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War of the Worlds (2005): Film vs Book
Film · 2005 · Directed by Steven Spielberg · Starring Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning
About the film
A father tries to protect his children as an alien attack begins.
How close is it to the book?
Loosely based on the bookIt centres on a single family and shifts the story to America.
Read or watch first?
The novel shows the whole society's reaction.
What the book gives you
The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
The thrill of an unforgettable alien arrival, seen through one ordinary person's eyes. A foundation of modern science fiction that still grips.
Who will like it: Readers who like a classic invasion story told with vivid, cinematic scenes.