Since book adaptations have surfaced in global cinema, they have grown to be prominent in the media — so much so that it has sparked controversy. More classic adaptations such as the “Harry Potter” franchise have had a lasting impact on society. Because of this, the anticipated release of newer movies like “Priscilla” (based on Priscilla Presley’s memoir “Elvis and Me”) and “The Hunger Games: the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” are leaving fans skeptical as to whether creativity in the industry is devolving.
Many have expressed concern regarding signs of fatigue in the movie world due to a claimed excess presence of book adaptations. The percentage of films released that were based on books has largely increased as the years have passed.
Because of this, followers of this media are concerned that these adaptations signify a lack of creativity and are used as a way to avoid finding new ideas.
“There are a lot of times where book adaptations don’t really live up to my expectations,” Samantha Stemp (’25) said. “Although I liked the new Hunger Games movie, I think the original movie franchise was great on its own and didn’t need any new additions this many years later. There’s also always the risk that the public will be dissatisfied with casting choices for adaptations, so I think it’s best to just leave these books’ elements to readers’ imaginations and come up with original ideas in cinema.”
Others, however, await these movies with great excitement. They feel as though movies are a great way to bring various books to life, and even occasionally prefer simply waiting for their release instead of reading the books. There are various factors that can discourage reading books, for example, students often find themselves overwhelmed with their coursework and extracurricular activities that they can’t find time to read and are thus more inclined to wait for these stories to appear on the big screen.
“I love to see how directors and producers interpret books and create their own movie adaptations,” Jenna Jumaili (’25) said. “I loved watching the new Hunger Games movie, even if it was a bit different from the book, it still effectively portrayed the series’ greatest aspects. I prefer watching film adaptations regardless of whether I have read their books or not, mainly because I don’t have time to read for hours on end during the school year.”
Book to film adaptations have been wildly popular among members of today’s society. In the box office, they have been found to generate around 53% more revenue than original films. Their recent popularity gain is likely due to the fact that books that are already popular and have an established audience have a higher probability of succeeding in the box office.
However, there has been significantly increased discontent with the film industry as a result. Various fans feel as though the industry is taking advantage of this guaranteed success and recycling old ideas. Therefore, the general public overall has split opinions regarding this issue.