Every year, studios and production companies look to books for new ideas for films.
Often, these books are blockbuster hits with a large fan following, which is almost a guarantee there will be plenty of interest in a film.
All it takes is one person in the movie production industry to show interest in the rights to a book.
The odds of a book being made into a movie are very slim, and the chances that it will become a hit are even smaller.
In 2012, several book-based films have topped the box office.
The majority of these films are from well-known authors who have had previous books made into cinema productions.
Children's books are frequently the focus of animated films.
In March, Universal Pictures released "The Lorax," based on a 1971 book by Dr.
Seuss.
No children's author has been more celebrated than Dr.
Seuss.
Other successful films by Seuss include "The Grinch," "Horton Hears a Who" and "The Cat in the Hat.
" "The Lorax" is an environmentalist film about a 12-year-old boy (Zac Efron) who speaks to trees and fights to save the world from corporate greed.
The film also features the voices of Danny DeVito, Taylor Swift and Betty White.
"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins has appeared on the New York Times bestseller list for more than 130 weeks since its release in 2008.
It is a young adult novel about a girl named Katniss, who lives in the postapocalyptic nation of Panem.
The Hunger Games are annual national competitions in which two children from each of the country's twelve districts are placed into an arena.
They battle one another until only one child remains alive.
Lionsgate released the film in March, and it made over $150 million in revenue during opening weekend.
The film stars Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark.
"Catching Fire," the second film in the series, is scheduled to be released in 2013.
Several of Nicholas Sparks' novels have been made into films including "The Notebook," "The Last Song" and "A Walk to Remember.
" Released in April, "The Lucky One" is the newest film based on this popular writer's work.
Zac Efron stars as Logan, a marine who has been serving in Iraq.
He finds a photo of a girl just before his unit is attacked.
He survives the ambush and credits the picture of the girl for saving his life.
When he returns to the United States, he is determined to locate the girl.
Taylor Schilling stars as Beth, and Blythe Danner plays the role of Ellie.
This romantic drama is characteristic of Sparks' writing.
Another romantic drama is "The Vow," which stars Channing Tatum as Leo and Rachel McAdams as Paige.
The film is based on the true story of Kim and Krickett Carpenter, who are happily in love with one another.
One evening on their way home from Paige's art exhibition, the couple is involved in a car wreck, which leaves Paige in a coma.
When she wakes, she does not remember who she is or who her husband is.
The film follows Leo as he tries to win back his true love.
It is a feel-good film that makes one believe that true love wins out in the end.
No other film has received the attention that Stephanie Meyer's "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn 2" has received.
This book series has become increasingly popular among young adult readers since the first book was published in 2005.
The film is scheduled to be released in November and is the last installment in the series.
Kristen Stewart plays Bella, a girl who falls in love with vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson).
Bella turns into a vampire after giving birth to her and Edward's child.
The entire vampire clan must protect the child from the Volturi.
The final book was split into two films, and this last movie focuses on the couple's efforts to keep their family together.
With a variety of genres to choose from among book-based movies, there is sure to be something for everyone.
While the films may not follow the novel's storylines exactly, each one incorporates the best ideas of the authors.
Other films that have been adapted from popular novels and released in 2012 include "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" and "One for the Money.
"
Often, these books are blockbuster hits with a large fan following, which is almost a guarantee there will be plenty of interest in a film.
All it takes is one person in the movie production industry to show interest in the rights to a book.
The odds of a book being made into a movie are very slim, and the chances that it will become a hit are even smaller.
In 2012, several book-based films have topped the box office.
The majority of these films are from well-known authors who have had previous books made into cinema productions.
Children's books are frequently the focus of animated films.
In March, Universal Pictures released "The Lorax," based on a 1971 book by Dr.
Seuss.
No children's author has been more celebrated than Dr.
Seuss.
Other successful films by Seuss include "The Grinch," "Horton Hears a Who" and "The Cat in the Hat.
" "The Lorax" is an environmentalist film about a 12-year-old boy (Zac Efron) who speaks to trees and fights to save the world from corporate greed.
The film also features the voices of Danny DeVito, Taylor Swift and Betty White.
"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins has appeared on the New York Times bestseller list for more than 130 weeks since its release in 2008.
It is a young adult novel about a girl named Katniss, who lives in the postapocalyptic nation of Panem.
The Hunger Games are annual national competitions in which two children from each of the country's twelve districts are placed into an arena.
They battle one another until only one child remains alive.
Lionsgate released the film in March, and it made over $150 million in revenue during opening weekend.
The film stars Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark.
"Catching Fire," the second film in the series, is scheduled to be released in 2013.
Several of Nicholas Sparks' novels have been made into films including "The Notebook," "The Last Song" and "A Walk to Remember.
" Released in April, "The Lucky One" is the newest film based on this popular writer's work.
Zac Efron stars as Logan, a marine who has been serving in Iraq.
He finds a photo of a girl just before his unit is attacked.
He survives the ambush and credits the picture of the girl for saving his life.
When he returns to the United States, he is determined to locate the girl.
Taylor Schilling stars as Beth, and Blythe Danner plays the role of Ellie.
This romantic drama is characteristic of Sparks' writing.
Another romantic drama is "The Vow," which stars Channing Tatum as Leo and Rachel McAdams as Paige.
The film is based on the true story of Kim and Krickett Carpenter, who are happily in love with one another.
One evening on their way home from Paige's art exhibition, the couple is involved in a car wreck, which leaves Paige in a coma.
When she wakes, she does not remember who she is or who her husband is.
The film follows Leo as he tries to win back his true love.
It is a feel-good film that makes one believe that true love wins out in the end.
No other film has received the attention that Stephanie Meyer's "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn 2" has received.
This book series has become increasingly popular among young adult readers since the first book was published in 2005.
The film is scheduled to be released in November and is the last installment in the series.
Kristen Stewart plays Bella, a girl who falls in love with vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson).
Bella turns into a vampire after giving birth to her and Edward's child.
The entire vampire clan must protect the child from the Volturi.
The final book was split into two films, and this last movie focuses on the couple's efforts to keep their family together.
With a variety of genres to choose from among book-based movies, there is sure to be something for everyone.
While the films may not follow the novel's storylines exactly, each one incorporates the best ideas of the authors.
Other films that have been adapted from popular novels and released in 2012 include "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" and "One for the Money.
"
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