10 Movies That Are Based on TV Shows
26th May, 2022
Paramount Pictures Studios
Disclaimer: This article was first published on our sister site Successaga.com.
Dealing with the end of a favorite TV series is indeed a painful experience. Now, let's look at the list of movies that are an extension of the series.
Certain fandoms have had their pleas heard and wishes granted. Whether it is TV series or in today’s day and age - web series, we’ve at some point wanted our favorite shows to never end. No matter the original format or its riveting storyline, a show has to reach its end sooner or later. As disappointing as it is, it is but the truth. That said, we are here to discuss some movies that were expanded from popular TV series.
Get Smart
A spy series that uses satire to demonstrate the absurdity of depicting the crime solvers' profession on-screen, Get Smart was born off of a TV series. Agent 86, aka Maxwell Smart, is great at being a secret agent who comes with truckloads of incompetency. Steve Carell nailed the character that was originally portrayed by Don Adams. Although the movie holds a candle to the brand of excellence the TV series brought to the audience, it still is a marvelous parody. Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway hold the weight of carrying the movie through and walking it across the finish line.
The Naked Gun
What started and floated as Police Squad, turned into a prominent masterpiece with a wrecking ball of a detective in The Naked Gun. The movie was so well accepted and appreciated by the audience that it went on to have a couple of sequels attached to its name. That alone makes Police Squad’s unplanned early cancellation— just after six episodes— difficult to comprehend. Leslie Nielsen flawlessly reincarnated the role of Detective Frank Drebin and made the audiences fall for the blazing trail of a mess he created. Moviegoers were equally fascinated by the casting of O.J. Simpson in the film.
Star Trek
Like it or not, Star Trek has been one of the most successful franchises to this day. The series aired for three years, starting in 1966, before it hiked up to the big screen. Today, the cannon is home to 13 feature films, one original series, three animated series, and seven spin-offs. It is enough ammunition to declare “Top Star Trek Fan competition” an Olympic sport. (Hope someone high up in the ranks is reading and taking suggestions). While William Shatner remains our favorite Captain Kirk, Chris Pine has been doing a great job filling those humongous shoes. Here’s hoping for many more stories about the peacekeeping fleet. *flashes the Vulcan salute*
Sex and The City
Sex and the City had kept the audience glued to their TV screens from 1998 to 2004. Branching out to the big screen might not have been the right decision for a series with prime-time success. Well, it proved everyone wrong. Carrie Bradshaw and her girl gang continued to reign over NYC in the first SATC film. That was before they took their charm, humor, life troubles, and impulsivity all the way to Abu Dhabi. With 94 episodes and 2 movies under its belt, Sex and the City has managed to keep its audience captivated, all thanks to Michael Patrick King and his creative mind.
El Camino
Let’s talk about all the reasons why one should watch El Camino. First off, the movie is a continuation of the stellar piece of art, i.e., Breaking Bad. If you are someone who hasn’t seen the series, you are definitely missing out. Reason two has to be Aaron Paul and his reincarnation of Jesse Pinkman, not to forget the rest of the cast. Three, it gives you a better insight into Pinkman, the meth cook. Four, it's the perfect epilogue to The Breaking Bad finale - the closure no one asked for but much needed. Moreover, the excitement stakes are just as high as the series.
Mission Impossible
The image our mind conjures at the mere mention of Mission Impossible is Tom Cruise jumping off high-rise buildings, performing stunts to spy on people. This is to say that a considerate number of the population is oblivious to the fact that the movie franchise was indeed born out of a TV series. It kicked off in 1996 with 171 episodes that lasted all the way to March 1973; and then from 1988 to 1990. The one stark difference between the TV series and the movie is that Ethan Hunt was made the main character in the latter. We are not complaining!
The Simpsons
Another animated feature on this list, The Simpsons, has had an uncanny ability at predicting the future. However, we doubt they would have been able to predict the success of their film adaptation. The movie follows the leads after Homer Simpson, and his irresponsible actions leave them with a polluted lake and a glass-domed Springfield town. In 2007, The Simpsons Movie landed at the eighth position among the highest grossers of the year. Also, the movie serves as the last homage to the original writers of the longest TV series of all time.
South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut
South Park wow-ed the world with its expansion to the big screen. The movie is 81 minutes of ear-bleeding chaos with children cussing like a leaking fire hydrant. And yes, we kid you not, this movie earned a Guinness World Record for the“Most swearing in an animated movie.” And if even that does not sway you, here’s another reason why this movie is worth a watch; It was the top R-rated animated movie grosser for almost two decades until Sausage Party knocked it off its throne. Not to mention, Robin Williams performed the movie’s title track at the Academy Awards.
Jackass
Jackass is the perfect pick for you if you are looking forward to something that offers you mindless entertainment. The actors, their shenanigans, the dopey pranks, and the tasks they embark upon are sure to keep you riveted. It is one of those things that you end up hating, considering how much you love them. It is a perfect blend of brainless antics and cringe-worthy acts that sometimes might make you want to bleach out your eyes and brain. If you don’t mind a few dead brain cells after a few hours of entertainment, it is worth your while.
Wayne’s World
Saturday Night Live has long served as the stepping stone to bringing comic characters and comedians to the big screen. This movie stars Dana Carvey and Mike Myers as Garth and Wayne, respectively. The series started out in 1988 on the hit show and has been going strong since. It was adapted to the wider screen with the same brand of humor, catchphrases, and endings similar to a certain beloved cartoon dog, that propelled the movie to box office success. It also brought Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody to Billboard’s no. 2 ranking, two decades after the song was released.
While our list ends here, we would like to mention some unforgettable movies born out of equally legendary TV series like The Batman, The Muppet Movie, Downton Abbey, Serenity, and X Files movie. The sole reason these movies did not make it to the list is that we ran out of time and space. The amazingness of these series and movies combo packs cannot be truly known unless experienced firsthand. If you haven’t seen any of the above-mentioned movies, you must do so at the earliest.
