'The Ballad of Buster Scruggs' and 4 Other Best Jack London Adaptations, Ranked by IMDb
From the legendary Martin Eden to the heartbreaking White Fang.
Jack London's name is synonymous with rugged romance and an unbreakable will to survive – his works have captivated readers worldwide for over a century.
London's literary legacy in cinema is equally impressive – his stories have been adapted into numerous movies, ranging from family tales to poignant dramas.
5. 'The Call of the Wild', 2020
IMDb Score: 6.7/10
During the Gold Rush, adventurers rushed to conquer Alaska. Dog sleds became the most popular mode of transportation. The demand for sled dogs, obtained by any means necessary and often illegally, increased significantly.
Buck is a beloved dog and companion to his owner, a respected California surgeon. One day, Buck is lured into a trap, kidnapped, and sent north.
There, Buck encounters wild life and joins a pack of sled dogs. He earns their respect by clashing with the arrogant leader of the team, a husky named Spitz.
4. 'White Fang', 1991
IMDb Score: 6.7/10
The movie is set during the Gold Rush, when thousands of people driven by the desire for wealth rushed to conquer the Yukon Territory. The main character is White Fang, a wolf with a canine lineage.
Like the book, the film illustrates the long and grueling trials that a wild animal endures due to human greed and cruelty.
White Fang's misfortunes end when he falls into the hands of the explorer Jack. A strong attachment develops between animal and man, making the threat of separation all the more terrifying.
3. 'Martin Eden', 2019
IMDb Score: 7.0/10
The plot shifts from turn-of-the-century California to 1920s Naples. Martin Eden, a proletarian sailor, dreams of finding his place in life and winning the heart of Elena, a refined aristocrat.
After falling in love with Elena, Martin is immersed in the wealth of her bourgeois milieu. The allure of the literary elite overwhelms the young man, and he immerses himself in self-education, determined to become worthy of his beloved.
His work and ambition lead him into the thick of social events, further separating him from himself and his origins.
2. 'The Ballad of Buster Scruggs', 2018
IMDb Score: 7.2/10
_40531.webp)
An old gold prospector arrives in an undeveloped area and starts searching for precious deposits. He works diligently toward his goal until he finally achieves it.
Suddenly, the unexpected happens: a man with a revolver appears behind the prospector. This could easily have been the end of the story if the story weren't so full of surprises.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is an anthology consisting of six short stories dedicated to the everyday lives of wanderers exploring the Wild West. The tale about the gold prospector is the sixth story and is based on Jack London's short story All Gold Canyon.
1. 'The Sea Wolf', 1941
IMDb Score: 7.5/10
San Francisco, early 20th century. George Leach, a fugitive convict trying to evade prosecution, joins the Ghost as a crewman. He is unaware that he is willingly condemning himself to imprisonment.
Captain Larsen, also known as the Sea Wolf, is renowned for his harsh temper. Soon, two more of the captain's captives appear on board: the fugitive Ruth and the writer Humphrey. He becomes particularly close to the captain, who harbors a secret passion for reading.
One day, believing they have found a stroke of luck, the three prisoners decide to escape the ship, incurring the captain's even greater wrath.
