40 Box Office Blockbusters Based On Books
According to research, films based on books earn 53% more money at the worldwide box office. We all started to retain information from reading books, and some of our favorite childhood memories could be from reading books with our grandparents or parents, or being captivated by a particularly enthralling novel. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (1997) was one of my favorite childhood books.
But what are some of the books that became best-selling films at the box office? Let's examine some of the best-selling movies of all time and the books they were based on. Most of the top 40 box office blockbusting books are books from the same series, so to avoid rehashing similar plot lines, we've diversified to exclude those of the same series that did less well at the box office.
Jurassic World (2015)
Jurassic World is one of the latest installments in the hyper-popular Jurassic Park (1990) franchise created by Michael Crichton. Crichton wrote Jurassic Park about what happens when genetic engineering goes awry, featuring a zoological park where genetically-created dinosaurs get loose and wreak havoc. The original Jurassic Park film was released in 1993.
That original adaptation broke records and grossed just over a billion dollars. Jurassic World's release in 2015 totaled $1.6 billion.
Universal Pictures, Jurassic World (2015)
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part II (2011)
Harry Potter fans had to wait a long time between installments of the film adaptations of the final books in the Harry Potter series. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007) was the final book in the series, meanwhile the first of J.K Rowling's novels, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, was adapted for film in 2001. It grossed $963 million worldwide at the box office.
To say that fans were eager to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II is an understatement: The film grossed $1.31 billion worldwide.
Warner Bros., Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2)
The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)
The Lord of the Rings book trilogy dates back to 1954, when J.R.R Tolkien first published The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring as a sequel to The Hobbit, published in 1937. The Lord Of The Rings: The Return of the King was first published in 1955. Yet another film to outperform its literary sire at the box office, The Return of the King grossed $1.1 billion worldwide—outperforming The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), which grossed $894 million worldwide.
New Line, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Alice In Wonderland (2010)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) has probably been read by (or read to) most kids growing up and most of us are probably familiar with its animated movie from 1951. But a 2010 re-adaptation by Tim Burton tore the roof off the box office—grossing $1.025 billion worldwide.
Walt Disney, Alice in Wonderland (2010)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Based on The Hobbit (1937) by J.R.R Tolkien, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was released in 2012 and grossed $1.013 billion worldwide. Two sequels, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) and The Hobbit: The Battle of The Five Armies (2014), also did very well, each grossing over $900 million worldwide.
MGM, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
The Jungle Book (2016)
Based on Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book (1894) collection of stories, this remaking of The Jungle Book was a live-action reimagining of the original adaptation of the same name, the 1967 animated film. The Jungle Book's live-action remake grossed a whopping $951 million worldwide.
Walt Disney, The Jungle Book (2016)
Shrek 2 (2004)
The sequel to the much-loved Shrek (2001) blew its predecessor out of the water at the box office. While it is a loose adaptation of the children's picture book, Shrek! (1990), the highly-anticipated sequel to Shrek grossed $935 million worldwide.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
A sequel to the very successful The Hunger Games (2012) was always going to perform well at the box office—but I don't think fans quite expected it to outperform the OG Hunger Games quite as well as it did. Based on Suzanne Collins's dystopian thrillers—the first of which was released in 2008, followed by Catching Fire in 2009—the film adaptation grossed $864 million worldwide.
Lionsgate, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Tom Hanks starred in The Da Vinci Code in 2006, in a greatly anticipated film adaptation of Dan Brown's best-selling 2003 novel of the same name. A plot wrapped up in mystery and intrigue with a suspenseful, masterful delivery by Hanks and Co. saw The Da Vinci Code gross $767 million worldwide.
Columbia Pictures, The Da Vinci Code (2006)
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (2005)
Based on the 1950 novel of the same name by C.S Lewis, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe was first released in 2005, taking the box office by storm—grossing $720 million worldwide.
Walt Disney, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (2014)
Yet another movie to outdo its predecessor, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) was a highly-anticipated sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011). The original movie entitled Planet of the Apes was released in 1968 and is based on the French novel of the same name, written in 1963 by Pierre Boulle. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes grossed $710 million worldwide.
Chernin Entertainment, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (2014)
Dune: Part Two (2024)
Dune: Part Two is the sequel to Dune (2021), which was an adaptation of the 1965 sci-fi thriller novel of the same name by Frank Herbert. Dune: Part Two has skyrocketed up the charts, blowing its predecessor out of the water (along with many other classics as well). Dune: Part Two has (thus far) grossed $709 million worldwide. It was only released in February.
Warner Bros., Dune: Part Two (2024)
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 2 (2012)
This was the fifth and final installment in The Twilight Saga, based on the vampire novels known as the Twilight series, consisting of Twilight (2005), New Moon (2006), Eclipse (2007), and Breaking Dawn (2008). Breaking Dawn-Part 2 grossed $829 million worldwide—over $120 million more than Eclipse.
Summit Entertainment, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn 2 (2012)
Forrest Gump (1994)
This absolute classic is a welcomed break from the cult-like followings of the 21st century. Forrest Gump is an adaptation of the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. One of Tom Hanks' best-known roles as the titular character would make the film a sensation. He ran and ran and ran to a cool $679 million worldwide box-office performance.
Paramount, Forrest Gump (1994)
The Martian (2015)
The Martian (2015) is an adaptation of a 2011 debut novel of the same name by Andy Weir—it was originally published on his blog before being turned into a book. The movie starred Matt Damon, Jeff Daniels, and Kirsten Wiig and was directed by Ridley Scott. A stratospheric performance at the box office saw the The Martian gross $653 million worldwide.
20th Century Fox, The Martian (2015)
Wonka (2023)
This movie from last year was a remake of a classic musical called Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) by Roald Dahl. Wonka (2023) starred Timothee Chalamet as Willy Wonka and was intended to tell the story of the early life of Willy Wonka as a rookie chocolatier. It grossed $628 million worldwide.
Life Of Pi (2012)
One of the highest-grossing films based on a philosophical novel ever, and one of the highest-grossing films based on a book written by a Canadian author, Life of Pi (2012) gives a film debut to Indian actor Suraj Sharma, telling the story of a young Indian boy who survives 277 days at sea after a shipwreck. It grossed $619 million worldwide.
Fox 2000 Pictures, Life of Pi (2012)
Casino Royale (2006)
A breakout appearance for Daniel Craig as James Bond, Casino Royale (2006) is the third film adaptation of the James Bond novel of the same name written by Ian Fleming in 1953. Casino Royale grossed $594 million worldwide.
Columbia Pictures, Casino Royale (2006)
I Am Legend (2007)
Based on the novel of the same name, published in 1954 by Richard Matheson, I Am Legend tells a post-apocalyptic tale of survival against nocturnal mutants. It stars Will Smith alongside a much-beloved dog. I Am Legend grossed $585 million worldwide.
Warner Bros., I Am Legend (2007)
Night At The Museum (2006)
Starring Ben Stiller and based on the 1993 children's book by Croatian illustrator Milan Trenc, Night At The Museum tells the feel-good story of a museum nightwatchman (Stiller) who discovers that the exhibits come to life at night. It was one of the debut films of Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) star Rami Malek, and has spurned four sequels. The original Night At The Museum grossed $579.4 million worldwide and was the highest-grossing film of 2006.
20th Century Fox, Night at the Museum (2006)
Ready Player One (2018)
Ready Player One (2018) is a sci-fi thriller based on a 2011 novel of the same name by Ernest Cline. It follows a protagonist set in a virtual reality world, where Wade Watts searches for an Easter egg in a virtual reality game that allows him to inherit the wealth of the game's creator. The book won the 2011 Prometheus Award. The movie in 2018? It grossed $579.05 million worldwide.
Warner Bros., Ready Player One (2018)
Fifty Shades Of Grey (2015)
This... ahem, *saucy* adaptation of E.L James' 2011 novel performed well at the box office, telling the story of the relationship dynamics between Christian Grey (a powerful businessman) and Anastasia Steele (a college graduate). Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) grossed $570 million worldwide.
Focus Features, Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
This sci-fi disaster flick starred Dennis Quaid and Jake Gyllenhaal in a reimagining of a 1999 book, The Coming Global Superstorm, by Art Bell and Whitney Strieber. The film, using the book's premise, details the terrifying effects of climate change which disrupts the Atlantic Ocean's circulation, causing extreme weather events and a new ice age. It was released at a good time as climate change was becoming a topic of conversation, and grossed $555 million worldwide.
20th Century Fox, The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
This one's a sequel to the 2009 original Sherlock Holmes—based on the Sherlock Holmes canon, which was first published in 1887. Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law starred in the original as Sherlock Holmes and Watson respectively. A Game of Shadows carries on where the original film left off but incorporates more of Arthur Conan Doyle's short stories, including The Final Problem and Adventures of an Empty House. The film grossed $535 million worldwide.
20Th Century Fox, Sherlock Holmes - A Game Of Shadows (2011)
The Revenant (2015)
The Revenant (2015) throws life back to the American frontier, adapting a 2002 novel of the same name by Michael Punke. It is based on the events in the life of Hugh Glass, a famed frontiersman, including a brutal attack by a grizzly bear, which Glass survived. The Revenant grossed $532 million worldwide and stars Leonardo DiCaprio.
New Regency Productions, The Revenant (2015)
World War Z (2013)
World War Z (2013) stars Brad Pitt as a former UN investigator, reacting to a sudden zombie apocalypse spreading throughout New York City. It is based on a 2006 horror novel by Max Brooks. In a different sort of fight for survival, World War Z performed well at the box office, grossing $531 million worldwide.
Paramount Television, World War Z (2013)
The Boss Baby (2017)
It's one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time. The Boss Baby (2017) stars voice acting by Steve Buscemi, Alec Baldwin, Jimmy Kimmel, and Lisa Kudrow. Based on the 2010 picture book by Marla Frazee, it has since spurred two television series on Netflix and one film sequel. It grossed $527 million worldwide—with a $125 million production budget.
DreamWorks Animation, The Boss Baby (2017)
The Meg (2018)
The Meg (2018) stars Jason Statham, Rainn Wilson, and Ruby Rose as they battle against a large sea creature known as a megalodon (giant shark), or (for the purposes of this film) The Meg. The Meg is loosely based on the novel entitled Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror (1997) by Steve Alten—the first of seven in the series, with the most recent being published this year. The Meg grossed $527 million worldwide.
Di Bonaventura Pictures, The Meg (2018)
Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018)
Based on the best-selling children's novel How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1957) by Dr. Seuss (fun fact: his real name was Theodor Seuss Giesel), Dr. Seuss' The Grinch stole Christmas that year alright, grossing $527.2 million worldwide.
Universal Pictures, The Grinch (2018)
Twister (1996)
Another classic of the 1990s is Twister, starring Helen Hunt, Philip Seymour-Hoffman, and Bill Paxton as a crew of storm chasers in the throes of a divorce (Paxton and Hunt's characters), seeking one last thrill. Twister is a dramatic survival story based on a novel of the same name written by Michael Crichton. The movie grossed $495 million worldwide and was the highest-grossing film of 1996.
How To Train Your Dragon (2010)
Based on the 2003 British children's book of the same name by Cressida Cowell, How To Train Your Dragon (2010) tells the story of an undersized Norse teenager wishing to become a dragon slayer like other Vikings. Unfortunately, the teenage Hiccup (yes, that's the main character's name) is unable to slay the dragon, instead befriending it. Another animated favorite, How To Train Your Dragon grossed $494 million worldwide.
DreamWorks Animation, How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
Angels And Demons (2009)
The long-awaited sequel-of-sorts to The Da Vinci Code (2006) sees another adaptation of Dan Brown's 2000 novel of the same name. It again stars Tom Hanks in the role of Robert Langdon, the main character from The Da Vinci Code. Angels and Demons became the ninth-highest-grossing film of 2009 and totaled $490 million worldwide.
Columbia Pictures, Angels & Demons (2009)
Jaws (1975)
Our first throwback of this list just goes to show how commercialization and the movie industry has changed over nearly the last 50 years. Jaws was released in 1975 and is based on the 1974 novel by Peter Benchley. It was a seismic film of the ages and resulted in international acclaim—and some panic on the beaches. Its all-time grossing is $483 million worldwide, making it one of the most successful films of the 1970s.
Universal Pictures, Jaws (1975)
Troy (2004)
Maybe it was just Brad Pitt playing Achilles, but Troy (2004) condensed Homer's The Iliad (8th century BC) into a couple of weeks and did it successfully. It's difficult to break down a retelling of the Trojan War, but Troy managed it and grossed $483 million worldwide for its efforts.
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (2005)
Before there was Timothee Chalamet's retelling of the Roald Dahl classic, there was Johnny Depp and Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (2005). A family-friendly fantastical retelling of the story, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (briskly) walked out of the box office grossing $475 million worldwide.
Warner Bros., Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Tarzan (1999)
Before there were whispers of a 2025 live-action remake starring Henry Cavill, there was the OG 1999 Tarzan animated Disney movie. Tony Goldwyn provided the voice of Tarzan, while Minnie Driver, Rosie O'Donnell, and Brian Blessed also lent their voices to the project. It grossed $448 million worldwide.
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
The Bourne Ultimatum was the final part of the Jason Bourne trilogy starring Matt Damon. The spy-action thriller film is based on the novel of the same name by Robert Ludlum, released in 1990. Outperforming all of the Bourne films thus far, The Bourne Ultimatum has grossed $444 million worldwide.
Universal Pictures, The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
In one of Robin Williams' standout performances, the hilarious Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) is based on the novel Madame Doubtfire (1989) by English author Anne Fine. While the former explores the possibility of divorcing parents, Mrs. Doubtfire's comedic take on the situation provides brevity, while the novel's exploration of the subject is a little less uplifting. However, the 1993 film adaptation performed spectacularly at the box office, grossing $441 million worldwide.
20th Century Fox, Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Beauty And The Beast (1991)
The animated tale of Beauty and the Beast (1991) is one of the finest Disney films of all time. It's also based on a 1756 fairytale of the same name by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, which is a shortened version of a 1740 story by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve. It's not the first film adaptation of the novel—that came in the form of the 1946 French film of the same name by Jean Cocteau. The 1991 Disney classic grossed $438 million worldwide.
Walt Disney, Beauty And The Beast (1991)
The Exorcist (1973)
One of the classic horror films of all time, The Exorcist was a groundbreaking film for the limits that it broke on horror and the depiction of exorcisms in film. Based on the novel of the same name, released in 1971 by William Peter Blatty, The Exorcist grossed $428 million worldwide.
There are some incredible films on this list. How many of the OG books have you read? Which version of the story do you prefer? Head to the comments section and let us know!
