Hollywood loves a book adaptation movie. Even better, a franchise of them.
Book adaptations have grown significantly in popularity since the 1990s, which represented roughly 8% of major studio releases at the time. Today, they account for 70% of top-grossing films in theaters, according to 2024 data.
Using data from Box Office Mojo, Business Insider compiled the 25 highest-grossing book adaptations, including children’s novels, biographies, and other literary works, at the worldwide box office.
We did not include comic-book or stage adaptations, and the figures are not adjusted for inflation.
Eight films crossed the $1 billion threshold, and fantasy franchises like “Harry Potter,” “The Lord of the Rings,” and “Twilight” dominated, while two adaptations from Academy Award-winning director Christopher Nolan also made the list.
Here are the 25 highest-grossing book adaptations at the box office.
25. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
Worldwide gross: $745,013,115
C.S. Lewis’s children’s novel made its way to the screen after decades of interest in adaptation.
The movie won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
24. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)
Worldwide gross: $758,846,335
Suzanne Collins’ third “Hunger Games” book was split into two films, with Part 1 ending when Katniss sees Peeta after his Capitol appearances.
It was the second-highest-grossing movie at the US box office in 2014.
23. The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Worldwide gross: $801,349,858
The adaptation of Dan Brown’s novel premiered at Cannes and arrived amid controversy over its religious-conspiracy storyline.
The film sent its audience through real art, symbols, and European landmarks, though much of the historical premise is fictional.
22. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Worldwide gross: $810,573,261
Alfonso Cuarón took over as director of the Harry Potter franchise for the third movie and gave the series a darker visual and thematic style.
The film opened to nearly $94 million in domestic box office sales.
21. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
Worldwide gross: $865,864,687
“Catching Fire” opened to $158.1 million in North America, then the biggest November opening weekend ever.
It was the second-highest domestic release of 2013.
20. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Worldwide gross: $883,459,548
“The Chamber of Secrets” was the last “Harry Potter” film directed by Chris Columbus.
The film’s budget was $100 million — a hefty return on investment for Warner Bros. Pictures.
19. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (2012)
Worldwide gross: $888,875,751
The final chapter delivered the saga’s most talked-about moment: a fight scene that did not happen in Stephenie Meyer’s novel.
It became the highest-grossing Twilight movie worldwide.
18. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Worldwide gross: $897,540,492
Peter Jackson’s first Middle-earth film, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s three-volume book, began a trilogy largely shot in New Zealand.
It earned 13 Oscar nominations and won four, including Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects.
17. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Worldwide gross: $900,463,002
“The Goblet of Fire” was the first and only “Harry Potter” movie directed by Mike Newell.
16. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Worldwide gross: $939,165,729
“The Order of the Phoenix” is the second-shortest “Harry Potter” film, despite it being the longest novel J.K. Rowling wrote in the series.
David Yates made his franchise-directing debut here and went on to direct the final four films.
15. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Worldwide gross: $941,072,400
The sixth “Harry Potter” film took in $104 million domestically in its first two days and $158 million over its first five days in North America.
14. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Worldwide gross: $945,185,917
“The Two Towers,” the second installment in the trilogy, opened to $62 million in North America.
13. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
Worldwide gross: $959,079,095
The second “Hobbit” film opened with $73.6 million in North America.
12. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
Worldwide gross: $962,749,443
The conclusion to Peter Jackson’s “Hobbit” trilogy opened to $56.2 million domestically over its first weekend.
The finale closed Jackson’s six-film Middle-earth saga with its sprawling titular battle, bringing together dwarves, elves, men, orcs, and eagles.
11. The Jungle Book (2016)
Worldwide gross: $967,724,775
Director Jon Favreau’s remake of author Rudyard Kipling’s collection of short stories won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
It became one of Disney’s biggest live-action remake successes.
10. Oppenheimer (2023)
Worldwide gross: $975,811,333
Christopher Nolan’s three-hour historical drama, based on the biography by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer,” became a global event alongside “Barbie” in the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon.
It became the highest-grossing biographical film ever and one of the rare R-rated movies to near $1 billion worldwide. It won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Cillian Murphy, and Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr.
9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
Worldwide gross: $991,222,542
The first movie of the two-part finale opened to $125 million in North America and about $330 million worldwide, giving the franchise one of its biggest launches to that point.
It ultimately finished just shy of $1 billion globally, despite shifting the action away from Hogwarts and into a darker Horcrux hunt.
8. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Worldwide gross: $1,017,453,991
Peter Jackson’s return to Middle-earth opened to $84.6 million domestically and more than $222 million worldwide.
It went on to become the first “Hobbit” film to cross $1 billion globally, proving that audiences were eager to return to the franchise nearly one decade after “The Return of the King.”
7. Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Worldwide gross: $1,025,468,216
Tim Burton’s 3D reimagining of Lewis Carroll’s children’s novel opened to a $116.1 million opening weekend in North America.
The success of the movie helped kickstart Disney’s wave of live-action remakes in the years that followed.
6. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)
Worldwide gross: $1,045,057,555
Released in the US as “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” it launched one of cinema’s most durable and popular film franchises.
It was the highest-grossing movie worldwide that year.
5. Jurassic Park (1993)
Worldwide gross: $1,103,136,084
Michael Crichton’s 1990 science fiction novel about genetically recreated dinosaurs was a major hit for moviegoers.
The film’s opening weekend in June 1993 grossed $50 million in the US, and showed audiences a new kind of summer blockbuster — one that would pave the way for future science-fiction book adaptations.
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Worldwide gross: $1,149,453,674
The trilogy finale became the first fantasy film to win Best Picture at the Oscars. Its 11 Oscar wins tied the all-time record set by “Ben-Hur” and later matched by “Titanic.”
It was also the highest-grossing film of 2003 worldwide.
3. Beauty and the Beast (2017)
Worldwide gross: $1,266,115,964
Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast starred Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the Beast. It’s a remake of the original cartoon, which was based on the 1740 tale by French author Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve.
Its $174.8 million domestic debut was, at the time, the biggest March opening weekend ever.
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
Worldwide gross: $1,380,707,407
The finale delivered the Battle of Hogwarts and concluded a film franchise that had run for a decade. It became the highest-grossing “Harry Potter” film.
Its $483.2 million global opening was a record at the time.
1. The Odyssey (2026)
Worldwide gross: $1,686,587,560
“The Odyssey” stands as the highest-grossing book adaptation on the list and one of 2026’s defining box office hits.
The film brings Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem, which follows Odysseus’ long journey home after the Trojan War, to a modern audience.
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