Contributed by Gillion Machota
While some book adaptations like The Hunger Games and Twilight had amazing box office sales when they hit the theatres, some weren’t so lucky.
You may remember some of these young adult adaptations, or perhaps you’ve tried to bury the memory of them as deep down as it can go so you don’t have to think about it ever again. We’ve compiled a list of YA movie fails for you to reminisce about, however, they won’t ever be receiving sequels, but perhaps we we’ll see them recreated in the future.
We haven’t included The Mortal Instruments as there’s now a new series (but still classified as a fail) and then there’s Percy Jackson because we all know why they stopped that franchise…
Read on to discover some YA book-to-film fails! Tell us in the comments below what series you miss or perhaps one that Hollywood should give another go!
Beautiful Creatures (2013)
Written by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl / Goodreads
This movie was called the next Twilight because of its fantasy plotline, except it only made $7.5 million at opening weekend (Twilight made $142,839,137) and made $60,000,000 overall. But like what happened with The Percy Jackson movies, it was not accurate and it ended with fans begging for Hollywood to not continue.
The 5th Wave (2016)
Written by Rick Yancey / Goodreads
Unlike some adaptations, this film was quite accurate as it paid attention to the original source material, but it didn’t do well at the box office as it did not surpass its budget. Sony has said that news will come of The Infinite Sea movie and the hashtag #wewanttheinfiniteseamovie was all over the place after the first instalment came out. The books also did decline in popularity after The Last Star came out in 2016 and I personally have finished it and trust me, it is better than The Infinite Sea by a long shot, but it dragged significantly. Reviews for both The Infinite Sea and The Last Star had mixed opinions, so it’s doubtful we’ll ever see a sequel.
Inkheart (2008)
Written by Cornelia Funke / Goodreads
Personally, I have picked up this book so many times only to put it back down each time. After reading only half of the book, the film didn’t match up and it didn’t even have my favourite scene! The two other books were picked up for movies and even received a script, but it seems someone must have cast them aside as no movie news ever came.
If I Stay (2014)
Written by Gayle Forman / Goodreads
I think we can all agree that both the book and movie broke our hearts in some way. After If I Stay came to theatres, people wanted more and this saw Gayle Forman write a sequel titles Where She Went. The sequel followed the future of where Mia as a professional cellist and Adam as a rock star ended up in their separate lives. However, fans of the duology have still wanted the sequel to be made.
Vampire Academy (2014)
Written by Richelle Mead / Goodreads
Fans of this franchise went hardcore in an effort to get a sequel and it even saw and Indiegogo page to raise funds for it. Unfortunately, they didn’t reach their goal and the sequel wouldn’t be going ahead.
I Am Number Four (2011)
Written by Pittacus Lore / Goodreads
Although it was a decent film (especially because of Alex Pettyfer), the poor box office results meant fans wouldn’t be seeing a sequel.
The Golden Compass (2007)
Written by Philip Pullman / Goodreads
This cancellation of its sequel may surprise you. Although it did amazing at the box office, one popular group has been bashing about it, the Catholic Church. You may wonder, how the heck did the church get involved in it? Pullman has been known to have anti-Catholic views, but putting them in a children’s book is a different story. The Pope has even gotten his say in it saying that it can ruin Catholicism.
Ender’s Game (2013)
Written by Orson Scott Card / Goodreads
This author is a bit controversial because of his opinions on LGBTQIA+. Support groups of LGBTQIA+ even protested on opening weekend. The sequel will not happen because it was the biggest flop in 2013. Card had 26 comics and novels planned, but as time went on, he did not want the rest of them to be films because of the violence that happens throughout the series.
City of Ember (2008)
Written by Jeanne DuPrau / Goodreads
Again, this movie did not do so well. They had a $55 million budget and the majority of it was spent on making the set which is still loved to this day. However, the movie only made $7.8 million all together. So therefore, I don’t think a sequel will be happening for this one.
