In 1896, a 45-second clip featuring a segment from the bookTrilby and Little Billeewas produced and started a 123-year old trend of literary works being adapted into films or television shows (and being adapted again and again). With films(2019),(2020, pictured above),(2020),(2020), and television?movie?(2019) and limited series?(2020) on the horizon, we decided to take a deep dive into the Tomatometer to see which of the literary adaptations are the Freshest, and which are the Rottenest (it’s a word).Little WomenWest Side StoryWendyEmmaA Christmas CarolWar of the Worlds

We pulled the data on 32 books that have at least three feature-length movies (80-plus minutes) or television shows with Tomatometer scores (don’t ask about, it’s only been adapted once) and created a dataset of 145 movies. We chose to exclude comic-book adaptations and movies likeGodzillathat have copious reboots — it’s nothing personal, we just wanted to stick with literary adaptations.Gone Girl

Quick note: We also excluded short films such as the 16-minute, black-and-white?Frankenstein(1910) that was technically the first adaptation of Mary Shelley’s book. Also,, which is basicallyBram Stoker’s Dracula –?but not. Also, there are many?obscure or lost films that don’t have Tomatometer scores and weren’t feature-length, so they were excluded.Nosferatu

1. HENRY V RULES OVER ALL ADAPTATIONS WITH A 90% TOMATOMETER AVERAGE

With Laurence Olivier, Kenneth Branagh, David Mich?d, and Thea Sharrock directing theHenry Vadaptations, it’s no wonder adaptations based on William Shakespeare’sHenry Vhave the highest Tomatometer average. The first two major adaptations released in 1946 and 1989 have perfect 100% Tomatometer scores, and the 2012 BBC adaptation starring Tom Hiddleston has a 95% Tomatometer score. The lowest-rated adaptation, with?a Fresh 70% Tomatometer score, is, the Netflix released film starring Timothée Chalamet (who also stars in the latestLittle Womenadaptation).Henry Vhas only known Freshness, and that’s why it’s the Fresh king of adaptations.The King

2. WITH A 43% TOMATOMETER AVERAGE, TARZAN ADAPTATIONS KEEP SWINGING ON ROTTEN VINES

If it weren’t for(1932),(1984), and(1999), the adaptations of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ 1912 story would be super-Rotten. The three most recent attempts at retelling the fabled legend — 2013’s?,?2014’s?, and?2016’s??—?have a 24% Tomatometer average. On a random note, we knowisn’tTarzan–related; however, Brendan Fraser is the best, and we think you should watch it again.Tarzan the Ape ManGreystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the ApesTarzanTarzanTarzanThe Legend of TarzanGeorge of the Jungle

3. THE FIRST ADAPTATION OF LITERARY WORKS HAVE THE BEST TOMATOMETER AVERAGE — WITH AN EXCELLENT 86% AVERAGE

The 86% Tomatometer average for the 32firstadaptations of various literary stories proves it’s good to be first. Only four of these adaptations have Rotten scores — andtheiraverage is an almost respectable 50%. The Tomatometer average for the adaptations that follow the firsts falls to a still Fresh 61% (which isn’t bad). While there are superb follow-up adaptations, such as the Jon Favreau–directedand Joss Whedon’s, there is a drop-off in quality that almost always happens with, so it’s no shame that the Tomatometer average is lower. It just means there were more opportunities to water down the material (Helloor) or make something that pales in comparison to its predecessors.The Jungle BookMuch Ado About Nothingremakes or sequelsBeastlyA Cinderella Story

4. TELEVISED ADAPTATIONS (74%) HAVE A HIGHER TOMATOMETER AVERAGE THAN THEATRICALLY RELEASED ADAPTATIONS (67%)

The 14 literary adaptations in our data set that were released on television or streaming services have a 74% Tomatometer average; whereas movie adaptations have a 67% Tomatometer score. The Fresh 74% average comes from a stacked lineup of adaptations such as?87% Tomatometer-rated(2016)?starring Lily James and Paul Dano and?the epic 88%-rated?(1995) miniseries that propelled Colin Firth to superstardom and. The lowest-rated televised adaptations are the 25% Tomatometer-ratedTarzan?(the less said, the better), and the 51%-rated,that was released in 2013 on the CW, and actually got better as it progressed through its four seasons.War and PeacePrideand Prejudicemade striding out of lakes popularBeauty and the Beast

5. WHAT ARE THE HIGHEST TOMATOMETER-RATED ADAPTATIONS?

Thirteen films and television shows in our data set have 100% scores, which is impressive considering how. The movies and shows are(1921),(1931),(1932),(1935),(1939),(1940),(1946),(1951),(1968),(1983),(1989), and(2009). There hasn’t been a 100% Tomatometer-rated adaptation in our data set since 2009 (and the last film with the score,?Hamlet, has just six reviews).?Let’s hopeWar of the WorldsorA Christmas Carolcan join the club.exclusive the 100% club isThe Three MusketeersFrankensteinTarzan the Ape Man?Anna KareninaThe Hunchback of Notre DamePride and PrejudiceHenry VOliver TwistWar and PeaceMickey’s Christmas CarolHenry VHamlet

6. WHAT ARE THE LOWEST TOMATOMETER-RATED ADAPTATIONS?

When it comes to the lowest-rated literary adaptations in our data set, we noticed a trend. Movies that either place the story in modern times or add a new wrinkle often get the lowest scores: 2006’s?? (loosely based on Jane Austen’sSense and Sensibility) with a 4% score,?2014’s??at 5%,?2011’s?Beastlywith?20%, 2011’s??at 9%, 2018’s??at 27%,?2001’s??at 11%, and?2004’s??at 12%. The tendency to modernize a classic story often results?in Tomatometer scores below 30%.Age of the DragonsisMoby Dick, but with dragons.?Using modern fight choreography,?The Musketeerclaimed it was “As you’ve never seen it before” and received an 11% Tomatometer score.?Sometimes the approach works –??(79%),???(70%),?or?(68%) –?and sometimes, well, it does not, which brings us to…Material GirlsI, FrankensteinAge of the DragonsLittle WomenThe MusketeerA Cinderella StoryCluelessScrooged10 Things I Hate About You

7. ADAPTATIONS THAT DRASTICALLY CHANGE THE SOURCE MATERIAL HAVE A 44% TOMATOMETER AVERAGE

When compared to the 74% Tomatometer average for the adaptations that stick closely to their source material, the 44% looks really bad; however, a number of movies and television shows that modernized their stories or added zombies into the mix have done pretty well. Movies like Ethan Hawke’s?from 2000 with an almost-Fresh 57%, 1961’s??at a Certified Fresh 93%, and Baz Luhrman’s?from 1996 with 72% successfully modernized the source material and gave the world some really cool visuals. If you haven’t watched the 45% Tomatometer-rated?yet, just know that it features Lily James, Matt Smith, Lena Heady, Charles Dance, Sam Riley, Suki Waterhouse, and Bella Heathcote battling zombies. It’s weird, and sorta charming.HamletWest Side StoryRomeo + JulietPride and Prejudice and Zombies

8. THELITTLE WOMENADAPTATIONS HAVE A 77% TOMATOMETER AVERAGE

Any other upcoming literary adaptations will have a hard time competing with Greta Gerwig’s wonderful take on.It’s earning rave reviews (currently 97% on the Tomatometer with 67 reviews), and looks like it may stand?right alongside theandfilms and theas wonderfulLittle Womenadaptations that have big Tomatometer scores. If it weren’t for the, which is a modern retelling of the story that has a 27% Tomatometer average,?the?Little Women?set?would be competing for the top spot among all the adaptations.Little Women1933 (94%)1994 (92%)2017 television adaptation (84%)2018 Little Women

9. KENNETH BRANAGH IS THE KING OF LITERARY ADAPTATIONS

If you’re looking for someone to direct your literary adaptation you would be wise to considerfirst. Why? His adaptations forHenry V,,,,,,,, andhave an average? 70.5% Tomatometer score, withHenry V,Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, andCinderellahaving Tomatometer scores of 85% or higher.Kenneth BranaghMuch Ado About NothingMary Shelley’s FrankensteinIn the Bleak Midwinter (A Midwinter’s Tale)HamletAs You Like ItLove’s Labour’s LostCinderellaMurder on the Orient Express

10. ANIMATED LITERARY ADAPTATIONS HAVE A 70% TOMATOMETER AVERAGE

In the decades-long Tomatometer battle between live-action and animated literary adaptations, the animated adaptations have a slight 4% lead (70% > 66%). The averages are close, but the animated films, led by(1950),(1951),(1967),Mickey’s Christmas Carol(1983),(1991), and(1999) put animated films in the top spot.CinderellaAlice in WonderlandThe Jungle BookBeauty and the BeastTarzan

What are your favorite literary adaptations? Let us know in the comments!

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Thumbnail image:A Christmas Carol(Kurt Iswarienko/FX),Cinderella(Jonathan Olley/?Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures),Little Women(Wilson Webb/2019 CTMG, Inc.)