From Wuthering Heights to Project Hail Mary, cinemas have seen plenty of adaptations of well-known literature in recent times.
There have been some iconic, timeless adaptations across the decades, such as Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings.
Some would argue that many of the best films ever created were based on books, recent and old classics alike.
Film News Blitz writer Bella Ford explores the journey from book to the big screen.
Are book adaptations good?
2026 is the year of book adaptations, with classics like Wuthering Heights alongside more contemporary novels like Project Hail Mary.
They created a lot of buzz and excitement when they came to cinemas, but what merits and pitfalls do big-screen adaptations of novels bring?
Reading the book first creates a feeling of comfort.
It allows you to immerse yourself in the story, so when you do go watch the film adaptation, there’s a deeper connection.
But this does come with downfalls; reading the book first does give you that first imagination in your head before you watch the film.
Most of the time, the film’s interpretation doesn’t correlate to what you imagined when reading the book and could mean it doesn’t meet your standards.
How were the ‘Wuthering Heights’ and ‘Project Hail Mary’ adaptations received?
The copy sales of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights grew by 469% from 2025 to ‘26, according to the Guardian, as many people raced to read the classic amid the film’s release.
The screen adaptation of Wuthering Heights did get criticism as some book lovers argued the characters weren’t represented correctly in the film, and the casting of Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie was the wrong choice.
“You can’t adapt a book as difficult and complicated and difficult as this book,” Emerald explained in a recent interview with Fandango.
“I can’t say I’m making Wuthering Heights. It’s not possible. What I can say is I’m making a version of it.
“There was a version I remembered reading that isn’t quite real,” she explained.
“And there’s a version where I wanted stuff to happen that never happened. And so it’s Wuthering Heights, and it isn’t.”
Project Hail Mary was a highly anticipated film of 2026, and it did not disappoint upon its release.
It’s an adaptation of Andy Weir’s 2021 novel of the same name; he also wrote The Martian, which was adapted starring Matt Damon.
These are not your regular classic literature; Weir’s novels are science-heavy, feel realistic, but still exciting.
Project Hail Mary is a story about a high school teacher, Ryland Grace, waking up on a spaceship with no memory of how he got there.
He learns that he was on a mission to save the world because the sun was dying, and befriends ‘Rocky’, an alien who is also trying to save his world.
This adaptation is brought to life by Ryan Gosling, who portrays Grace perfectly.
Weir’s adaptations do well in cinemas, with both The Martian and Project Hail Mary performing strongly at the box office.
Books to TV shows
In 2026, there are also lots of TV shows that are being adapted from novels, too.
Harlan Coben has released/announced 12 projects with Netflix, and another adaptation is coming to the streamer this year called I Will Find You, based on the book about false imprisonment and a twisty family story.
On HBO, the third season of House of the Dragon is on its way in June, based on the novel Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin.
Then, during Christmas, the drama powerhouse launches its hotly anticipated adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
These shows will look to dominate discourse upon release, which is not uncommon for small-screen book adaptations.
The novel Normal People, written by Sally Rooney, was adapted into a short series, focusing on a young couple throughout their complicated relationship.
It became a major hit during the pandemic, catapulting the careers of its stars Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, while bringing in newcomers and book fans alike.
Adapting literature to film is an art and hard to do well; there is pressure to succeed and also to be accurate to the literary version.
While no adaptation can create that same experience of reading a good book, recent films and TV shows have proved that through a visual lens, audiences will be well served.
READ NEXT – ‘Wuthering Heights’ review: A beautiful but shallow adaptation
