16 Oscar-nominated films that came from books

Hollywood has been adapting films from books ever since it started making movies and today's nominations proved – once again – that the page-to-screen translation can turn out pretty well. Here are 16 movies that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said were among the best of the year – all of which came from books.

1. 'The Descendants'

Merie Wallace/HONS/Fox Searchlight Films/AP

This film about a man trying to take care of his two daughters while his wife is in a coma earned Oscar nominations for Best Picture; Best Actor (George Clooney); Best Director (Alexander Payne); film editing (Kevin Tent); and best adapted screenplay (Payne, Nat Faxon and "Community" star Jim Rash). "The Descendants" is based on a 2007 novel of the same name by Kaui Hart Hemmings.

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