Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Stars & Popcorn

Because not all great movies are good!

Stars & Popcorn
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The Top 10 Best TV Shows Based on Movies

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5. Fargo

Just a whole heck of a lot of murder, dontcha know.
Network: FX

Joel and Ethan Coen adapted their black-comedy masterpiece Fargo into an absolutely fascinating anthology series. Each season takes place at a different time, with a different cast, and totally different stories. The only overlap is they all take place in Minnesota and the Dakotas, and all involve some sort of crime at the core of their narratives. This has allowed Fargo to achieve the most impressive cast of all the TV shows based on movies with a-listers like Billy Bob Thorton, Ewan McGregor, and Patrick Wilson starring in various seasons. Just like the film, the series is filled with odd-ball characters sucked into the bizarre underworld of the midwest. Each season tells a sprawling narrative filled with hilariously dark twists and turns that set the stars on an inevitable collision course. It definitely lives up to the reputation source material.

4. What We Do in the Shadows

I don’t think we have to worry about vampires taking over the world.
Network: FX

One thing I look forward to every week is the new episode of What We Do in the Shadows. That fact alone is probably a good enough reason for it to earn a spot on this list of TV shows based on movies. However, it also happens to form the same creative minds that brought us one of the greatest horror-comedy films of all time, Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi. That means it captures all the majestic absurd awkwardness of the original even with a new cast of characters and a new setting. Despite only just now finishing up its second season, the series has had a ton of guest stars, including Mark Hamill, Nick Kroll, and Beanie Feldstein. It’s a faithful spiritual adaptation of the original film, and I couldn’t be happier with the end result. If you haven’t had a chance to catch it yet, you owe it to yourself to give it a watch.   

3. Hannibal

My boy loves his Chianti.
Network: NBC

NBC canceling Hannibal after three seasons is still one of the greatest primetime injustices I’ve seen in my lifetime. If it had been allowed to go on, it could have very easily made it to the top spot on this list of TV shows based on movies. The series takes one of the greatest cinematic serial killers of all time and focuses on his origin before he ended up behind bars. Mads Mikkelsen takes over the role of Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lector from Anthony Hopkins, and I dare say he gives an even better performance. In the show, Lector acts as a consultant for the FBI, working alongside the brilliant but unbalanced Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) who excels at profiling serial killers. Hannibal is filled with haunting surreal imagery and isn’t afraid of going to incredibly dark places at times, making it an undeniable work of art. 

2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The only question is if she’s going to slay the vampire or date them.
Network: The WB and UPN (Now the CW)

I’m going to be honest, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie was fun, but not great. The character barely earned a spot on the list of the Best Movie Monster Hunters. However, the series is easily one of the best TV shows based on movies. Not only did it run for an impressive seven seasons, but it also spawned a feminist pop culture icon with Sarah Michelle Gellar’s take on the character. You don’t have to be a woman to appreciate Buffy though and I watched it most days after school growing up. The show pretty much stuck to the premise of the film with the titular Slayer hunting down new vampires and monsters every week. It even spawned a spin-off series about an emo vampire detective called Angel. Considering the success and contribution to modern pop culture, Buffy definitely earns a top spot on this list. 

1. M*A*S*H

Who knew war could be so entertaining.
Network: CBS

Few TV shows based on movies have had the impact that M*A*S*H did. Hitting screens just two years after the film, the series follows the same group of Army doctors and nurses of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital” in Uijeongbu, South Korea, during the Korean War as they try to navigate the horrors of war with a sense of humor. The show wasn’t all laughs though and managed to mix in plenty of drama. It was the show to watch back in the 70s and early 80s with the finale had 125 million viewers (rumor has it 77% of the people of New York City flushed their toilets within a few minutes of the ending). The series ran for 11 seasons, a total of 256 episodes, and remains one of the most iconic and influential shows of all time. Given its legacy, quality, and popularity, M*A*S*H is an easy pick for the number one spot on this list.     

Honorable Mention: Teen Wolf 

Puberty can be tougher from some.
Network: MTV

Yeah, I know that Teen Wolf is pretty melodramatic, but what can I say? I love werewolves. They’re just such cool monsters, and we don’t have enough of them on the big or small screen. I ended up probably liking the show more than I should have, but I just love series that do monsters of the week (X-Files, Supernatural, etc). Teen Wolf might not be a big enough dog to earn a spot on this list above, but I still wanted to give it a shout out.

Those are my picks for the best TV shows based on movies. However, I discovered that there are dozens and dozens of others out there. If you think I missed a great one, let me know in the comments below. As always, I’ll be updating this list as new small-screen adaptations hit the old boob tube. So, make sure you check back from time to time and see how the rankings might change.