TV series versus movie adaptations - which works better for which books?

[Lil Reads]

One of the things that can make or break the adaptation of a book is what gets cut or what gets added to it. For example, the movie version of A Series of Unfortunate Events was criticized for combining plot elements from several books into one movie whereas the Netflix series does not have the same need to compress events.

Are some books better suited to TV adaptations, and are other books better suited to movie adaptations?

[AliceofX]

Honestly, I think a TV series is always a better medium for a book adaptation. Unless, of course, you're talking about a really short book. There's just so much more that you can tell in 10-12 hours rather than just 2. A movie is always going to be someone's interpretation of the book whereas a TV series can be an accurate depiction of it.

[Christineegm]

I believe that TV Series are always the way to go, especially with book series. One chapter = one episode. One book = one season. However, I do agree that combining plot elements in a season or episodes can become frustrating to avid book fans, and hopefully directors will take note. Usually with book to movie adaptations, many scenes are deemed unimportant and wind up getting cut. As in the lastest, The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken, whose movie was released recently. Many scenes were cut and made the character's relationships seemed rushed and forced, portraying a different feel than the book hhad originally provided.

[dbulkley]

Easily television series because of how many hours you have to explore different story lines. A good example would be Ready Player One. Felt this could’ve been better as a television series.

[amsula_2018]

i always prefer the tv series version than the movies but there is always an exception, the lord of the rings.

[ObsessedBookNerd]

I believe tv series is better for adaptation of books because you can have a more accurate representation of it. Also some books have a long series like Percy Jackson which has another series and then another spin off to that but the books all tie in together so it would be easier to adapt into a tv series instead of a movie. Some movies made it better I think, for example I like The Immortal Instruments better as a movie than as the tv series shadowhunters.

[Emi_Review]

I think a TV series is the best way to go for book adaptations. You can fit so much more information into a TV Series than a movie. There are successful film franchises such as Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter but I sometimes wonder what information could have been added, how different would they have been if they were a TV Series? Some books have to be a TV Series such as Game of Thrones, there are so many different characters, plots and locations that you really couldn't fit it into a two-hour movie franchise. Ultimately it depends on how well the film/tv series stick to the best and most important parts of the books.

[HailKingEbi]

tv series end up needlessly drawing out a storyline, the one-off movie is the way to go.

[Azlan82]

tv series end up needlessly drawing out a storyline, the one-off movie is the way to go.

After the Dark Tower movie I never want to see a book made into a movie again...or 7 books made into one movie as was the case with this one.

[zarah_]

Definitely TV series. I enjoyed the Hunger Games movie adaptation as much as I enjoyed the book, though.

[Zimall]

I think tv series is better option for book series. Tv series can use every detail of the book and movies cut a lot of our favourite scenes.. harry potter movies are superb but it could be super awesome if it was a tv series.

[Harley-Panda]

I think it very much depends on the book. Something which has a great deal of detail, and has several novels (like A Series of Unfortunate Events) would be better shown in a tv series (unless they make several films, like the Harry Potter series). I think for one-off books, especially those with a lot of action, a film could work if it's done right!

[sush_destiny]

Movie adaptations are better. TV series needlessly drag out the story just to make it into a full fledged episode.