From fantasy series like Harry Potter, to stand-alone works of fiction there seems to be an endless appetite for young adult books being turned into big screen movies. One of the most successful in the post-Potter world has undoubtedly been Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. This week, a series of rather funky limited edition books will be released ahead of the third film adaptation of the trilogy. To celebrate, FilmJuice takes a look at some of the biggest hitters in the lucrative world of book to film adaptations.
The Harry Potter Series
It’s hard to believe that J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone was released back in 1997. The seven novels (turned into eight films) follow boy wizard Harry and his friends through their years studying at Hogwarts. Harry Potter came to the big screen four years later, making international stars of both Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson.
Divergent
Divergent by Veronica Roth is set in a dystopian future where Chicago is divided into different factions based on traits which are determined by aptitude tests. This trilogy follows Tris as she is forced to choose the faction she will remain in for the rest of her life. The Divergent series is currently being made into a highly anticipated film franchise, starring Shailene Woodley in the lead role.
The Twilight Saga
The Twilight Saga arguably picked up the vampire craze where the likes of Buffy left off. The Saga follows high school student Bella Swan as she falls in love with a mind-reading, glittering vampire named Edward Cullen. As Bella learns more about Edward, she quickly becomes embroiled in his dangerous and exciting world. The books, by Stephenie Meyer, were made into a massively successful movie series, starring (then) real-life beaus Robert Pattinson and Kristin Stewart.
City Of Bones
City Of Bones is the first in Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series. The story introduces us to Clary Fray, a teenager living in Brooklyn who learns that she’s a Shadowhunter – one of an ancient line of demon hunters. She is then forced into the dark underworld of demons and those like herself who exist to rid the world of such threats. With a total of six novels in the series, the City Of Bones (starring Lily Collins) film franchise has endless potential.
The Fault In Our Stars
Moving away from the world of the magical and mysterious, The Fault In Our Stars by John Green is a very real look into the life of a teenage girl who falls in love while dying of cancer. The novel has recently been made into a feature film starring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort.