21 Terrible Movies Based on Really Good Books
Some of the greatest films of all time have been based on books. And, as it turns out, so have some of the worst. If we've learned anything over the years, it's that great books don't automatically make for great films. Here are some of the worst examples of Hollywood ruining a good thing.
'Pet Semetary' (1989)
Hollywood studios don't have a great track record when it comes to adapting Stephen King's novels. This film isn't even the worst of the bunch, but considering the pedigree of the novel we expected more than a dull, made-for-TV-worthy adaptation.
'Bonfire of the Vanities' (1990)
When it comes to adapting Tom Wolfe's novels for the big screen, "Bonfire of the Vanities" doesn't translate quite as easily as "The Right Stuff." This misfire is the poster child for how not to adapt a book into a movie.
'Congo' (1995)
"Congo" probably seemed like a sure thing at the time. If audiences loved "Jurassic Park," why not a movie version of another classic Michael Crichton novel? Sadly, epic, CG-rendered dinosaurs beat out actors in cheap gorilla suits any day of the week.
'The Scarlet Letter' (1995)
As many times as "The Scarlet Letter" has been adapted for film, we're not sure why anyone felt this remake was necessary. Between the boring execution and the radically altered ending, it doesn't even serve the "I'll watch this instead of reading the book for English class" purpose.
'The Island of Dr. Moreau' (1996)
This H.G. Wells adaptation is infamous for being one of the most difficult and troubled shoots ever. The story behind the making of the film is far more compelling than the actual movie, which is mainly remembered for being a showcase for Marlon Brando's increasingly eccentric acting style.
'Sphere' (1998)
Once again, Hollywood had the chance to build a blockbuster out of a beloved Crichton novel, and once again it whiffed the ball. Despite an impressive cast seen here, "Sphere" wound up playing out as a poor man's "The Abyss."
'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas' (2000)
We'll grant that if a live-action version of this Dr. Seuss classic must exist, Jim Carrey is probably the best actor to bring the surly Grinch to life. That said, what works as a 30-minute animated musical doesn't work as a full-length, sensory-assaulting feature film.
'The Cat in the Hat' (2003)
Full of flashy effects and set design but no heart, this cat failed to brighten up a rainy day. Most damning of all, the movie convinced Seuss' widow to ban any further live-action adaptations of his books.
'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' (2003)
The worst thing Fox could have done with this adaptation of Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill's graphic novel was to treat it like a brainless superhero movie. So, of course, that's exactly what they did. "LXG" was so bad, it convinced Sean Connery to retire from acting forever.
'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' (2005)
It was a long, bumpy road to bring Douglas Adams' beloved book to the big screen, and in the end we're not convinced it was worth the effort.
'Eragon' (2006)
"Eragon" hit well before Hollywood became bombarded by competing YA fantasy franchises, and somehow it still managed to be incredibly derivative. A major letdown for the book's very passionate fans.
'The Da Vinci Code' (2006)
This adaptation of the mega-popular Dan Brown thriller certainly attracted an audience, but little of the excitement carried over. The movie left us more preoccupied with Tom Hanks' ridiculous hair than anything unfolding on screen.
'The Golden Compass' (2007)
For a movie full of talking, war-mongering polar bears, "The Golden Compass" sure is a dull experience. Blame the fact that the source material is dense and doesn't lend itself easily to a streamlined film treatment.
'I Am Legend' (2007)
Though the first adaptation of Richard Matheson's "I Am Legend" to actually use the name, this film managed to miss the point of that post-apocalyptic vampire story in some pretty key ways. If you watch it at all, be sure to watch the cut with the alternate ending.
'The Time Traveler's Wife' (2009)
Though graced with cool premise that makes it as much a high-concept sci-fi film as a typical romantic drama, "The Time Traveler's Wife" leans too heavily towards the latter. Full of sappy melodrama and plot contrivances, this adaptation failed to live up to its potential.
'Alice in Wonderland' (2010)
You can blame this one for the recent glut of bloated live-action remakes of popular fairy tales. The film may have dazzled 3D-hungry audiences with its flashy effects back in 2010, but it retained little of the charm or whimsy of the original book -- and the far superior 1951 film.
The 'Atlas Shrugged' Trilogy (2011-2014)
At one point, Angelina Jolie was slated to star in the long-awaited big-screen adaptation of Ayn Rand's epic novel. Instead, we got this trio of cheap, Brand X versions. It's never a good sign when a trilogy has to replace its cast and director with each new film in order to cut costs.
The 'Hobbit' Trilogy (2012-2014)
We won't pretend there's no appeal in these epic "Lord of the Rings" prequels, but they fell well below the standard set by their predecessors. Stretching the novel into three way-too-long films might have been good for WB and New Line's wallets, but it also managed to leave most moviegoers completely burnt out on Middle Earth by the end.
'As I Lay Dying' (2013)
We can certainly respect James Franco's ambition in trying to adapt this notoriously difficult William Faulkner novel. That doesn't mean he was particularly successful in his attempt.
'Horns' (2013)
If "Horns" is any indication, Joe Hill may have the same luck with Hollywood adaptations of his work as his father, Stephen King. Daniel Radcliffe's performance is strong, but "Horns" never seems sure if it wants to be a comedy or a horror film.
'The Giver' (2014)
This YA classic was far too late to the party when its film adaptation finally emerged in 2014. A talented cast can't make up for the fact that much of the book's intelligence was lost in translation.
