The 20 Best TV Shows Based on Movies, Ranked
by Sharon Knolle
It's rare for TV shows based on movies to be good. For every "Buffy" or "Fargo" there's a "Working Girl" or "Minority Report." But television keeps trying. With "Lethal Weapon" and "Time After Time" airing this year, here is a guide to the best small screen efforts based on big-screen films.
20. 'The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles' (1992 - 1993)
Sean Patrick Flanery starred as a younger version of the dashing hero in this "Indiana Jones Begins" series from George Lucas. Indy met such interesting historical figures as Lawrence of Arabia and Pancho Villa. The expensive, short-lived series was followed by four made-for-television films from 1994 to 1996.
19. 'La Femme Nikita' (1997 - 2001)
Before "Alias," Nikita (cult USA series based on the Nikita," starring Maggie Q.
18. 'The Dead Zone' (2002 - 2007)
Anthony Michael Hall stars in this surprisingly good TV adaptation of the same Stephen King novel. And yes, that book also inspired the excellent 1983 David Cronenberg/Christopher Walken film about a man who awakes from a years-long coma with psychic powers.
17. 'Beetlejuice' (1989 - 1991)
So we are still waiting for that "Beetlejuice" sequel, one we may never get. Until then, we have four seasons of delightful undead shenanigans in this wonderfully funny animated series that first ran on ABC and then on Fox Kids.
16. 'In the Heat of the Night' (1988 - 1995)
The Oscar-winning drama made a pretty great cop series and a nice post-"All in the Family" gig for Carroll O'Connor.
15. 'Stargate SG-1' (1997 - 2007)
Stargate Atlantis" and "Stargate Universe."
14. 'Bates Motel' (2013 - Present)
It's tricky stuff messing with the horror classic "Psycho," but A&E is doing something right since this show is now the longest running original series in the network's history. Its fifth and final season will (at last!) dramatize the events of the film.
13. 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' (2008 - 2009)
Given the general badness of the most recent "Terminator" films, this series is only looking better and better. But if it hadn't been canceled, then we might not have gotten Game of Thrones."
12. 'Agent Carter' (2015 - 2016)
We're kind of meh on the other agents of SHIELD., but this short-lived ABC series was smart to focus on just one savvy, extremely capable agent, Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), who we crushed on just as hard as Steve Rogers in "Captain America: The First Avenger." And love that post-WWII setting!
11. 'Star Wars Rebels' (2014 - Present)
Set between "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" and "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope," this award-winning series features the voice talents of Freddie Prinze, Jr., Jason Isaacs, and James Earl Jones reprising his role as Darth Vader.
10. 'The Courtship of Eddie's Father' (1969 - 1972)
The 1963 film starring Glenn Ford as a widower and a very young Ron Howard as his matchmaking son was a strong effort. But for us, you can't top the philosophical intros and that catchy Harry Nilsson theme song of the TV series, which starred Bill Bixby and Brandon Cruz.
9. 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 - 2014)
So the prequels sucked, but this Cartoon Network animated series, set between "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith," is actually pretty damn good.
8. 'Fame' (1982 - 1987)
Based on the 1980 movie of the same name, the series followed students at a fictional New York high school for the performing arts. Talent included Debbie Allen, Lori Singer, and Janet Jackson. Remember the time they staged an Othello musical? You can catch reruns on Ovation.
7. 'The Odd Couple' (1970 - 1975)
The 1968 film with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon is priceless comedy gold. Fortunately, so was this TV series, which starred Jack Klugman and Tony Randall as mismatched roommates.
6. 'Hannibal' (2013 - 2015)
Bryan Fuller took our favorite cinematic cannibal and (ahem) served up one of the most beautiful -- and disturbing -- series ever. Mads Mikkelsen was possibly an even more sinister Lecter than Anthony Hopkins in "The Silence of the Lambs."
5. 'Parenthood' (2010 - 2015)
The NBC series, but we're mostly we're still thinking of that incredibly sad finale. *sniff, sob*
4. 'Fargo' (2014 - Present)
The FX series takes from the Oscar-winning Coen Bros. film its ice-cold setting, thick Midwestern accents, colorful characters, and murder galore. The plots and people are entirely different, but the black comedy is just as note-perfect.
3. M*A*S*H* (1972 - 1983)
Some may prefer the TV version became one of the most beloved shows of all time. Its finale still holds the record for being the most-watched final episode in TV history, with more than 100 million people tuning in.
2. 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' (1997 - 2001)
After the too-campy film starring Kristy Swanson as Buffy, Joss Whedon took back his premise and made one of the funniest, scariest, and most heartbreaking shows of all time.
1. 'Friday Night Lights' (2006 - 2011)
Just like the underdog Panthers football team of the NBC series kept defying the odds and surviving from season to season thanks to fervent fan support. And the last season was a winning one for Kyle Chandler, who collected a long-overdue Emmy for Lead Actor in a Drama.
