For as long as movies have been made, page-to-screen adaptations have been a staple of cinema, as countless novels, plays, and short stories have been repurposed for film. Less commonly, children's picture books have gotten the big screen treatment. Because picture books are usually (though not always) shorter than novels, they typically require the screenwriter to significantly expand upon the premise of the book in order to achieve a feature length running time for the final product.

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Because this is such a challenge, picture book adaptations vary greatly in their success. Some come out great, while others are complete flops. These are some of the most famous cases, ranked according to Rotten Tomatoes.

Dr. Seuss' The Cat In The Hat: 9%

The Cat with Sally and Conrad in Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat

2003's Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat was the subject of near-universal scorn upon its release. It's unfortunate and surprising, given that Dr. Seuss' book actually offers plenty of material to work with, as it's 61 pages long, which is a lot for a children's picture book.

The film version is a mere 82 minutes long and is thin on substance. It's also overly reliant on potty humor to the point where the story loses all of its original appeal. The visuals were overdone as well, a departure from the minimalist charm of the book's illustrations.

Mars Needs Moms: 37%

The characters from Mars Needs Mom brace for a fight

Berkely Breathed's children's book Mars Needs Moms is the story of a 9-year-old boy who grows tired of his mother's discipline and insistence that he upholds his childhood responsibilities. He takes her for granted until she's captured by Martians. He then must rescue her and bring her home. Robert Zemeckis produced the film adaptation in 2011.

It was released by Disney, which usually guarantees at least a modest box office success. In this case, Mars Needs Moms recouped less than $40 million of its $150 million budget, making it one of Disney's biggest flops ever.

Jumanji: 55%

Bonnie Hunt, Robin Williams, and Kirsten Dunst look on scared in Jumanji

Writer-illustrator Chris Van Allsburg won a Caldecott Medal for his 1981 book Jumanjiwhich was first adapted for the screen in 1995 in a family adventure film starring Robin Williams. The film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. It's entertaining and fast-paced and offers plenty of thrills for younger viewers, but it fails to capture the magic of the book.

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This is largely due to the fact that the book's illustrations are beautifully drawn in a timeless black and white, whereas the film version resorts to clunky and rather unimpressive CGI effects.

The Polar Express: 56%

The three kid leads on The Polar Express

Another Van Allsburg Caldecott winner adapted for the screen with mixed results is 2004's The Polar Express. It was the first film produced entirely using motion capture technology, a combination of animation and live performance. For this reason, the visuals were something new at the time, and they still hold up to this day.

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This film, though, has the opposite problem as Jumanji. Whereas Jumanji delivered on plot but underperformed visually, The Polar Express is a beautiful film to look at, but it's thin on story development.

Ferdinand: 72%

Ferdinand

Based on the picture book called The Story of Ferdinand, written by Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson, Ferdinand is the story of a bull who escapes his training camp after his father disappears following a bullfight. When he's recaptured, his friends must help him escape again before he's slated to fight with an undefeated matador.

The movie is funny and entertaining, but given the material, it contains some darker themes as well, particularly as they relate to the controversial sport of bullfighting.

Where The Wild Things Are: 73%

Max and Carol walk together through the desert

Director Spike Jonze took on the task of adapting Maurice Sendak's classic picture book Where The Wild Things Are for the screen in 2009. The book was long considered unadaptable, as it's both thin on plot and thematically open to interpretation. Jonze embraces some of the book's darker themes and incorporates great voiceover work from an all-star cast including Catherine O'Hara, Paul Dano, Chris Cooper, and James Gandolfini to create a fantastical story that feels all too real.

The film was generally well-received by critics, even though it divided audiences, as some felt its content was too emotionally mature for children.

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs: 86%

Flint and Sam look at the sky shocked as food rains down

This 2009 adaptation of Judi and Ron Barrett's 1978 children's book was a winner with critics and audiences alike, so much so that it spawned a sequel four years later. It's the story of an inventor who finds a way to convert water into food in order to save his hometown of Swallow Falls, which has fallen on hard times. When the machine malfunctions, he must make the necessary fixes before the whole world is covered in food.

The script contains humor that audiences of all ages can appreciate, and the animation is a joy to look at, making Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs among the most successful picture book adaptations.

Shrek: 88%

Donkey on Shrek's shoulders

Nowadays, Shrek is more than just a movie. It's a franchise and a brand unto itself. It all started as a picture book in 1990 by writer and cartoonist William Steig, who decided to write a fairy tale from the point of view of an ogre.

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In 2001, Shrek the movie became an instant sensation, receiving ample acclaim from both critics and moviegoers alike. Sequels followed, as well as video games, theme park rides, and even a TV Christmas special, making the Shrek series one of the most successful and celebrated animated film franchises ever.

Hugo: 93%

Hugo works on the automaton as someone enters the room

Martin Scorsese's Hugo is a true crowd-pleaser and was a major hit with critics and audiences alike upon its release in 2011. It was released in 3D, which brought its outstanding visuals to life and enchanted moviegoers of all ages. The film is based on a book called The Invention of Hugo Cabret, written and illustrated by Brian Selznick.

The book is no ordinary picture book; it's a novel-length story over 500 pages long. It's a Caldecott Medal winner that was perfect for a big-screen adaptation, as it's a richly rewarding read both for the visuals and the text.

Paddington: 97%

Paddington 3 development update

Like Hugo, Paddington is adapted from a long children's book that's essentially a novel with pictures. A Bear Named Paddington, written and illustrated by Michael Bond, was first published in 1958 and birthed a series of more than 20 entries. In 2014, the Paddington Bear got the big screen treatment in a widely acclaimed adaptation from writer-director Paul King.

Paddington is a stuffed bear from Peru who finds himself in London, where he's named after the famous train station and ends up being housed by the kind and nurturing Brown family. The movie's success spawned a sequel, Paddington 2which scored a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating.

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