1.You know that hit "After"? Well, it all started as a fanfic inspired by Harry Styles and the guys from One Direction
The film series "After" is an adaptation of the novels written by Anna Todd, initially imagined with Styles and the other members of One Direction attending college. The story was originally shared on Wattpad, a popular platform for fanfics and webnovels, where authors have the freedom to publish their creations.
Interestingly, before the novels were published, the characters' names had to be changed, although the changes weren't exactly subtle. Harry Styles became Hardin Scott, Zayn became Zed, Liam became Landon, Niall became Nate and Louis became Logan.
In the films - there have been four so far, with a fifth on the way - Hardin is played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Zed is played by Samuel Larsen and Shane Paul McGhie plays Landon.
2.The "Fifty Shades of Grey" films and their sequels are adaptations of a series of novels, which in turn originated in a fanfic based on "Twilight".
Especially in the first book of the "Fifty Shades" series written by E.L James and the movie from which it was adapted, it is not difficult to notice that its plot is similar to the first book of the "Twilight" saga - the similarity of Edward - Karen. The taciturn vampire, the rich and handsome man and the mysterious, taciturn, rich and handsome business tycoon Christian Grey... have a special interest in BDSM. Bella and Anna are shy, secretly beautiful and naive young women who are inexplicably attracted to these loners.
James began publishing her story on fanfiction.net, originally titled "Masters of the Universe", but it was removed due to explicit content. She later created her own website and finally got a contract for a book, which was later adapted into a movie.
"I was inspired by Stephenie Meyer... she flipped that switch in my head," James shared in an interview with ABC in 2012.
3."Gabriel's Inferno" was also based on "Twilight" fanfiction.
"Gabriel's Inferno", which was released on Passionflix in 2020, is based on the fanfic "Edward Masen University", where Edward Masen is the "human" name of the vampire Edward Cullen. It was written by an anonymous author under the name Sylvain Reynard.
In this retelling of the story, Edward (or Gabriel in the novel and movie) is a stern and brooding university professor, while Bella (or Julianne) is his shy student. Just as in Twilight, these two feel inexplicably connected to each other.
In the film adaptation, Gabriel is played by Giulio Berruti and Julianne is played by Melanie Zanetti.
4."The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones" was inspired by the "Harry Potter" fanfic written by Cassandra Clare.
Overall, the plot of the Artifact series - which we can't really go into because it's too long and complicated (it's essentially about Monster Hunter) - is nothing like Claire's Harry Potter fanfiction. A similar series is called the "Dragon. Trilogy".
But there's no denying that Clare was inspired by her previous works, which are extremely popular with Potter fans. According to the Daily Dot, certain passages or lines from the first Relic novel, City of Bones, come directly from Claire's fanfiction. Clare even wrote on her Tumblr: "The Holy Grail is not Harry Potter fanfiction".
5."The Kissing Booth" is not derived from any pre-existing work, but made its debut as an original story on Wattpad.
"The Kissing Booth" was penned by Beth Reekles when she was just 17 years old. She kicked off the tale of Elle, her best friend Lee, and Lee's hunky (albeit temperamental) older brother Noah, chapter by chapter, weekly on Wattpad back in 2012 — a platform known for hosting original fiction alongside stories based on existing characters.
The series swiftly gained immense popularity, leading to a publishing deal soon after and Netflix acquiring the film rights. While all three "Kissing Booth" films enjoyed popularity, they were met with mixed reviews from both critics and viewers alike. Nonetheless, they boasted a cast of talented young actors including Joey King, Jacob Elordi, Joel Courtney, and Taylor Zakhar Perez.
6.Cupid’s Match, based on the Story by Lauren Palphreyman
Cupid’s Match captured the hearts of millions of Wattpad readers before transforming into a captivating novel by Lauren Palphreyman. At its core, the story follows Lila, a disillusioned high schooler, who turns to Cupid’s Matchmaking Service in her quest for love, only to find herself matched with none other than Cupid himself.
What begins as a classic romance unfolds into a supernatural fantasy, as Lila is thrust into a mythological realm teeming with otherworldly enchantment. Yet, the most extraordinary twist of all is Cupid's own desire to reciprocate Lila's affection. Despite being adapted into a pilot for The CW in 2018, the series did not progress to a full-length season.
Michel Janse, who portrayed Lila in the pilot, has since remained relatively quiet on the acting front, with no recent credits to her name following a brief appearance in Idiotsitter. On the other hand, Robert Palmer Watkins, known for his portrayal of Cupid, has continued to grace the screen with roles in projects such as The Walking Dead: World Beyond and S.W.A.T. Prior to his role in Cupid's Match, Watkins enjoyed a notable stint on General Hospital as Dillon Quartermaine. Despite its popularity, Cupid's Match remains elusive on streaming platforms.
7.Light as a Feather, based on the Story by Zoe Aarsen
Another gem from Hulu's original lineup, "Light as a Feather," originates from a captivating Wattpad tale penned by Zoe Aarsen. Garnering over three million views prior to its adaptation, the story's popularity has since skyrocketed, nearing the five million mark.
Following a group of friends who unwittingly unlock a supernatural curse through a board game introduced by newcomer Violet (Haley Ramm), the series takes a chilling turn as they find themselves facing death in the exact sequence predicted by Violet's game. Lead character McKenna (Liana Liberato) becomes increasingly suspicious and enlists the help of her neighbor Trey (Jordan Rodrigues) to unravel the sinister mystery.
Debuting on Hulu in 2018, the show captivated audiences across 26 gripping episodes before concluding in 2019. Boasting a talented ensemble cast including Peyton List, Brianne Tju, and Brent Rivera, "Light as a Feather" earned 10 Daytime Emmy Award nominations, including nods for Outstanding Young Adult Program and Outstanding Writing for a Digital Drama Series, although it did not secure any wins.
8."The Idea of You", which is being made into a movie starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine, is inspired by Harry Styles and One Direction.
Although not technically a fan fiction posted on a website, "The Idea of You" is a novel inspired by One Direction and Styles, with August Moon and Hayes Campbell as substitutes. In it, a divorced 40-year-old mother, Solène, takes her 15-year-old daughter Izzy to Coachella to see August Moon perform, and against all odds, falls in love with 24-year-old Hayes.
Author Robinne Lee explained, "A few years ago, my husband was away on business and I was up late browsing music videos on YouTube when I came across the face of a boy I had never seen in a band I had never paid attention to, and he was so aesthetically perfect that it took me by surprise. It was like art."
Now, the film adaptation is in production, starring Hathaway as Sophie (Solène in the book), Nicholas Galitzine as Hayes, and Ella Rubin as Izzy.
9.Turn On, based on the Story by Tiara Wales
"Turn On," initially penned by Tiara Wales, revolves around Andreas (Giorgino Abraham), a wealthy tech executive, who forges an unlikely connection with Maria (Clara Bernadeth), a struggling girl next door. Premiering its first season on Vidio in January 2021, this Indonesian series comprised eight episodes and swiftly garnered a renewal for a second season. Following suit, the second installment, consisting of eight episodes, debuted in June 2023. The original Wattpad story remains a magnet for new readers, accumulating nearly 20 million unique reads to date. Catch "Turn On" streaming on Vidio.
10.Through My Window
Originally released in Spanish, Ariana Godoy's "A Través de Mi Ventana," or "Through My Window," amassed an impressive 400 million reads across both its original language and the English adaptation. The narrative centers around Raquel (Clara Galle) and her crush, Ares Hidalgo (Julio Peña), whom she initially stalked before eventually becoming his girlfriend. Raquel harbored deep feelings for the boy next door, and when she discovers him using her Wi-Fi password, she seizes the opportunity to make her move. Unbeknownst to Raquel, Ares reciprocated her feelings all along, and with a dash of drama, passion, and romance, their crushes may blossom into something more.
The story made its Netflix debut in 2022, receiving a mixed reception. Nonetheless, two sequels were promptly greenlit following the success of "Through My Window." The first sequel, "Through My Window: Across the Sea," premiered on Netflix in June 2023, with a second sequel currently in development, slated for release in 2024. In the meantime, fans can enjoy similar romantic movies available on Netflix to satisfy their cravings. Catch "Through My Window" streaming now on Netflix.
11. The original Pride and Prejudice and Zombies material is part fanfic
Released in 2016, "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" stands as one of the most recent adaptations stemming from Jane Austen's iconic 1813 novel. It plunges the characters - and the formal, rigid Regency setting - into a world much like our own, albeit with the ongoing zombie apocalypse threatening to engulf England and potentially the entire world in chaos and death. While not published on typical fanfiction sites like Fanfiction.net, and despite its intention as a parody novel, the 2009 release "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" still shares many qualities with AU fanfiction, where beloved characters and relationships are transplanted into a different world to tell a different story - with post-apocalyptic scenarios and zombies being common choices.
12.Wicked
Fans are eagerly anticipating the release of the "Wicked" movie, marking the second adaptation of the novel, following the widely successful Broadway musical. "Wicked" can be seen as fan fiction, as it takes characters from the original story and places them in a different setting, while still drawing from the original content for their backstory. The novel expands upon the established lore of "The Wizard of Oz," addressing gaps that fans felt needed further explanation. The first installment of the two-part film is scheduled to hit theaters on Christmas 2024.