Harlan Coben’s books are legendary in the mystery genre, and if you love the author’s works, you’ll also enjoy these awesome movies. Many of Harlan Coben’s books are now hugely successful TV shows on streaming services, including the likes of Fool Me Once, Harlan Coben’s Shelter, and Caught.
While there are 11 Harlan Coben TV shows to check out, there are projects from other creators that share similarities with the author’s novels. Coben is known for writing stunning plot twists, gripping enigmas, and ordinary characters with secret and dark pasts, three qualities that often result in the perfect mystery story. Coben’s stories are brilliant, and fans of the author will also love these mystery movies.
10
The Girl On The Train (2016)
The First Adaptation Of Paula Hawkins’ Debut Novel
The Girl on the Train is one of the greatest mystery movies with a badᴀss female lead, with Emily Blunt leading the film as the troubled Rachel Watson. The story centers on the mysterious murder of a local woman, and Rachel’s blurred memories of what she witnesses while traveling via train. Nobody can be trusted in The Girl on the Train, and like a Coben story, the film delves into the lives of the ordinary people who are possibly involved in Megan’s death.
The Girl on the Train heavily relies on themes of infidelity, substance abuse, and the power of holding a dark secret. In both the original book and film adaptations, Rachel is an unreliable narrator, but this only adds layers to the story and makes the mystery at hand even more intriguing. Both the 2016 and 2021 movies of The Girl on the Train are worth checking out, but the first adaptation is definitely stronger and more engaging for Coben’s fanatics.
9
Gone Girl (2014)
A Gripping Take On Gillian Flynn’s Groundbreaking Book
Gone Girl is one of Rosamund Pike’s best movies, in which she stars as Amy, a wife who goes to extreme lengths to get revenge on her husband. Across Gone Girl’s complex timeline, audiences learn more about Amy’s marriage to Ben Affleck’s Nick, his affair, and the fallout of Amy’s disappearance. Those who aren’t familiar with Gillian Flynn’s book will be taken aback by the twists and turns in Gone Girl, which are told through Amy’s various diary entries and through Nick’s point of view throughout the police investigation.
This adds more to the overall mystery, as it’s difficult to know which of them is being truthful or even just realistic.
Considering Flynn’s works are inspired by Coben, it’s no surprise that there is an overlap between fans of Gone Girl and Coben’s books. What’s particularly fascinating about Gone Girl is that Amy and Nick’s distinct points of view are so different, and they see each other as very different people compared to how they perceive themselves. This adds more to the overall mystery, as it’s difficult to know which of them is being truthful or even just realistic.
8
Knives Out (2019)
A Murder Mystery Movie Like No Other
With Knives Out 3 on the way, now is a great time to check out the previous installments in the franchise, especially the first movie. Daniel Craig’s performance as Detective Benoit Blanc is a breath of fresh air, and despite being known for portraying the stoic James Bond, the actor slips into this role with ease. Knives Out is a brilliant murder mystery, that delves into the death of bestselling author Harlan Thrombey, and the involvement of his family members and his nurse, Marta.
Out of every Rian Johnson movie, Knives Out is a stand-out тιтle in the director’s filmography. Knives Out takes the classic murder mystery concept, which feels like something out of the board game Clue (even more so than the 1985 adaptation), and creates something new. Like Coben’s works, the relationships between the characters and their respective backstories are what drive Knives Out. While there are moments of action, the interactions between Blanc, Marta, and the Thrombey family are the most engaging thing about Knives Out.
7
Game Night (2018)
A Fantastic Blend Of Comedy And Mystery
Game Night is a great watch for those who love Coben, but are looking for something more comedic. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams’ action comedy movie sees the pair star as Max and Annie Davis, a game-obsessed couple whose regular game night goes awry when Max’s brother, Brooks, is suddenly kidnapped right in the middle of their evening. Within moments, the Davis’ role-playing mystery game turns into a real investigation, and together, they work together to figure out what is happening and to save Brooks.
Although Game Night isn’t as deeply serious as Coben’s stories, it still has plenty of tension and moments of anticipation. The comical elements of the film don’t distract from the main mystery, nor does it take away from Game Night’s more profound moments. The subplot about the couple’s discussions about having a child is also intriguing, and Max’s feelings of inadequacy compared to his brother make his motivation to help Brooks even more endearing.
6
A Simple Favor (2018)
Remember To Be Wary Of New Friends
In the build-up to Another Simple Favor, the first movie A Simple Favor is another mystery тιтle audiences should add to their watch list. A Simple Favor follows Anna Kendrick as widowed single mother Stephanie Smothers, who befriends fellow parent and PR director of a fashion company, Emily Nelson. However, their friendship gets complicated when Emily disappears and Stephanie starts receiving threats, which forces her to investigate her new confidant.
A Simple Favor shares a few similarities with Coben’s books.
The characters initially appear to be normal, simple people with their own personal struggles, but as the story progresses, their respective haunting pasts are slowly revealed. A Simple Favor’s ending is gripping, and although it seems Stephanie and Emily’s story is over, the upcoming release of Another Simple Favor proves that their time together is only just beginning.
5
The Fugitive (1993)
A Great Movie For Readers Of Coben’s I Will Find You
The Fugitive’s shared universe contains two movies and three TV shows, but the 1993 film is a fantastic watch for Coben fans. In fact, there is even a reference to Harrison Ford’s film in Coben’s book, I Will Find You, which follows a similar narrative to The Fugitive. The movie follows Ford as Dr. Richard Kimble, a surgeon who escapes police custody after he is falsely accused of his wife’s murder. While dragging himself through several action-packed scenes in an attempt to avoid recapture, Kimble tries to work out who his wife’s killer actually is and prove his innocence.
There’s something about Ford’s performance that makes The Fugitive even tenser than it already is. Kimble strives for justice while still grieving his late spouse, which raises the stakes mᴀssively. There are parallels between Kimble and I Will Find You’s protagonist, David, too. Both men are determined to find out the truth about their ᴅᴇᴀᴅ loved ones and to clear their own names, and this makes them both characters worth rooting for.
4
The Game (1997)
Should You Believe The World In Front Of You?
The Game is a thriller with plot twists many never guess, and the eerie Big Brother-esque atmosphere during certain moments of the film keeps audiences on the edge of their seats. Although Coben’s works tend to stick to reality, there’s no doubt that The Game features the same sort of twists and turns that the author is best known for. The Game also heavily relies on psychological manipulation, which makes it easier for viewers to keep dwelling on the overall mystery of the movie, resulting in a suspenseful and enjoyable experience.
Memento is the ultimate amnesia movie, which features Guy Pearce as Leonard Shelby, whose difficulties in retaining memories creates obstacles as he attempts to figure out who killed his wife. The film uses a non-linear narrative and jumps between two different sequences of events, but Memento’s complicated timeline only adds to the suspense. Because of this narrative technique, it’s easy to frequently change your mind about whom the killer is, and especially whether Shelby’s perception can be trusted or not.
3
Memento (2000)
Christopher Nolan’s Legendary Amnesia Movie
Memento is the ultimate amnesia movie, which features Guy Pearce as Leonard Shelby, whose difficulties in retaining memories create obstacles as he attempts to figure out who killed his wife. The film uses a non-linear narrative and jumps between two different sequences of events, but Memento’s complicated timeline only adds to the suspense. Because of this narrative technique, it’s easy to frequently change your mind about whom the killer is, and especially whether Shelby’s perception can be trusted or not.
Shelby relies on pH๏τographs to help him piece together the gaps in his memories, and Coben’s story Just One Look also features a character who uses an image to solve a mystery.
The Oscar-nominated тιтle is one of the best mystery movies on Amazon Prime Video, and it stands out in director Christopher Nolan’s filmography. Shelby relies on pH๏τographs to help him piece together the gaps in his memories, and Coben’s story Just One Look also features a character who uses an image to solve a mystery. Like any good Coben book, Memento’s gripping mystery is solved by the end of the film, and the journey to get to this point is even more thrilling than the payoff.
2
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)
It’s Never Too Late To Seek Out The Truth
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’s concept sounds just like a Coben story: Daniel Craig’s journalist Mikael Blomkvist recruits Rooney Mara as computer hacker Lisbeth Salander, who work together to investigate the 40-year-old disappearance of a teenage girl. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is an adaptation of the first book in Stieg Larsson’s “Millennium Series,” and both the source material and the 2011 movie are frequently praised for their unique storytelling.
The enigma surrounding Harriet Vanger’s disappearance isn’t the only compelling part of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Salander’s own dark past is also an engaging subplot throughout the film, too. Even though this movie is arguably far darker than any of Coben’s works, not every viewer who enjoys the likes of Fool Me Once necessarily needs less violence to enjoy The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
1
Before I Go To Sleep (2014)
Be Careful Who You Trust
Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson is one of my favorite books, and the 2014 film adaptation is worth watching, despite the mixed reviews and comparisons to Memento. Before I Go to Sleep shares several similarities to Coben’s books in terms of the central mystery, the ordinary and relatable characters, and the mᴀssive twists. The story follows Nicole Kidman as Christine, who, after a brutal attack, lives with amnesia. However, the man she believes to be her husband, Colin Firth’s Ben, may not be who he says.
Like many of these тιтles, it’s hard to trust Christine’s outlook in Before I Go to Sleep. Although there isn’t a murder investigation at the heart of the plot, there is still a mystery: Who is “Ben”? As the story progresses, further mysteries crop up, like the confusion surrounding how Christine gets amnesia in the first place, and whether her son, Adam, is actually alive or not. Being unable to believe one’s own memory is a tough enough situation, but like Harlan Coben’s stories, Before I Go to Sleep will keep audiences guessing right until the end.
