Movies turned into Novels?

The other way around

These days, after you watch a good movie, you sometimes have an urge to explore more of the world build by the creators. You either go on YouTube or Reddit to find little details about the plot, the characters etc. There was a time, not so long ago (70’s and 80’s) when social media didn’t exist, people used to write “novels” based on the movies for masses to read. When a movie was released, it might play in theaters for a year if it was popular. But once its theatrical run ended, seeing it again could take ages. There was no home video, and it could take years for a movie to appear on television. Enter novelization of movies!

Books based on movies date back to the 1930s, but the genre truly flourished in the 70s with the rise of blockbusters. Novels based on films like "Star Wars" and "Alien" became bestsellers, offering fans the chance to spend more time with characters like Luke Skywalker and Ellen Ripley. This surge in popularity was partly because these books were often the only way to re-experience beloved films

But there was a problem. Due to tight production schedules, writers often had to base their books on “scripts” without ever seeing the film, so that the release of the book could be planned. This led to a consistent issue: the novelizations frequently contained different details from the movies they adapted.

For instance, the novelization of “Alien” doesn’t describe the alien because 20th Century Fox wouldn’t let the writer see the puppet while it was being designed. In “The Empire Strikes Back,” Yoda is famously described as having blue skin instead of green. Can you imagine a Blue Yoda?

Sometimes, novelists would add their own twists to the story to pad out the book. A famous example is Hank Searls's adaptation of “Jaws: The Revenge,” where he added a subplot about the shark being controlled by a “voodoo curse.” This version of “Jaws” has since become a cult classic

Novelizations Today

Even in the era of video-on-demand, movie novelizations still exist. However, modern authors generally try to stick closely to the script. While the heyday of novelizations may have passed, their legacy lives on, providing a fascinating glimpse into the past and an alternative way to experience our favorite films.

Whether you’re a fan of sci-fi epics, thrilling adventures, or heartwarming tales, there’s a good chance there’s a novelization out there that will let you dive deeper into the world of your favorite films.

Have you read any novel based on a movie? Let me know in the comments section.

Thanks for reading! This is Avdhoot aka Read Travel Become.