In brief: Potter breaks records at witching hour screenings
Plus: Toronto film festival tackles "war on terror"; Chuck Palahniuk adaptation has Huston and Rockwell all choked up.
Mischa Barton to star in Tatu-inspired romp
The OC star will play the lead in a film adaptation of a novel about two teenage girls living in Moscow who bond over their love of a certain fauxmosexual pop group.
In brief: MTV names Pirates II best movie
Plus: Bruce Willis hints at Die Hard 5 and Kevin Bacon signs up alongside Michael Sheen and Matthew Macfadyen for Frost/Nixon adaptation.
Newcomer shines in Pullman’s Golden Compass
· Cannes preview for His Dark Materials adaptation · Director plays down books' anti-religion theme
Children of Men review – explosively violent future-nightmare thriller
This adaptation of PD James novel by Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón looks extraordinary, and opens a window on a world of Arctic fear and despair
The big 50
A month ago, we asked you to vote for the best ever film made from a novel. The results are in, and we reveal the readers' chart of the top 50 film adaptations. Our critics Peter Bradshaw and Xan Brooks cast their eyes over your favourites.
From paper to celluloid
Mark Lawson explains what makes an adaptation work, why some characters crop up again and again, and how to make an absolute mess of a novelist's masterpiece.
Da Vinci Code controversy heats up
Director turns down Opus Dei request for a disclaimer on film adaptation, while leading cardinal urges Christians worldwide to take legal action against the film and book.
Why the world is chasing its Grail
We all love a conspiracy, and the astonishing international success of Dan Brown's novel The Da Vinci Code proves it, says Peter Conrad.
The panel’s top 50 film adaptations
1984 (Michael Radford, 1984) A Clockwork Orange (Stanley Kubrick, 1971) Alice ( Jan Svankmajer, 1988) American Psycho (Mary Harron, 2000) Apocalypse Now (Francis Ford Coppola, 1979) Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982) Breakfast at Tiffany's (Blake Edwards, 1961) Brighton Rock (John Boulting, 1947) Brokeback Mountain (Ang Lee, 2005) Catch-22 (Mike Nichols, 1970) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Tim Burton, 2005) Dangerous Liaisons (Stephen Frears, 1988) Devil in a Blue Dress (Carl Franklin, 1995) Doctor Zhivago (David Lean, 1965) Empire of the Sun (Steven Spielberg, 1987) Fight Club (David Fincher, 1999)
Ones that got away
There are some wonderful books that have never been filmed. The mystery is why? Were they deemed unfilmable in the first place, have they got caught up in development limbo, or has the production money dried up? Here Giles Foden considers some of his favourite non-starters.
Don’t lose the plot
As we all know, great books don't necessarily make great films. So what is the mysterious alchemy that comes to bear in the process of a successful adaptation? Screenwriter Deborah Moggach believes that the rules need to be broken
Great book, shame about the movie
What happens when the film adaptation process goes badly awry? John Patterson provides a few examples of his least favourite attempts to translate the majesty of the book into celluloid
50 books you must read
1984George Orwell (Penguin)The book that gave us Big Brother and Room 101 provides a compelling and chilling view of a totalitarian state. Even more horrifying than the loss of freedom is the constant rewriting of history which effectively removes the past. Although Winston and Julia's love affair provides a temporary haven, their fate is inescapable. JH
Casting couch
When it all goes right, we get a masterpiece. When it doesn't, we get a monster. Andrew Pulver looks at how even one miscasting can make or break a movie.