From book to film adaptations are very difficult to make, and some of the most high-profile book-movies have completely dropped the ball. Books have long been a source of inspiration for films, with some of the biggest blockbusters debuting as novels. Although many book adaptations remain obscure, some popular novels have an audience long before they reach the screen.
This puts extra pressure on the film as viewers enter the theater with many expectations. While no book fan will ever be 100% satisfied with a film adaptation, some projects do a decent job of turning their books into a film. Changes are a necessity in the process of moving from page to screen, but they are not always welcome.
The worst book adaptations not only disappoint readers, but also fail to be compelling films. This is a deadly situation for a piece of cinema because it appeals to no one and at the same time it does a disservice to its source material. Hype can make or break any film, but the most anticipated book-to-film adaptations have failed to live up to the hype.
Ender’s Game (2013)
Orson Scott Card’s popular dystopian science fiction novel, Ender’s Gamestands out for its cerebral approach and complex characters. It took decades for a feature film to come to fruition, but when the Ender’s Game the film finally appeared, it was a hollow shell of the classic book. No more heady themes, make way for abundant, no-stakes action.
The book’s commentary on PTSD and the dehumanizing effects of war is completely obliterated by the film’s script, and the visuals do nothing to sell the story. With millions of readers eager to see Card’s world come to life, Ender’s Game it was like a disaster. Mediocre reviews praised the film’s execution, but little else.
Eragon (2006)
The Aughts were filled with adaptations of books that attempted to capture Harry Potterthe popularity of, and Eragon was a notable failure. Christopher Paolini’s young adult fantasy novel, Eragon, kicked off an epic cycle, but the film adaptation couldn’t capture the same spirit of adventure. Actually, it was as if the filmmakers had gone through the book before tossing it aside.
There are unfaithful adaptations, and then there are Eragon. Once the basic premise is established, the film goes off on its own tangent throughout its duration and subjects the viewer to cheesy performances that mocking Paolini’s rich world-building. It made enough money to be considered a modest success, but no sequel ever happened.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)
With Harry Potter soon at sunset, 2010 was the perfect time to come out Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Unfortunately, the adaptation of Rick Riordan’s bestseller made fundamental changes that undermined the purpose of YA books. Making the characters number 16 (instead of 12) might have made things easier, but it ruined the movie.
What The lightning thief it also lacked the same emotional depth as the book, and the dynamic between the heroes was empty. The film takes place in a delicate environment, where it keeps too much while changing too muchtherefore Riordan’s writing is totally lost. The sequel, Sea of Monstersit got even worse.
The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
Tom Wolfe’s The fire of vanities was one of the defining literary achievements of the 1980s, but the 1990 film adaptation landed with a thud. Despite Brian De Palma in the director’s chair and a cast including Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis and Melanie Griffith, The fire of vanities was a total disaster.
Painfully not funny, the film pulled all the teeth out of the book, so the witty satire was replaced by superficial commentary. Unlike the book, the film lacked point of view, so the dark comedy was played too straight for its own good. Instead of condemning the characters, the film’s script inadvertently endorses them due to poor writing.
The Giver (2014)
In the crowded field of young adult dystopian literature, Lois Lowry The donor stands head and shoulders above the rest. It took more than 20 years for this subtle and frightening book to be adapted into a film, and Hollywood has certainly done a number of things right about its complex themes like freedom and choice. Too much gloss has obscured the message of the book.
Although it follows the structure of the book, the film does not have the same atmosphere and weight as its literary counterpart. A competent cast is given a standard script to work with, and the film’s production design is incredibly bland. The donor isn’t the worst adaptation, but it neglects being a good film above all else.
A Wrinkle in Time (2018)
Disney tried twice at Madeleine L’Engle A wrinkle in timeand they’re both pretty bad. However, the 2018 theatrical film is much worse than its television counterpart due to the team behind the film and its huge production budget. L’Engle’s brilliant ideas are usurped by uninspired designand Disney’s fear of stepping on toes.
The book is undeniably political, but any message is rejected in favor of a milquetoast product which can be sold in any market without raising too much ruffle. Putting all that aside, A wrinkle in time is simply a boring film, and completely wastes the talents of director Ava DuVernay and the cast.
The Dark Tower (2017)
Stephen King has had his share of bad adaptations, but none have fallen as flat as that of The Dark Tower. Freely adapting volumes one and three, the 2017 film is also a pseudo-sequel to the entire book series. As if this muddled approach wasn’t bad enough, the film version completely misses the tone and style of King’s novels.
There are currently 8 novels in Dark Tower series.
The cast is solid and some of the action is quite exciting, but it feels like a generic action movie and not the epic fantasy story it’s supposed to be. In the age of massive multimedia franchises, it’s surprising that The Dark Tower I didn’t just adapt the first bookand set up potential sequels based on the others.
The Golden Compass (2007)
The Golden Compass is one of the most visible victims of Harry Potter craze, and it certainly fails to capture its source material. Philip Pullman’s young adult fantasy book is filled with commentary on religion and politics, while the 2007 film excludes all of these richest themes. This exposed the book’s weaknesses.
Beneath the stunning visual effects and top-notch cast, The Golden Compass is a bland experience with little else to offer. Many of the book’s plot points were moved or left for a sequel that never actually came to fruition. Despite its greatness, The Golden Compass feels incomplete and disappointing for book fans and casual moviegoers alike.
Deadly Engines (2018)
That of Philippe Reeve Deadly Engines is one of the most beloved young adult books of the 21st century, so hopes were high for the film. Unfortunately, the long-awaited adaptation was not only a failure, but Deadly Engines became one of the biggest box office bombs of all time. Its success was never guaranteed, but it should not have failed so brutally.
The book’s steampunk premise practically begs for a visually compelling film, but the 2018 film is as middle-of-the-road as it gets. On top of that, the script is stiff and clunky, and much of the dialogue feels clichéd. General audiences clearly hated the film, and it was a slap in the face to dedicated readers as well.
Artemis Fowl (2020)
After languishing in development hell for nearly 20 years, Disney finally released its adaptation of Artemis Hen in 2020. Eoin Colfer’s book has been read by tons of young people since its publication in 2001, but the film arrived with almost no fanfare. A direct release on Disney+ didn’t helpbut Artemis Hen is terribly bad.
The book is not an easy product to adapt, but Disney’s unimaginative approach didn’t do justice to its enormous budget. Director Keneth Branagh adds nothing to the finished film, and the script’s odd choices result in changes for no apparent reason. Had the book-film project released in theaters, it probably would have been a notorious bomb.
