Go through the films arriving in Finnish cinemas between November and February and one thing stands out: most of the winter's major films are based on books. From a Nobel laureate to young adult fantasy, and from a Finnish war novel to a science fiction classic, literature is the backbone of this winter's film offering.
We have gathered the most important adaptations in one place and assess what readers and non-readers can expect.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (19 Nov)
Source: Suzanne Collins, Sunrise on the Reaping (2025)
Collins' latest Hunger Games novel was published in spring 2025, less than two years before the film. The adaptation was thus being made almost at the same time as the book was topping the bestseller lists. The story recounts young Haymitch Abernathy's experiences in the 50th Hunger Games.
What to expect: The film's running time of 2 hours 38 minutes suggests the adaptation aims to follow the book closely. Director Francis Lawrence has already directed four Hunger Games films, and his previous adaptations have been faithful to their sources. Readers should be prepared for the novel's darkness to carry over to the screen intact.
Read before or after? If you have not read the book, we suggest watching the film first. The novel's ending is powerful, and experiencing it for the first time on the big screen could be a striking experience.
Klara and the Sun (13 Nov)
Source: Kazuo Ishiguro, Klara and the Sun (2021)
Nobel laureate Ishiguro's novel is the most difficult of the adaptations. The book's narrator is Klara, an Artificial Friend, whose way of seeing the world – attentive, naive and touchingly mistaken – is the heart of the story. In the film, this narrative voice has to be conveyed through images and Jenna Ortega's performance.
What to expect: Early reviews have been mixed. According to Elokuvateatteri Star, Ishiguro is also credited as a screenwriter, which suggests the author has approved the interpretation. Director Taika Waititi's humour seems at first glance an odd match for Ishiguro's quiet prose.
Read before or after? Read the book first. The novel's beauty lies so strongly in its narrative voice that the film works best as a point of comparison.
Lapland War (in cinemas now)
Source: Antti Tuuri, Rauta-antura
Aku Louhimies' Lapland War is based on Antti Tuuri's novel, and Tuuri co-wrote the screenplay with Louhimies. Tuuri's work has been filmed before, most notably in Pekka Parikka's The Winter War (1989).
What to expect: The film has already proved to be the biggest Finnish success of the autumn, with about 240,000 admissions by early November. Tuuri's style is matter-of-fact and precise, and Louhimies' war films are realistic and physical. The combination has proved effective.
Read before or after? The film works well on its own. For those who have seen it, the book offers a deeper look at the history and the characters. The novel is available in Finnish.
Dune: Part Three (16 Dec)
Source: Frank Herbert, Dune Messiah (1969)
Herbert's second Dune novel is short, introspective and political. It is known as the book that dismantles the hero's journey of the first. Herbert wanted to warn against charismatic leaders, and Messiah shows what Paul's victory really cost.
What to expect: Judging by the trailers, Villeneuve has added battle scenes that remain in the background in the book. This is a natural change for a film concluding a spectacle trilogy. The core of the book – the hero turning into a tyrant and the price of power – appears to have survived.
Read before or after? If you have read the first Dune, Messiah is a quick read before the release. It will enrich the film experience.
Children of Blood and Bone (15 Jan 2027)
Source: Tomi Adeyemi, Children of Blood and Bone (2018)
Adeyemi's young adult fantasy novel became a phenomenon with its world inspired by West African mythology. The film is directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood of The Woman King.
What to expect: The adaptation is overshadowed by a dispute. According to JoBlo's reporting, Adeyemi has said publicly that she does not intend to watch the finished film, even though she is credited as a screenwriter. Readers should therefore be prepared for the film to differ from the book. Detailed information about the dispute is not available.
Read before or after? The book is long but easy to read. If you have time, read it before the film so you can form your own view of the changes.
Narnia: The Magician's Nephew (12 Feb 2027)
Source: C. S. Lewis, The Magician's Nephew (1955)
Lewis' sixth Narnia book is the first in terms of events. It has never been filmed before, and now it is being adapted by Greta Gerwig.
What to expect: Gerwig is known for bold interpretations, and the trailer confirms this. It has the spirit of 1970s rock and at least one clear departure from the book: Jadis uses magic in London. Gerwig's previous literary adaptation, Little Women (2019), boldly changed the structure of its source but kept its spirit. We expect the same.
Read before or after? The book is short and works as a family bedtime story before the film.
Analysis: why do films need books?
The number of literary adaptations says something about the state of the film industry. Studios seek security in well-known stories, and a book's readership is a ready-made audience. At the same time, novels offer films something original screenplays do not always provide: a fully built world, deep characters and themes that have been honed for years.
The risk is just as clear. Readers have strong mental images, and every change sparks debate. This winter's adaptations show it clearly: the author dispute around Children of Blood and Bone, the mixed reviews of Klara and the Sun, and Narnia's rock-inflected interpretation are dividing audiences even before release.
Winter 2026–27 is in any case an excellent time for lovers of books and films alike. Pick a book, read it and go and see how the big screen has interpreted it.