Best and Worst Movie Adaptations
Going to the movies used to be an exciting experience. We’d order tickets, get in line for snacks, then kick back and watch something we’ve been waiting for forever. Then the pandemic hit and we changed to chilling at home streaming films on our TVs after using our neighbor’s Wi-Fi. The magic just isn’t the same. You could compare this experience to an INCREDIBLE book or TV show getting the movie treatment and not living up to the hype. A lot of movie adaptations are great, others miss the mark entirely.
We love both equally and for different reasons. Pop the popcorn and lock the doors, we’re curling up with the best and worst movie adaptations to hit the silver screen!
BEST: Princess Bride
Do you want to see a movie full of magic, love, and inconceivable action? As you wish! We’re here to bestow upon you a classic that has reached new and old alike. It’s a tale of adventure, plotting, and the epic quest to reunite someone with another six-fingered person to duel to the death. The Princess Bride is already a beloved children’s classic.
When the film came out in the 80s people were beyond stoked. A few things changed along the way (naturally). That didn’t stop this movie from charging straight into people’s hearts. Regardless of how you feel about the original material, this adaptation is almost as cherished and respected! Plus, the Dread Pirate Roberts is beautiful!
WORST: The Girl on the Train
This film is based on the thriller by Paula Hawkins, a book that received somewhat mixed reviews. Some were captivated by the mystery and multiple narratives, while others felt it was a cheap knock-off of Gone Girl. Whether you’re a fan of the source material or not, you’ll probably agree this movie starring Emily Blunt was nothing special.
Audiences felt the tone was overly dark and melodramatic. Those who are fans of the book will find this film to be a major letdown, and those who disliked the novel will be even more disappointed. While the cast is full of talented actors, this isn’t a movie anyone needs to rush and see.
WORST: I Am Legend
On its own, I Am Legend is a fantastic time at the movies. All the makings for greatness are there: Will Smith, good lighting, some scary rarely-seen-in-the-day monster. It also has a beautiful ending. The only issue people had with the film was that it wasn’t I Am Legend. The novel it’s based on is from 1954 and paints a very different story.
While both tales center around the world ending from disease, the way it’s handled are vastly different. Even the main character has a different demeanor and response to the world around him. Just being a good movie doesn’t make it a great adaptation. But at least we got a lot more Will Smith!
WORST: The Golden Compass
His Dark Materials (also known as The Northern Lights/Golden Compass series) is a fascinating collection of stories. Following Lyra through her adventures as a kid felt like any other normal fantasy experience. When we reread the series as adults we quickly felt the metaphor crashing in and showcasing what makes the books so powerful. We also learned why some people may have been up in arms when the movie was announced.
Unfortunately, thanks to the meddling of outside forces, the film didn’t hit the right notes. Some of the themes in the books just didn’t translate well conservative audience. When you clip out some of the larger themes, the book’s movie adaptation feels like there’s too much dust in the way to see the story.
BEST: Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks is one of those people that could touch something and instantly turn it to gold. When Midas did it there was a problem. When Hanks does the Academy screams and throws trophies his way. Forrest Gump is a great case study for this phenomenon. The movie is an American classic. We’re even pretty sure it’s required viewing for anyone thinking of moving to the States (don’t quote us on that).
While it’s a fantastic film, the original book isn’t as favored. It can be polarizing and downright weird at times. Maybe we’re all lucky Tom Hanks didn’t crash land on an island with a monkey like in the book…yeah, look it up, it happened.
WORST: Percy Jackson
After Harry Potter and his friends earned millions upon millions, a whole slew of other adventure series began to appear. Percy Jackson was one such hero who really made a splash in the world. This reimagining of the Greek Pantheon in modern times served as a fun way to educate kids as well as give them a few new heroes to follow.
Naturally, the movie sounded incredible! But once it was released, it seemed quite a few things were changed at the last minute. The story, while still fun to watch, was practically its own thing when compared to the source. Hardcore fans of the books were not amused and felt like they had been tricked by Zeus himself!
WORST: World War Z
Sometimes a book doesn’t translate well to the screen. There can be a lot of reasons for this. Sometimes the story is too complicated. Other times, the technology just doesn’t exist to properly showcase what makes the story so good. World War Z had none of those problems. It just decided to take a great book and write its own story under the same name.
The original novel was all about the individual accounts of people surviving the zombie apocalypse. In the film, we were treated to a more centralized plot. A lot of the individual accounts were gone, and in their place we got Brad Pitt. That’s normally not a bad thing. However, for this movie, less Pitt wouldn’t have been the pits.
BEST: The Perks Of Being A Wallflower
Steven Chbosky wrote one of the best come-of-age tales of our time and named it The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Following a high schooler and his friends, as they navigate life, this book (and later film) explores puberty and coping with stress while we’re still in our formative years. years. The rating system didn’t like it enough to be kind and slapped an R-rating on it.
Thankfully, everyone got up in arms and PG-13 was used in the end. This movie stuck pretty close to its source material during production. That’s probably why it was a big hit with critics. How’d they do that? They made sure to hire the writer to do the actual screenplay! See? This is how you make something good into something great for more people.
WORST: Eragon
The movie never happened. That’s the general consensus when talking to an Eragon fan. The original dragon-filled trilogy was a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre. People just couldn’t get enough of this kid and his dragon companion. It had all the makings for an over-the-top summer blockbuster spectacular. The author and production company could practically print books made out of money if they wanted to.
Instead, we got a middle-of-the-road 100-minute fantasy story that was just a bit confusing. That’s not a bad thing. It’s just not even close to the power and message that the original book carries with it. Even some of the cast were reported to be underwhelmed with their performances and the project as a whole.
BEST: The Godfather
Tackling a massive subject like organized crime, close family values, or even the “American Dream” is no easy feat. Transforming any of those into a great book or movie may seem impossible. A lot of times those ideals fall short of their intended goal. Other times they become The Godfather and the world rejoices. This is a heavy movie with a lot going on.
Even the books need the occasional reference check to ensure things are followed coherently. Thankfully, the film adaptation is just as enjoyable a journey as the original. There’s something both familiar and terrifying about the performances in the film. It’s almost like the characters themselves jumped straight off the page!
WORST: A Series of Unfortunate Events
Daniel Handler (AKA Lemony Snicket) knows how to tell a story the right way. A Series Of Unfortunate Events is a compendium of wordplay, fun stories, and ridiculous characters. The books were destined to become a film or two! In fact, Jim Carrey was a central figure in the original adaptation, though his star power wasn’t enough to make this film popular.
Sure, it wasn’t well-received or executed well. However, Jim Carrey is Jim Carrey, so at least we got that. Netflix later re-adapted the books into a show that seemed to fit things in better. That’s probably where the film fell short. It tried to jam three books of material into a single movie!
BEST: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
Who doesn’t love a wild comic book adventure? Bright colors, kooky characters, and the occasional over-the-top fight scene? Yes please! We’d play that over and over again! Scott Pilgrim Vs The World showcases how a comic book movie can be done well when it starts off the rails. Embracing the meta-referencing ridiculousness of the source material, this movie is one of Michael Cera’s best works.
It follows a jerk disguised as a good guy and shows us all to follow our hearts. We also are reminded to always pick up quarters along the way (just in case). Even the music of the film feels like it’d fit in perfectly with the comics!
WORST: The Cat in the Hat
It’s hard to imagine living in a world where Dr. Seuss doesn’t exist. His children’s books taught us important lessons like respect, how to listen, and that nonsense words have a place in everyday life as well. While we never thought of them as movie material, Hollywood had other ideas. In 2003 a live-action version of The Cat in the Hat was released to the world.
Instead of a quirky kid-friendly cartoon, we all watched Mike Myers deliver innuendos in a fursuit. Some people really enjoyed the movie, a louder majority expressed their disgust. The film had the look of a Seuss book, that’s for sure. It’s a shame the charm didn’t translate as well as the classic.
BEST: The Road
A good movie, book, or piece of art isn’t always happy. What makes it so good is that SOME sort of emotional response is produced. That doesn’t always mean it has to be a smile. The Road is a depressing jaunt down humanity’s final moments during its darkest hour. Horrific themes we never thought we’d have to experience are written out in excruciating detail. Surely something like that wouldn’t work well on the screen, right?
Absolutely wrong. The Road was made with such care and commitment that it hit a home run with audiences. This movie takes everything that made us feel uneasy and blows it up to massive proportions. It’s not a journey we’d like to take every day. However, when the wind blows us that way, this is the film we pick up first (right after the book).
WORST: The Hobbit
When Peter Jackson gave birth to the Lord of the Rings trilogy we all know and love, the world became a better place. This epically long saga about friendship, perseverance, and destiny became an instant classic. They were also visually groundbreaking and still hold up today! Then The Hobbit happened and delivered…nothing new. The movies were nice but didn’t quite meet expectations.
They didn’t have the same UMPH the original LOTR had. A lot from the book had been withheld or changed. Instead of being engrossed in the plot, audiences were feeling fatigued and a bit letdown. They’re great films, but these paled when compared to the source material. That doesn’t stop them from being fun!
BEST: The Silence of the Lambs
Did you know The Silence of the Lambs is based on a book? You do now! It’s a pretty good one, too! The suspenseful crime-thriller is basically a horror story with legal jargon thrown in. It’s very well written and was received well by audiences, too. And when the film came out people lost their minds. It was creepy, exciting, and had an absolutely stellar cast.
A page-turner in movie form is exactly what you want. While a lot of details were left out, or just slipped through the cracks, it was pretty close to the source. Mix in Anthony Hopkins and there’s no denying why this is still considered a great adaptation to this day.
WORST: Catwoman
Halle Berry’s Catwoman might be one of the worst-received superhero movies. It also has 0% to do with Gotham City Batman, or anything other than fighting evil makeup empires. So, it’s kind of a mixed bag. Yes, Catwoman’s mystique is her sleek sophistication and incredible gymnastic abilities. But the character fell flat with most viewers.
The only connection this film has with the DC universe are the cat ears Berry rocks with style. Some fans like it as a so-bad-it’s-good flick. Even Halle Berry is aware of how awful this film turned out, she even accepted her Razzie in person! We admire her for not taking the flop too seriously.
WORST: X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Some of our favorite hero franchises deserve a hundred movies. There are just so many great stories that we want to see more, you know? X-Men is one of those franchises. When fans heard Wolverine’s origin story was getting a movie they couldn’t contain themselves. This was going to be AWESOME! But wait…Deadpool makes an appearance? Got it, it’s the best movie ever.
Or it could have been. Sometimes a director takes a few liberties with how a character is portrayed. In Wolverine’s movie, everyone’s favorite wise-cracking antihero from the comics turned into a super serious mute. He also randomly had laser eyes. Fans had a few opinions about that…
BEST: The Green Mile
Stephen King movies can be hit or miss. His work doesn’t always do well when translated to movies. That’s probably because a lot of his stories have psychological elements that are better read than watched. The delicate play of words and horrifying scene-building that’s synonymous with King is almost untranslatable to another medium. Almost.
The Green Mile showed the world that sometimes you just need the right crew to bring a project together. A story about healing, forgiveness, and the terrors of the American prison system is not easy to tell. Thankfully, the original material was treated with enough reverence (and talent) to get some of the bigger messages across. It’s hard to watch (and read) without tissues. That’s also a great thing.
WORST: Super Mario Bros.
It’s not unheard of for a video game to get a movie adaptation. It’s almost expected at this point. Back in the 80s it was uncharted territory. Super Mario Bros. was (and still is) one of the hottest games ever. A studio head put two and two together and saw dollar signs. It’d be easy! Get two funny guys and completely ignore the source material!
While elements from the games made an appearance, the film “adaptation” was almost seen as a stand-alone adventure in a different world entirely. Fans and critics had a lot to say. While it wasn’t the same as the game, if you pretend it’s called something else it’s kind of fun! The little goomba heads were a bit of nightmare fuel, though.
BEST: A Clockwork Orange
If you thought Fight Club was violent then strap in and put in a mouthguard. A Clockwork Orange has it beat by kilometers and then some. Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece of a film feels like a never-ending horror trip mingled with a surreal and creepy atmosphere. Toss in criminal reformation on inhumane level and you can almost translate what’s going on.
The film has been lauded by many as one of the best in the world. While the book is a highly respected work of literature, people think the movie actually improved it! This is a case where sometimes the visuals help tell a story in a way that words just don’t.
BEST: Life Of Pi
Belief and the question of the importance of life are two central points in Life of Pi. The gripping tale of a young boy surviving at sea with a live tiger already sounds like it’s made for movies. However, the more nuanced themes of survival, belief, and how one tells and experiences a story don’t always translate well onto a screen. This isn’t one of those cases.
The visual effects used in Life of Pi not only amplify the story, but help explain so many parts that would otherwise be unexplainable. It’s a beautifully told tale both on paper as well as on film. Audiences agree, both projects deserve a space on people’s shelves and hearts!
WORST: Dreamcatcher
Stephen King made the list twice and for different reasons. That’s pretty impressive! His stories are always so controversial and intense, it makes sense some bold choices would be made when adapting them. Dreamcatcher is one of his chilliest book-to-movie projects. Mostly because it takes place in the snow. Combining an icy plot with aliens sounds like great fun! And the book is phenomenal.
When the movie version premiered fans flipped out quite a bit. Some for the better and others for…the worse. What started out as exploring the psychic bond between some guys was quickly twisted. Then we’re taken to an action movie with a whole lot of fog appearing out of nowhere. Needless to say, not many people dreamed a good dream about this one.
BEST: Holes
How do you combine treasure hunting, child labor, and a weird Western love triangle? It’s easy. You write “Holes”. This incredibly popular book was a staple in classrooms and libraries around the world. It has some of the most dynamic characters we ever read. When the movie came out we were a bit nervous but also super stoked.
Then it turned out to be almost as good as the book. How did they pull it off? Here’s a little secret: They got the original author to write the screenplay! That’s how you maintain some key plot points. The hiring paid off and Shia LaBeouf’s film career started thanks to the movie!
WORST: My Sister’s Keeper
Watching or reading any story involving someone dying long before their time is hard. My Sister’s Keeper found a beautiful way to portray something so intense. Each chapter built upon the next and a crushingly sad ending still had some comfort mixed in. It’s a story about sisterhood, grief, and carrying on with life. The movie tried to deliver such a deep message.
In many ways the actors succeeded…then the ending happened. Everyone was already confused already by some of the film’s choices. However, when the wrong character passes away, what then? You can’t take that much liberty with the material. It’d be an understatement to say the fans were let down.
BEST: How to Train Your Dragon
How To Train Your Dragon isn’t just an amazing film series. It’s an amazing film series based on some super cute books! With twelve books in the series (and only four being picked for movies so far), there’s a lot of material to adapt. Dreamworks knew they had lightning in a bottle in their hands. When the first movie premiered it smashed box offices like they were straw huts.
What made it so endearing to people was the relationship between Hiccup and Toothless. Their differences made them a family! It’s a beautiful, and apparently faithful, retelling of the first book. They must have done something right, because a hugely successful TV series came from the movie, too!
BEST: To Kill A Mockingbird
It’s not new to have a movie adaptation made shortly after a book is released. It’s been going on for decades. Even as far back as 1962, adaptations were still hot. To Kill A Mockingbird isn’t just one of the most famous American novels of all time, it’s also considered one of the greatest movies ever made! They also just so happened to occur at nearly the same time.
The original book was released in 1960. Just two years later, America was treated to the flawless performance by Gregory Peck. The response to the film was bananas and considered an instant classic. Not only did it adhere to the source, but it elevated itself to the book’s level.
WORST: Beowulf
People don’t ask each other how many times they read “Beowulf” in school. This epic poem lives up to the title. It’s a lengthy and fanciful journey that doesn’t shy away from horror and action. It tries to be everything and succeeds. Perhaps that’s why we’re still talking about it to this day. When someone in Hollywood felt it was time to bring it to our screens, we said sure!
Then we got a much more…seductively computer-generated fever dream. The premise of the ancient tale is lost. In its place, we’re treated to a beautifully lit, but somewhat confusing, sailing adventure with Ray Winstone and Angelina Jolie. It’s a fun film, but calling it Beowulf might be overstepping a bit.
BEST: The Hunger Games
Regardless of what people think of YA Fiction, those books make some stellar flicks. When trilogies were all the rage The Hunger Games pierced our hearts like an arrow through a coin. A triple punch tale of resilience, hope, rebellion, and sorrow took us on a whirlwind of emotions. The protagonist, Katniss, goes through way too much for a single human being. Her entire mental state ricochet’s all over the place and we’re along for the ride.
How can you translate that for cinema? They found a way and rose to the occasion. Fans of the films read the books. Fans of the books watched the films. Everyone was eating the story up one way or another. It was a celebration with some odd themes that everyone enjoyed.
BEST: Jaws
Jaws is a masterclass in build-up and suspense, it really set the standard for thriller films. It’s by far one of Steven Spielberg’s greatest films, and the score by John Williams was nothing to sneeze at, either. He fully deserved that Academy Award! While the novel the film is based on is enjoyed by many, it’s doubtful it could deliver the same suspense as the film.
While books can be thrilling and suspenseful in their own right, it’s hard to compare them to a visual medium. And that’s when adaptations are at their best, when they can use another medium to bring something new to an already great story.
WORST: Inkheart
Inkheart is a fantasy adventure book that makes reading really magical. A father and his daughter have the special ability to bring fictional characters to life, but end up accidentally summoning an evil villain. Doesn’t that sound like an incredible premise for a movie? Turns out Hollywood couldn’t figure out how to translate that magic to the screen.
Fans of the novel were looking forward to seeing this fantastical adventure come to life on the big screen, but they were sorely disappointed. Many felt that it lacked the heart and magic that made the book so good. It wasn’t the worst film of all time, but it definitely didn’t do justice to the source material.
BEST: American Psycho
American Psycho is a thriller written by Bret Easton Ellis, considered highly controversial for its graphic and disturbing content. This wouldn’t be anyone’s first pick to adapt for a film, but director Mary Harron managed to knock this one out of the park. And the incredible cast definitely didn’t hurt, it’s one of Christian Bale’s best roles.
Many think this was the role that eventually landed him the role of Batman in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy. Either way, it’s a fantastic film that does the book justice while keeping the same thrilling and unsettling tone. It wasn’t afraid to push the envelope if that’s what it took to bring the story to life.
WORST: Lorax
Dr. Suess books tend to have pretty simple straightforward messages, after all, they’re made for very young children. This makes them a little less than ideal for a feature-length film, but that certainly hasn’t stopped Hollywood. Any recognizable material is worth trying to bank on, which has resulted in some very botched adaptations of Suess’s work.
The Onceler might’ve tried to win us over with catchy songs and slick animation, but it failed to deliver the true message of the book. In creating a cartoonishly evil bad guy it showed it was more interested in giving us a cliche film than anything else. But at least we got Danny DeVito as the Lorax!
WORST: Dune (1984)
Dune is one of the most popular science-fiction novels out there by a long shot. It tells the story of a family who’s forced to live on a desert wasteland of a planet, though it contains an incredibly rare and highly sought-after substance known as melange or the “spice”. That might sound a little out there but trust us, this is an incredible book.
Acclaimed director David Lynch should’ve delivered an excellent film, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Lynch himself considers the movie a failure that he credits to lack of final say on the cut. Whatever the reason was, it failed to make a hit out of an extremely popular novel.
BEST: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a classic novel that tells the story of a guy who fakes a mental illness in order to get out of jail and into a mental institution. What he doesn’t know is that he’s going to a place run by a heartless and cruel woman known as Nurse Ratched. Netflix made a series about her, but we’re focusing on the 1975 film starring Jack Nicholson.
Not only is this one of Nicholson’s best roles, winning him an Academy Award for Best Actor, but his costar Louise Fletcher also won Best Actress for her portrayal of one of the most iconic movie villains. This film is an all-around hit that does justice to a phenomenal book.
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WORST: Congo
This movie was based on a sci-fi novel by Michael Crichton, centered around a diamond expedition that attempts to uncover the mystery of the deaths that took place in the tropical rainforest. Starring Laura Linney and Ernie Hudson, you’d think this film would be a hit. But it was a total swing and a miss with critics and audiences.
While people felt it was interesting and campy, it failed to entertain audiences. Perhaps the book wasn’t interesting enough for a feature-length film, or perhaps something got lost in translation. Either way, this movie usually comes to mind when people think of movies gone wrong. Some stories are better off left on the page.
BEST: Goodfellas
Widely considered to be Martin Scorsese’s greatest mob movie, this film took great source material and made an excellent film out of it. Based on the non-fiction book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi, we learn about the true life and crimes of former gangster Henry Hill. The movie takes much of its material straight from the source, not holding back when it comes to depicting the book’s events.
We get excellent performances from Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, and Robert DeNiro, who all do a great job of bringing these characters to life. Between the cinematography and pacing, this movie is one of the classics. When it comes to gangster films few are better than this.
BEST: Gone Girl
Gillian Flynn’s crime thriller novel Gone Girl shot to the top of the New York Times Best Seller list and was a huge hit among critics. It’s no surprise this was adapted into a film, and with powerhouse David Fincher behind it, we were hoping for a hit. We were not disappointed! Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck do an excellent job bringing Flynn’s characters to life.
And it definitely helps that Flynn wrote the screen adaptation, too. The story was just as gripping and surprising on-screen as it was in the book. With 27 awards, plus a Best Actress Oscar nomination for Pike, we think it’s safe to say this adaptation was successful.
WORST: The Lovely Bones
The Lovely Bones is one of those rare books that has a supremely heavy message that follows through on delivering it. It takes a brutal event and showcases what happens to a community that experienced it second-hand. Grief, thoughtfulness, introspection, all of these themes are delivered in a chilling, heartbreaking, and touching way. It was set for a movie adaptation before the story was even finished.
With an Academy Award nomination, you’d think it would be equally as powerful. As it turns out, when The Lovely Bones was released, the premise of the story was watered down. The nearly crushing atmosphere that made the book so powerful was gone and replaced with spectacular CGI. Was it worth the trade-off?
BEST: Fight Club
It’s hard to capture the essence of what made Fight Club a great book. Sorry, let’s start by saying we’re not talking about Fight Club. We’re talking about the movie it’s based off of. It’s also something that everyone needs to break the rules and speak about. This combination of twisted characters raging against the machine is art in motion. The film also got lucky and had a stellar cast delivering dialogue in ways we could never have dreamed about.
Strip all that away and you still have a pretty compelling story that’s constantly on fire. The book, while lacking in some details, really set the stage for this world to be explored and dismantled. Project Mayhem works well on paper and even better in a cinema!