Even those of us who haven’t read the book or watched the movies are likely familiar with the story behind The Count of Monte Cristo. This tale of betrayal, downfall, reinvention, and revenge is so powerful that it’s often retold across wildly different movie genres, without filmmakers mentioning the inspiration behind their work. From sword-and-sandal epics to psychological thrillers, the formula that made Alexandre Dumas’ 1844 novel a classic remains as popular today as ever.
