22 Book To Movie Adaptations That Really Disappointed The Readers

"No other bad adaption has ever triggered the same visceral rage."

We all love a good book-to-movie adaptation, but sometimes, we're left feeling cheated. Well buckle up – here are some more retellings that you, the readers, told us really didn't live up to your expectations.

1. The Maze Runner

20th Century Fox

"Omg, the cast fit the descriptions of the characters in the book but they changed way too much and they didn’t have to! I refused to watch the second two." –Amy Fuller

2. Cirque du freak: The Vampire’s Assistant

Universal Pictures

"It was a horrible movie, but great book series." –Breanna Ferguson 

"I like to try to pretend it never happened." –Jes Parsons 

3. The Silence of the Lambs

Orion Pictures

 "The book was incredibly scary and even with the great cast, the movie was not." –Melinda Wester

4. A Walk to Remember

Warner Bros. Pictures

"The book is so good and the movie is AWFUL. It’s not even in the correct decade." –Brenda Underdahl 

5. The Giver

The Weinstein Company

 "It was just really, really awful and completely missed the tone and theme." –Hannah Godfrey 

"They even added a romance. So disappointed with the movie." –Rose DeAngelo

6. Coraline

Focus Features

"I know many people love it, but the book was way better. They added an entirely new character, changed the plot, and didn’t even put in the creepy rat songs. I would really love that book to be made in a realistic format, to really show how creepy things actually are, instead of just seeming like a stylistic choice (not the reason I didn’t like the movie, but I think live-action would have had so many more opportunities)." –Hannah Godfrey 

7. Ella Enchanted

Miramax Films

"It still fills me with rage." –Shawna Pitt

8. The Woman in the Window

Netflix

"It was a great book!! The movie was HORRIBLE!! I read the book and was still lost in the movie!!!" –Jennifer Lee 

9. Gone with the Wind

Loew's Inc

"I know this will be controversial, but it should be here. The characters in the book were well-defined and complex, and, although slavery was glossed over in the book, it was more clear that was the Confederate point of view, as opposed to a generally accepted fact. The movie, while a technical feat for its day, took well-defined, complex characters and turned them into two-dimensional shells, while glossing over slavery. Which is a huge disservice to the book." –Tammi Eddy

10. Eragon

20th Century Fox

"No other bad adaption has ever triggered the same visceral rage." –Hanna Hagle 

"Eragon was such a disappointment. The only good part of the movie was the casting of Braum and Galbatorix." –Brittney Gray 

11. The Dark Tower

Sony Pictures Releasing

"The Dark Tower movie is by far the worst film adaptation of any book." –Liam Wilson 

12. The Shining

Warner Bros.

"It's a good film, but it drops at least 90% of what's in the book. The book builds on character development & the history of the hotel that the film doesn't even try to do." –Mike O'Brien

13. Beautiful Creatures

Summit Entertainment

"It was atrocious, I wish they would try again. Maybe with a series." –Erika Johnston 

14. The Princess Diaries movies

Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

"It was a great YA series completely watered down for the G-rated Disney crew." –Lizzie Dyer Arney

15. The Dirt

Netflix

"Fucking great book. The movie... Couldn’t even watch it." –Chris Campello

16. Annihilation

Netflix

"The film absolutely butchered the novel." –Danny Corcoran

17. American Assassin

Lionsgate

"It completely busted at the box office because it diverted from the book too much." –Jesse Valdez 

18. Battle Royale

Toei Company

"The novel was great. All the kids get a backstory and you give a shit about them. The film? None of that, just violence lol. Definitely watch the first so you can enjoy it for what it is, but it's a better read." –Paige Taylor

19. Me Before You

Warner Bros. Pictures

"People rave about the film, but they missed so much out from the books and it just wasn’t even half as heartbreaking" –Courtney Tregilgas

20. City of Ember

Summit Entertainment

"I liked the movie and then read the book, and found out not only that they changed a bunch, but also ruined any chance at making any sequels by changing the end of the book. I would love to see them try these books again. They deserve a second chance!" –Corey Smith 

21. Confessions of a Shopaholic

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

"It's the worst movie adaptation. They took a witty, British-humour-filled story and turned it into a contrite and boring American tale. None of Becky's hilarious quips were conveyed on the silver screen. Luke Brandon was a lowly, boring executive instead of a swanky, multi-millionaire CEO. Susie the roomie had a sad storyline. While the film can be watched as a guilty pleasure chick flick, it was a huge letdown as a movie adaptation." –Jenica Lindy Schulz

22. The NeverEnding Story

Warner Bros.

"Just imagine what an amazing movie it would be if it actually stayed true to its source material." –Grace Bex

"I loved the film as a kid, and still do, but I would love to see a version that follows the book, I only read it for the first time about 10 years ago and couldn’t believe how different it was…" –Denice Fix 

What book-to-film adaptation disappointed you? Let us know in the comments below!

Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.