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
- Actors: Alan Alda, McLean Stevenson, Wayne Rogers, Mike Farrell, Gary Burghoff
- Network: CBS
- Genres: Comedy,War & Politics
Based on: MASH (1970)
- November 12, 2019
- Actors: Pedro Pascal, Carl Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito, Omid Abtahi, Nick Nolte
- Network: Disney+
- Genres: Action,Adventure,Drama,Science Fiction
Based on: Star Wars franchise (1977)
- March 10, 1997
- Actors: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, James Marsters, Emma Caulfield
- Network: WB, UPN
- Genres: Drama,Fantasy,Horror
Based on: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
- September 9, 1989
- Actors: Stephen Ouimette, Alyson Court, Tabitha St. Germain
- Network: ABC
- Genres: Animation,Comedy,Kids
Based on: Beetlejuice (1988)
- September 13, 1986
- Actors: Maurice LaMarche, Dave Coulier, Frank Welker
- Network: ABC
- Genres: Action,Animation,Comedy,Kids
Based on: Ghostbusters (1984)
- October 3, 2008
- Actors: Matt Lanter, Ashley Eckstein, Tom Kane, James Arnold Taylor, Matthew Wood
- Network: Cartoon Network, Netflix, Disney+
- Genres: Action,Adventure,Animation,Kids,Science Fiction
Based on: Star Wars franchise (1977)