THE MAZE RUNNER will finally hit theaters this Friday, September 19th.
Published in October 2009 and based upon the first book in a bestselling series by James Dashner, the novel became a New York Times Best Seller and captured the imaginations of readers around the world. Fans have described it as a combination of Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, and the legendary television series Lost.
Books to film – especially young adult adaptations – are big bucks at the box office. Lionsgate’s THE HUNGER GAMES and THE TWILIGHT SAGA franchises have collectively grossed more than $5 billion at the worldwide box office, and THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE is the 10th highest-grossing film of all time.
Over the weekend, Variety reported:
The 20th Century Fox release racked up a strong $8.3 million across five markets last weekend, with debuts that compared favorably to another young adult hit, “Divergent.” “The Maze Runner” is expected to make $30 million when it touches down stateside on Sept. 19.
While some missed the mark and others were successful in their crossover from page to screen, here’s a look at 15 Young Adult Novels that were turned into films.
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
(June 6, 2014)
Hazel (Shailene Woodley) and Gus (Ansel Elgort) are two extraordinary teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them — and us — on an unforgettable journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous, given that they met and fell in love at a cancer support group. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, based upon the number-one bestselling novel by John Green, explores the funny, thrilling and tragic business of being alive and in love.
THE GIVER
(August 15, 2014)
The haunting story of THE GIVER centers on Jonas, who lives in a seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community. The film is based on Lois Lowry’s beloved young adult novel of the same name, which was the winner the 1994 Newbery Medal and has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.
THE HUNGER GAMES Series
(March 23, 2012; November 22, 2013)
In the film versions of Suzanne Collins’ best selling futuristic young adult novel THE HUNGER GAMES, a dystopic Capitol requires its twelve subjugated districts to pay tribute in the form of a teenage boy and girl who are forced to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. When Katniss Everdeen’s little sister is chosen in the lottery, Katniss volunteers to take her place. Although persevering through hardship is commonplace for Katniss, she must start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love in order to win the games and return home.
The success of THE HUNGER GAMES and THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE marked the first time the first two installments of a franchise have each topped $400 million at the domestic box office, and both films now rank among the top 15 domestic film releases in history. CATCHING FIRE also grossed $428.8 million internationally for a worldwide box office total of $838.2 million in its first seven weeks of release compared to $691 million worldwide box office generated during the entire run of the first Hunger Games film.
THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 1 will be released worldwide on November 21, 2014 and THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 2 opens November 20, 2015.
THE HUNGER GAMES Review
CATCHING FIRE Review
THE PRINCESS DIARIES
(August 3, 2001)
Starring Oscar winners Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway, and Hector Elizondo, THE PRINCESS DIARIES is a cool, comical Cinderella story that will touch your heart. For teenager Mia Thermopolis (Hathaway), just surviving each school day is an adventure. Then the shocking news arrives that she’s a real-life princess! So begins a comical transformation towards poise and princess-ness, including a media storm, jealous schoolmates, and a plot to take over her country. Based on Meg Cabot’s 2000 novel.
DIVERGENT
(March 21, 2014)
The thrilling action-adventure film is set in a world where people are divided into distinct factions based on human virtues. Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is warned she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. When she discovers a conspiracy by a faction leader (Kate Winslet) to destroy all Divergents, Tris must learn to trust in the mysterious Four (Theo James) and together they must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous before it’s too late.
The first film in the DIVERGENT franchise grossed $117 million at the domestic box office in its first three weeks of release, and it continues its international rollout this weekend with openings in France, Germany, Russia, Australia, Scandinavia and other major territories. Book sales of the best-selling Divergent series continue to skyrocket with total sales nearing 20 million worldwide.
Lionsgate will release a total of four DIVERGENT films on its Summit Entertainment label, with the next film, INSURGENT, which begins production next month, slated for release on March 20, 2015 and ALLEGIANT — Parts 1 & 2 scheduled for release on March 18, 2016, and March 24, 2017, respectively.
HARRY POTTER
(Eight films: 2001 – 2011)
“Dark and Difficult Times Lie Ahead“
It all begins when Harry Potter learns on his 11th birthday that he is the orphaned first son of two powerful wizards and possesses magical powers of his own. At Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry embarks on the adventure of a lifetime.
Fans watched as Harry’s, Hermione’s and Ron’s lives were filled with the Triwizard Tournament, dragons, the high-flying sport Quidditch, a thrilling game with living chess pieces, platform nine and three quarters, Ollivanders Wand Shop in Diagon Alley, Death Eaters and Horcruxes – all the while facing the threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
Based on the seven novels by J.K. Rowling, it all ended with “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ – the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series. In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalated into an all-out war.
ERAGON
(December 15, 2006)
In a mythical time, a teenage boy becomes a dragon rider with the help of a wise old man, and with his newly-hatched dragon, avenges the murder of his uncle, rescues a beautiful warrior, and battles a tyrannical king. The film starred Ed Speelers, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Guillory, Robert Carlyle, Djimon Hounsou, Garrett Hedlund, Joss Stone, Rachel Weisz and John Malkovich. Directed by Stefen Fangmeier, the film is based on the novel of the same name by author Christopher Paolini from his Inheritance Cycle series.
NICK AND NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST
(October 3, 2008)
Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist is a comedy about two people thrust together for one hilarious, sleepless night of adventure in a world of mix tapes, late-night living, and, live, loud music. Nick (Michael Cera) frequents New York’s indie rock scene nursing a broken heart and a vague ability to play the bass. Norah (Kat Dennings) is questioning pretty much all of her assumptions about the world. Though they have nothing in common except for their taste in music, their chance encounter leads to an all-night quest to find a legendary band’s secret show and ends up becoming the first date in a romance that could change both their lives.
Screenplay by Lorene Scafaria, based on Rachel Cohn and David Levithan‘s book.
TWILIGHT Series
(2008 – 2012)
THE TWILIGHT SAGA film series stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner and tells the story of 17-year-old Bella Swan who moves to the small town of Forks, Washington to live with her father, and becomes drawn to Edward Cullen, a pale, mysterious classmate who seems determined to push her away. But neither can deny the attraction that pulls them together…even when Edward confides that he and his family are vampires. The action-packed, modern day vampire love story Twilight, the first film in the series, was released in theatres on November 21, 2008 to a blockbuster reception. The second installment of the film franchise, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, was released November 20, 2009, followed by the third installment The Twilight Saga: Eclipse on June 30, 2010. The final two installments, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Parts 1 & 2, were released on November 18, 2011 and November 16, 2012 respectively. All films, which together grossed more than $3.3 billion at the worldwide box office, were written by Melissa Rosenberg based on the novels in author Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series.
Watch how it all began HERE.
PERCY JACKSON Series
(OLYMPIANS: February 12, 2010 and SEA MONSTERS: August 7, 2013)
In PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF, a trouble-prone teen Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of school — but that’s the least of his problems. The gods of Mount Olympus and assorted monsters seem to have walked out of the pages of Percy’s Greek mythology texts and into his life — and they’re not happy. Zeus’ lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now, Percy and his friends must return Zeus’ stolen property and unravel a mystery more powerful than the gods themselves.
Based on the publishing phenomenon, PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS continues the young demigod’s epic journey to fulfill his destiny. To save their world, Percy and his friends must find the fabled and powerfully magic Golden Fleece. Embarking on a treacherous odyssey into the uncharted waters of the Sea of Monsters (known to humans as the Bermuda Triangle), they battle terrifying creatures, an army of zombies, and the ultimate Evil. Based on the series by Rick Riordan.
OLYMPIANS Review
SEA MONSTERS Review
VAMPIRE ACADEMY
(February 7, 2014)
Based on author Richelle Mead’s worldwide bestselling series, VAMPIRE ACADEMY tells the legend of Rose Hathaway (Zoey Deutch) and Lissa Dragomir (Lucy Fry), two 17-year-old girls who attend a hidden boarding school for Moroi (mortal, peaceful Vampires) and Dhampirs (half-vampire/half-human guardians).
Rose, a rebellious Guardian-in-training and her best friend, Lissa – a royal vampire Princess – have been on the run when they are captured and returned to St.Vladamirs Academy, the very place where they believe their lives may be in most jeopardy. Thrust back into the perils of Moroi Society and high school, Lissa struggles to reclaim her status while Rose trains with her mentor and love-interest, Dimitri (Danila Kozlovsky), to guarantee her place as Lissa’s guardian.
Rose will sacrifice everything to protect Lissa from those who intend to exploit her from within the Academy walls and the Strigoi (immortal, evil vampires) who hunt her kind from outside its sanctuary.
I AM NUMBER FOUR
(February 18, 2011)
Three are dead. Who is Number Four? From director D.J. Caruso (Disturbia), producer Michael Bay (Transformers) and the writers of TV’s Smallville, comes this gripping, action-packed thriller. John Smith (Alex Pettyfer) is an extraordinary teen masking his true identity to elude a deadly enemy sent to destroy him. Living with his guardian (Timothy Olyphant) in the small town he now calls home, John encounters unexpected, life-changing events — his first love (Dianna Agron, TV’s Glee), powerful new abilities and a secret connection to the others who share his incredible destiny. Based on the novel I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore.
THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES
(August 21, 2013)
Clary’s life is turned upside down when her mother is kidnapped and it’s revealed that she and her mother are actually shadowhunters – billed with protecting the world from downworlders such as vampires, werewolves and demons. Clary must discover her talents and save her mother. Based on the Best-Selling YA series by Cassandra Clare.
BEAUTIFUL CREATURES
(February 14, 2013)
A strange recurring dream haunts Ethan Wate in his sleep, but he prefers anything to his waking life. Trapped in a small, conservative Southern town with his withdrawn father, Ethan desperately wants to escape. Then the beautiful Lena Duchannes arrives at his school, and mysterious events begin to occur. Lena has a secret: She is a Caster with powers beyond her control. Worse, when she reaches her 16th birthday, she will be claimed by either the Light or the Dark…and there is no escaping her fate in this supernatural love story. Based on the young adult novel written by authors Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl and the first book in the Caster Chronicles series.
THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS
(June 1, 2005)
Coming of Age Adventure based on Ann Brashares’ best-selling novel about a special 16th summer in the lives of four lifelong friends who are separated for the first time. On a shopping trip, the girls find a pair of thrift-shop jeans that fits each of them perfectly and they decide to use these “magic” pants as a way of keeping in touch over the months ahead, each girl wearing the jeans for a week to see what luck they bring her before sending them on to the next. Though miles apart, the four friends still experience life, love and loss together in a summer they’ll never forget.
