Buzz
Hollywood frequently acquires book rights with the goal of turning them into cinematic hits. Franchises such as Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games have achieved global box office success, inspiring more book adaptations in pursuit of the next big phenomenon. Twilight and The Hunger Games demonstrated that Young Adult (YA) novels can cultivate a loyal fanbase, suggesting that a well-executed first film can pave the way for a successful franchise. However, what happens when the first film fails? Here, we explore 10 popular YA series that never progressed beyond their initial movie. Whether due to weak writing, subpar acting, or straying too far from the source material, these series deserved more.
10. Beautiful Creatures (2013)
Riding the wave of Twilight's popularity, Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl’s Caster Chronicles appeared poised to be the next sensation. Like Twilight, it features a human entangled in a romantic relationship with a supernatural being—a 'Caster' who must choose between Light or Dark by her 16th birthday. Critics praised the first book, noting its appeal to teens with elements like romance, magic, and suspense, while Publishers Weekly highlighted its 'rich and intricate mythology.'
Sadly, the film adaptation failed to capture the magic of the books. With a box office gross of $60.1 million against a $60 million budget, it was a financial disappointment. Variety Magazine even listed it as one of 2013’s biggest box office flops. Garcia and Stohl’s work became another casualty of Hollywood’s attempt to mimic past successes rather than embracing the unique qualities that set the Caster Chronicles apart in a crowded genre.
9. Inkheart (2008)
Cornelia Funke, a celebrated German author often compared to J.K. Rowling, crafts enchanting worlds that captivate readers. Despite the global success of her book, selling 3 million copies, the 2008 film adaptation fell short. With a budget of $60 million and a gross of only $62 million, it barely broke even. The film’s major flaw lies in its omission of crucial backstory. While some cuts are inevitable in book-to-movie adaptations, the choices here left the narrative confusing. Fans of the books could follow along, but newcomers found the story lacking coherence.
Unlike the Harry Potter series, which masterfully brought magic to life, Inkheart struggled to capture the same charm. Rotten Tomatoes critics described it as ‘overloaded with clichés and devoid of charm,’ with one stating, ‘this fantasy adventure fails to take flight.’ Cornelia Funke herself expressed disappointment, likening the adaptation to receiving a napkin instead of a flying carpet, emphasizing how the film failed to do justice to her work.
8. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013)
In the crowded YA fantasy genre, a film must carve out a distinct identity to stand out. Sadly, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones missed the mark. Dubbed by The Telegraph as ‘one of the most disastrous book-to-screen adaptations ever,’ the film faced harsh criticism despite its box office performance. Critics noted its lack of originality, with Rotten Tomatoes remarking that it ‘borrows elements from every major fantasy franchise of the past three decades but fails to utilize them effectively.’ The Hollywood Reporter called it a ‘shameless, soulless imitation,’ highlighting its inability to rise above its derivative nature.
Although a sequel was never produced, the immense potential of The Mortal Instruments series was undeniable. In 2014, it was revealed that the books would be adapted into a TV show. Titled Shadowhunters, the series debuted in 2016 and continued for three seasons before concluding in 2019.
7. Cirque de Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant (2009)
One of the main challenges in creating the initial film of a series is ensuring it functions both as a standalone piece and as a setup for future installments. Films like Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone or Twilight succeed in this regard, as they remain coherent even without sequels. However, Cirque de Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant falters by introducing numerous characters solely to pave the way for sequels—sequels that never materialized due to the film’s financial underperformance, earning $39.2 million against a $40 million budget.
Cirque de Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant condensed all three books of Darren Shan’s Vampire Blood Trilogy (part of the larger series The Saga of Darren Shan) into a single movie. While this approach has succeeded with films like A Series of Unfortunate Events, which was a commercial success, this film prioritized future installments over the present one. As The Hollywood Reporter aptly noted, ‘one of the film’s biggest challenges is setting up characters and subplots for potential sequels […] the issue is, too many characters are introduced for future episodes without having significant roles in this one.’
6. Fallen (2016)
Despite the immense popularity of Lauren Kate’s 6-book series, the movie adaptation of the first book, Fallen, failed to live up to expectations. The book had achieved remarkable success, reaching #3 on The New York Times’ Best Seller List for Children’s Books in January 2010 and maintaining its position until April 2011. However, the film struggled to replicate this success, barely making a mark at the box office. Critics dismissed it as ‘a clichéd and uninspired romance’ and ‘a pale imitation of its predecessors,’ failing to capture what made the book so beloved.
The film not only lacked originality but also prioritized setting up potential sequels over delivering a compelling standalone story. As a result, no follow-up film has been officially announced, though rumors persist about a possible continuation.
5. Eragon (2006)
Eragon’s box office earnings of $250.4 million, making it the 31st highest-grossing film of 2006, couldn’t mask its critical failure. Ranked as the 10th worst-reviewed film of the year by Rotten Tomatoes, it was universally panned for its poor acting, lackluster visuals, weak script, and deviation from the source material. Despite the first two books of The Inheritance Cycle being New York Times Best Sellers, the film was criticized for its ‘uninspired writing and heavy reliance on Lord of the Rings tropes,’ with its world-building described as ‘shallow and underdeveloped.’
Initially planned as the first installment of a trilogy, with the next two films to be shot consecutively, Eragon’s poor reception led to the cancellation of the entire series.
4. I Am Number Four (2011)
The debut novel of the Lorien Legacies, I Am Number Four, soared to the top of the New York Times Best Seller List for Children’s Chapter Books, holding the #1 spot for seven weeks straight. However, the film adaptation, despite the series' dedicated fanbase, was criticized for its lack of originality, with reviewers calling it ‘a dull rehash of overused YA tropes and uninspired character archetypes.’
While the film wasn’t a financial disaster, earning $150 million against a $50 million budget, plans for a sequel were scrapped. Critics noted that the movie was ‘packed with unresolved plot points […] seemingly included to set up future installments.’ Despite this setup, screenwriter Marti Noxon confirmed in 2011 that the sequel was canceled due to the film’s poor reception.
3. The Golden Compass (2007)
Topping the list is the 2007 adaptation of Philip Pullman’s Northern Lights, titled The Golden Compass. Pullman’s series delves into themes of religion and authoritarianism, set in a world dominated by The Magisterium, often interpreted as a representation of organized religion. While the books sparked controversy for their critique of Christianity, figures like Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, praised the series and even suggested its inclusion in religious education discussions.
The film significantly toned down the book’s powerful themes, steering clear of any direct religious references. It was a heavily condensed adaptation, stripping away the essence of Pullman’s work, with critics noting it ‘reduced the story to its skeleton’ and ‘lost the heart and purpose of the original books.’ Despite these changes, the Catholic League urged a boycott, fearing the film would encourage viewers to read the atheism-promoting books. The movie underperformed, and actor Sam Elliot attributed the abandoned trilogy to censorship and pressure from the Catholic Church. However, hope remains for Pullman’s trilogy, as the 2019 TV series His Dark Materials has been praised for its faithfulness to the source material and its bold portrayal of the Magisterium-Church connection. With an 86% Rotten Tomatoes rating, Season 3 is currently in development.
2. City of Ember (2008)
City of Ember stands as the biggest financial failure on this list, earning only $17.9 million against a $55 million budget. The film’s sole redeeming quality was Saoirse Ronan’s performance in the lead role. Critics lauded her talent but found little else to praise. Stephen Holden of The New York Times remarked that ‘Saoirse Ronan’s abilities […] are squandered in the juvenile sci-fi mediocrity of City of Ember,’ while Katey Rich from Cinema Blend noted, ‘Saoirse Ronan shines as a captivating heroine, but the lackluster story and supporting cast fail to match her energy.’
A comparison between the book and film reviews highlights the stark contrast in quality. Jeanne DuPrau’s novel was celebrated for its ‘richly developed characters and a plot that grips readers until the very end,’ whereas the film was dismissed as a ‘shallow, uninspired take on juvenile dystopia’ that ‘suffered from excessive editing.’
1. Vampire Academy (2014)
Vampire Academy serves as a stark reminder that simply including vampires in a movie doesn’t guarantee success. The film was a commercial disaster, earning just $15.4 million against a $30 million budget. Rolling Stone delivered a scathing review, suggesting the film ‘deserves a stake through its heart.’ Like many supernatural adaptations, it lacked originality, with critics and audiences alike noting its heavy reliance on tropes from more successful franchises. The uniqueness of series like Harry Potter and Twilight lies in their groundbreaking appeal, something Vampire Academy failed to replicate.
Despite the book securing the #4 spot on ALA’s Teens Top 10 list, the film adaptation garnered a dismal 16% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics widely panned it for ‘uninspired borrowing from earlier hits’ and its inability to deliver either humor or excitement, despite its convoluted narrative.
