Original vs. Movie Covers!
This week's topic was cover makeovers, and since I had a lot of trouble thinking of ten cover makeovers, I decided to put a twist on the topic. YA books have been having a good run of adaptations, and with each adaptation, we get a movie tie-in cover. My co-blogger, Kiersten, hates movie covers, as she is not a big fan of faces on covers. I am indifferent. With respect to most of the covers, I didn't think the movie cover was a vast improvement, but a few were somewhat better.
- Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli - I really like that the movie tie-in cover has the same look and feel as the original. I feel like it was sort of important, since they gave the film a different name.
- To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han - These covers a fairly similar, and both do a good job of capturing the charm of Lara Jean. I adored the actress, who played her in the film, and therefore, love seeing her on the cover.
- The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp - I like the movie cover a lot more, because I don't totally understand the dancing people on the book cover. I still have not seen this film, but I hope they gave it a Hollywood ending, because the book ending made me want to toss it out the window.
- Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead - I think the movie cover did a good job of capturing what they were going for with the film. Unfortunately, I feel like the direction was not true enough to the book, and can possibly explain why we only saw one of these films.
- Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews - I love the original cover. It gives a nod to all the films Greg and Earl were always making, and I like when I can recognize bits of the book in the cover.
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky - These covers actually look really good together. The original was super minimalist, so not much to compete with there, but I like that they kept the color scheme similar. I also adored the characters in this book/film, and thought the actors they cast were superb. Therefore, I have not issue seeing them on the cover.
- Dumplin' by Julie Murphy - I am a big fan of animated covers, and I love what they chose to depict on the original. I was also a big fan of the adaptation. I thought they really captured the magic and spirit of Dumplin', and the actress did a great job embodying that.
- Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver - This is my favorite of Lauren Oliver's books. I never thought I would feel that heartbroken at the end of the story. With that said, I believe they did a good job translating this book to screen. A time-loop book can be so challenging, and they did make some good choices. The covers are sort of meaningless to me, and because of that, I am ok with both of them.
- The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon - I love Yoon's writing, and both covers are aesthetically pleasing, though they don't say much about the story. I love how colorful the original cover is, but I have not problem looking at those beautiful actors on the cover, and at least they clue me into to something about the book.
- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - Again, I like that some of the original cover elements made it onto the movie cover, and if I'm being honest, I have so much love for Hazel and Gus, that seeing them on the cover warms my heart.
How do you feel about movie tie-in covers?
Let us know in the comments!
Let us know in the comments!
I was debating about doing this exact topic but there were so many I wanted to talk about I nixed it. :) I also love seeing Hazel and Gus on the cover. Great list!
ReplyDeleteHazel + Gus forever! 😪
Deleteoooh I love the twist you did Sam!! Actually I agree with your co-blogger for the most part... But the Lara Jean and Simon movie covers really are almost better if not just as good as the original cover.
ReplyDeleteLara Jean belonged on those covers, because she was the heart of those books, and I think that is why I welcomed Simon on the cover as well.
DeleteConfession Sam: I loved Vampire Academy as a book but hated the movie!
ReplyDeleteThe movie went in a really different direction from the book, but I was entertained enough to sit through it.
DeleteI'm rarely a fan of movie tie-in covers and tend to avoid them at all costs. There are some exceptions, though. I don't mind the Simon Vs. movie cover, because I thought Nick brought Simon to life so perfectly. I give Perks a thumbs up because it's the only time I thought the movie was actually better than the book. And TFiOS is a good one. The original cover is practically iconic in YA but seeing Hazel and Gus does my heart good. :)
ReplyDeleteThe casting of Simon was so well done, and I have no problem seeing that Simon on my cover. Hmmm, not sure I thought the Perks movie was better than the book, but I did think it was a fantastic adaptation, and I attribute a lot of that to how involved the author was.
DeleteI was going to try to do this topic but nothing would come to mind lol so this is a great twist! I agree with all of these. I watched The Spectacular Now but I honestly do not remember the ending. I expected so much more from VA! It saddens me so much because I wanted more :/ Oh! One movie cover I like as much as the book's, maybe more, is The Clique by Lisi Harrison!
ReplyDeleteGenesis @ Whispering Chapters
Hard topic. I love covers, but I don't commit which ones were redesigned to memory, and was just not able to come up with ten, and that, my friend, is how I came to twist this topic to movie covers. I never read The Clique books, but I always wanted to, because I liked the film.
DeleteI love that you chose movie versions for this post - most people tend to hate on them, but there are some good ones out there, as your post shows. I adore the movie cover of Before I Fall, and I fully agree with you - they did a really good job of capturing what the book is like. I really love To All the Boys and Simon, because of their resemblance to the original. I don't think this is done a lot, so that's certainly unique, and sets them apart. Great list, Sam! :)
ReplyDeleteMy TTT
I think hardcore readers tend to hate them, because we are just purest when it comes to our books, but casual readers are devouring books that inspired adaptations these days.
DeleteI didn't think I was going to like ANY of the movie covers better (bc I am usually NEVER a fan of the movie book covers), but I was really surprised. TATBILB movie cover is awesome!!! I like it better too!! And I hate the Vampire Academy cover so much, I would like anything better. Perks is kind of the same thing-- the original is so blah that I'd probably rather have Emma Watson on my copy.
ReplyDeleteCool topic twist!!
I sort of felt the same way about the Perks cover. The original is pretty nondescript, but I feel as though it's very intentional. I think I have a bias for the movie covers, when I adored the casting. The actors selected for Perks were perfection, so why wouldn't I want to look at them on the cover?
DeleteI really loved Before I Fall, both the movie and the book. I like both covers. The issue I mainly have with movie tie-in covers is that, if someone saw me reading the movie tie-in version, they might just think I picked it up simply because of the movie, when usually it's the other way around!
ReplyDeleteAnd, there is so much of that these days. I have to say, as a reader, I am ok with anything that gets people reading. Then on the other hand, as a reader, I wish people didn't need something to be made into a film or TV show to enjoy the story.
DeleteI think these are all great looking movie adaptation covers (except for VA which I refuse to believe even existed because boy did they ruin that movie)! I like how some of them also match the OG covers.
ReplyDeleteThe direction they went in that movie was all wrong for the series. I love Amy Heckerling, but they should have stuck to the source material a little more closely. The books were good!
DeleteI love your topic! I read The Spectacular Now years ago, but doesn’t it have a prom scene? That might explain the dancing people. I usually dislike movie covers because they’re too commercial for me, but you found some pretty ones for this post.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Maybe, but was that really a cover worthy event? I think I am drawn to the actors on the covers, when I loved them in their parts. Some of these movies had spectacular casting, and therefore, I like celebrating the actors on the covers.
DeleteThe film tie in for The Fault In Our Stars is such an iconic image now isn't it, I think the movie also helped pave the way for more and more YA novels to be adapted seeing how successful a standalone contemporary was, I think previously it was pretty much series like The Hunger Games, Twilight and Percy Jackson and The Olympians. Even though they absolutely ruined it.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't a fan of The Spectacular Now when I read it years ago, I remember the main character just being so sullen and the ending was horrible. I still don't see what the fuss was all about. Such an awesome list Sam, loved seeing the comparisons.
I think you are right about TiFoS being so important for the newest crop of YA adaptations. I am all about series, if they can deliver every book, but not happy when the first movie tanks, and then, no more movies. The Spectacular Now frustrated me so much, because I felt like the MC grew so much just to regress. I hate seeing that in books.
DeleteI don't mind movie covers all that much, though I'd probably choose the original over the movie cover if I had to pick one. I like that Simon Vs. kept the same type of look/feel, and I really like the two Perks of Being a Wallflower covers as well.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I really liked the ones that tried to preserve the original cover in some way too. I don't want it to look like something entirely new, unless the original was just that miserable.
DeleteI'm usually not a huge fan of movie covers, but I don't mind TATBILB and Simon.
ReplyDeleteBoth are so adorbs, and I loved the actors they selected for those parts so much.
Deletegreat post. i like that you did book against movie
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
I was floundering trying to think of any redesigns, and this came to mind. Glad you enjoyed it.
DeleteI also have a predilection for screen adaptation book covers! Especially The Sun is Also a Star and The Fault in ours Stars. So cute!
ReplyDeleteMany beautiful and wonderful actors were cast in these films, and I am ok looking at them
DeleteThere is a great mix of covers on here. I pretty much agree with all of your comments on them.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun putting them all side by side.
DeleteFunnily I'm not a fan of movie covers! Lol. It's weird, I know! On the flip side I don't mind people on the covers though!
ReplyDeleteHere's my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
My daughter does not like them either, and will never purchase them.
DeleteI definitely like the movie cover better for The Spectacular Now. In fact, when I saw it in the bookstore back when it first came out I almost bought it- it kinda eminded me of an 80's movie lol for some reason. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree about Vampire academy, even though I haven't read the book, and Before I fall- I like both covers. it's another one I haven't read but I thought the movie was actually pretty good.
If you want to read The Spectacular Now, I recommend taking it out from the library, because the ending is trash. I was happy with the Before I Fall adaptation, and that's saying a lot, because it's my fave Lauren Oliver book.
DeleteI really like your take on this topic! I never read The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but I did love the movie so I definitely love that cover!
ReplyDeleteI think the adaptation was so good for Perks, because the author wrote the screenplay and directed the film. Same with Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Those were their babies, and they knew how to translate them from book to screen properly.
DeleteUsually I don't like the adaptation covers, but these are all really nice.
ReplyDeleteI am neutral for the most part. If putting the movie images on the cover will get people to support the book, then I am ok with it.
DeleteGreat twist on the topic Sam! I like Simon and Lara Jean on their book covers, as well as the movie cover for TFIoS. I prefer the original cover for Vampire Academy, but that might just be because I enjoyed the books way more than the movie, so I have fond memories about reading the series, whereas I was disappointed in the film.
ReplyDeleteLindy@ A Bookish Escape
Nobody who read VA seems to have much love for the movie. That film was such a misstep.
DeleteI usually lean towards the book more than the movie cover. A couple of these have me leaning the other way. Fun post!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say I really prefer one over the other, but there are some that are just as good for me.
DeleteI've always liked that original cover for Dumplin. I liked the Vampire Academy book but I didn't like the film or the MCs. It lost the essence of the book for me.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I didn't like the direction they took the VA movie, though, if I had not read the books, I would say the movie was entertaining.
DeleteThe VA movie wasn't what I expected and this is why I really shouldn't expect much. The movie cover doesn't do the book justice, or even the movie. Both book and movie are dark. The movie cover just made it look like it's another teen flick movie but with vampires.
ReplyDeleteThe movie cover fit the movie, which was not a fabulous adaptation of the book. That is exactly what they did. They turned it into a teen flick. I almost feel like they were trying to do another Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie. It was too campy for the book.
DeleteI honestly hate movie covers! Majority of the time I like the original cover.
ReplyDelete~Kendra @ Kendra Loves Books
I wouldn't say I like any of these better, but I don't hate them either.
DeleteMovie cover tie ins are a big no-no for me, but I think I'd make an exception for the To All the Boys cover.
ReplyDeleteThat actress was Lara Jean perfection
DeleteMovie/TV show tie-in covers usually give me a major case of book-snobbery-rage. However, the one's you've listed above I actually like... Who'd a thunk it? *shrugs*
ReplyDeleteLike I said, I am neutral on it, probably because I am not a book collector, but I think my enjoyment of the adaptation influences my affection for the cover. I was not too pleased with what they did to VA, and therefore, was not dazzled by the movie tie-in cover, but I adored the adaption of Perks and TATBILB, which made me feel a bit of warmth towards those covers.
DeleteYou've shared some good-looking move tie-in covers! I love how you comment on whether the tie-in cover captures the ambiance of the film and whether the tie-in cover keeps the same vibe as the original book cover.
ReplyDeleteIf I love a book, I usually buy it before movie tie-ins are released. For my classroom, if there is a film or show tie-in, I try to purchase the tie-in covers because students are more likely to recognize the actors and show interest in a book because of that.
I tried to pick books, which I have read and seen the adaptation for. It helps me understand a little bit more about the choices made. That! I have noticed that people, who are not huge readers, will pick up books that have been adapted. It's not necessary for me, but whatever sparks an interest in reading is ok by me.
DeleteOy, this is so hard! Because I don't *hate* movie covers, but I also would not buy one probably? Well. Except American Gods because Ricky Whittle is on the cover, or The 100 but actually they *only* made show covers for the second half of the series hahahha. I mean, aesthetically these are all quite pleasing, but I also can't see myself choosing one over the original? However, if I love a movie, I always buy the DVD so I can own the cover physically- hence, I have a TFIOS DVD, THG DVDs, The 100 DVDs, even though I own them all digitally. Actually Sam all this comment tells you is that I have a hoarding problem 😂
ReplyDelete*laughing* You are hilarious! Thank you for this comment. It was utterly delightful. And, well, you know I don't buy any books, so a cover change is totally lost on me, which is why this topic was so hard for me, and I did movie covers instead, which is technically a cover change, but still, a twist on the topic.
DeleteI think I personally like the book cover for Before I Fall (the movie edition). I feel like all the little pictures of her are supposed to represent all the different types she's had to relive the day. It's one of the few movie covers I'm okay with!
ReplyDeleteKrystianna @ Downright Dystopian
Now that you mention that, I am seeing that cover a bit differently. Definitely a better connection to the story, than the original. I mean, are they going for the dead girl part there?
DeleteI am definitely not a fan of movie tie in covers and I don't think I own any? Sometimes I even own them and then later unhaul them and get the original cover. But I do agree that the most painless one is Simon vs the Homo Sapiens!
ReplyDeleteI don't usually buy physical books, so I am neutral, but I understand the commercialization of it, and appreciate that the switch might encourage a non-hardcore reader to pick up the book
Delete