Top Authors with Work Adapted into Film and TV

I came across this list when Jeopardy asked for the top adapted author in Final Jeopardy last week. And I was fascinated by the full roster.  The lower number authors especially. I mean all expected Billy Shakespeare to carve up that number one spot.

So here’s how this works. As you may know, an adaptation doesn’t have to have the same title or even the same names or places. Just the same basic storyline.  For instance the amazing modern classic “Clueless” is an adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma.  “10 Things I Hate About You” is really Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew”.   So those count towards the author’s total numbers.

With that in mind, this is the list, according to IMDB’s list of credits.