Introduction

These days, it's almost impossible to find a piece of media that isn't based on something. From the obvious Harry Potter and Matilda to the more obscure adaptations like Frozen and 50 Shades of Grey, almost every form of entertainment is inspired by a book, a tale, or a series of events. This phenomenon raises an interesting question: is every successfully adapted book superior in its original form? And what about those rare cases where a medium becomes popular enough to be adapted to film or TV from scratch?

Adaptations in Cinema

The majority of films today owe their existence to book-based source material. Disney movies, for instance, are often adaptations of fairytales dating back to Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm. Shows centered around mythical beings such as vampires, werewolves, and magical beings are frequently inspired by folktales and folklore.

Here’s a list of some well-known movies that were originally based on books:

tPercy Jackson: The Lightning Thief tHarry Potter tTwilight tMortal Instruments: City of Bones tMortimerworld tA Series of Unfortunate Events tCharlie and the Chocolate Factory tAlmost anything in the Disney catalog tAlmost every Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and DC Extended Universe (DCEU) movie

Some adaptations are not without controversy. The Percy Jackson film series, for example, has been heavily criticized for straying from the source material. In a more egregious case, the Percy Jackson and the Olympians (PJO) film adaptations are often lambasted for their poor quality and lack of authenticity.

TV Series Adaptations

TV shows have also been adapted from books, with varying degrees of success:

tPercy Jackson: Greeks and Monsters tShadowhunters tGame of Thrones tThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Among these, Shadowhunters has been particularly criticized for its failure to capture the essence of the source material. Despite my limited viewing experience, I believe it's an insult to the fans of the original books.

Books and Their Adaptations

When it comes to books that should be adapted, the list is nearly endless. Authors like Cassandra Clare have books that need a cinematic adaptation to do them justice. Similarly, Keeper of the Lost Cities by Kalyn Hunt is a great candidate for a major film or television adaptation. However, the challenge lies in the sheer volume of books that require adaptations, and the resources required to produce them.

To create a book, you need a single author. But making a movie or a TV show requires a vast workforce, including actors, directors, costume designers, editors, programmers, marketers, and more.

Books That Don't Deserve Adaptation

While many books excel in their medium of choice, there are also those that might be better left untouched. One notable example is the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, which has undergone numerous adaptations, both live-action and animated. Despite the heavy marketing, these adaptations have failed to capture the spirit and humor of the original books. This series, featuring a spineless middle schooler, has become repetitive and predictable, with little plot to drive the stories forward.

The series has spawned over 20 adaptations, and it's well past the point where a fresh perspective or even a reboot would be more beneficial. Instead, the effort would be better spent creating a faithful and accurate adaptation or exploring entirely new stories.