The works with the most film adaptations: 9 stories the cinema keeps retelling
Nine classic works adapted for film again and again, from Dracula, Frankenstein and Alice in Wonderland to Peter Pan, Romeo and Juliet, A Christmas Carol, Sherlock Holmes and Les Misérables.
Some stories never leave the screen. This list gathers nine of the most adapted works in cinema, with one well-known film for each, in release order, with posters and the original work.
How we chose
We chose classic works with many film versions, and we show one representative adaptation of each. This is not a numbered ranking, and we do not give exact counts, which vary by source.
Dracula (1931)
Novel: Dracula (Bram Stoker). One of the most adapted works in film history.
Frankenstein (1931)
Novel: Frankenstein (Mary Shelley). One of the most adapted works in film history.
Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Novel: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll). One of the most adapted works in film history.
Peter Pan (1953)
Play: Peter Pan (J. M. Barrie). One of the most adapted works in film history.
Romeo and Juliet (1968)
Play: Romeo and Juliet (William Shakespeare). One of the most adapted works in film history.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Novel: A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens). One of the most adapted works in film history.
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Stories: Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle). One of the most adapted works in film history.
Les Misérables (2012)
Novel: Les Misérables (Victor Hugo). One of the most adapted works in film history.
Little Women (2019)
Novel: Little Women (Louisa May Alcott). One of the most adapted works in film history.
Frequently asked questions
Which works have been adapted into the most movies?
Frequently cited are Dracula, Frankenstein, Sherlock Holmes, Alice in Wonderland, A Christmas Carol, Peter Pan and Romeo and Juliet, with many film versions each.
Why are classic stories adapted so often?
Their characters and themes are well known and free of rights in many cases, and each generation of filmmakers can retell them in a new way.
Which adaptation should I watch first?
Pick the one that matches your taste from this list, such as Sherlock Holmes (2009) for action or Little Women (2019) for drama.
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Which one is your favorite? On Rankiew you can rate every film, write reviews and build your own lists.
Sources: official studio releases, filmographies and public records.
