How does film adaptation influence box office performance? An empirical analysis of science fiction films in Hollywood

PurposeThis study aims to identify the factors that influence box office performance in the specific context of the adaptation of science fiction (SF) to film in Hollywood.Design/methodology/approachFifty-one film adaptation cases were collected and empirically analyzed with two-stage least-squares (2SLS) regression.FindingsEmpirical analysis demonstrates that the adaptation of the title, the popularity of the original novel and the director's experience in film adaptation have significant impacts on box office performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe study contributes to the literature by bridging the gap between two separate streams of the research literature on film performance and film adaptation. Moreover, the study has extended the literature on the prediction of film performance by examining important factors in the special context of SF film adaptation.Practical implicationsIn the case of film adaptation, recruiting an experienced director will be a good choice. Author power is also required for attracting more investment and increasing audience share in the short term. From a marketing perspective, pointing out in the title that the film is an adaptation of an original novel would be an advantageous approach.Originality/valueThis is among the pioneering research related to the effects of film adaptation on box office performance. The approach and results of this study direct future studies in many aspects.