'Poor Things': The Biggest Differences Between the Book and Emma Stone Movie (2024)

'Poor Things': The Biggest Differences Between the Book and Emma Stone Movie (1)

One of the buzziest films of this year’s Oscar season is Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things.

The 2023 movie, which stars Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Mark Ruffalo and Ramy Youssef, is a humorous, bizarre take on Frankenstein.

Poor Things follows Bella Baxter (Stone), a woman who is created when Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe), a scientist and mortician, places the brain of a deceased woman’s baby into her body after she dies by suicide. Youssef plays Max McCandles, Godwin’s assistant who is tasked with observing Bella's behavior, and in so doing, falls in love with her.

Ruffalo is Duncan Wedderburn, a lawyer who takes Bella on a European adventure and becomes deeply enamored with her as well.

“It started with about three weeks of rehearsal, which was just playing theater games, really, and goofing off and cutting up. [That] gave us the feeling of safety with each other and a feeling of fun," Ruffalo told PEOPLE of what it was like on the film set.

Poor Things

is nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. Stone is nominated for Best Actress and Ruffalo for Best Supporting Actor. Lanthimos is also in the running for Best Director.

Lanthimos, however, did take some liberties with the film, which was adapted from Alastair Gray’s 1992 novel of the same name.Read on for the biggest differences between the book and movie.

Warning: Major spoilers for the novel and film Poor Things

The movie is not solely told from Max’s point of view (and his name wasn’t originally Max)

'Poor Things': The Biggest Differences Between the Book and Emma Stone Movie (2)

The original novel, while a work of fiction, is structured as if it was written by Scottish medical student Archibald McCandless, who was renamed Max McCandles for the movie. Archibald recounts his friendship with scientist Godwin Baxter and his creation, Bella. Medical illustrations and letters from Bella are also included in the book.

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The movie, however, expands that perspective and follows multiple characters, with a larger focus on Bella and her view of the world. Her letters, which are sent to Godwin and Max at Godwin's London estate, also feature in the film.

A few characters from the book are cut (and some are added)

The novel includes a variety of curious characters who don’t make it into the movie including Dr. Hooker, an American professor with colonialist values and Blaydon Hattersley, the father of Victoria Blessington, the woman who Bella's body originally belongs to.

The movie also sees the addition of a few characters, including Felicity (Margaret Qualley), a woman who Godwin creates while Bella is traveling with Duncan.

Bella returns home from London for different reasons

'Poor Things': The Biggest Differences Between the Book and Emma Stone Movie (4)

Both the book and movie feature scenes in Paris, which Bella and Duncan visit together. While in the city, Bella finds a job as a sex worker to make money. In the film, Bella only returns home to England in the film once Godwin falls gravely ill, which leads to her wedding to Max. In the novel, she returns after sending a long letter to Archibald about her trip abroad.

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Bella’s wedding plays out differently

'Poor Things': The Biggest Differences Between the Book and Emma Stone Movie (5)

Bella’s wedding also plays out differently in the book and the film. In the novel, Victoria’s father, Blaydon Hattersley, and her first husband, General Sir Aubrey de la Pole Blessington, show up unexpectedly on the wedding day. While they initially object to the ceremony, the men eventually acquiesce to letting Bella stay at Godwin’s estate.

The film plays out more dramatically. Duncan, who has experienced a nervous breakdown after traveling with Bella, objects to the wedding. He brings along Blessington, played by Christopher Abbott, who is renamed Alfie Blessington for the movie.

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The ending of the movie differs from the book

'Poor Things': The Biggest Differences Between the Book and Emma Stone Movie (6)

While both the novel and the movie end with the aftermath of Bella’s wedding, the film takes a different turn. Bella initially leaves Max at the altar and decides to return to her/Victoria’s old life with Alfie. Bella quickly sees why Victoria initially left Alfie, who is intensely controlling. She shoots Alfie and takes him back to Godwin’s estate where she swaps Alfie’s brain with the brain of a goat and lives happily on the property with Max.

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In the novel, Bella also ends up with Archibald, but the novel ends with Godwin’s death instead. The book also features two additional sections: a letter from Bella to her future descendants about errors she finds in Archibald's version of their storyand an appendix from author Gray.

'Poor Things': The Biggest Differences Between the Book and Emma Stone Movie (2024)

FAQs

'Poor Things': The Biggest Differences Between the Book and Emma Stone Movie? ›

The change in setting to London & focus on Bella's perspective adds depth to the story's themes and characters. The film gives Bella more agency, alters the wedding scene, & explores a complex relationship with Godwin creatively.

Is the Poor Things book different from the movie? ›

Poor Things may be Lanthimos' most upbeat movie to date, but the book has a natural warmth the film doesn't, and a more complex and nuanced perspective on the (very bizarre, occasionally outrageous) material.

Should I read "Poor Things" before the movie? ›

Because “Lanark” is so daunting, I'd recommend that readers new to Gray start with “Poor Things,” then go on to the short but equally scintillating “The Fall of Kelvin Walker” (1985).

Is there a major difference or similarity between the movie and the novel? ›

While the two make use of different technologies to communicate with an audience, they have some similarities. These include the use of stories and the reliance on characters to tell the story. However, the two have major differences in terms of the level of imagination required of the audience and the use of details.

What is the deeper meaning behind "poor things"? ›

The film explores themes of personal transformation and breaking free from societal constraints. Close-up shots capture Stone's expressive eyes and facial expressions, revealing her ability to access a deeper sense of humanity.

What is one difference between the book and the movie? ›

Furthermore, books are much more detailed than films. Usually a film lasts approximately two hours while in a book there can be hundreds (maybe thousands) of pages of description. Books also develop their characters much more and add multiple dimensions to them; such as detailing their emotions and thoughts.

What is the Poor Things controversy? ›

The film's themes have led to backlash, with some claiming that the fact it has a male director, and therefore a male gaze, makes it sexist. There have also been accusations that the nudity is exploitative and that, because Bella has the brain of a child, there are consent issues at play.

Was "Poor Things" a flop? ›

Yorgos Lanthimos' best picture contender was far from an assured success but has passed $100 million globally.

How old is Bella at the end of Poor Things? ›

Emma Stone's portrayal of Bella in Poor Things earned her an Academy Award for daring feats no other actor has attempted. Victoria in Poor Things is estimated to be around 30 years old when she takes her own life, more or less matching Stone's age during filming.

Did Bella marry Max in Poor Things? ›

Bella leaves Max at the altar despite agreeing to marry him and leaves him to go with Blessington, but even after escaping from Alfie, Poor Things never confirms if Bella married Max after returning home or not. The film's ending sees the pair in good spirits and there doesn't seem to be any ill will between them.

What are some of the main differences between a novel and a short story? ›

Short stories usually tell one story and have a single plot. Whereas the main narrative of a novel should always be complemented by various subplots, which develop as new characters and stories join the action. Both novels and short stories need a plot.

How many people think books are better than movies? ›

These movies bring in people who do not enjoy reading; they convey the visual stimulation that some need for entertainment. Yet, in a large survey done by Super Summary, it was found that an average of 34% of respondents prefer the books to the movies, while 27% favor the screen adaptation.

How to start a compare and contrast essay about a book and movie? ›

Begin by deciding on your basis for comparison. The basis of comparison could include items like a similar theme, differences in the focus of the piece, or the way both pieces represent an important issue.

How many Oscars did "Poor Things" win? ›

Emma Stone Best Actress in a Leading Role. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar by West Anderson Best Live Action Short Film.

Why did "Poor Things" win an Oscar? ›

The production design team behind "Poor Things" won the Academy Award for Best Production Design. LOS ANGELES -- Poor Things" is one of the most buzzed about movies this Oscar season, with 11 nominations including acting nods for stars Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo. But that's just the start of this list.

What was the message in the movie "Poor Things"? ›

The film challenges society's insistence that a woman's value lies in motherhood. It urges viewers to reconsider and expand their views on female identity. It highlights women's diverse aspirations and choices beyond traditional roles. Poor Things is not just a tale from the past.

Does Poor Things follow the book? ›

Archibald recounts his friendship with scientist Godwin Baxter and his creation, Bella. Medical illustrations and letters from Bella are also included in the book. The movie, however, expands that perspective and follows multiple characters, with a larger focus on Bella and her view of the world.

Is the movie "Poor Thing" based on a book? ›

The Oscar-nominated film is based on a 1992 book by the prolific Scotsman Alasdair Gray. Beloved by writers, “that's not the same as being widely read,” says one of them.

What are the differences between reading a book and watching the movie version of it? ›

Reading books can give you many more details than watching a movie and also helps brain function among other things. Watching movies is great for social life and a great form of entertainment among other things. Both are help in stress relief, growth in knowledge and vocabulary.

Is the book "Poor Things" worth reading? ›

Poor Things might just be a monster of a book itself. A found object, a book within a book, a story within a story - there are just so many layers to this book. Despite its pastiche-like premise and topsy-turvy turns, it is a brilliantly written piece of metafiction.

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