*Note: this is not necessarily based solely on the film’s overall rating, but on my opinions about the adaptation process

The Worst:

3. Pride & Prejudice (2005) 

Based on: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Before I get a bunch of people attacking me, I don’t dislike this movie. I would not say that I love the movie, but it was a pretty good movie yet forgetful movie. However, as a page-to-screen adaptation, it is mediocre at best. The biggest issue with the movie is that they cut a lot of details and nuance from the book and overdramatized a lot of the scenes to make a 2 hour film to make it more popular. While I understand that in some aspects, most books do not make for good screen adaptations, Pride and Prejudice (1995) proves that the book absolutely does. The movie took what was meant to be a satirical commentary and turned it into a full on drama.

2. Shadowhunters (2016-2019) 

Based on: The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

As a show, this is the perfect shitty TV show. You know the kind of TV show that is so bad that it’s good. However, as bad as this show is, it is even worse as a book to movie adaptation. The first few episodes seemed like it might’ve fared better than the movie, City of Bones, but eventually it became abundantly clear that the only good thing in the entire movie was Harry Shum Jr. as Magnus Bane (I mean, seriously, if they ever try to do another Shadowhunters adaptation, they need to bring him back. But put him in heels so that he’s as tall as he’s supposed to be because Magnus is 6’ 3” and Harry Shum Jr. is 5’ 11”). By the end of the series, the only thing connecting the show to the book series was the names of the characters (and even that was iffy).

(I mean look at this man, he played this role so well)

1. Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010) 

Based on: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Having a bunch of 20 year olds playing 12 year old characters and changing what is generally thought of to be one of the best books of all the time is practically a recipe for disaster. While I do not think that it is a bad thing to change a few plot details, completely rewriting the entire plot makes the movie a terrible page-to-screen adaptation. What makes it even worse is that they rewrote it terribly. Many people felt betrayed by the adaptation and were expecting it to be better than it actually was. 

Here’s hoping that the TV show fairs better than its predecessors. 

Also, we should probably stop casting the Daddario siblings in page-to-screen adaptations (because Alexandra Daddario is in Percy Jackson and Matthew Daddario is in Shadowhunters) Like I love them, but they seem like a bad omen or something.

The Best:

3. Shadow and Bone: Season 1 (2021) – 

Based on: Shadow & Bone and (prequel to) Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

While half of the show differs significantly from the books, we as readers were warned ahead of time that they would be different and the reason why they decided to change the plot. When the characters of Six of Crows were announced to be included in the show, show runners (and Leigh Bardugo) assured us that it would serve as a prequel to their stories. This proved that the changes made to the original plot were done to improve the storyline (such as making some of the characters better overall) and were not frustrating to watch the way that so many do. 

This has been renewed for a second season. 

(There’s also footage of me screaming and crying while watching this, but sadly I cannot include that, despite how entertaining it is to watch a seventeen year old fall off a couch when a character comes on screen)

2. Pride and Prejudice (1995) 

Based on: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This is one of my all time favorite shows of all time, and I have watched it over 75 times in less than six years. Spanning five and a half hours total without commercials, this is one of the best screen adaptations. It barely differs from the book, with only a few things changed here and there. It keeps the original humor and social commentary from the original source. The tone matches the book very well and the casting was immaculate. The overall cinematography of the film matches the speed and pace of the book. It is a beautiful show overall, and it has Colin Firth in it, so what more could you ask for?

1. Heartstopper: Season 1 (2022) – Based on: Heartstopper by Alice Oseman (Volumes 1&2)

This has got to be the best book-to-screen adaptation I have ever seen in my life. With a 100% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, I am clearly not the only one who thinks so. As much as I love the source material, I personally think that the show was even better. The casting of the characters was incredibly well-done and makes me incredibly happy. It cast queer kids to play queer kids, and simply expanded on the story that had previously been looked over in the book. And it pays homage to its graphic novel beginnings with the artistic elements in the show. Instead of relying on unnecessary drama and plot twists, the show is able to make itself interesting without causing a lot of stress for the audience. This is a show about love and acceptance, and queer identities at its finest.

This has already been renewed for 2 more seasons, and I hope they are just as good as this one.