Nicholas Sparks is a renowned author known for touching readers’ hearts worldwide. His romantic novels have sold over 115 million copies, and 11 of them have been turned into successful movies. While his writing style may not appeal to everyone, devoted fans flock to theaters whenever a new Sparks adaptation hits the screen, often achieving impressive box office results. His stories offer an emotional and comforting experience for romance enthusiasts.
Hollywood’s brightest stars, like Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, became famous after starring in the 2004 romantic drama, The Notebook. The 2002 hit, A Walk to Remember, made audiences sob when Shane West’s character expressed his love for Mandy Moore’s character. Here’s a ranking of all the Nicholas Sparks movie adaptations.
1. The Choice(2016)
- Genre: Romance/Drama
- Star Cast: Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer, Alexandra Daddario, Maggie Grace, Tom Wilkinson
- Director: Ross Katz
- Writer: Ross Katz
- Run time: 1h 51m
- Year of release: 2016
- OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 6.5/10
“The Choice” is a romantic drama from 2016 set in Wilmington, North Carolina. It tells the story of Travis Shaw, a charming veterinarian, and Gabby Holland, a beautiful medical student, who become neighbors. They are very different from each other, but Travis falls in love with Gabby, leading to significant changes in both their lives. The movie got a B+ CinemaScore from the audience, but critics didn’t like it, calling it predictable and lacking inspiration. The film stars Benjamin Walker and Teresa Palmer as the lead couple.
2. The Best of Me(2014)
- Genre: Romance/Drama
- Star Cast: Michelle Monaghan, James Marsden, Luke Bracey, Liana Liberato, Gerald McRaney, Caroline Goodall, Clarke Peters, Sebastian Arcelus
- Director: Michael Hoffman
- Writer: Nicholas Sparks
- Run time: 1h 58m
- Year of release: 2014
- OTT Platform: NA
- IMDb rating: 6.6/10
In “The Best of Me” (2014), Dawson Cole (James Marsden) and Amanda Collier-Reynolds (Michelle Monaghan) were high school sweethearts, but they parted ways 20 years ago. Now, they meet again in their hometown after a dear friend’s shocking death. The movie shows their story in both the present and flashbacks from 1992. It’s an emotional film that relies on the amazing chemistry between Marsden and Monaghan, making them the standout in an otherwise weak Nicholas Sparks adaptation.
3. The Longest Ride(2015)
- Genre: Romance/Drama
- Star Cast: Britt Robertson, Scott Eastwood, Alan Alda, Jack Huston, Oona Chaplin, Melissa Benoist, Lolita Davidovich, Elea Oberon.
- Director: George Tillman Jr.
- Writer: Nicholas Sparks
- Run time: 2h 3m
- Year of release: 2015
- OTT Platform: NA
- IMDb rating: 7/10
The Longest Ride is a 2015 romantic drama set in the West. It tells the touching story of Luke, a bull rider, and Sophia, an art student, who face a tough decision in their relationship. Luke wants to focus on his rodeo comeback, while Sophia has a great job opportunity in New York. Along the way, they meet an elderly man with a beautiful love story, which makes them rethink their priorities. The movie stars Scott Eastwood, Britt Robertson, and Alan Alda, and it received an A CinemaScore, making it the first successful adaptation of a Sparks novel since The Notebook in 2004. The film brings a fresh twist to the typical Sparks formula in a unique setting.
4. The Lucky One(2012)
- Genre: Romance/Drama
- Star Cast: Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, Blythe Danner, Riley Thomas Stewart, Jay R. Ferguson
- Director: Scott Hicks
- Writer: Scott Hicks
- Run time: 1h 40m
- Year of release: 2012
- OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 6.4/10
While serving in Iraq, US Marine Logan Thibault finds a beautiful photo of a blonde woman. He believes she’s his “guardian angel” and keeps the picture. When he returns home, struggling with survivor’s guilt and PTSD, he sets out to find her. He goes to Louisiana and meets Beth Green, the woman in the photo. At first, she’s cautious, but they can’t deny the growing attraction between them. Despite mixed reviews, The Lucky One became a box office hit, earning over $99 million and winning Zac Efron a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Dramatic Movie Actor. This movie marks Efron’s transition into more serious dramatic roles.
5. The Last Song(2010)
- Genre: Romance/Drama
- Star Cast: Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth, Greg Kinnear, Bobby Coleman, Hallock Beals
- Director: Julie Anne Robinson
- Writer: Nicholas Sparks
- Run time: 1h 47m
- Year of release: 2010
- OTT Platform: Hotstar
- IMDb rating: 6/10
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth fell in love during the 2010 movie “The Last Song.” Miley played the role of rebellious teenager Ronnie Miller, who goes to live with her dad in Georgia and falls in love with the charming Will Blakelee. The film aimed to show a more grown-up side of Miley and attract older audiences. She admired Nicholas Sparks, the author of the book on which the movie was based. “The Last Song” was a success and helped Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth gain recognition as talented actors, boosting their careers.
6. Safe Haven(2013)
- Genre: Romance/Drama
- Star Cast: Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel, Cobie Smulders, David Lyons, Irene Ziegler
- Director: Lasse Hallström
- Writer: Nicholas Sparks
- Run time: 1h 55m
- Year of release: 2013
- OTT Platform: NA
- IMDb rating: 6.6/10
In this 2013 movie “Safe Haven,” a young woman named Katie runs away from her abusive husband and arrives in a cozy coastal town in North Carolina to start a new life. There, she meets the friendly locals and is drawn to a widower and father named Alex. As they get closer, Katie realizes that escaping her past won’t be easy. The film got a Teen Choice Awards nomination for Choice Movie Romance. Variety’s review called it a familiar yet satisfying journey set in a town reminiscent of Sparkville.
7. Dear John(2010)
- Genre: Romance/Drama
- Star Cast: Channing Tatum, Amanda Seyfried, Richard Jenkins, Henry Thomas, D.J. Cotrona
- Director: Lasse Hallström
- Writer: Nicholas Sparks
- Run time: 1h 48m
- Year of release: 2010
- OTT Platform: NA
- IMDb rating: 6.3/10
In the 2010 romantic war drama Dear John, Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum deliver compelling performances as soldier John and college student Savannah. They fall in love while he’s on leave in Charleston, South Carolina. Despite being apart, they stay connected through passionate letters.
The movie deals with heavy topics like the Iraq War, September 11 attacks, and lymphoma, all explored through their letters. Seyfried and Tatum received praise for their portrayals. Digital Spy said, “As the barriers between John and Savannah grow, you root for them to reunite – that’s what keeps Dear John engaging until the end.” Their unrequited love makes for a captivating story.
8. Nights in Rodanthe
- Genre: Romance/Drama
- Star Cast: Diane Lane, Richard Gere, Christopher Meloni, Viola Davis, Becky Ann Baker
- Director: George C. Wolfe
- Writer: Nicholas Sparks
- Run time: 1h 37m
- Year of release: 1966
- OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 6/10
In the 2008 romantic drama “Nights in Rodanthe,” Richard Gere and Diane Lane starred as a divorced man and a surgeon haunted by guilt. They meet at a bed-and-breakfast in Rodanthe for a weekend retreat, where they find comfort and passion. Their love story transforms their lives as they confront their troubled pasts and face an approaching storm. The strong chemistry between Gere and Lane makes this emotional film even more touching. They were nominated for the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards for Best Grownup Love Story. It’s a rare Sparks story about finding love later in life, which brings a refreshing change.
9. Message in a Bottle(1999)
- Genre: Romance/Drama
- Star Cast: Kevin Costner, Robin Wright, Paul Newman, John Savage, Illeana Douglas, Robbie Coltrane, Jesse James, Bethel Leslie.
- Director: Luis Mandoki
- Writer: Nicholas Sparks
- Run time: 2h 11m
- Year of release: 1999
- OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 6.4/10
In the 1999 romantic drama Message in a Bottle, Hollywood stars Kevin Costner, Robin Wright, and Paul Newman come together to tell a heartrending love story. Theresa, a researcher and former reporter, finds a touching anonymous love letter in a bottle on a Cape Cod beach. She becomes determined to find the person who wrote it after the letter gets published in the local newspaper. Her search leads her to Garrett Blake, a weary widower and reclusive writer, with whom she falls deeply in love.
Paul Newman’s portrayal of Garrett’s protective father, Dodge, was outstanding. Despite some criticism of the script and ending, the movie resonated with fans of the touching novel written by Nicholas Sparks. It was the first film adaptation of a Sparks novel and remains the most successful, earning $120 million at the box office.
10. A Walk to Remember
- Genre: Romance/Drama
- Star Cast: Mandy Moore, Shane West, Peter Coyote, Daryl Hannah, Lauren German
- Director: Adam Shankman
- Writer: Nicholas Sparks
- Run time: 1h 42m
- Year of release: 2002
- OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 7.3/10
Dedicated to Nicholas Sparks’ sister Danielle, the novel A Walk to Remember was inspired by her cancer diagnosis. The 2002 romantic drama made stars out of Mandy Moore and Shane West. It’s a touching coming-of-age story set in North Carolina about Jamie Sullivan and Landon Carter, who form an unexpected yet deeply inspiring relationship. Landon, a rebellious teenager, falls in love with the kind-hearted Jamie, despite their different backgrounds. Their love is tested when they discover Jamie is battling leukaemia.
The movie was a huge hit with audiences and had a platinum soundtrack in America, selling over a million copies, making more money than the film itself. Mandy Moore and Shane West received praise for their incredible chemistry, and the film sparked a new subgenre of movies known as “dying lover” or “sick girl” movies.
11. The Notebook(2004)
- Genre: Romance/Drama
- Star Cast: Gena Rowlands, James Garner, Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Tim Ivey
- Director: Nick Cassavetes
- Writer: Nicholas Sparks, Jan Sardi
- Run time: 2h 4m
- Year of release: 2004
- OTT Platform: Netflix
- IMDb rating: 7.8/10
Nicholas Sparks’ most acclaimed movie adaptation is “The Notebook,” a romantic drama from 2004. It tells the enduring love story of Allie Hamilton and Noah Calhoun, who meet and fall in love during the summer of 1940 in a southern coastal town. The movie shifts between the past and present, as an elderly man reads about Noah and Allie’s remarkable love for another patient in a nursing home.
“The Notebook” was a surprise hit, earning over $117 million and gaining a devoted fanbase. It also launched the careers of its lead actors, Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, who shared a famous rain-soaked kiss that became iconic.