Every George R. R. Martin Adaptation That Isn’t ‘Game of Thrones,’ Ranked

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George R.R. Martin is best known for his epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, and it often overshadows the fact that he’s written many other books and short stories – around 50 in total. However, most fans aren’t interested in these other works. Right now, everyone is focused on when The Winds of Winter will be released. Even those making movies and TV shows based on his work are primarily focused on Westeros, as that’s where the most popular and profitable stories are.

Currently, two more shows set in the world of Westeros are officially happening, and three more are reportedly being planned. While fans of Game of Thrones are getting a lot of new content – which isn’t always a negative – it’s starting to feel a bit repetitive. If you’re hoping to explore other adaptations of George R.R. Martin’s books, you’ll find there are only five available. While none of them are flawless, they’re all worth watching. Here’s a guide to help you decide which one to watch first.

5
‘Nightflyers’ (1987)


The Vista Organization

Based on: ‘Nightflyers’

The sci-fi film Nightflyers takes place in the 21st century and follows scientist Darlyn Reed and the crew of the starship Nightflyer. Led by the enigmatic holographic captain Royd Eris, they’re on a mission to locate the origin of a signal from an alien race called the Volcryn. However, the journey takes a terrifying turn as strange events unfold, and the crew discovers the ship is haunted.

A Tame Version of ‘Alien’

Let’s be honest, there are countless sci-fi horror movies more compelling than Nightflyers. The film boasts a recognizable cast, including Catherine Mary Stewart, which suggests the director prioritized broad appeal and capitalizing on the 1980s sci-fi trend over crafting a truly great, Alienesque experience. It’s not a bad* movie, though. It’s just disappointing that its interesting astronomical themes aren’t explored more fully.

Ever wonder why a promising story, especially one dealing with complex issues like government red tape and genetic purity, can fall flat when made into a movie? This film offers some insight. It was particularly important to author George R.R. Martin, who has said it revitalized his career. He explained on his blog that while it wasn’t life-changing, it saved his career, and everything he’s written since owes something to it. The film came at a time when Martin’s writing wasn’t going well and after several unsuccessful books that were damaging his reputation from the 1970s. Seeing one of his stories adapted for the screen for the first time must have been a welcome relief.

4
‘In the Lost Lands’ (2025)


Vertical

Based on: ‘In the Lost Lands’

In a ruined, post-apocalyptic world, the film In the Lost Lands follows a queen who tasks the powerful but feared witch, Gray Alys (Milla Jovovich), with a dangerous mission: retrieve a dark magical ability from a werewolf. Alys reluctantly joins forces with Boyce (Dave Bautista), a skilled hunter familiar with the treacherous wasteland, and together they must navigate the demon-filled ruins. But will they survive the journey?

Looks Good, But That’s It

Beyond some visually appealing shots of the desolate landscapes, the movie lacks artistic merit. It’s not surprising, considering none of director Paul W. S. Anderson’s films have been critically acclaimed on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s a concerning pattern, and this movie could have been much more captivating with a different director at the helm. It makes you wonder what could have been.

Despite a $55 million budget and a cast including stars like Dave Bautista and Milla Jovovich – both frequent collaborators with the director – the action fantasy film flopped at the box office, earning just $6.2 million. It appears the director, much like Michael Bay, prioritizes spectacular visuals over a compelling story when given a large budget. Hopefully, their next project will be more successful.

3
‘Nightflyers’ (2018)


SyFy

Based on: ‘Nightflyers’

The plot of Nightflyers follows the same story as the original short story and the 1980s film. The series centers around a team of scientists traveling on a high-tech spacecraft called the Nightflyer, where unsettling and violent incidents start to happen. Although George R.R. Martin had a contract with HBO that prevented his direct involvement, he still served as an executive producer for the SyFy series.

Same Old Mistakes

Fans hoping for a creative and revitalizing remake of Nightflyers will likely be let down. It doesn’t improve upon the original film and falls short of the quality of the novella it’s based on. The changes made are significant and point to a concerning pattern in today’s movies and TV shows: adapting books and stories repeatedly, even when it doesn’t add anything new.

We hoped this mismatched team of characters would come together and become a powerful space crew, guided by the straightforward leadership of astrophysicist Karl d’Branin. Unfortunately, that never materialized. The show was all talk and no action, and there are many better science fiction series available. Viewers noticed this quickly, leading to declining ratings and the show’s cancellation after just one season.

2
‘The Hitchhiker’ (1984 Episode: “Remembering Melody”)

Based on: ‘Remembering Melody’

The 1980s anthology series, The Hitchhiker (also called Deadly Nightmares in the UK and Le Voyageur in France), was very popular. Each episode features a mysterious traveler simply known as “The Hitchhiker” and delves into the darker aspects of human nature. One episode, “Remembering Melody,” centers on Teddy, a lawyer tormented by memories of his late lover, Melody (played by Carrie Snodgrass), who took her own life. As time goes on, he experiences increasingly strange occurrences that seem connected to her, leading him to wonder if she’s trying to contact him from beyond the grave.

Supernatural Horror at Its Finest

The episode “Remembering Melody” powerfully explores the hurt and regret that come from unrequited feelings. In any scary story, betraying someone is a bad idea, and Teddy foolishly believed he could get away with it. After emotionally hurting Melody, he’s understandably shaken when her ghost returns, seeking to inflict as much pain as he caused her. We discover Melody consistently supported Teddy and his friends, often rescuing them from trouble even when they were in college, but he began to take her for granted as his own success grew.

Season two of The Hitchhiker often featured episodes that were charming and fun, but ultimately felt pointless. The endings were usually disappointing. But this particular episode is exceptional. It’s visually stunning and captivating, with imagery that feels like beautiful artwork – a blend of classic and almost modern styles. Don’t miss it if you get the chance.

1
‘The Outer Limits’ (1995 Episode: “The Sandkings”)


Showtime

Based on: ‘Sandkings’

I remember when I first discovered George R.R. Martin’s Sandkings – it’s really something special! It’s the only story of his to win both the Hugo and Nebula awards, which is a huge deal. It was even adapted into an episode of the revamped Outer Limits, and it was a full-length feature! The story follows Dr. Simon Kress, a scientist who loses his job because he’s a bit of a risk-taker when it comes to studying aliens. He doesn’t let that stop him, continuing his work at home, but things quickly go wrong when the alien creatures he’s been experimenting with – these insect-like things called Sandkings – start to rebel against him.

Beau Bridges’s Best Performance

“The Sandkings” is a strange and captivating story that portrays science as something dangerous and intentionally harmful, rather than a path to knowledge. Beau Bridges gives a fantastic performance as a character who feels no guilt when his actions go terribly wrong. When people talk about the most unhinged scientists in movies and TV, Dr. Simon Kress absolutely deserves to be in the conversation.

As a big fan, I wasn’t surprised to see this episode get a ton of recognition! It racked up five Gemini Award nominations, and of course, Jeff Bridges was nominated for Best Actor for his amazing performance as Simon Kress. But the accolades didn’t stop there – he also landed an Emmy nod for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama and even a CableACE Award for Best Actor. Seriously, everyone was recognizing how great he was in this!

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2025-11-08 23:08