6 Books To Read Before The 2018 Movie Adaptations Premiere

There is a long-held belief that it's always best to read the book before you see the movie. The theory may continue to hold true heading into 2018, with several book adaptations into feature-length films.

Books remain popular gifts and the number of books sold has increased. According to Publishers Weekly, print-book sales rose 3.3 percent in 2016 from 2015, making it the third-straight year of print growth.

These highly rated books could be great stocking stuffers.

"Maze Runner: The Death Cure" by James Dashner

There is no need to wait until the movie is released to find out if Thomas, the protagonist, gets the answers he's searching for.

The film was originally set to premiere Feb. 17, 2017, but production was shut down after actor Dylan O'Brien got badly injured during filming.

The long-anticipated third and final film in the "Maze Runner" series premieres Jan. 26, 2018.

"Fifty Shades Freed" by E. L. James

It's not only supposed to be even steamier than the first two, but the third and last book of the "Fifty Shades" series will reveal if Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey are made for each other, after all. The book is in stores while the film premieres Feb. 9, 2018.

"Black Panther" comic books by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Superhero movies are more popular than ever, and Marvel's latest blockbuster is based on the "Black Panther" comic books. The cast features Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong'o and Michael B. Jordan, and the movie hits the big screen Feb. 16, 2018.

"Annihilation" by Jeff VanderMeer

"Annihilation" is the first book in the "Southern Reach Trilogy," and is about a team of four women — a biologist, an anthropologist, a psychologist, and a surveyor — who journey to Area X, a place cut off from the rest of civilization.

The film stars Natalie Portman as the biologist and Jennifer Jason Leigh as the psychologist. The film premieres Feb. 23, 2018.

"A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle

The young adult fiction novel "A Wrinkle in Time" was first published in 1962. It's about a woman who meets three "peculiar beings," after her scientist father disappears.

Oprah Winfrey, Mindy Kaling and Reese Witherspoon portray the "peculiar beings" Mrs. Which, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Whatsit, respectively. The family movie premieres March 9, 2018.

"Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli

The young adult novel "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" was published in 2015. It portrays Nick Robinson as Simon, a 17-year-old high school student, trying to balance love, friends, family, and the boy threatening to reveal that Simon is gay.

The movie, named "Love, Simon," stars Jennifer Garner, Nick Robinson, and up-and-coming actor Katherine Langford from "13 Reasons Why." The film premieres March 16, 2018.