The film Residents of Nowhere, directed by Shahab Hosseini, is a faithful adaptation of Hotel of the Two Worlds, a play by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt, making it a notable example of literary adaptation in Iranian cinema. The necessity of this study arises from the fact that analyzing cinematic adaptations can contribute to a better understanding of the processes of meaning transfer and the localization of literary texts in cinema. The main objective of this research is to examine the structural, narrative, and content changes between the two works within the framework of adaptation and semiotic theories. The research questions are as follows: (1) How does the film Residents of Nowhere add new meaning to the original play? (2) How have the film’s visual elements and cinematic style changed in comparison to the play? (3) What impact have these changes had on the Iranian audience’s interpretation of the play’s philosophical concepts? This qualitative study employs a comparative analysis approach, examining the content of both works and their narrative-visual techniques and applying adaptation theories to explore how meaning is transformed in the adaptation process. The findings indicate that Residents of Nowhere is not merely a straightforward representation of Schmitt’s play; rather, through modifications in themes and content, localized music, and unique visual elements, it offers a new and localized interpretation of the original text.