Of Human Bondage has had two successful film versions, although in both extensive cutting was necessary with the result that emphasis falls upon the unhappy love affair between Mildred and Philip. In 1934, Bette Davis starred as Mildred; the 1964 version featured Kim Novak.

The violence and suspense in Maugham's "The Letter" encouraged its stage adaptation as a thriller. Later two movie versions were released (1929, 1940). Maugham's novel The Narrow Corner appeared in a movie version in 1933.

The novel The Moon and Suspense was adapted as a stage play in 1925 and had a run of seventy-five performances before closing; the novel was adapted to the screen in 1942.

Toward the end of Maugham's life, movies were produced using several short stories in one movie length production, with the author appearing on screen to introduce his stories. In Quartet (1948), he was reportedly shocked by the censorship in some of the stories, particularly "The...