Successful Film Franchises Built From Literary Properties

Some of the biggest movie franchises started as books

You’ve seen the movies. Maybe you’ve even seen them five times. But did you know that Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and The Hunger Games all began as books? Literary properties have powered some of the most profitable, long-running film franchises in history. These aren’t just lucky adaptations-they’re carefully built worlds that grew from pages into box office empires.

Not every book becomes a hit movie. In fact, most don’t. But when the right story meets the right filmmakers, the result can be a franchise that lasts decades, spawns spin-offs, and turns unknown authors into household names. What makes these adaptations work? It’s not just about fame or fanbases. It’s about structure, tone, and how well the source material translates to screen.

Why some books turn into franchises-and others don’t

Think of a book you love. Now imagine turning it into a movie. Easy? Probably not. Many novels are too dense, too internal, or too slow for film. A good adaptation doesn’t copy the book word-for-word. It finds the heartbeat of the story and builds around it.

Take Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling’s books are packed with magic, rules, and character growth. The films didn’t try to include every spell or side character. Instead, they focused on the core trio, the rising threat of Voldemort, and the emotional journey from childhood to adulthood. That kept the story tight and cinematic.

Compare that to The Chronicles of Narnia. The first film did well, but sequels struggled. Why? The books are episodic-each one is a standalone adventure. Film studios tried to force them into a single narrative arc, which confused audiences. The source material didn’t naturally lend itself to a serialized movie plan.

Successful literary franchises share three traits: a clear central conflict, strong character arcs, and a world that feels expandable. You can tell a single story from them, but you also want to come back for more.

How The Lord of the Rings became a cinematic landmark

The Lord of the Rings is the gold standard for literary adaptations. J.R.R. Tolkien’s books were considered "unfilmable" for decades. Too long. Too many characters. Too much mythology.

Then Peter Jackson came along. He didn’t cut the story-he restructured it. He turned three books into three films, each with its own beginning, middle, and end. He gave each character a purpose, even the smallest ones. Gimli, Legolas, and Merry? They weren’t just sidekicks. They had moments that changed the story.

The films also respected the tone. Tolkien’s world wasn’t just fantasy-it was mythic. The music, the landscapes, the slow build of tension-all of it came from the book’s spirit. The result? Three films that grossed over $2.9 billion worldwide and won 17 Oscars.

And it didn’t stop there. The success led to The Hobbit trilogy, video games, TV shows, and a whole industry built around Middle-earth. The books were already popular. But the films made them global.

The Hunger Games: A modern YA phenomenon

When Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games hit shelves in 2008, it was a fast-selling novel. But no one expected it to become a $3 billion film franchise. What made it work?

First, the setup was visual. A televised death match in a dystopian future? That’s easy to show on screen. Second, Katniss Everdeen was a relatable lead. She wasn’t a chosen one-she was scared, angry, and doing what she had to survive. That made her feel real.

The films kept the book’s political edge. They didn’t dumb down the message about media manipulation and state control. That gave the series depth beyond action scenes. And because the books were a tight trilogy, the studio knew exactly how many films to make-and when to stop.

Unlike some franchises that drag on past their welcome, The Hunger Games ended cleanly. That’s rare. Most studios want to milk a cash cow. But here, the story had a natural finish. That respect for the source material helped keep fans loyal.

Game of Thrones: When a book series becomes a TV empire

While not a film franchise, Game of Thrones proves how powerful literary properties can be on screen. George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire books were sprawling, brutal, and full of morally gray characters. HBO didn’t try to simplify them. They leaned into the complexity.

They cast actors who embodied the characters-not just looked like them. Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister? He didn’t just play the role. He became the role. The show didn’t just adapt the books-it expanded them. New scenes, new subplots, new emotional beats that weren’t in the text.

And it worked. The show drew over 30 million viewers per episode at its peak. It turned unknown actors into stars. It made fantasy mainstream again. Even after the show outpaced the books, it remained culturally dominant.

The lesson? You don’t need to follow the book exactly. You need to understand its soul.

Why franchises like Twilight and Fifty Shades failed to last

Not every book-to-movie adaptation becomes a franchise. Twilight made $3.3 billion, but the films ended after five installments. Why? Because the story was built around one central romance, not an expanding world. Once Bella and Edward’s story concluded, there was nowhere else to go.

Fifty Shades of Grey had a similar problem. It was a single, self-contained story dressed up as a trilogy. The sequels felt like stretched-out versions of the first book. No new stakes. No new characters. No growth. Audiences stopped caring after the second film.

These weren’t bad adaptations. They just lacked the ingredients for longevity. A true franchise needs more than a hit. It needs room to grow. New locations. New enemies. New alliances. A world that keeps surprising you.

What’s next? The books still waiting for their moment

There are dozens of books right now that could be the next big franchise. The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson? A 10-book epic with magic systems, political intrigue, and gods walking among mortals. Perfect for a multi-film saga.

The Dark Tower by Stephen King? A mix of Western, fantasy, and horror. It’s been tried before-and failed. But with the right team, it could finally work.

Even older works like Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld or The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss have passionate fanbases and rich worlds. Studios are watching. The question isn’t if they’ll adapt them-it’s when.

What makes a literary franchise last?

It’s not about how many books there are. It’s about how well the story holds up when you take it off the page.

The best adaptations:

• Respect the tone and themes of the original
• Focus on characters audiences care about
• Leave room for expansion-new locations, new villains, new rules
• Don’t rush the story. Let it breathe
• Know when to stop

Some franchises live forever because they’re more than movies. They’re experiences. You don’t just watch Harry Potter. You grow up with it. You rewatch it. You quote it. You imagine yourself in Hogsmeade.

That’s the real magic. Not the spells. Not the special effects. It’s the connection.

What’s the next big literary adaptation?

Right now, the most talked-about upcoming adaptation is The Wheel of Time on Amazon Prime. It’s based on Robert Jordan’s 14-book series. The first season stayed close to the books. The second expanded. The third? It’s starting to feel like a real franchise.

Other possibilities:

• The Kingkiller Chronicle - A lyrical, character-driven fantasy with a narrator who may be unreliable
• His Dark Materials - Already adapted as a TV series, but a film trilogy could dive deeper into the multiverse
• The Broken Earth trilogy - A climate-fueled dystopia with powerful magic and emotional depth

These aren’t just stories. They’re worlds waiting to be built. And if the right team takes them on, they could become the next generation of film franchises.

What you can learn from these franchises

If you’re a writer, study how these stories were adapted. Notice what stayed. What changed. What was cut. The best adaptations don’t just translate-they transform.

If you’re a fan, look beyond the movies. Go back to the books. You’ll find layers the films couldn’t show. Deeper backstories. Hidden themes. Quiet moments that made the characters real.

And if you’re waiting for the next big adaptation? Keep reading. The next billion-dollar franchise might be sitting on your shelf right now-unnoticed, waiting for its moment on screen.