The Best TV Shows Based on Movies
These are the best TV shows based on movies. Sometimes a story deserves the attention a small-screen adaptation offers, and this list ranks the top television series that all began with a film. When a story is so never-ending and epic, it is often perfect for a franchise, and film-to-TV adaptations can either re-imagine a story from a movie or extend its universe, though the adaptations often go the other direction. M*A*S*H is one of those rare instances of the film and television show both being perfect - although The Odd Couple (either of them) might fit that description. Did you know "Friday Night Lights" was a movie before a hit TV show? And what about all the animated ones like RoboCop and Clerks? Teen Wolf became MTV's number one scripted series and it evolved from a feature film. Many of your favorite Disney movies are now shows as well.
These are the greatest movies-turned-TV-shows in the history of entertainment. With Westworld also on the air, it is time to look back at the best TV series that are based on movies that have ever graced both screens. Some of these shows aren't only television adaptations of movies, they're based on a book too - sometimes even sticking closer to the novels than the movie did (or could).
What are the best TV shows based on movies? Vote up the best film-to-TV adaptations and see where your favorites rank.
- September 17, 1972
Based on: MASH (1970)
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- #43 of 469 onThe 400+ Funniest TV Shows Ever, Ranked
- March 10, 1997
Based on: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
- November 12, 2019
Based on: Star Wars franchise (1977)
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- #3 of 672 onThe 600+ Best TV Shows Of The Last 5 Years
- September 9, 1989
Based on: Beetlejuice (1988)
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- #166 of 537 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #42 of 193 on190+ Saturday Morning Cartoons From The '80s And '90s
- September 13, 1986
Based on: Ghostbusters (1984)
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- #128 of 538 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
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- October 3, 2008
Based on: Star Wars franchise (1977)
- May 27, 2022
- May 2, 2018
Based on: The Karate Kid (1984)
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- September 5, 1994
Based on: Aladdin (1992)
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- July 27, 1997
Based on: Stargate (1994)
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- September 8, 1995
Based on: The Lion King (1994)
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- March 27, 2019
Based on: What We Do in the Shadows franchise (2014)
- September 28, 1992
Based on: Highlander (1986)
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- December 7, 2014
Based on: The Librarian franchise (2004)
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- October 2, 2016
Based on: Westworld (1973)
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- #14 of 143 onThe Best Of Premium Cable TV Series
- August 11, 2014
Based on: Star Wars franchise (1977)
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- #250 of 538 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
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- September 20, 2003
Based on: Lilo & Stitch (2002)
- #94 of 538 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
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- #111 of 418 onThe 385 Popular Children Cartoons
- September 14, 1991
Based on: Back to the Future (1985)
- October 31, 2015
Based on: Evil Dead franchise (1981)
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- September 21, 2022
- March 18, 2013
Based on: Psycho (1960)
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- August 12, 1995
Based on: The Mask (1994)
- June 28, 1992
Based on: Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
- 24
Hercules: the Animated Series
September 12, 1998Based on: Hercules (1997)
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- September 11, 1992
Based on: The Little Mermaid (1989)
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- #120 of 538 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
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- May 31, 2000
Based on: Clerks (1994)
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- August 30, 2019
Based on: The Dark Crystal (1982)
- September 26, 2019
Based on: Creepshow franchise (1982)
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- 29
Star Wars: Ewoks
September 7, 1985Based on: Star Wars franchise (1977)
- January 1, 2013
Based on: How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
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