17 Books and Movies That Were Rejected Dozens of Times Before Making It Big
Success rarely comes without struggle. Behind many of today’s most beloved books and blockbuster films lies a surprising history of rejection and perseverance. These creative works that now fill our bookshelves and dominate streaming platforms were once dismissed as unmarketable, uninteresting, or simply not good enough.
Here is a list of 17 books and movies that faced dozens of rejections before finally breaking through to achieve remarkable success.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
J.K. Rowling’s manuscript about a boy wizard was rejected by 12 different publishers before finding a home at Bloomsbury. The editor who finally accepted it did so partly because his eight-year-old daughter couldn’t put the sample chapters down.
The modest initial print run of 500 copies has since expanded to over 500 million books sold worldwide, spawning a multi-billion dollar franchise.
Carrie
Stephen King’s debut novel collected 30 rejection letters before Doubleday finally took a chance on it. King was so discouraged by the rejections that he threw the manuscript in the trash.
His wife Tabitha retrieved it and convinced him to keep submitting. The advance was just $2,500, but the paperback rights later sold for $400,000, allowing King to quit his teaching job and write full-time.
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A Wrinkle in Time
Madeleine L’Engle’s science fantasy novel faced rejection from 26 publishers who couldn’t decide if it was for children or adults. The blend of science fiction, fantasy, and spiritual themes confused publishers.
After finally being published in 1962, it went on to win the prestigious Newbery Medal and has sold over 10 million copies. The book continues to appear on school reading lists more than half a century later.
Dune
Frank Herbert’s science fiction epic was rejected by more than 20 publishers before being accepted by Chilton, a publisher known primarily for auto repair manuals. The dense world-building and complex political themes were considered too challenging for readers.
Dune has since sold over 20 million copies and is considered one of the greatest science fiction novels ever written.
The Help
Kathryn Stockett’s novel about African American maids working in white households in 1960s Mississippi received 60 rejections over five years. Agents and publishers couldn’t see the market appeal.
After finally being published, it spent more than 100 weeks on bestseller lists and was adapted into an Oscar-winning film. The book has sold over 10 million copies and has been translated into 42 languages.
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Back to the Future
The now-iconic time travel film was rejected over 40 times, with studios claiming it was ‘too family-friendly’ for a time when R-rated comedies were popular. Disney specifically rejected it because they thought the mother-son relationship was too weird.
Director Robert Zemeckis finally got the green light from Universal, resulting in one of the most beloved film franchises in history, grossing nearly $1 billion worldwide.
Star Wars
George Lucas’s space opera concept was turned down by United Artists and Universal before 20th Century Fox took a chance. Studio executives couldn’t understand the complex space mythology and thought the film would appeal only to a niche audience.
The original film alone grossed $775 million on a $11 million budget and launched what would become one of the most successful franchises in entertainment history.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Steven Spielberg’s heartwarming tale about a stranded alien was rejected by Columbia Pictures, who thought it would be a ‘wimpy Disney movie’ with no market appeal. Universal Pictures finally backed the project, which went on to become the highest-grossing film of the 1980s, surpassing Star Wars.
The film earned $792 million worldwide and remained the highest-grossing film for 11 years.
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The Notebook
Nicholas Sparks’s romantic novel was rejected by 24 agents before landing representation. The debut manuscript eventually sold to Warner Books for $1 million.
The love story has sold over 105 million copies worldwide and was adapted into a hit movie starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams that has become the standard for modern romantic films.
Lord of the Flies
William Golding’s now-classic novel about schoolboys stranded on an island was rejected 20 times, with one publisher commenting that it was ‘an absurd and uninteresting fantasy which was rubbish and dull.’ After publication in 1954, it became a staple in education and has sold over 25 million copies.
The book has never gone out of print and continues to spark discussions about human nature and society.
The Martian
Andy Weir’s science fiction novel was rejected by numerous literary agents, prompting him to self-publish it chapter by chapter on his website. Readers loved the technically accurate story so much that Weir made it available as a complete e-book for 99 cents.
Its popularity led to a traditional publishing deal and eventually a film directed by Ridley Scott starring Matt Damon that grossed over $630 million worldwide.
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Gone With the Wind
Margaret Mitchell’s Civil War epic was rejected by 38 publishers before being accepted by Macmillan. The lengthy manuscript was initially considered too long and too detailed about a war Americans wanted to forget.
Since its publication, it has sold over 30 million copies and the film adaptation remains the highest-grossing film of all time when adjusted for inflation.
The Chronicles of Narnia
C.S. Lewis’s first Narnia book was rejected multiple times, with publishers uncertain about its blend of Christian allegory and children’s fantasy. Lewis was told that children wouldn’t relate to talking animals and that the book fell between age categories.
The series has now sold over 100 million copies and has been adapted multiple times for television, stage, and film.
Chicken Soup for the Soul
This inspirational anthology was rejected by 144 publishers over three years. Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen were told repeatedly that ‘anthology doesn’t sell’ and that the title was strange.
After finally being published, it launched a franchise that has sold over 500 million books worldwide. The format has expanded to include hundreds of targeted titles for different demographics and interests.
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Rocky
Sylvester Stallone’s screenplay about an underdog boxer was rejected repeatedly, with studios only interested if established stars could play the lead. Despite facing severe financial hardship, Stallone refused to sell unless he could star in the film.
Made on a modest $1 million budget, Rocky grossed $225 million worldwide and won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The franchise has generated over $1.7 billion in box office revenue.
The Diary of Anne Frank
This heartbreaking memoir was rejected by 16 publishers before being accepted in 1952. Many publishers felt that no one wanted to read about the Holocaust or that the diary lacked broader appeal.
It has since sold more than 30 million copies and been translated into 67 languages. The diary has become one of the most powerful and enduring accounts of the Holocaust, read by generations of students worldwide.
The Princess Bride
William Goldman’s fantasy adventure was repeatedly rejected in the 1970s as too complex, with publishers confused by its satirical fairy tale framework. The book eventually found a publisher but remained relatively obscure until Rob Reiner’s 1987 film adaptation.
The movie initially underperformed at the box office but found new life through VHS rentals and cable television, becoming one of the most beloved and quoted films of all time.
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Persistence and Vision
These creative works represent more than just entertainment—they stand as monuments to perseverance. The path from rejection to acclaim demonstrates how subjective the creative industries truly are.
What one editor or producer dismisses as unmarketable might resonate with millions of people worldwide given the chance. These successes remind us that rejection often says more about the gatekeepers than the work itself.
In each case, the creator’s belief in their vision ultimately proved more valuable than the initial judgment of industry experts. Their persistence changed our cultural landscape forever.
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