The Most Disappointing TV Shows Based on Movies

Over 400 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of Disappointing Shows Based on Movies
Voting Rules
Only TV shows that have aired on television, Netflix or Hulu. No web series may be included.
Latest additions: The Odd Couple, Timon & Pumbaa, The Mask: The Animated Series
Most divisive: Teen Wolf

List of the most disappointing TV shows based on movies ranked from worst to best.  Which TV show based on a movie is the most disappointing? That's a hard decision because we have a lot of duds to choose from. Vote on this list and make sure the worst adaptation atrocity gets what it deserves.
 

Have you ever seen a film and found yourself thinking about the characters for days or weeks after you've left the theater? We've all been there. That's why it is so tempting for the television networks to rework movies into TV shows. Audiences want to continue to live in the world that memorable films transport them to for longer than two hours. Sometimes a movie can be adapted for the small screen and become a hit with fans and a ratings winner for the network. Unfortunately, for every success like “M*A*S*H” or “Friday Night Lights” fans are subjected to duds like “Uncle Buck” and “The Net.”
 

We are all familiar with some pretty bad movies that are based on TV shows, but when a feature film hits the small screen the results can be equally unpleasant, scratch that,way more unpleasant since you are subjected to the watered down alternative week after week. These ill advised TV shows come in many forms. There are prequels and sequels, animations and live action dramas, as well as complete re-imaginings.
 

Which TV Show based on a movie do you think is the most disappointing? Vote below and we will uncover the worst of the worst.

Ranked by
  • Ferris Bueller
    1
    Jennifer Aniston, Carla Gugino, Richard Riehle
    118 votes
    • Premiered: 1990
    • Genres: Sitcom, Comedy
    Aired 1990-1991
    Ferris Bueller is an American sitcom based on the 1986 John Hughes film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The show stars Charlie Schlatter in the title role. The series debuted on August 23, 1990 on NBC and was cancelled within its first season, a few months after its debut. The show was produced by Maysh Ltd Productions in association with Paramount Television. Hughes was not involved in the show's production and asked that his name not be used by Paramount Television to promote it.
  • My Big Fat Greek Life
    2
    Nia Vardalos, Andrea Martin, Lainie Kazan
    104 votes
    • Premiered: 2003
    • Genres: Sitcom, Comedy
    Aired 2003
    My Big Fat Greek Life is a sitcom series that ran on CBS in 2003. The series is a continuation of the 2002 movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding and was produced by HBO Television and Tom Hanks's Playtone Productions for Sony Pictures Television. In addition to being the series star, Nia Vardalos oversaw the show as one of the co-executive producers, along with Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson.
  • Jumanji
    3
    Tim Curry, Billy West, Ashley Johnson
    116 votes
    • Premiered: September 8, 1996
    • Genres: Animation,Fantasy,Kids
    Aired 1996-1999
    Siblings find adventure in a board game's magical world.
  • 9 to 5
    4
    Rita Moreno, Jeffrey Tambor, Sally Struthers
    79 votes
    • Premiered: 1982
    • Genres: Sitcom, Comedy
    Aired 1992-1998
    9 to 5 is an American situation comedy based on the 1980 film of the same name. The series aired on ABC from 1982 to 1983, and in first-run syndication from 1986 to 1988. 9 to 5 features Rachel Dennison, Dolly Parton's younger sister, in Parton's role of Doralee Rhodes; Rita Moreno portrayed the Lily Tomlin role of Violet Newstead, and Valerie Curtin took the Jane Fonda role of Judy Bernly. In the truncated third season, Curtin's Judy Bernly was replaced with Leah Ayres as secretary Linda Bowman. In the second version of the show, Sally Struthers replaced Moreno, and Curtin returned as Judy. A total of 82 episodes were filmed. The first season was on film in front of a studio audience but switched to videotape for the next season.
  • Napoleon Dynamite
    5
    Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Tina Majorino
    106 votes
    • Premiered: January 15, 2012
    • Genres: Animation,Comedy
    Aired 2012
    A strange teenager and his unique family and friends navigate small-town life.
  • Working Girl
    6
    Sandra Bullock, Nana Visitor, B. J. Ward
    50 votes
    • Premiered: 1990
    • Genres: Sitcom, Comedy
    Working Girl is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from April to July 1990. Loosely based on the 1988 film of the same name starring Melanie Griffith, the series stars Sandra Bullock as Tess McGill, in a role that was initially meant for Nancy McKeon.