The Rise of Book Adaptations in Cinema: Creative Impasse or Literary Revival?

By Prisha Nanda, B.A. Honours Economics

Design by Nandana

In recent years, the big screen has seen a startling increase in book adaptations. Stories that were once confined to the pages of our books– although readers would say that’s not all that bad– are now available for all in local cinemas and streaming services. This, as any new topic does, has brought reactions from ecstatic fans and critics alike. While adapting books into movies has been around for ages, including some of the most popular titles like ‘The Godfather,’ ‘To Kill A Mockingbird,’ the Harry Potter franchise, etc., there has been a rise in not only movie adaptations but also a considerable increase in book-to-show adaptations.

Why are book adaptations so prevalent today? There could be several reasons why a producer would decide to buy the rights to a movie. Usually, being extremely frank, it’s for the money. These are popular stories with developed plots and an existing, eager fanbase that can be leveraged and the filmmakers know it. However, as the lines between creativity and commerce blur, Hollywood’s appetite for adaptations raises alarms about a wider trend: the diminishing originality with every new movie or show released.

When every single book, regardless of whether it’s written well or not, is picked up for an adaptation simply because it is currently being raved about by communities like Booktok or Bookstagram, it makes one wonder. Wonder if Hollywood has reached a point where they are unable to be creative without turning existing stories into movies or shows. Companies like Netflix cancel good shows with well-written plots and complex characters that do have fanbases just because a producer decided that they could make more money by turning the latest Booktok sensation into a movie. We can see this with several books that are or were popular among readers on social media. For example, the ‘Off-Campus Series’ by Elle Kennedy, every single one of the major books written by Emily Henry, and ‘The Love Hypothesis’ by Ali Hazelwood, are all books being made into shows or movies soon. Even stories that originated from the infamous Wattpad are being turned into shows and movies (‘Mia Culpa,’ ‘Maxton Hall,’ ‘The Tearsmith’ and of course, ‘After’).

On one hand, this phenomenon is leading to an increase in book sales which is not only doing wonders in adding to the reading community but also benefitting local bookstores and authors. I will also admit some of these adaptations deserve to be out there and are doing very well to portray the books accurately, working with the author while also increasing diversity in the cast (like the new Percy Jackson series TV show).

Still, being witness to this explosion of adaptations while original screenplays are increasingly rare? It feels as though the industry is in a creative death spiral, recycling stories that have already captivated audiences instead of nurturing new voices and investing in fresh ideas.

The adaptation epidemic prompts a conversation and leads to so many questions in one’s mind about the state of creativity in Hollywood nowadays. Is Hollywood stifling creativity in favour of marketability? Are we settling for mediocrity in our pursuit of entertainment?