10 Bad Film Adaptations Of Great Books
Despite having such incredible source material, these films did not live up to expectations.
If done correctly, transforming a book into a film can appease the original fans - otherwise known as a guaranteed existing audience - while introducing it to a much wider audience. Done right, it's like printing money.
Whether it's a critically acclaimed novel such as Life Of Pi, Trainspotting and Fight Club, or a series of books, such as Harry Potter and The Lord Of The Rings, there are numerous examples of books that have been converted into film and have produced major financial and critical success.
However, just because there is a massive treasure trove of books to pick from does not mean that success can be guaranteed for all of them. If they are done poorly, it can result in major backlash from the original fans and produce serious losses for the studio.
Sadly though, this is the case for many promising film adaptations of great books and this list aims to focus on some of the more high profile examples and the reasons why they failed.
10. Cloud Atlas
Many novels deal with fantasy and/or science fictional elements, but Cloud Atlas truly stands out amongst the crowd.
The book consists of six interconnected stories across multiple timelines, from the nineteenth century to a distant post-apocalyptic future. It was nominated for multiple awards when it was published in 2004 and won the Literary Fiction Award at the British Book Awards.
Its success was bound to attract interest in a film adaptation sooner or later, and in 2009, Tom Tykwer announced he and the Wachowskis were working on a screenplay. Despite multiple issues securing financing, they were able to assemble an impressive ensemble cast consisting of Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, Susan Sarandon and Ben Wishaw.
Unfortunately, the film garnered a polarising response from critics and audiences. While it was praised for its cinematography and editing, many found it difficult to follow what was happening through the multiple storylines and believed that it failed to deliver on the emotional responses it was trying to evoke.
Combine this with a failure to turn a profit at the box office and you are left with an ambitious film that tried and failed to live up to its source material.