Player One
| March 29, 2018 (United States)
Director: Steven SpielbergWriter: Zak Penn, Ernest ClineStars: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn
Summary: When the creator of a virtual reality called the OASIS dies, he makes a posthumous challenge to all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune and control of ... Read all
Countries: United States, IndiaLanguages: English
Il colore venuto dallo spazio (The Colour Out of Space) di Howard Phillips Lovecraft
Color Out of Space
| February 25, 2020 (United States)
Director: Richard StanleyWriter: H.P. Lovecraft, Richard Stanley, Scarlett AmarisStars: Nicolas Cage, Joely Richardson, Madeleine Arthur
Summary: A secluded farm is struck by a strange meteorite which has apocalyptic consequences for the family living there and possibly the world.
Countries: United States, Malaysia, PortugalLanguages: English
Little fish di Casey Plett (2018)
little-fish
drama, romance, sci-fi | february-5-2021-united-states
Summary: a-couple-fights-to-hold-their-relationship-together-as-a-memory-loss-virus-spreads-and-threatens-to-erase-the-history-of-their-love-and-courtship
Countries: United States, CanadaLanguages: English
Dune di Frank Herbert (1965)
Dune
| October 22, 2021 (United States)
Director: Denis VilleneuveWriter: Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve, Eric RothStars: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya
Summary: A noble family becomes embroiled in a war for control over the galaxy's most valuable asset while its heir becomes troubled by visions of a dark future.
Countries: United States, CanadaLanguages: English, Mandarin
High Rise – Il Condominio di J. G. Ballard (1976)
high-rise
drama, sci-fi | april-28-2016-united-states
Director: Ben WheatleyWriter: Amy Jump, J.G. BallardStars: Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller
Summary: life-for-the-residents-of-a-tower-block-begins-to-run-out-of-control
Countries: United Kingdom, BelgiumLanguages: English
The Wandering Earth di Cixin Liu (Mondadori)
The Wandering Earth
| February 5, 2019 (China)
Summary: As the sun is dying out, people all around the world build giant planet thrusters to move Earth out of its orbit and sail Earth to a new star system. Yet the 2500-year journey comes with une... Read all
Countries: ChinaLanguages: Mandarin, English, Russian, French, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Hindi, German
