The literary world lost one of its finest storytellers this week with the passing of Frederick Forsyth at age 86. The legendary author and former Daily Express columnist leaves behind an extraordinary legacy – not just in publishing, but in cinema and television.
Forsyth’s novels, known for their meticulous research, razor-sharp plotting, and cold-war intrigue, have inspired some of the most gripping thrillers ever committed to film.
From the ice-cool assassin of The Day of the Jackal to the Nazi-hunting journalist in The Odessa File, Forsyth’s work has given us remarkable characters, unforgettable suspense, and stories so believable they often felt like they came from future headlines.
In tribute to the master storyteller, we’re counting down his seven best screen adaptations, ranked from good to absolute masterpiece, based on their IMDB scores.
7 – Avenger (2006)
Starring: Sam Elliott, Timothy Hutton
IMDb: 5.6
We start with one of Forsyth’s lesser-known adaptations: A TV movie that packs a punch but doesn’t quite reach the heights of his best work. Based on his 2003 novel, Avenger follows a CIA operative (Elliott) hunting a rogue mercenary (Hutton) who’s executing vigilante justice across the globe.
Elliott brings his trademark weight, and Hutton is menacing, but the film suffers from TV-movie pacing and a script that simplifies Forsyth’s intricate plotting. Still, it’s a solid thriller.
6 – Icon (2005)
Starring: Patrick Swayze, Patrick Bergin
IMDb: 5.6
A made-for-TV adaptation of Forsyth’s 1996 novel, Icon sees Patrick Swayze as a retired CIA agent dragged back into the game when a political conspiracy threatens to plunge Russia into chaos.
Swayze, in one of his later roles, brings intensity, and the story’s election-rigging plot feels eerily prescient today. But like Avenger, it’s hampered by TV production limits and a script that minimises Forsyth’s layers.
5 – The Jackal (1997)
Starring: Bruce Willis, Richard Gere, Sidney Poitier
IMDb: 6.4
A loose, high-octane remake of The Day of the Jackal, this 90s thriller swaps De Gaulle for a fictional target and turns the assassin (Willis) into a shape-shifting, high-tech killer.
Willis is menacing, Gere holds his own as an IRA operative turned informant, and the action sequences are brutally efficient. But compared to the clinical precision of the original, this version feels more stylistic, but less substantial.
4 – The Dogs of War (1980)
Starring: Christopher Walken, Tom Berenger
IMDb: 6.3
One of Forsyth’s most personal stories, The Dogs of War draws from his time covering the Biafran War as a journalist. Walken stars as James Shannon, a battle-hardened mercenary hired to overthrow an African dictator.
Walken is mesmerizing, with a quiet intensity, and the film’s realistic depiction of guerrilla warfare was ahead of its time. But some uneven pacing keeps it from the top tier.
3 – The Fourth Protocol (1987)
Starring: Michael Caine, Pierce Brosnan
IMDb: 6.5
A brilliant Cold War cat-and-mouse game, The Fourth Protocol pits Michael Caine’s MI5 agent against Pierce Brosnan’s chilling KGB operative, who’s smuggling a nuke into Britain.
Caine is typically excellent, but Brosnan steals the show as one of his most sinister roles ever. The film’s methodical tension is pure Forsyth, and the climax is nerve-wrecking.
2 – The Odessa File (1974)
Starring: Jon Voight, Maximilian Schell
IMDb: 7.0
A journalist’s quest to expose a Nazi war criminal becomes a heart-pounding conspiracy thriller in this ‘70s classic. Voight is outstanding as the relentless reporter, and Schell is sinister as the SS officer hiding in plain sight.
The film’s gritty realism and moral urgency make it one of Forsyth’s most gripping adaptations – a perfect blend of detective story and historical reckoning.
1 – The Day of the Jackal (1973)
Starring: Edward Fox, Michel Lonsdale
IMDb: 7.8
The undisputed leader of Forsyth adaptations. Edward Fox is chilling as the unnamed assassin, moving through Europe with methodical, soulless precision in this film, which features documentary-like realism that makes every moment feel terrifyingly plausible.
From its brilliantly understated performances to its climax, this is Forsyth’s masterpiece on screen.