10 Highest Grossing Book-to-Movie Adaptations of All Time (That Aren’t Lord of the Rings)

Making movies is costly. Everything from location scouting and set design to elaborate costumes adds up, and filmmakers need significant funding to create a polished, professional product. When a film doesn’t earn enough money in theaters to cover its production costs, it results in substantial financial losses. However, some films perform exceptionally well, particularly those based on popular books.

This list ranks the most financially successful movies based on books, but we’re using a specific set of rules. We’re only including films that are *directly* adapted from a single book – movies that are part of a larger franchise, like the *Jurassic World* films (which come from the *Jurassic Park* franchise), won’t be included. We’re also looking at worldwide box office numbers, not just sales in the US. And because *The Hobbit* movies are prequels to *The Lord of the Rings*, we’ve left that series off this list. Now, grab your favorite fantasy novel and let’s begin – bonus points if you get that last reference!

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 (2012)

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 is the

The final installment of *The Twilight Saga*, *Breaking Dawn – Part 2*, was a major success, earning $848.5 million globally. Made on a budget of $136 million, the film performed very well financially. It ranked as the fifth highest-grossing movie of 2012, following *The Avengers*, *Skyfall*, *The Dark Knight Rises*, *The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey*, and *Ice Age: Continental Drift*.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is based on Suzanne Collins’s 2009 novel. As the second installment in The Hunger Games series, the film continues the story after the events of the first movie (released in 2008). Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, victors of the 74th Hunger Games, are about to face a new challenge: the 75th Hunger Games, where the stakes are even higher than before.

With a budget of around $135 million, *The Hunger Games: Catching Fire* earned $865 million around the world. It ranked as the fifth highest-grossing movie of 2013, similar to *Breaking Dawn, Part 2*. The film received a total of 167 award nominations.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

*Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince* is based on J.K. Rowling’s 2005 novel. As the sixth book in the *Harry Potter* series, *Half-Blood Prince* follows two main storylines: Harry trying to uncover Draco Malfoy’s mysterious activities and his investigation into the identity of the Half-Blood Prince, a talented and unknown wizard. Throughout the story, Harry also navigates friendships, challenging classes, and the growing threat of Lord Voldemort.

I was absolutely captivated by *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*! It was a massive hit, bringing in $941.1 million around the world, though it cost $250 million to make. It was the most they’d ever spent on a *Harry Potter* film, and it was the second-biggest movie of 2009. Of course, James Cameron’s *Avatar* took the top spot that year, earning over $2 billion – and while it wasn’t based on a book, you have to admit it was an incredible success!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is based on the fifth book in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Published in 2003, the story continues after Lord Voldemort’s return in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Frustrated and angry, and struggling with the new, strict teacher Dolores Umbridge, Harry starts a secret study group called Dumbledore’s Army to teach his friends more powerful spells.

With a budget of around $175 million, *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* earned $942.9 million worldwide. It was the second-highest-grossing film of 2007, surpassed only by *Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End*. Despite its huge success, Warner Bros. reported a loss of over $100 million on the film, citing complex accounting practices common in Hollywood.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (2010)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I is the first movie based on the final Harry Potter book. Picking up where Half-Blood Prince left off—after Dumbledore’s death—the film follows Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they go into hiding. They’re determined to find and destroy the remaining pieces of Voldemort’s soul, called Horcruxes, and finally defeat him.

With worldwide earnings of $960.9 million, *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I* had the biggest opening day of any movie in 2010. Filming took over a year to complete, and the seventh *Harry Potter* film ultimately received 61 award nominations, including two Academy Awards.

The Jungle Book (2016)

The 2016 film *The Jungle Book* is based on the classic 1967 animated movie of the same name, and both are inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s 1894 collection of stories. The film follows Mowgli, a young orphaned boy raised in the jungle by animals. As Mowgli matures, he must come to terms with who he is while also facing the threat of the fearsome tiger, Shere Khan.

With a budget of $176 million, *The Jungle Book* earned $966.6 million worldwide, making it the fifth-highest-grossing movie of 2016. It was surpassed by *Captain America: Civil War*, *Rogue One: A Star Wars Story*, *Finding Dory*, and *Zootopia*. Overall, Disney had a very profitable year in 2016, with its films collectively earning about $7 billion.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

The first movie in the Harry Potter series, *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone*, is based on J.K. Rowling’s original book. Published in 1997, the book and film introduce readers to Harry Potter, along with characters like Dumbledore, Ron, and Hermione, and the magical world they inhabit. The story follows eleven-year-old Harry as he learns he’s a wizard, attends Hogwarts, and works with his friends to safeguard the Sorcerer’s Stone.

As a huge movie fan, I remember when *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone* (known as *Philosopher’s Stone* everywhere else except the US, India, and the Philippines) absolutely blew up! It made over a billion dollars worldwide – seriously, $1.026 billion! – even though it only cost around $125 million to make. It ended up being the biggest movie of 2001, and it wasn’t just a financial success; it racked up a ton of award nominations, including three Oscars.

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Tim Burton’s *Alice in Wonderland* is similar to *The Jungle Book* in that it’s a live-action update of a classic Disney animated film from 1951. The movie is a dark fantasy based on two books by Lewis Carroll: *Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland* (1865) and *Through the Looking-Glass* (1871). It follows Alice, a young woman who falls into the fantastical world of Wonderland, where she encounters characters like the Mad Hatter and becomes involved in a conflict.

Tim Burton’s *Alice in Wonderland* was a big hit with both audiences and critics. The film earned over $1 billion worldwide on a budget of around $175 million, making it the second-highest-grossing movie of 2010. It was only surpassed by Disney’s *Toy Story 3*.

Jurassic Park (1993)

Steven Spielberg’s *Jurassic Park* is based on Michael Crichton’s 1990 novel, which Crichton also helped adapt into the film’s script. The story centers on a theme park populated by dinosaurs brought back to life through recovered DNA. Despite the park owner, John Hammond, believing the park is secure for visitors, the dinosaurs soon demonstrate that isn’t the case.

When *Jurassic Park* came out in 1993, it was a massive financial success, earning over $1.1 billion worldwide despite costing around $60 million to make. Its cultural impact was also recognized when it was added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2018.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II (2011)

*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II* concludes the film series based on J.K. Rowling’s final *Harry Potter* book. It was the first time a novel in the series was adapted into two movies. The story begins immediately after Voldemort steals the Elder Wand from Dumbledore’s grave. Harry, Ron, and Hermione continue their quest to destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes, ultimately leading to a final showdown at Hogwarts.

The final Harry Potter film, *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II*, earned an impressive $1.342 billion worldwide. This is especially remarkable given that the two *Deathly Hallows* movies were made with a combined budget of $250 million. The film received over 100 award nominations and is often ranked among the best movies released in 2011.

2025-10-10 18:11