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Slaughterhouse-Five adaptations: books & films
Every version of Slaughterhouse-Five — the books & films, compared across media.
Billy Pilgrim is "unstuck in time" — a Second World War veteran who drifts helplessly between his childhood, the firebombing of Dresden, and an alien planet called Tralfamadore. That fractured, anti-war odyssey is the beating heart of Slaughterhouse-Five, a story that has crossed from the page to the screen. Whether you encounter it as Kurt Vonnegut's novel or as a film, the same haunting question persists: how do we find meaning inside a world capable of such destruction?
Slaughterhouse-Five films
Slaughterhouse-Five books
Frequently asked
Is Slaughterhouse-Five based on a book?
Yes. Slaughterhouse-Five began as a novel — described as one of the world's great anti-war books — centering on the firebombing of Dresden and Billy Pilgrim's search for meaning across a fractured life.
How many versions of Slaughterhouse-Five are there?
There are two versions collected here: the original novel and the 1972 film adaptation. Both tell the story of Billy Pilgrim, a WWII veteran who becomes unstuck in time.
Which Slaughterhouse-Five should I start with?
If you prefer prose, start with the novel — it's described as one of the world's great anti-war works. If you'd rather watch first, the 1972 film covers the same story of Billy Pilgrim drifting through time.