BookTok is becoming Hollywood’s biggest cheat code

Hollywood executives are apparently spending less time flipping through piles of scripts, and more time scrolling TikTok.

A growing number of studios are greenlighting projects centered around books with built-in online fandoms, especially viral hits from TikTok’s reading community.

From January 2024 through June 2025, nearly half of all original drama series released on Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video were based on books, per a recent report from the Publishers Association.

The strategy makes financial sense

Among the 50 highest-grossing films from 2020-2024, book adaptations earned 57% more at the box office than original stories. Industry execs say BookTok gives studios a real-time look at which stories fans are obsessing over, debating, and emotionally recovering from with “I need a minute after this ending” videos filmed from the car.

Some book adaptations are delivering monster numbers. Netflix’s Bridgerton remains one of its most-watched series ever, while Season 3 of Prime Video’s The Summer I Turned Pretty recently became the streamer’s most-watched TV season ever among women ages 18-34.

In theaters, Project Hail Mary ($328 million domestic) and The Devil Wears Prada 2 ($145 million) represent two of the highest-grossing movies so far in 2026.

Looking ahead…Hollywood’s list of upcoming book adaptations include The Odyssey, Dune 3, and The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.