The novel has been filmed on eight occasions, the first two versions from 1917 and 1922, being silent movies. The BBC also broadcast a series based on the book for British television in 1959. Of the movies, the 1946 film directed by David Lean is considered to be the best. The black and white film was awarded two Oscars, for Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography. Pip was played by John Mills and it also starred Jean Simmons and Alec Guinness.
The latest movie version was released in 1998 and starred Ethan Hawke as Pip and Gwyneth Paltrow as Estella. A spin off sequel called Great Expectations, The Untold Story came out in 1986 and tells the story of what happened to Magwitch after he goes to Australia. Michael York and Sarah Miles were the stars of the 1974 version and Anthony Hopkins played Magwitch in 1989.