Claim: The 84th Academy Awards winners included at least one film adapted from a novel.

The Descendants is a 2011 American comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Payne . The screenplay by Payne , Nat Faxon and Jim Rash is based on the novel of the same name by Kaui Hart Hemmings . The film stars George Clooney , Shailene Woodley , Amara Miller , Beau Bridges , Judy Greer , Matthew Lillard and Robert Forster , and was released by Fox Searchlight Pictures in the United States on November 18 , 2011 after being screened at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival .   Tracing the journey of land baron Matt King who struggles with unexpected occurrences in his monotonous life , The Descendants won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay , as well as two Golden Globe Awards for Best Picture -- Drama and Best Actor -- Drama for Clooney .