Lead characters have always been the quintessential point to make or break any story. Ironically, these 5 films which have been developed from bestselling novels have its storyline revolving around missing female characters.

These film's have gone ahead to win critical and audience acclaim and are known to thrill and grip viewers all throughout.

Here is the list of Best selling Novels turned to Film which have gone ahead to become a huge hit.

1. Mystic River:A Clint Eastwood directorial Mystic River is an American mystery drama film of 2003 based on the acclaimed novel of same name by Dennis Lehane. The film led to, Sean Penn receiving an Oscar award for his role of melancholic father to his murdered daughter played by Emmy Rossum. The film revolves around three men, out of which one had gone a tragedy in childhood that has affected the lives of all three. All three men are reunited by circumstance when one has a family tragedy.

2. Gone Girl: Gone Girl is a 2014 psychological thriller film based on the acclaimed novel of the same name by author Gillian Flynn. The David Fincher film, Gone Girl had lived up to expectation and had created a rage upon its release. The film centers on disappearance of Ben Affleck's wife Amy played by Rosamund Pike and how Ben Affleck becomes a prime suspect of his wife's disappearance with a heavy media focus.

3. Shutter Island: Martin Scorsese's direction and Leonardo Di Caprio's power packed performance has made Shutter Island of the most iconic movies of Hollywood. The film is based on the famous novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane. It is set in the year 1954 and revolves around a detective named Edward "Teddy" Daniels played by Leonardo Di Caprio who along with his partner travels to a Hospital for criminally insane people on Shutter Island. They are investigating the disappearance of a female patient Rachel Solando, who was incarcerated for drowning her three children.

4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a 2011 Swedish-American psychological thriller film directed by filmmaker David Fincher based on the novel of the same name by Stieg Larsson. Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer are in the lead roles for the film. The film was a box office hit upon its release. It centers around a woman who is missing for forty years. A journalist and a young computer Hacker together solve the mystery surrounding the woman. 5. The Girl on the Train: It is a forth coming film directed by Tate Taylor based on the bestselling novel of the same name by British author Paula Hawkins. The film centers around an alcoholic woman Rachel Watson played by Emily Blunt, who is grappling with the condition of being an Alcoholic and her divorce with her ex husband Tom. She fantasizes about the relationship of her neighbours, Scott and Megan Hipwell, during her commute through train to her work daily. One day she witnesses something from the train window, which entangles herself in a web of deceit , connivance, and lies which will change her life forever. The film is all set to release on October 7th,2016.

These stories, which revolve around missing female characters makes us wonder if disappearances prove to be an ingredient to success in making of thriller flicks.