Several Ludlum books have been adapted as films. The best known is Sam Peckinpah's 1982 production of The Osterman Weekend, released by Republic Pictures, and starring Rutger Hauer, John Hurt, and Burt Lancaster. Unfortunately, Ian Master's adaptation and Alan Sharp's screenplay make for a chaotic and implausible story line. The middle part of the movie is recognizable from the novel but a new narrative framework introduced in the exposition and resolution looks forced. Other notable adaptations include NBC's 1977 three-part miniseries, The Rhinemann Exchange, and ABC's more successful The Bourne Identity, the latter directed by Roger Young, and starring Richard Chamberlain and Jaclyn Smith, with supporting roles by Anthony Quale, Peter Vaughan, and Denholm Elliott.

The latest adaptation has been the 1996 two-part TV version of Apocalypse Watch.

Some of Ludlum's tides are available on audiocassettes from Bantam Books, albeit in abridged form. Among these are The Matarese Circle (read by...