10 Bad Film Adaptations Of Great Books
5. Girl On The Train
DreamWorks Pictures were so confident that The Girl On The Train was going to be a success that they purchased the film rights in 2014 before the book was even published. It’s a psychological thriller that gives narratives from three different women's perspectives about relationship troubles and trouble drinking.
It debuted in the number one spot on the NewYork Times Fiction Best Sellers list of 2015 and stayed there for 13 consecutive weeks. It also held top spot in the UK’s hardback book chart for 20 consecutive weeks, the longest any book has ever held that top spot for. By the time the book was out, filming had already begun, with Emily Blunt in the starring role.
However, despite the film's ability to replicate the book's financial success, it did not gain the same critical praise. Where the book was able to keep the reader guessing about how much its characters knew or how involved they were in certain events, the film gives the game away much faster.
Although Emily Blunt was praised for her performance, fans of the book felt the film failed to replicate the same impact as the book.