Are Screen Adaptations Turning Us Away From Books?

Imagine this – You are scrolling through Netflix, Prime Video, or Hotstar when you spot a shiny new series or movie, and your brain goes, “Hey, this is based on a book!” Sometimes it’s an old classic (Pride and Prejudice), sometimes a bestseller (The Night Manager), and sometimes even a children’s (and adults’!) favourite (Harry Potter).

With almost a dozen book adaptations releasing this year, some already available for streaming on OTT platforms, the literary world is buzzing with excitement. But here’s the big question: are these adaptations making people read less, or are they inspiring them to pick up the book?

Gateway or replacement?

For some, adaptations work like a gateway to reading. A gripping series might spark curiosity: “What more is in the book?” A movie might end too quickly, making viewers wonder what details were left out.

“I do believe that adaptations can be a powerful gateway for reluctant readers,” says author K. Hari Kumar. “Someone who would never pick up a book might watch an adaptation and then, out of a newfound love for the story, seek out the source material. They'll want to see how the author originally wrote it. For existing readers, the book will always come first. So, while an adaptation may feel like a shortcut to some, for others it could be the very first step on a journey toward becoming a reader.”

Sidharth Jain, founder of The Story Ink and a producer, agrees but from a different angle. “I don’t think it’s the same pool - readers and viewers. In fact, I think book adaptations reach audiences who don’t read much and can be encouraged to read after they watch,” he notes.

Of course, for others, the adaptation feels “enough.” After all, why struggle through 400 pages when you can experience the same story in just two hours?

Hari adds perspective here too. “An adaptation, whether it's a film or series, is a different kind of experience. It's an immersive, often more passive, form of storytelling that requires less personal investment of time and effort. In that way, it's not a replacement for reading, but an alternative form of engagement. It will take you days to read The Lord of the Rings, but you can finish the trilogy in just 8 hours.”

The truth is, adaptations can be both gateway and replacement, depending on the person. Bibliophile Nirav Mehta explains it best, “It depends on the person. For some, adaptations spark curiosity about the source material. For others, they satisfy the story craving without needing to read. I think they are more often gateways for younger audiences, but replacements for time-pressed adults.”

Nikita Mamtora, teacher and freelance writer, sees it differently. “I have seen people watching adaptations because they have read the books, but not the other way around. Once people already know the story, they don’t find it worth their time to explore it in another format.”

Screen to book

And yet, countless readers admit they first discovered books through adaptations. Almost everyone has that story. Maybe it was watching The Fault in Our Stars and then wanting to read John Green’s original. Or finishing The Hunger Games movie and realising the books had extra layers of detail and emotion.

Hari remembers a moment vividly. “In 2006, I went to see The Da Vinci Code in a theatre in Gurugram. I remember being completely captivated by the film—the fast-paced plot, the historical mysteries, and the puzzle-solving. When the credits rolled, I felt an intense curiosity that a film just couldn't satisfy. I went out and bought the book, and trust me, I had never felt this urge to pick up a book after watching a movie before. I loved the film, but I ended up loving the book even more. It was a perfect example of an adaptation acting as a true gateway, proving that a great movie can be a powerful advertisement for the original text,” Hari shares.

Nirav had similar experiences. “Normal People on BBC made me buy Sally Rooney's novel, and Scam 1992 finally pushed me to read Sucheta Dalal's The Scam. Hansal Mehta's series made financial journalism feel like a thriller,” he adds.

For Sidharth, it was Sacred Games and Game of Thrones that drew him to the books.

Nikita, too, admits, “I have watched Dexter and then picked up the book. And, now I want to read The Lincoln Lawyer since I have finished watching the series on Netflix.”

Clearly, for many, the screen can be a strong push back toward the page.

Competition or replacement

This brings us to a bigger question: are adaptations competing with books, or are they partners in keeping stories alive?

Nikita leans toward the latter. “I’m inclined to think of them as partners - they keep the story alive and often explore it in a different way due to the medium. For instance, the new Harry Potter series may make the story relevant to an entire new generation.”

Hari, speaking as both author and screenwriter, agrees. “I see adaptations not as competition, but as powerful partners in keeping stories alive and vibrant in the cultural consciousness. The idea of competition is a false dichotomy that ignores the realities of how modern audiences consume content. An adaptation is a marketing engine for the original text,” he says. “The film industry has a vested interest in adapting successful books because a pre-existing story with a built-in fanbase is a far safer investment. As a writer, I see this as a win-win. An adaptation not only provides a new revenue stream and reaches a massive new audience, but it also creates a renewed interest in the source material, often leading to a significant spike in book sales.”

A book offers depth — inner thoughts, subtle descriptions, and slow-burning character growth. A movie or series offers visuals, pace, and immediacy. Each has strengths that the other can’t replicate.

“Good adaptations create cultural conversations that keep stories relevant across generations. They're like literary CPR for books that might otherwise gather dust,” Nirav succinctly puts it.

Post-script

So, do adaptations take readers away from books, or do they encourage them to read more? The answer lies somewhere in between. For some, adaptations will always be enough. For others, they’re the spark that lights a lifelong love for reading.

Perhaps the fairest way to see it is this: adaptations and books aren’t enemies. Together, they keep stories alive, ensuring more people — whether flipping pages or pressing play — remain part of the conversation.

Book adaptations releasing this year

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan

Regretting You by Colleen Hoover

The Running Man by Stephen King

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

Fun facts

Most adapted book: Dracula by Bram Stoker – 91 movie adaptations

Most adapted author’s books: Stephen King is the most adapted living author. With over 50 of his books turned into films or series (The Shining, It, The Shawshank Redemption), he holds the crown.

Amping up sales and reading: The Harry Potter films boosted book sales massively. Each movie release sent the novels back to the top of bestseller lists, proving adaptations can fuel reading.

Published on: Sunday, August 17, 2025, 07:50 AM IST