A myriad of thoughts race through one’s mind when they discover their favorite novel is being brought to life on screen. Initial joy and anticipation can quickly cascade into skepticism with every questionable casting choice, disappointing trailer and obnoxious fandom discourse. One of my wardrobe staples as a child was a T-shirt with one simple statement printed across the front: “The Book Was Better.” I lived by that phrase every time a beloved book endured a big-budget butchering.
What makes a good adaptation? This question may be on people’s minds following the release of Emerald Fenell’s Wuthering Heights based on Emily Brontë’s novel of the same name. Critics of this film assert that it only loosely embodies the plot of the book, highlighting a raunchy love story and warping the complex characters into archetypes that fit this new narrative. Considering the balancing act of pleasing diverse audiences, selling tickets and avoiding controversy, all while producing a product that is uniquely their own, the creative team behind an adaptation is bound to drop the ball. In the case of Wuthering Heights, readers and non-readers alike agree that the stylistic deviations from the book careened too far off the (Heath)cliff.
I’ve outgrown my blind loyalty to the book, just as I’ve outgrown that T-shirt. Now, I appreciate adaptations as a separate entity while still remaining critical of their contribution to the canon. Below I’ve taken a critical look at some of my favorite nostalgic book-to-movie adaptations, in order of least to most ‘book-accurate,’ to prove that a variation in consistency with the source material doesn’t always result in disaster.
5. Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)
Based on The Lightning Thief (2005) by Rick Riordan
I remember being so excited for this movie adaptation just to be wholly disappointed by the product. I don’t have the time to divulge into every place this movie deviated from the book I loved so much, but here we go: An adventure story about 12-year-olds with mythical powers, transformed into an action/coming-of-age movie featuring teenaged protagonists played by 25-year-olds. From big details (like their age) to small (like the type of pen Percy uses as his sword), every change detracted from my experience watching this movie in 2010. Now that I’ve outgrown the fandom rage, this movie holds a special place in my heart. It’s funny, camp, nostalgic and full of scenes that are ubiquitously iconic. I do think it holds its own, and it may even be more enjoyable if you haven’t read the book.
4. Ella Enchanted (2004)
Based on Ella Enchanted (1997) by Gail Carson Levine
Ella Enchanted explores the classic tale of Cinderella under a new lens: What if she wasn’t simply mild mannered, but magically bound to be obedient? Both versions explore themes of autonomy, trust and being true to yourself. Compared to the book, the movie is definitely … wackier. Every character is given a comedic makeover; fans of the book will find the contrast hilarious, and non-readers are not missing any context. This jukebox musical adaptation bombed in the box office but has aged like fine wine into a cult classic. I regard Ella Enchanted as the perfect example of drawing inspiration from a source to create a unique bit of media that still portrays the original message. Sometimes a book just doesn’t work as a film script without evil talking snakes and Anne Hathaway performing Queen.
3. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
Based on Howl’s Moving Castle (1986) by Diana Wynne Jones
If you’ve seen this movie but haven’t read the book, it's absolutely worth a read; the parallels and differences will be mind-blowing. Both pieces of media stand absurdly well on their own and remain my favorite book and movie of all time. The book is a fantastically entertaining fantasy tale set in a Great Britain-adjacent parallel universe, while the film is a beautifully animated display of magical realism in classic Miyazaki style. These overall thematic changes make comparing the two very difficult, so regard them as separate entities — but I will say that reading the book will clear up some of the confusing plot points in the movie.
2. Matilda (1996)
Based on Matilda (1988) by Roald Dahl
I think Matilda gave every precocious young girl the false hope that they too would develop superpowers. This movie is the most book-accurate I’ve reviewed so far, and the majority of the changes do not detract from the plot. One difference I remember was that at the end of the book, Matilda loses her superpowers because they were a metaphor for her untapped potential and anger at her horrible family. In the movie, even though she still is rescued from her abusive household by the lovely Ms. Honey, her superpowers remain intact. I’m guessing they made this change because they thought kids would be sad if she lost her powers, but I do think it reduces the message of the story to a more surface-level one. Nonetheless, this movie is rife with quotable scenes that make it a cornerstone of our generation.
1. The Princess Bride (1987)
Based on The Princess Bride (1973) by William Golding
The first time I read this book, even though I had already seen the movie, Golding had me questioning for a second whether S. Morgenstern was a real historian, and whether Florin and Guilder were actual countries. This book is a hilarious meta masterpiece, and the movie does a fantastic job of adapting the epic tale for the screen. The only major differences that come to mind are omissions of exposition, such as Fezzik and Inigo Montoya’s backstory. I can probably quote this movie in my sleep (as can half the people I know) and you will recognize all of your favorite scenes and then some as you read the novel.
‘Are You Still Watching?’ is a column spotlighting what the Cornell community has been streaming. It runs every Wednesday.
Maya Blanchard is a member of the Class of 2026 in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She is a staff writer for the Arts & Culture department and can be reached at mblanchard@cornellsun.com.
