Thursday, May 2, 2024

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The Top 10 Best Movies Based on TV Shows

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5. The Addams Family

Relationship goals.

While a lot of people loved the original The Addams Family series from the 60s (I was always more of a Munsters fan), the films based on them are beloved cult classics. Every fall, millions of internet users dust of memes inspired by the 90s film to articulate their love for that spooky time of year as well as their admiration for the relationship between Morticia and Gomez Addams. As creepy as the family might be, there’s a lot that we could stand to learn from them and their “live and let live” mentality. The family is even set to return to the big screen this year with an animated makeover. While a lot of movies based on TV shows tend to have passionate fans, I’ve never seen one as accepted by the mainstream quite like The Addams Family.

4. The Untouchables

A 1920s dream team.

Like The Fugitive, I had no idea initially that The Untouchables would deserve a spot on this list of movies based on TV shows. Turns out there was a series in the 60s that followed a team of prohibition officers doing battle with crime kingpins back in the days of a booze-less America. The film focuses on a team of officers trying to take on the notorious gangster Al Capone. Capone had half the cops in the city on his payroll so, in order to take him on, they had to put together a squad of incorruptible officers who weren’t afraid to play dirty to get results. Despite their efforts, most history buffs know that it was the IRS that eventually defeated the crime mogul. The Untouchables is a classic film loved by critics and film academics, earning a spot on plenty top lists over at the AFI.

3. Star Trek (Franchise)

Boldly going where a lot of TV shows have gone before.

While the Browncoats might be a force to be reckoned with they’ve got nothing on Trekkies. Star Trek originally premiered in the 60s but went on to spawn a slew of films during the 80s (79 to 91 to be exact). It even led to a number of spin-off series that went on to get their own films, and a rebooted universe in the 2000s. It’s a beast of a franchise that shows no signs of slowing down (though I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not). Thanks to this being one of the best series of movies based on TV shows, it managed to open up loopholes in order to earn spots on several other Stars & Popcorn Top 10 lists, including androids, spaceships, and sci-fi guns. Star Trek is a pop culture phenomenon, and while some of the movies might be better than others, as a whole the franchise definitely earns a spot on this list. 

2. Monty Python and the Holy Grail

To this day, geeks won’t stop quoting this movie.

One might argue that I’m breaking my rule about not including movies based on sketches. However, the way I see it Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a film inspired by the comedy stylings used by a sketch troupe in order to tell their version of the legend of King Arthur. The film features a hilarious take on the legendary king and his knights as they search for the Holy Grail. Like a lot of the other movies based on TV shows that have graced this list, the film is a cult classic loved by geeks who refuse to stop quoting it to each other. It’s an uproariously funny film featuring some of the best and brightest that the comedy world had to offer at the time. Even though it’s well over 40 years old, this flick still stands up as one of the funniest of all time. 

1. Mission: Impossible (Franchise)

Way to escape undetected, Ethan.

When it comes to action franchises, few are as big as Mission: Impossible. Six movies in the series, still going strong and they don’t seem to be ending any time soon. More than that, the films have been consistently good (I’ll admit the second one was far from great) and each one manages to outdo the last when it comes to their incredible stunt sequences. Based on the series of the same name, the films follows one of the best big-screen movie spies of all time as he takes on, well, impossible missions. Say what you like about Tom Cruise, the man delivers when it comes to action movies and while he might be getting up there in age, he still lights up the screen as Ethan Hunt. That’s why I think the Mission: Impossible franchise deserves the number one spot on this list of the best movies based on TV shows.

As I mentioned, there are tons of movies out there based on TV shows. If your favorite didn’t make this list, I’d love for you to leave a comment below and let me know what it is. I also enjoy hearing feedback from fans about the films that did earn a spot on all the lists at Stars & Popcorn. As always, I’ll be updating this list as new movies based on TV shows hit theatres. Check back from time to time to see how the rankings might change. Until next time.