Why Dork Diaries Deserves a Film Adaptation Before Any More Diary of a Wimpy Kid Movies

The Need for a Fresh Narrative

Before any more Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies are made, one popular children's book series urgently requires a film adaptation. Diary of Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney has left an undeniable mark on the children's book industry and has ignited an interest in reading for millions. Because of that, it makes perfect sense that the series has received numerous on-screen adaptations which have become quite popular in their own right. It is, however, the time for a fresh narrative to grace the silver screen and provide audiences with a unique and compelling experience.

The Dork Diaries books are lined up.

There is another incredibly popular book franchise that also serves as a testament to the enduring power of children's literature. It boasts a number of the same qualities as Diary of a Wimpy Kid, while also having additional positive attributes that make it a great fit for audience preferences in this day and age. Given that Diary of a Wimpy Kid has gotten the adaptation treatment time and time again, it's time for another book series to get its chance to captivate viewers.

Nikki from Dork Diaries is sitting and smiling.

Why Dork Diaries Needs a Film Adaptation

Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell is similar to Diary of a Wimpy Kid in that the two series both fall into the genre of diary fiction and highlight the ups and downs of being a pre-teenager. What has made Diary of a Wimpy Kid so successful is how Greg's thoughts are completely unfiltered, giving readers and viewers a relatable and entertaining portrayal of middle school life. Dork Diaries delivers the same but features a female protagonist instead of a male one. While Diary of a Wimpy Kid can serve as relatable to people of all genders, the experiences that Greg details are most in line with those of a male middle school student.

Dork Diaries provides a female perspective and recognizes the challenges that young girls face in their adolescence. Considering Diary of a Wimpy Kid has gotten seven film adaptations, it's high time that Dork Diaries gets one, and young female viewers have the opportunity to see their own experiences mirrored on-screen. Furthermore, Diary of a Wimpy Kid lacks diversity and falls prey to unfair racial stereotypes when it comes to certain characters like Chirag Gupta.

Dork Diaries, on the other hand, was written by a woman of color whose goal was to showcase ethnic diversity in her work. Russell told The Washington Post that the main character is Caucasian, and her two best friends are African American and Latina. She explained that she wants readers to see themselves in her books and that she has purposefully included characters of Asian and Jewish descent, as well as one who uses a wheelchair. Given that Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries are both aimed at younger viewers, it's extremely important that the messaging promotes diversity and acceptance which Dork Diaries does.

Given that as of December 2023, Dork Diaries has sold over 55 million copies, there is certainly an audience ready for this film. Plus, there are 15 released Dork Diaries books to date, which means that there is a possibility for a long-lasting film franchise, just like Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The books would translate well to both live-action and animated forms, giving the books endless possibilities.

The History and Delay of a Dork Diaries Movie

In 2014, it was reported that Summit Entertainment, a Lionsgate Company, would be creating a live-action adaptation of the first Dork Diaries book, Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous-Life. Nothing ever came of this, though, and nearly a decade later, there is still no Dork Diaries movie released. Given how long readers have waited to see this series brought to life on the screen, a Dork Diaries film adaptation needs to happen before yet another Diary of a Wimpy Kid one.