What makes a successful adaptation

Throughout the course of my research, I have discovered some factors that can make a good adaptation, or what can cause one to be unsuccessful.  

1. A universal theme or moral that people can relate to. 

Some of the best book adaptations in the world have the most simple, underlying messages which people can connect with. If a viewer can connect with the story, they are more likely to embrace it, and rewatch. For example, the moral of the Harry Potter series is that goodness will prevail over evil. That is a universal message that people want to relate to and support in a world where conflict is always brewing. Similarly, in Pride and Prejudice, the overarching moral is that love will always be found, even if it is unexpected. Once again, that is a message that people want to invest in, viewers want to believe in romance and happiness, so themes like these will always generate success. 

2. Good casting 

In all the adaptations I've researched, a large quantity of reviews were purely commenting on the acting or casting choices, rather than the movie itself. Even when the rest of the film has been heavily criticised, one good actor could evoke some approval from audiences, such as Shailene Woodley received for the Insurgent series. Casting is often the one major thing that can attract or push away potential viewers. If famous actors are used, it is more likely to be initially successful, regardless of any other factors. 

3. A unique plot 

Whilst many books and films come under the same genre, in order for the adaptation to be special, it needs to have something specific that makes it stand out from the crowd. If the film is too similar to other franchises, there will be less of a shock factor and people will bore easily. 

4. No plot holes 

Often when transferring books to the screen, some information can be lost. Condensing a few hundred page book into a two hour film will inevitably cut out some of the plot, however it needs to be done in a certain way. Certain subplots may need to be removed or made minor so that the central themes can be portrayed clearly throughout the film. Even though readers may be expecting all the contents of the book to be taken to the screen, I have found that they prefer for the film too be clear and exciting rather than confusing and discontinuous. 

5. Quality effects

Finally, one thing that will be judged particularly hard, especially in Hollywood movies, is the special effects. Films with large budgets, as film adaptations are often given, are expected to be very realistic and have fantastic special effects. If the film looks noticeably low budgeted, people will be less likely to relate and rewatch it as their eyes are caught by the falsities.