Which Sidney Sheldon Novels Have Been Made Into Movies?

Sheldon's movie adaptations are a mixed bag. The big ones are 'The Other Side of Midnight' and 'Bloodline' from the late '70s. There were also several TV miniseries in the '80s, like 'Rage of Angels' and 'If Tomorrow Comes.' They're entertaining enough as period pieces, but the books are always more detailed and suspenseful. The adaptations simplify a lot, so temper your expectations if you decide to hunt them down.

Let me try to list them out from memory. There's 'The Other Side of Midnight' (1977), 'Bloodline' (1979), and 'Windmills of the Gods' (1988) was a TV movie with Jaclyn Smith—wait, no, she was in 'Rage of Angels' (1983). 'Windmills' had Susan Blakely, I think. Then 'If Tomorrow Comes' (1986) was a miniseries. I'm pretty sure 'Memories of Midnight' got a sequel TV movie in the '90s, but it might have been a European production. 'The Naked Face' was supposedly adapted, but I can't find concrete details on that one; it might have been a low-budget international film.

It's interesting how many were TV projects rather than big theatrical releases. I guess his style, with all the twists and episodic suffering he puts his heroines through, fit the miniseries format perfectly back then. The quality varies wildly. 'If Tomorrow Comes' is probably the most fun adaptation—it really leans into the glamorous con-artist fantasy. The others can feel a bit dated and stiff, but they're worth a watch for the nostalgia and to see how they interpreted those famously twisty plots.

Honestly, the movie versions are mostly disappointing if you love the books. They tend to flatten the intricate, multi-layered plots into something simpler. Take 'The Other Side of Midnight'—the book has this relentless, cruel momentum, but the movie feels like a glossy, expensive soap opera. It's entertaining, sure, but it misses the visceral punch. Same with 'Bloodline'; reading it, you feel the claustrophobic pressure of corporate espionage and family secrets, but the film adaptation is oddly sterile.

I'd argue the TV miniseries format served him better. 'Rage of Angels' and 'If Tomorrow Comes' had more room to breathe, to develop the twists and character arcs that make Sheldon's page-turners so addictive. They're products of their time, definitely cheesy in places, but they understand the assignment: deliver high-stakes drama and romantic entanglement. For a modern viewer, they're fascinating time capsules of '80s televised melodrama. I'd still recommend reading the books first, every time.

I'm a big fan of the older adaptations, so 'The Other Side of Midnight' and 'Bloodline' were the ones I knew. 'The Other Side of Midnight' from '77 is a total melodrama, soapy and over-the-top in the best way. They really captured that ruthless, sprawling feel of the book, even if some of the edges were sanded off for the screen. 'Bloodline' is this sort of corporate thriller with Audrey Hepburn, which feels like an odd pairing now, but it has its own chilly, procedural charm.

A lot of people forget about 'Rage of Angels,' the TV miniseries with Jaclyn Smith. It's pure '80s network TV, but it hit the major beats of the book pretty faithfully—the lawyer protagonist, the two men in her life, the tragedy. It's comfort food television for a certain generation of readers. I think 'Windmills of the Gods' also got a TV movie, but I never tracked it down; the reviews weren't great.

The one that always gets talked about but is notoriously hard to find is 'If Tomorrow Comes.' There was a CBS miniseries in the '80s with Madolyn Smith and Tom Berenger. It's a fun, breezy con-artist caper that translates the book's energy well, but good luck finding a clear copy outside of deep dives on YouTube or dusty VHS tapes. It's a shame more of his books haven't gotten modern limited series treatments; the pacing and twists would work so well today.