12 Television Shows That Are Based on Movies

Sometimes, the best TV shows are the ones inspired by movies. In fact, sometimes, those shows turn out to be major improvements upon the original films (ahem, Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

This Fall is bringing with it even more television shows based on films, including FOX’s Lethal Weapon and The Exorcist. It’s a growing trend, for better or worse.

Here are 12 TV shows you may not know were actually based on movies.

1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Listen, if you saw the movie, you know it’s incredibly different from the cult-favorite television show. The 1992 film starring Kristy Swanson was treated more as a comedy, which wasn’t what Joss Whedon had intended. Whedon was approached a few years later about developing the idea into a television series, and the rest was history.

2. Fargo

The critically acclaimed anthology series Fargo is a pretty unique adaptation of the original 1996 Coen brothers film, with each season set in a different era.

3. Parenthood

NBC’s Parenthood was based on the 1989 film of the same name, but it wasn’t the first attempt at a remake. The first remake occurred in 1990, but it didn’t last. The 2010 version, on the other hand, is still one of our favorite shows.

4. Uncle Buck

This one was a recent flop. The ABC comedy Uncle Buck was a remake of the 1989 film starring John Candy, but it has already been canceled. This was also the second time a TV remake of the film was attempted.

5. Bates Motel

The A&E series Bates Motel, which recently ended its fourth season and has been renewed for a fifth, is a prequel to the Alfred Hitcock classic, Psycho.

6. From Dusk Till Dawn

From Dusk Till Dawn expands upon the universe of the original 1996 film, and unsurprisingly, it’s pretty fantastic. It’s also the first scripted original series on El Rey network.

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