Yesterday I talked about 5 of the huge blockbuster movies that teens are going to be buzzing about. Today I’m talking about book based movies that are coming out this summer. These are harder to predict whether or not they’ll get a teen following; for every The Fault in Our Stars breakout there’s an equally brilliant Fat Kid Rules the World or Perks of Being a Wallflower that could have been just as huge if the fates would have aligned properly. Some books and authors have huge followings, others have huge studios and big name stars attached, and that translates into big dollars and big advertising, while others can be break-out independent hits.
TITLE: ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL
AUTHOR: Jesse Andrews
MOVIE RELEASE DATE: June 12
MOVIE SYNOPSIS: Greg, an aspiring filmmaker, has senior year figured out. All he has to do is exist on the edges, and he’ll make it through- and all he wants to do is make mediocre films with his friend, Earl. But when his mom makes friends with a girl with cancer, all bets are off. Starring Olivia Cooke (Bates Motel) and Thomas Mann (Beautiful Creatures).
TEEN APPEAL: The book has awesome reviews and is on a number of state and ALA booklists, and is in the current popular subgenre of YA contemporary fiction. The film has Sundance awards; the problem is that right now it’s listed as in limited release. If it gets a following, it’s sure to be a hit- the problem is a) getting teens aware of the movie and b) getting teens able to see it.
TITLE: PAPER TOWNS
AUTHOR: John Green
MOVIE RELEASE DATE: July 24
MOVIE SYNOPSIS: When Margo (the girl next door) disappears after the perfect night together, Quentin finds clues around that could lead to her whereabouts. But the closer he gets, the less he finds the Margo he thought he knew. Starring Cara Delevinge (Anna Karenina) and Nat Wolff (The Fault in Our Stars).
TEEN APPEAL: Being a John Green book, it’s sure to be a major huge hit, even though it’s one of his less popular works. Readers are really uncomfortable not liking Margo, and having that translated onto the big screen could translate into uncomfortable viewing depending on how close to the book the movie gets. However, since Paper Towns is in wide release, it will definitely be huge on the minds of teens, young adults, and young adult readers.
TITLE: MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS
AUTHOR: James Dashner
MOVIE RELEASE DATE: September 18
MOVIE SYNOPSIS: After escaping the Maze and thinking they’re safe, the remaining Gladers discover that a whole new set of challenges await them on an open landscape. Starring Dylan O’Brian (Teen Wolf) and Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Game of Thrones).
TEEN APPEAL: With The Maze Runner earning over $100,000,000 in domestic gross so far (I’m betting they’ll be showing it in theaters before The Scorch Trials to catch viewers up) and the cliffhanger ending, it was clear that this movie was coming. Filmmakers and studios are betting hard on dystopias for teen viewers, and are hoping that The Scorch Trials will be another huge success. Although it has not attained the level of The Hunger Games series or Divergent series, it definitely beat out Percy Jackson. Being released in September sets the movie up for a better playing field; however, currently The Death Cure (the final movie) is currently set for a February 2017 release, breaking the pattern of the first two.
Are you planning on seeing any of these? Which ones(s)?