Book Adaptations December 2025: What to Watch & Read First
These book adaptations December 2025 readers won’t want to miss include Hamnet, The Housemaid, Percy Jackson S2 & more—plus which books to read first.
Your Guide to December 2025’s Biggest Book-to-Screen Adaptations
If you love that “read it, then watch it” feeling as much as I do, December 2025 is stacked with book adaptations. From quiet, devastating literary drama to jump-scare horror and comfort-watch fantasy, this is one of those months where your TBR and watchlist can be best friends.
If you’re just here for the quick answer, here are the December 2025 book adaptations you should have on your radar:
- Hamnet – theatrical wide release, based on Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
- The Housemaid – thriller film starring Sydney Sweeney, based on The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
- Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Season 2 (The Sea of Monsters) – Disney+ / Hulu series based on The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
- The One Hundred Nights of Hero / 100 Nights of Hero – film adaptation of Isabel Greenberg’s graphic novel
- Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 – horror sequel rooted in Scott Cawthon’s game/novel universe
- Not Without Hope – survival drama based on Nick Schuyler and Jere Longman’s nonfiction book
Top of my personal list this month? Hamnet and The Housemaid – one for the heartbreak, one for the chaos.
Let’s walk through each adaptation, what it’s about, who it’s for, and whether you might want to read the book before you hit play.
December 2025 Book Adaptations: Dates, Formats & Where to Watch
100 Nights of Hero
Release Date: December 5, 2025. Format: Theatrical film. Where to Watch: In theaters.
Based on Isabel Greenberg’s acclaimed graphic novel The One Hundred Nights of Hero, this adaptation follows Cherry, whose husband makes a horrifying wager: if his friend Manfred can seduce her in 100 nights, he wins both Cherry and their estate. Instead of submitting, Cherry and her true love Hero-a servant and gifted storyteller-fight back the only way they can: through story. Across a hundred nights, Hero tells mesmerizing, feminist, rebellious tales that protect Cherry and reclaim power in a world designed to strip women of it. I’m excited for this adaptation because the book is such a love letter to storytelling itself-perfect for readers who love layered feminist fantasy like The Once and Future Witches or fairy-tale-with-teeth vibes. Reading the book made me feel fired up, tender, and wildly inspired, and I think this film could become a December standout.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians – Season 2: The Sea of Monsters
Release Date: December 10, 2025. Format: TV series. Where to Watch: Disney+ and Hulu.
Season 2 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians adapts Rick Riordan’s The Sea of Monsters, one of the most beloved installments in the series. This season picks up as Percy discovers Camp Half-Blood is in danger: its magical borders are failing, Grover is missing, and the only hope is to retrieve the Golden Fleece from-yes-the Sea of Monsters (aka the Bermuda Triangle). Percy’s journey here is all about growing up: navigating jealousy, discovering new family ties through Tyson the cyclops, and learning that heroism is sometimes just choosing loyalty when everything gets messy. I always think of this book as one of the coziest in the series-full of danger, humor, and found-family feelings-and I’m excited to see how the show brings that summer-camp-chaos energy to screen. If you love quest stories, mythology, or warmhearted fantasy, this is one to read before the premiere.
Hamnet
Release Date: Wide release December 12, 2025 (after limited November rollout). Format: Feature film. Where to Watch: In theaters.
Chloé Zhao’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet is easily one of my most anticipated releases of the year. With Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley starring, this film reimagines the emotional world behind Shakespeare’s Hamlet, focusing on the family-especially Agnes (Anne)-who loved, lost, and inspired him. The book centers Agnes as she navigates healing, motherhood, intuition, grief, and the devastating death of her son, Hamnet. What makes this story so moving is the quiet, lyrical portrayal of how grief transforms a marriage and, eventually, gives rise to art. I selected this book because it left me feeling cracked open in the best way-sad, soothed, and struck by the idea that love and loss echo across centuries. If you enjoy slow-burn literary fiction, character-driven stories, or adaptations that linger long after the credits roll, read this one before December.
The Housemaid
Release Date: December 19, 2025. Format: Feature film. Where to Watch: In theaters.
Sydney Sweeney stars as Millie in this dark, twisty adaptation of Freida McFadden’s viral thriller The Housemaid. The story follows Millie, a young woman desperate for a fresh start, who accepts a job as a live-in housemaid for the wealthy and seemingly perfect Winchester family. But once inside the house, everything starts to feel wrong-rules tighten, secrets accumulate, and the sense of danger becomes impossible to ignore. Millie’s journey is one of reclaiming power while trapped in a situation designed to break her down, and the book does such a fantastic job of making you feel that creeping dread with her. I chose this one because it’s ideal for fans of The Last Mrs. Parrish, Gone Girl, or anything in the psychological-thriller lane. When I read it, I felt anxious (in a delicious way), furious on Millie’s behalf, and very ready to see justice served. The movie is going to be an event.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
Release Date: December 5, 2025. Format: Feature film. Where to Watch: In theaters.
The sequel to Five Nights at Freddy’s draws again from the eerie, lore-rich universe created by Scott Cawthon (and expanded in the novel tie-ins with Kira Breed-Wrisley). While plot details are still being kept secret, the franchise is known for its trapped-in-the-darkness tension, haunted animatronics, and “take nothing at face value” mysteries. This installment is expected to explore deeper backstory threads, blending horror with puzzle-box thrills. I added this one because-even though I’m a cozy homebody at heart-I love adaptations that get people talking, theorizing, and sleeping with a nightlight. If you enjoy creepy-fun horror, survival stories, or anything that makes your shoulders tense, this is one to keep on your radar.
Not Without Hope
Release Date: December 12, 2025. Format: Feature film. Where to Watch: In theaters.
Based on Nick Schuyler and Jere Longman’s nonfiction book, Not Without Hope tells the true story of four friends whose fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico turns into a devastating fight for survival. Their boat capsizes in a sudden storm, leaving them stranded for hours as they cling to the overturned hull, waiting for rescue. The story focuses on loyalty, endurance, grief, and the emotional cost of being the lone survivor. I chose this one for readers who love real-life survival narratives like The Perfect Storm or Adrift-it’s heavy, but there’s meaning and humanity in stories like this. I’m looking forward to seeing how the film handles the emotional weight, because the book left me reflective and deeply moved.
How to Decide What to Read (and Watch) First
If you’re staring at this list and feeling a little overwhelmed, here’s how I’d prioritize based on mood:
- Want to sob and think about art and grief? Start with Hamnet, then see the film.
- Want a feminist fairy tale with queer romance? Pick up The One Hundred Nights of Hero.
- Want comfort-watch fantasy and found family? Read The Sea of Monsters, then queue up Percy Jackson S2.
- Want a twisty thriller? Go for The Housemaid-book, then movie.
- Want true-story survival stakes? Choose Not Without Hope, but maybe follow it with something lighter.
- Want pure horror adrenaline? Save Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 for a late-night watch with the lights off (if you dare).
Final Thoughts: December Is for Page-to-Screen Pairings
December 2025 is the perfect excuse to build your own mini “book club & movie night” schedule-read a little, watch a little, text a friend your feelings, repeat. The fun of book adaptations, for me, is less about whether the movie is “better” than the book and more about how each version tells the story differently and what that reveals about the characters at the center.
Tell me in the comments: Which book adaptations December 2025 are at the top of your list? Are you a strict “book first, screen second” person, or do you mix it up?
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