Which films are better than the books they were based on?

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It is almost a rule that the book is better than the film. Novels have space for detail, inner thoughts and subplots that films have to cut, and fans often feel betrayed by changes made for the screen. But there are exceptions, where the film improved on the book, tightened the story or found something the original never quite achieved. Some of the most famous films of all time fall into this group

Jaws is often mentioned, since Peter Benchley's novel includes subplots that Spielberg wisely dropped. The Godfather is another, with many people feeling the film is richer and more focused than Mario Puzo's book. Die Hard was based on a little known novel called Nothing Lasts Forever. Even Fight Club's author, Chuck Palahniuk, has said he thought the film improved on his book

Stephen King adaptations are a particularly interesting group. The Shawshank Redemption and Stand by Me were based on novellas, and many people prefer the films. On the other hand, King famously disliked Stanley Kubrick's version of The Shining, even though many film fans consider it a masterpiece. It shows how different book and film fans can be

My pick is The Devil Wears Prada. The book is fun, but Meryl Streep's performance turned Miranda Priestly into something much more interesting than she is on the page. The film is sharper, funnier and more memorable. I have rewatched it many times, but never reread the book

Which films are better than the books they were based on? And which adaptations ruined a great book?