Are fantasy movies/shows better than the books they're based on?

 

Image courtesy of IMDB

 

It's often said that books are better than their film and TV adaptations, and for the most part, I agree. However, I've noticed one genre where adaptations are as good as or even better than the books they're based on: fantasy.

Consider some of the most popular fantasy movies and TV shows since the start of the millennium:

Harry PotterPeter Jackson's The Lord of the RingsGame of ThronesThe WitcherThe Wheel of Time

Aside from the Harry Potter series, where the books are hard ...