25 modern book-to-screen adaptations that didn’t let us down

Where the Wild Things Are

When it comes to adapting a children’s picture book where the majority of the characters are giant, fluffy beasts, there’s probably reason to be wary about just how good the on-screen story will come out. But the 2009 film adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are manages to recreate the strange creatures introduced in the story — and oddly enough, they don’t actually look all that scary or unrealistic.

The Where the Wild Things Are movie also conveys the emotions behind Sendak’s story in a way that’s relatable for both children and adults, an accomplishment that the book has been praised for as well. Following a young boy named Max on his adventure to “where the wild things are,” viewers and readers witness his journey to this world and the connections he makes with his new friends. They also accompany him as he realizes that even these creatures can’t cure his own loneliness, however, and they see him decide to return home to his loving family in the end.

Max’s loneliness is a theme throughout Sendak’s story, which has some darker undertones present throughout its run. And the film manages to make moviegoers feel those sad emotions, even as Max and the wild things are frolicking with one another. Of course, the movie also allows us to feel the childlike enthusiasm Max has at the prospect of adventure and discovery. All in all, this movie is one that maintains the author’s message and the main character’s personality throughout.