Adapt or Perish

In this episode of Adapt or Perish , Jeremy, Ian, Alex, and Ari are looking back at 8 years of the show! Head to adaptorperishcast.com to see our episode archive, read some fun extras, and get in touch. To get the latest updates or support the show, check out our Patreon page .

In this, the final episode of Adapt or Perish , we're getting real meta with a look at 2002's Adaptation! In this episode, we discuss: The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession , Susan Orlean's 1998 nonfiction book Adaptation , the 2002 movie directed by Spike Jonze, written by Charlie Kaufman, and starring Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, Tilda Swinton, Cara Seymour, and Bri...

In Episode 172 of Adapt or Perish , we're tackling the important subject of dudes doing their civic duty with a look at 12 Angry Men , the courtroom classic! In this episode, we discuss: The 1954 episode of Westinghouse Studio One directed by Franklin Schaffner, written by Reginald Rose, and starring Robert Cummings, Franchot Tone, Edward Arnold, Walter Abel, George Voskovec, and Norman Fell The 1...

In this mini-episode of Adapt or Perish , we're looking at Clash of the Titans , the story of the Kraken-fighting, Medusa-beheading demigod Perseus! In this slightly extended mini-episode, we discuss: The 1981 original , directed by Desmond Davis, written by Alan Beverley Cross, produced by Charles H. Schneer and Ray Harryhausen, and starring Harry Hamlin, Laurence Olivier, Judi Bowker, Maggie Smi...

In Episode 170 of Adapt or Perish , we're celebrating the release of a new Superman movie with a look back at every major screen adaptation of the Man of Steel released since 1941! We're also releasing this as a video, so feel free to enjoy a rare visual episode! In this episode, we discuss: The Mad Scientist , the 1941 animated short directed by Dave Fleischer, written by Seymour Kneitel and Isad...

In this mini-episode of Adapt or Perish , we're looking at The Wedding Banquet , the delightful story of a green card marriage and the deception that goes along with it. In this episode, we discuss: The original 1993 movie directed by Ang Lee, written by Lee, Neil Peng, and James Schamus, and starring Winston Chao, Mitchell Lichtenstein, May Chin, Gua Ah-leh, and Lung Sihung The 2025 remake direct...

We're keeping the haunted house theme going in Episode 168 of Adapt or Perish with a look at Oscar Wilde's The Canterville Ghost ! In this episode, we discuss: Oscar Wilde's original 1887 short story , published in Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories in 1891 The Picture of Dorian Gray (Ep. 131) Standard Ebooks Wilde (1997) The 1944 theatrical movie directed by Jules Dassin and written by...

In this mini-episode of Adapt or Perish , we're looking at Lilo & Stitch , the story of everyone's favorite alien koala-dog and the Earth girl who adopts him. In this episode, we discuss: The 2002 animated movie written and directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, and starring Daveigh Chase, Chris Sanders, Tia Carrere, Jason Scott Lee, David Ogden Stiers, Kevin McDonald, Ving Rhames, and Kevin...

In Episode 166 of Adapt or Perish , we're looking at the many screen adaptations of The Turn of the Screw , the gothic horror classic by Henry James! In this episode, we discuss: Henry James' original 1898 novella The Turn of the Screw , the 1959 episode of Ford's Startime directed by John Frankenheimer, written by James Costigan, and starring Ingrid Bergman The Innocents , the 1961 theatrical mov...

In Episode 165 of Adapt or Perish , Jeremy and Ian are celebrating their home state with a look at Lost on a Mountain in Maine! In this episode, we discuss: The original 1978 book by Donn Fendler as told to Joseph B. Egan Lost Trail: Nine Days Alone in the Wilderness , the 2011 graphic novel by Fendler, Lynn Plourde, and Ben Bishop The 2024 theatrical movie directed by Andrew Boodhoo Kightlinger,...

In Episode 164 of Adapt or Perish , Ari's back for a discussion of Cry, the Beloved Country , Alan Paton's poetic look at South Africa in the years before institutionalized apartheid. In this episode, we discuss: Alan Paton's original 1948 novel Cry, the Beloved Country , the 1951 theatrical movie directed by Zoltán Korda, written by Alan Paton and John Howard Lawson, and starring Canada Lee, Sidn...

In this mini-episode of Adapt or Perish , we're looking at two very different but completely identical versions of Death at a Funeral , the chaotic look at a family in mourning. In this episode, we discuss: The 2007 version of Death at a Funeral , directed by Frank Oz, written by Dean Craig, and starring Matthew Macfadyen, Keeley Hawes, Rupert Graves, Andy Nyman, Ewen Bremner, Daisy Donovan, Alan...

In Episode 162 of Adapt or Perish , we're taking a look at the story of the boxer/quarterback/stand-up comedian taken too soon and given a second chance in a new body, (usually called) Heaven Can Wait! In this episode, we discuss: Heaven Can Wait , Harry Segall's original 1938 play Here Comes Mr. Jordan , the 1941 theatrical movie directed by Alexander Hall, written by Sidney Buchman and Seton I....

In this mini-episode of Adapt or Perish , we're going back to Roald Dahl for a look at his short story Poison, screen adaptations from Alfred Hitchcock and Wes Anderson, and more! In this episode, we discuss: Roald Dahl's original 1950 short story The 1958 episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents directed by Alfred Hitchcock, written by Casey Robinson, and starring James Donald, Wendell Corey, and Arn...

In Episode 160 of Adapt or Perish , Jules Verne is taking us Around the World in 80 Days! In this episode, we discuss: Jules Verne's original 1872 novel The 1956 theatrical movie directed by Michael Anderson, written by James Poe, John Farrow, and S.J. Perelman, and starring David Niven, Cantinflas, Shirley MacLaine, and Robert Newton The 1989 miniseries directed by Buzz Kulik, written by John Gay...

In this Adapt or Perish Mini , we're heading to the town of Chewandswallow for some light apps and a look at Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs! In this episode, we discuss: The original 1978 book written by Judi Barrett and illustrated by Ron Barrett The 2009 animated movie written and directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, and starring Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Bruce Campbell, Andy Sam...

In Episode 158 of Adapt or Perish , we're talking time travel and taking a look at the seminal work of science fiction from H.G. Wells, The Time Machine! In this episode, we discuss: The original 1895 novel by H.G. Wells The 1960 theatrical movie directed by George Pal, written by David Duncan, and starring Rod Taylor, Alan Young, Yvette Mimieux, Sebastian Cabot, and Whit Bissell The 1978 TV movie...

In this Adapt or Perish Mini , we're doing a Dracula follow-up with a look at the newest screen adaptation from Robert Eggers, Nosferatu! If you haven't heard it, catch up by listening to Dracula (Ep. 54) on the web , Apple Podcasts , Overcast , or Spotify . In this episode, we discuss: Dracula , Bram Stoker's original 1897 novel Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror , the 1922 silent movie directed by...

In Episode 156 of Adapt or Perish , we're going back to the works of Agatha Christie, but now we're focusing on Miss Marple and The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side! In this episode, we discuss: The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side , Agatha Christie's original 1962 novel The Mirror Crack'd , the 1980 movie directed by Guy Hamilton, written by Jonathan Hales and Barry Sandler, and starring Angela L...

For this Christmas Eve Adapt or Perish Mini , journey with us through the Candy Cane Forest, the Sea of Swirly Twirly Gum Drops, and the Lincoln Tunnel for a look at Elf! In this episode, we discuss: Elf , the 2003 movie directed by Jon Favreau, written by David Berenbaum, and starring Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Asner, and Bob Newhart Elf , the 2010 musical wit...

Season's greetings and happy holidays from Adapt or Perish! It's the time of year for our fifth look at A Christmas Carol and 10 more screen adaptations of the Charles Dickens classic. And here's a Christmas miracle for you: Ari's back to help! Our previous Christmas Carol episodes: Part 1 on the web , Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and Overcast Part 2 on the web , Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and Overc...

In this Adapt or Perish Mini , we're looking at the subject of a grand Thanksgiving tradition, Arlo Guthrie's folk epic Alice's Restaurant! In this episode, we discuss: Arlo Guthrie's original 1967 song The 1969 film adaptation , directed by Arthur Penn, written by Penn and Venable Herndon, and starring Guthrie, Pat Quinn, James Broderick, Pete Seeger, and William Obanhein Footnotes: "The real Ali...

In Episode 152 of Adapt or Perish , we're looking at the story that started life as the 1937 play Parfumerie , but became better known to audiences as The Shop Around the Corner , You've Got Mail , and more! In this episode, we discuss: Parfumerie , the 1937 play by Miklós László The Shop Around the Corner , the 1940 movie directed by Ernst Lubitsch, written by Samson Raphaelson, and starring Marg...

Spooky Season continues! In this Adapt or Perish Mini, we're looking at the classic story of the vampire next door, Fright Night! In this episode, we discuss: The original 1985 movie written and directed by Tom Holland, and starring Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Roddy McDowall, Amanda Bearse, and Stephen Geoffreys The 2011 remake directed by Craig Gillespie, written by Marti Noxon, and starrin...

Happy Halloween, everyone! To celebrate Spooky Season, in Episode 150 of Adapt or Perish , we're looking at Washington Irving's classic ghost story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow! In this episode, we discuss: Washington Irving's original short story , published in 1820 as part of The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. The Headless Horseman (1922) , the silent movie directed by Edward D. Venturini,...