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The Outsiders adaptations: books & films
Every version of The Outsiders — the books & films, compared across media.
The Outsiders divides the world into two kinds of people — the working-class Greasers and the privileged Socs — and follows Ponyboy as he navigates that divide in 1960s Tulsa. The same clash of class, loyalty, and survival runs through both the original novel and its film adaptation, making this one of the rare stories that translates its raw emotional stakes across the page and the screen.
The Outsiders films
The Outsiders books
Frequently asked
Is The Outsiders based on a book?
Yes. The Outsiders began as a 1967 novel following Ponyboy, a working-class Greaser navigating a violent rivalry with the privileged Socs. The 1983 film adapts that same story.
How many versions of The Outsiders are there?
There are two versions here: the original 1967 novel and the 1983 film. Both tell the story of Ponyboy and the Greaser–Soc conflict in 1960s Tulsa.
Which version of The Outsiders should I start with?
The 1967 novel The Outsiders is the original, giving you Ponyboy's voice and perspective directly. The 1983 film The Outsiders brings that same story to the screen with the Tulsa setting and characters.