Home › Books Made into Movies › The Day of the Jackal
The Day of the Jackal (1973) Movie vs Book
Film · 1973 · Directed by Fred Zinnemann · Starring Edward Fox, Michael Lonsdale, Alan Badel
The Day of the Jackal (1973) Movie: Cast and Details
A professional assassin plans to kill the French president while the police race to stop him.
Book vs Movie: How Close Is It?
Very close to the bookIt follows the novel's plot very closely, with a documentary style.
Read or watch first?
Either order works. The film is a classic, tight thriller.
What the book gives you
The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth
A masterclass in suspense that reads like a report. It was adapted into a 1973 film.
Who will like it: Readers who like classic spy and manhunt thrillers.