Question: What's the best way to draw in an audience, create a new idea, and make a ton of money? Answer: Book-to-film adaptations. Over the years, Hollywood has grown and expanded upon hundreds of different stories, many based on popular book series. From fantasy to sci-fi to even horror, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
While some of these adaptations hit the mark, there are many that fall short. For numerous reasons, some adaptations succeed, while others fail. As such, here are five book-to-film adaptations that worked and five that missed the mark.
Worked: Lord Of The Rings Trilogy
Hands down, the Lord Of The Rings trilogy is one of the most influential book adaptations of all time. Not only was the material done in a way that honored the books, but it finally gave audiences a proper adaptation.
Before LOTR was released, the idea of doing a fantasy series as a film franchise was simply a pipe dream. When LOTR came out with its jaw-dropping visuals, timely themes, awesome lines, and brilliant acting, the stage was set for a new kind of film genre.
Failed: Artemis Fowl
For the longest time, there were many attempts to adapt Eoin Colfer's unique fantasy series, Artemis Fowl. Many drafts came and went until 2020 when Disney finally made and released a film adaptation. Unfortunately, they probably should have gone through a few more drafts.
The adaptation doesn't just suffer from poor visuals and weak plot but from poor usage of the source material. Instead of taking what the book offered, Disney attempted to create a weak Indiana Jones-style film.
Worked: Harry Potter Series
The same year LOTR came out, another book series was getting its own adaptation. When Harry Potter was released, it did more than what LOTR could ever accomplish. Instead of simply being a trilogy, Harry Potter went on for nearly 10 years and eight films.
The franchise became the poster child for book adaptations, boosting the book's popularity and creating a rich and vibrant world that's still growing today. Thus, the Wizarding World will remain a symbol of what a good book adaptation can accomplish.
Failed: Percy Jackson And The Olympians
What's the worst enemy of a book-to-film adaptation? Too much information at once. See, a lot of films could benefit from being made as a TV series instead of a film franchise. However, seeing as movies tend to make more money, more are made with mixed results.
Percy Jackson And The Olympians is a perfect example. A franchise that didn't make it past its sequel, the films tried to cram too much material into two films. Hopefully, the series will find new life as an upcoming TV series.
Worked: Jurrasic Park
Steven Spielberg plus Michael Crichton equals a film unlike anything seen before. Jurassic Park is seen as one of the greatest adventure films ever created. With its incredible animatronics and brilliant script, the film exceeded expectations.
What most people don't realize is that Jurassic Park was adapted from a book by Crichton. The book, unlike it's an adaptation, is somewhat dark and bleak. Luckily, with the right amount of humor and the power of Goldblum, the film outshined the novel and became an adventure 65 million years in the making.
Failed: Divergent Series
When Divergent was first released, it was actually seen as a step up from previous adaptations. Granted, there were issues with the film, but in the face of what it got right, a second film was made and released in theaters.
The second film, however, was the downfall of the series. Complex and bloated, the film was carried by the acting alone. Somehow, a third film was added, just as messy as the sequel. Despite a fourth film in the works, the studio opted to close the book on Divergent.
Worked: Jaws
Believe it or not, the film that made you afraid of the ocean is based on a book. Written by Peter Benchley, Jaws is a brutal thriller about the hunt for a murderous shark and the movie would have been the same ... if the shark had worked.
During production, the film suffered from multiple setbacks, meaning that the shark appeared less and less. If anything, this helped to make the film even better. With added lines and an improved ending, Jaws became an even scarier film than the novel.
Failed: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Most of the book-to-film adaptations typically suffer from either overusing or underusing the source material. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a rare and interesting exception. Save for a few added details, the 1994 film is considered to be the best adaptation of the novel.
Ironically, this ended up being the movie's downfall. Straying from the source material was the best thing Hollywood could have done with their 1931 version of Frankenstein, creating an iconic and horrifying monster. Going back to the slow burn novel was an unfortunate mistake.
Worked: Carrie
Horror has a name and it's Stephen King. Stephen King is well known for creating some of the most well-known horror novels of all time and his words jumped onto the big screen almost immediately, beginning with his first novel, Carrie.
Carrie may be one of the best teen dramas of all time. A horrifying look at the effects of bullying disguised as a chilling supernatural tale helps to bring the horror to life. In fact, without Carrie, the world may not have ever gotten other great Stephen King films.
Failed: Fifty Shades Of Grey
Typically, when adapting novels, writers will go with material that will either entice or entertain moviegoers. There is though, the odd chance of the writers going for something a little more unorthodox and Fifty Shades of Grey is probably the most unorthodox of these approaches.
Based on a novel that was inspired by fan fiction, Fifty Shades is full of strange dialogue, wooden acting, and bizarre scenes. Despite being a trilogy, it was a disaster of an adaptation that should have remained in book form.