Methodology
How We Rate Adaptations
Transparency on where our scores come from.
Faithfulness Score
The faithfulness score is a 0–100 editorial assessment — not an algorithm, not a formula, not a crowd average. It reflects a considered judgment by the PageToScreen editorial team on how closely the screen adaptation honours the source material. Reasonable people can and do disagree with specific scores, and we update them when we receive credible corrections.
Every score is built on four factors, each weighted against the others depending on what matters most in the source work:
Plot accuracy
Does the adaptation follow the same major story beats? We look at how the beginning, midpoint, and ending compare — not scene-by-scene, but at the level of narrative arc and pivotal events.
Character fidelity
Are characters portrayed consistently with the source — their motivations, relationships, and arcs? A faithful adaptation can recast or consolidate characters; an unfaithful one changes who they fundamentally are.
Tone preservation
Does the adaptation feel like the source material emotionally? A darkly comic novel adapted into a straight thriller has broken tone even if the plot is intact.
Thematic integrity
Does it preserve the central themes and ideas? The best adaptations translate themes into the visual medium rather than dropping them. A score can be penalised here even when the plot is mostly intact.
Reading the Score
Use these bands as a rough guide to interpreting a score:
90+
Highly faithful
Fans of the source will recognize the adaptation immediately. Major plot points, characters, and tone are all preserved. Changes are cosmetic or structural rather than substantive.
80–89
Faithful with notable changes
Captures the spirit of the source but takes meaningful liberties. Some subplots or characters may be condensed or altered. Readers will feel at home; purists may notice gaps.
70–79
Loose adaptation
Significant changes from the source, but the DNA is present. The premise, central characters, and core themes carry over even if the story diverges substantially.
Below 70
Inspired by
Shares characters or premise with the source but diverges substantially in plot, tone, or theme. Best understood as its own work that draws from the original rather than adapts it.
Where Other Ratings Come From
Goodreads ratings (0–5 scale) reflect reader sentiment from the Goodreads community. They measure how much readers enjoyed the book and tend to reflect popularity as much as literary quality. A Goodreads rating above 4.0 is strong; above 4.3 is exceptional.
TMDB ratings (0–10 scale) reflect general audience sentiment for films and series. Like Goodreads, they are user-generated and skew toward broad appeal. Neither rating is a critical score — both are useful as a signal of how widely a work has resonated, not as a definitive verdict on its quality.
Editorial Verdicts
Each adaptation page carries one of four verdicts. These are recommendations from the editorial team based on which version is the more rewarding entry point for someone encountering the story for the first time.
Read First
The source material adds context, depth, or detail that meaningfully enriches the screen version. We recommend reading before watching to get the most out of both.
Watch First
The screen version is a strong standalone entry point — often because it's more accessible or because the adaptation improves on structural issues in the source. Reading after is still rewarding.
Either Way
Both versions are strong and neither spoils the other in a meaningful way. Order is a matter of preference.
Skip the Screen
The adaptation diverges enough from the source — or is weak enough on its own terms — that we don't recommend it as an entry point. The book stands alone.
Data Sources
- Book metadata and covers — sourced from OpenLibrary, an open catalogue maintained by the Internet Archive.
- Film and series metadata and posters — sourced from TMDB (The Movie Database), a community-maintained film and television database.
- Book ratings — sourced from Goodreads as described above.
- Film and series ratings — sourced from TMDB as described above.
- Streaming availability — captured at the time each adaptation is published to the site and may change without notice. Streaming catalogues shift frequently; always verify availability directly with the platform before subscribing.
Corrections
Spotted an error or disagree with a faithfulness score? Email us at evsteele15@gmail.com. We update the site regularly based on reader feedback.