As LOTR turns 20 this year, here are other fantasy film franchises inspired by books to take you on a magical journey

From Harry Potter to The Chronicles of Narnia, delve into these spellbinding worlds of magic and adventure to escape the mundanity of the everyday

Among the many media that have built some popular worlds people have fallen in love with, books hold an elite place. The written word is unparalleled in its ability to weave complex and awe inspiring universes, populated by characters that stay with readers long after the last chapter has been read.

Many films have tried to capture the magic of such fantasy books, and many have succeeded to such an extent that the films have gained as much fan following and love as the books they were based on.

One among them ,the much loved The Lord of the Rings films based on the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, completed over two decades this year. To celebrate, here are a few other film franchises based on a series of books that should not escape your watchlist.

Harry Potter

Harry Potter is arguably one of the biggest pop culture phenomena that is still growing strong in terms of its popularity. The Harry Potter film series is based on J. K. Rowling’s works of the same name, which is currently the best selling book series in history. The film and books are set in a world where witches and wizards exist, although their existence is largely hidden away from the human world. The stories follow the journey of the eponymous young wizard, an orphaned boy named Harry Potter, as he discovers that he too is a wizard. The film franchise includes eight films.The widely popular film franchise went on to become the third highest grossing film series in the world. A prequel film franchise set in the same world, called the Fantastic Beasts film series , is presently on going.

The Chronicles of Narnia

Who knew a simple game of hide and seek would lead to the discovery of an epic world of magic and adventure. The Chronicles of Narnia film franchise is based on a series of children’s epic fantasy novels authored by C. S. Lewis. It tells the story of the young Pevensie siblings who discover a hidden magical realm called Narnia that they can access through the door of their wardrobe. The realm is under the control of the evil White Witch, and the children decide to help Narnia’s rightful ruler, a talking lion called Aslan, regain his lost throne. Lewis’ works, the total of which were 7, spawned three films in the series.

The Twilight Saga

The franchise that arguably ushered in an era of young adults obsessed with vampires, the Twilight Saga is based on the popular book series of the same name by Stephenie Meyer. The saga follows the story of a young teenager Bella Swan who falls in love with her strange and mysterious fellow student, Edward Cullen. Bella’s fascination with Edward soon leads her to discover that he and his whole family are vampires. But that leads to no change in her feelings for him, after all, what’s a little bloodlust when it comes to love. Meyer’s original four books have been adapted into five films, with her book Breaking Dawn being adapted into two parts.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

One can never go wrong when it comes to weaving tales out of the rich world of Greek mythology. The Percy Jackson and the Olympians film franchise was inspired by Rick Riordan’s series of novels of the same name. It follows the story of young Percy Jackson,whose life is turned upside down when he learns that he is a demigod, fathered by the powerful sea god Poseidon. As he learns more about his true identity, he has to face the perils which come with being entangled with all powerful gods. Of Riordan’s five part book series, two were adapted into silver screen works.

How to Train Your Dragon

From dangerous, savage beasts to adorable fire breathers, How to Train Your Dragon has certainly aided in giving the mythical creatures a much better rap. The film series is based on the characters from author Cressida Cowell’s series of children’s books. The story revolves around the journey of a young viking boy Hiccup,neglected by his father and all those around him due to his clumsiness and lack of fighting abilities. Hiccup lives in a world populated by dragons, where a person’s skills are measured by their ability to kill dragons. However a chance encounter with one of the beasts results in him gaining a better understanding of the species he had been taught to hate. The films have received critical acclaim, being nominated for Academy Awards and spawning a host of other media.

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