Catch-22 (1970): Film vs Book

About the film

A bomber pilot in wartime tries to stay alive in a system that makes no sense.

How close is it to the book?

The film catches the book's absurd humor, though the novel's looping structure is hard to put on screen.

Read or watch first?

The book's circular jokes pile up in a way that only the page can do.

What the book gives you

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

A brilliantly funny, inventive novel that gave a famous phrase to the English language. Clever, absurd and endlessly quotable, it is a joy for lovers of wit.

Who will like it: Readers who love sharp satire and absurd humor with a brilliant, circular plot.