What is the key difference between a novel and its movie adaptation?

The key distinction lies in the fact that a movie is ultimately an interpretation of the novel. This means that the filmmakers bring their own artistic vision, perspective, and narrative choices to the source material. Although adaptations strive to capture the essence of the original story, they often reframe it according to the filmmakers' understanding, goals, and audience considerations.

This interpretative nature allows for creative liberties, such as altering character arcs, modifying plot points, and emphasizing certain themes over others. These changes can result in a final product that differs significantly from the novel, which relies on the reader's imagination to construct its world, characters, and emotional nuances.

In contrast, while movies may include or exclude certain scenes from the novel, focusing on details like a "Hollywood ending" or the challenge of representing character thoughts visually, these aspects are secondary to the broader concept of interpretation that governs how a story is adapted.