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The theory of everything adaptations: books & films
Every version of The theory of everything — the books & films, compared across media.
The same title, two very different approaches to the same subject: Stephen Hawking's life and ideas. The Theory of Everything — the 2002 book — collects lectures from the renowned physicist himself, tracing cosmological thought from Aristotle through Einstein, black holes, and quantum mechanics. The Theory of Everything — the 2014 film — shifts from the science to the man, following Hawking's love story with fellow Cambridge student Jane Wilde. Together they offer both the intellect and the person behind it, across two distinct media.
The theory of everything films
The theory of everything books
Frequently asked
Is The Theory of Everything based on a book?
The 2014 film shares its title with The Theory of Everything, a 2002 book of lectures by Stephen Hawking, but the two works are independent: the book surveys cosmology in Hawking's own voice, while the film tells the story of his relationship with Jane Wilde at Cambridge.
How many versions of The Theory of Everything are there?
There are two versions covered here: the 2002 book of lectures by Hawking himself and the 2014 biographical drama film. They approach the same subject — Stephen Hawking — through very different lenses.
Which version of The Theory of Everything should I start with?
If you want Hawking's own voice on cosmology, start with the 2002 The Theory of Everything book. For a narrative account of his life and relationship with Jane Wilde, the 2014 film The Theory of Everything is the natural entry point.