TV Movies: Best TV Shows Movie Adaptations

There is a growing trend of popular television series being adapted into TV movies. While feature films are sometimes used as a way to end long-running television shows, films have often simply been adapted as a way to build on or leverage the popularity of the television series.

Do you like to see your favorite TV shows made into movies? This list of TV movies is intended to help people who want to watch movies based on TV shows they have enjoyed. For many fans of both television and movies entertainment formats, this is a great way to turn your television pasttime into an evening out at the theater or a nice home video experience.

This is a Top 10 list of best TV shows made into movies of all time. TV movies come from a variety of themes and movie genres. They include romantic comedies, drama, action, adventure, and much more. Criteria considered in evaluating films included in the Top 10 were: The combined popularity of the TV show with the quality of the film, the impact of the film as a follow up to the show, and commercial and/or critical acclaim.

Best TV Movies of All Time

10. Transformers (2007) – It was a long while coming, but this blockbuster film followed up on one of the most popular children’s TV series of the 1980s. Shia LeBeouf solidified his prominence as a big picture actor and audiences were introduced to the rising star of Megan Fox.

9. Sex and the City – The Movie (2008) – To the casual (non-Sex and the City obsessed) observer, this more recent among the best TV movies left a little to be desired. However, for rabid fans of the hugely popular program, it offered a nice bit of closure to the show’s important plots and stories.

8. The Addams Family (1991) – This TV movies ranking is more based on the popularity of the television show, though this first of a ghoulish and humorous two part film series was well-received by many.

7. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999) - Definitely one of the most controversial movies adapted from TV shows, this feature length film from the creators of South Park delivered exactly what the titled suggests and fans of the show wanted! This is not a TV film for little kids.

6. The Fugitive (1993) – One of the best Harrison Ford movies, this film based on the 1960s ABC television show is one of the best on the list of TV movies. It is one of the few in this top 10 in which the film was made well after the TV series ended.

5. Wayne’s World (1992) – This Mike Myers and Dana Carvey classic was groundbreaking. The film was a spin-off the duos popular skit “Wayne and Garth” from Saturday Night Live. Many guys also remember it well because of Tia Carrere’s supporting role and the many humorous ad parodies that were interwoven.

4. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad (1988) – As is the case with Mission: Impossible, it could be argued that the second or third films in this series were equally good. However, the original is great and very memorable as a follow up to the popular Leslie Nielson slapstick comedy TV show “Police Squad”. Priscilla Presley co-stars.

3. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) – If this was a list of the most successful television and movies franchises ever, Star Trek would be hard to beat. The long-running original TV series produced several follow up shows and six great feature length movies. Any of the Star Trek films could be on this list of best TV movies, but many would agree that this film about a journey into the past (1980s San Francisco) to find humpback whales to save earth is the best.

2. Mission: Impossible (1996) – One of the best Tom Cruise movies, this original film of a trilogy excited fans of the long-running action-adventure television series. While some believe the other films were as good or better, the original featured a stellar cast and of course the popular theme song and plot elements.

1. The Blues Brothers (1980) – A cultural classic and iconic generational film, The Blues Brothers is another spin off film based on a popular Saturday Night Live skit featuring Dan Akroyd and Jim Belushi. This film is also on the list of best car movies!

Are there other films you have seen that should be includes in this list of TV show movies? Feel free to add a comment sharing your other favorite TV films for readers.

List of TV movies written by Neil of Movie Room Reviews

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