The film industry is constantly inspired by literature, and this year’s Oscar nominations are a clear example of this trend. As the clock ticks down to the 96th awards ceremony, the importance of literary works in cinema is emerging.

In this year’s Best Picture nominations, five out of ten are based on books, representing a significant increase over previous years. This phenomenon highlights the central role that writers and screenwriters play in creating a successful film, highlighting the importance of words on a page.

The film “American Fiction” is one of those nominations and is based on the novel “Erasure” by Percival Everett. The story follows disillusioned author Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, who attempts to subvert literary stereotypes through a satirical novel.

“Killers of the Flower Moon” is another nominated movie based on a literary work, specifically David Grann’s book. The film highlights a series of murders of wealthy Osage people in the early 1920s and the newly formed FBI’s investigation into them.

“Oppenheimer” focuses on J. Robert Oppenheimer and is based on his biography, describing the story of the founder of the theoretical physics program at Berkeley and his role during World War II.

Finally, the film “Poor Things” by Giorgos Lanthimos is also nominated and is based on the book of the same name by Alasdair Gray. The story follows Bella Baxter in 1880’s Glasgow and her adventure after being raised from the dead.

These nominations are a testament to the timeless influence literature has on film, reinforcing belief in the power of words to tell compelling stories through the seventh art.