Summary
- Book adaptations often create fantasy movies that sur the source material by transforming characters and world-building into something new and original.
- Some successful movie adaptations change the source material to put a fresh twist on the story, while others remain loyal and authentic to the original book.
- Movies like The Princess Bride, How To Train Your Dragon, and Jurassic Park have managed to excel beyond their source material through tight scripts, stunning visuals, and revolutionary filmmaking.
Book adaptations often make for the most interesting and beloved fantasy movies, with some examples even managing to craft something better than their source material. These movies are the ones that take the book’s characters, locations, and rich world-building and transform it into something new and original, introducing audiences to these classic stories while updating them for a new generation. Some of the best fantasy movies ever made draw inspiration from books, which is often really helpful because most of the world-building has already been done.
There’s always a difficulty when adapting beloved novels that movies shouldn’t change too much of the story - particularly when these books already have a dedicated fanbase. This can restrict the creative liberties that filmmakers are allowed to take, but the result is often a much more loyal and authentic adaptation. Of course, there are also movies that completely change their source material and put an entirely new twist on things - and these movies can also be successful if done right.
The Princess Bride (1987)
What makes The Princess Bride shine so much brighter than its source material is the movie’s ability to weave so many narratives together and play with cinematic form so easily and effortlessly. The script is so tight and entertaining, which is a testament to how effectively the crew managed to capture the fairytale spirit of the story. The Princess Bride feels like a celebration of fairytales in general, rather than just another example of one - like the book it's based on.
The Wizard Of Oz (1939)
The Wizard of Oz is a classic story that’s been adapted several times throughout history, with creations such as Wicked also being derived from this fictional universe. However, the 1939 movie adaptation was probably the most innovative and revolutionary version because of how fundamentally it changed cinema forever. While The Wizard of Oz wasn’t the first color movie, it’s one of the few from that era that hasn’t been lost and was undeniably the most popular. Much like the original book, it’s a perfectly uplifting story whose characters really come to life on-screen.
How To Train Your Dragon (2010)
Many audiences might not even be aware that How To Train Your Dragon was based on a children’s book, simply because the movie has become so much more popular in comparison. It spawned an entire franchise of sequels that followed, becoming one of Dreamworks’ most lucrative properties in the subsequent years. The animation style blends perfectly with the world that Cressida Cowell first created, bringing this story of Vikings and dragons to life in ways that aren’t possible on the page.
Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
Howl’s Moving Castle is undoubtedly one of Studio Ghibli’s best movies, but the fantasy novel by Diana Wynne Jones is much less frequently discussed. She was the one who first put this story to paper, but it wasn’t until Ghibli’s adaptation that it really achieved its full potential. Just like with the rest of the studio’s movies, Howl’s Moving Castle uses a gorgeous palate of colors and dynamic animation to give this story a unique atmosphere that’s only possible in this format. Jones is the one responsible for the narrative, but the movie relies so heavily on visual storytelling that it manages to excel beyond that.
Stardust (2007)
Stardust was one of those movies that found itself released at the perfect moment to really capitalize on its success. It came out just when family-friendly fantasy movies were at an all-time high in popularity, and its stacked cast made it a must-watch for any fans of the genre. It was these two elements that allowed Stardust to become even more successful than Neil Gaiman’s original story upon which it’s based. The lead performances from Claire Danes and Charlie Cox, alongside the movie’s hypnotic music, prove that Stardust was destined to be adapted for the screen.
True Blood (2008-2014)
True Blood is a rare example of a fantasy book having a television adaptation, but it proves that sometimes these stories are more suited for an extended run than a feature-length picture. True Blood is based on a series of books by Charlaine Harris known as The Southern Vampire Mysteries, which provided a huge amount of material that never could’ve been handled effectively in two hours. True Blood takes these stories’ characters, locations, and relationships, and gives them time to really flourish on-screen with exhaustive storytelling and complete character arcs.
Coraline (2009)
Coraline is a perfect stop-motion horror movie that takes the spirit of the original story and transforms it into something totally new and fresh. It’s another of Neil Gaiman’s properties, blending aspects of horror and gothicism into a narrative that’s marketed as family-friendly and unassuming. The reason Coraline works so well in a visual format is because of how much the story relies on dark imagery and colors to create its unique atmosphere. Gaiman’s novel provides the basis of the story but Henry Selick’s direction manages to propel it to new heights.
The NeverEnding Story (1984)
Much like The Princess Bride and Stardust, Wolfgang Petersen’s The NeverEnding Story is the kind of story that was destined to make the transition from page to screen. The cinematic adaptation is much more than a simple retelling of the narrative, but rather a celebration of the fantasy genre and fairytales as a concept. It takes the basic aspects of the story and turns them into something new, using excellent production design and catchy music to really forge its own identity outside of the source material.
The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)
Many fans of The Vampire Diaries might not even have known that the popular show is actually based on a series of stories that were released in 1991. Much like the series, these books follow the adventures of Stefan Salvatore and his life as a vampire - but the show quickly breaks free from its source material and follows stories of its own creation. The only real similarity between the two projects is the characters and relationships, but even these are changed in the series to make for more entertaining, long-lasting arcs throughout the seasons.
Jurassic Park (1993)
While it falls more firmly into sci-fi, Jurassic Park has elements of fantasy and is one of the biggest improvements from book to film ever. That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with Michael Crichton’s original story - in fact, it’s a brilliant novel that features plenty of biting commentary about science and its many dangers. There’s just no denying that Steven Spielberg managed to improve this story tenfold. With his inspired direction, John Williams’ classic score, and the revolutionary filmmaking on display, Jurassic Park quickly became something much greater than its own inspiration.
