From Big Screen To Small: 5 TV Shows That Surpassed Their Movie Origins
You might not even remember that there was a movie at first.
The love of the television audience can be quite unpredictable. Now and then, a highly anticipated series based on a beloved book or film barely makes a splash and fizzles out after its debut season.
Yet, occasionally, adaptations become such hits that we completely forget about their cinematic origins. Here are five television series with huge fan followings that actually started out as movies, but have since eclipsed them in popularity and acclaim.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
Based on: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
Perhaps the most notable example of a TV show outshining its original film is Joss Whedon's iconic supernatural drama, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Many casual viewers today don’t know that Whedon initially penned this story as a comedy film with the same title and concept.
However, the movie deviated significantly from Whedon’s original vision, leading him to revisit the concept with a television series starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan and others. With its much darker tone and more mature themes, this reimagined version became the one to capture the hearts of millions, evolving into a true pop culture phenomenon.
M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
Based on: M*A*S*H (1970)
Larry Gelbart's CBS war dramedy, set in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War, has become so legendary that very few people today are unaware of it. However, even fewer remember that this beloved series was inspired by a 1970 black comedy film.
While the M*A*S*H movie remains a highly regarded Hollywood classic, most fans agree that it pales in comparison to the TV adaptation, which has far surpassed it in popularity and impact.
Fargo (2014-present)
Based on: Fargo (1996)
The story of Fargo's origin is truly one-of-a-kind. Noah Hawley found himself so entranced by the Coen brothers' 1996 cinematic masterpiece that he wrote a script for a series set within its fictional universe. To everyone's delight, the Coens were equally impressed with Hawley's writing and signed on as executive producers, greenlighting what would become one of modern television's best projects.
The original Coens film holds a special place in modern pop culture for its seamless blend of comedy, thriller, mystery and drama. And the TV show takes that recipe and improves on it, mixing these genres in new proportions and letting the TV format do its magic.
Stargate SG-1 (1997-2007)
Based on: Stargate (1994)
Since its inception in the 1990s, the Stargate franchise has skyrocketed in popularity and developed a dedicated cult following. But it's a lesser-known fact among casual viewers that the cinematic journey through intergalactic portals began in 1994 with the release of the movie Stargate.
This military sci-fi series gifted us with numerous celebrity crushes (Richard Dean Anderson, anyone?) and unforgettable moments, not to mention the creation of one of the finest TV spin-offs, Stargate Atlantis, which effortlessly surpassed the acclaim of its cinematic predecessor.
Alien Nation (1989-1990)
Based on: Alien Nation (1988)
The Alien Nation franchise began with Rockne S. O'Bannon's 1988 movie about the arrival of the Newcomers, an alien race, in 20th century Los Angeles and their efforts to assimilate. The film failed to generate significant buzz at the time of its release, but audiences loved the concept, and it spread far beyond the big screen, spawning five TV movies, a plethora of comic books and novels, and, of course, the fan-adored series of the same name.
The series, which followed the partnership between a Newcomer and a human cop within the LAPD, was truly exceptional, yet sadly underrated. Today, it's widely agreed that Fox's decision to prematurely cancel the show was a huge mistake, as many believe it had the potential for many more seasons.
In any case, it's a concept that seems tailor-made for modern showrunners, doesn't it?