Jade Reed
15 Popular Movies That Would’ve Been Even Better as TV Shows
Some movies leave you wanting more—not because they’re bad, but because their worlds are too rich to fit into two hours.
Complex characters, sprawling universes, and intricate plots often get squeezed or rushed on the big screen.
Imagine if these films had been given the breathing room of a full TV series, with episodes to explore every subplot and relationship in detail.
1. Dune (2021)
Frank Herbert’s universe is massive, filled with political intrigue, religious prophecy, and ecological themes that span generations.
The movie adaptation, while visually stunning, had to compress vast amounts of lore into a limited runtime.
A TV series could dedicate entire episodes to the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, the Fremen culture, and the subtle power plays between noble houses.
Viewers would appreciate the slow build of tension and betrayal.
With serialized storytelling, each faction’s motivations and histories could unfold naturally.
Characters like Chani, Stilgar, and even minor players would gain depth and screen time they deserve in this sprawling saga.
2. Eternals (2021)
Marvel’s Eternals introduced ten immortal beings all at once, each with unique powers, personalities, and backstories.
Cramming their centuries-long history into one movie left many characters feeling underdeveloped.
An episodic format would allow each hero to shine in their own spotlight episode.
Imagine exploring Sersi’s love for humanity, Ikaris’s internal conflict, or Druig’s disillusionment over multiple hours.
Flashbacks to different historical eras could be fleshed out properly, showing how the Eternals influenced human civilization.
The emotional weight of their choices and relationships would resonate more deeply with audiences given time to breathe.
3. The Dark Tower (2017)
Blending Western, fantasy, horror, and science fiction into one grand narrative, Stephen King’s magnum opus spans eight novels.
The 2017 film tried to condense this massive story into 95 minutes, disappointing fans everywhere.
A serialized adaptation could follow Roland’s quest properly, introducing Mid-World’s bizarre landscapes, the ka-tet’s bond, and the Crimson King’s threat gradually.
Each book could be a season, allowing for proper pacing.
Supporting characters like Eddie, Susannah, and Jake would get the development they need.
The mythology, alternate realities, and King’s own meta-narrative would finally make sense on screen.
4. World War Z (2013)
Max Brooks’ novel is structured as a collection of interviews from survivors across the globe, each sharing their unique zombie apocalypse experience.
The movie abandoned this format entirely, becoming a generic action thriller.
An anthology series could honor the source material by dedicating episodes to different countries and perspectives.
One week might follow a Japanese hacker, the next a South African military strategist.
This approach would showcase how various cultures and governments responded to the outbreak.
The global scope and human stories would create a rich, layered narrative that the film couldn’t capture in its fast-paced runtime.
5. Eragon (2006)
Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle is packed with magic systems, dragon lore, ancient languages, and complex political conflicts.
The 2006 film rushed through the entire first book, glossing over crucial details and character growth.
A fantasy series in the vein of Game of Thrones could properly establish Alagaësia’s history and the bond between Eragon and Saphira.
Training sequences, magical education, and the Varden’s rebellion deserve full exploration.
Side characters like Brom, Murtagh, and Arya would become three-dimensional with episodic storytelling.
The world’s richness and the hero’s journey would finally get the treatment fans have been waiting for.
6. When Harry Met Sally (1989)
This classic rom-com spans twelve years of friendship, missed connections, and evolving feelings.
While charming, the movie only gives us snapshots of Harry and Sally’s relationship milestones.
A modern series could follow their friendship season by season, showing the everyday moments that build real intimacy.
We’d see their dating disasters, career struggles, and growing emotional dependency unfold naturally.
Supporting characters like their married friends could get subplots exploring their own relationships.
The will-they-won’t-they tension would be deliciously stretched out, making the eventual payoff even more satisfying for invested viewers.
7. The Godfather (1972)
Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece is already nearly three hours long, yet it covers decades of the Corleone family’s rise and moral decay.
A prestige TV series could expand on the novel’s depth even further.
Each season could focus on a different generation or era, from Vito’s immigration to Michael’s complete transformation.
Minor characters like Tom Hagen, Fredo, and Connie would receive fuller emotional arcs.
The business dealings, family dynamics, and ethical compromises could be explored with the nuance of shows like The Sopranos.
Viewers would understand every decision’s weight and consequence across episodes.
8. Black Widow (2021)
Natasha Romanoff’s backstory is filled with decades of espionage, moral ambiguity, and dangerous missions across the globe.
Her solo film only scratched the surface of her Red Room past.
A grounded spy series similar to The Americans could follow her early missions, defection, and work with S.H.I.E.L.D.
Each episode might feature a different operation, gradually revealing her psychological complexity.
Supporting characters from her past, including other Black Widows, handlers, and targets, would add layers to her story.
The show could balance action with intimate character moments, making her sacrifice in Endgame even more powerful.
9. The Princess Diaries (2001)
The transformation from awkward teen to princess is perfect material for a multi-season series.
The films only scratch the surface of royal protocol, diplomacy, and personal growth.
A TV show could follow Mia through high school, college, and early reign, tackling new challenges each season.
Episodes could explore friendship drama, romantic interests, and the political realities of ruling Genovia.
Supporting characters like Lilly, her grandmother, and potential suitors would get proper arcs.
The coming-of-age elements combined with royal intrigue would create a fresh, engaging series for young adults.
10. Beetlejuice (1988)
Tim Burton’s ghost-with-the-most inhabits a bizarre afterlife full of bureaucratic absurdity and creative haunting possibilities.
The film only hints at the Netherworld’s rules and endless eccentric inhabitants.
A serialized comedy could explore different ghostly realms, afterlife departments, and supernatural mishaps each week.
Beetlejuice could mentor new ghosts, scheme against celestial authorities, or cause chaos in the living world.
The darkly comedic tone would thrive in episodic format, allowing for weird standalone adventures and ongoing character development.
Lydia and other recurring characters could pop in, creating a perfect blend of structure and chaos.
11. The Irishman (2019)
This three-and-a-half-hour epic movie still feels like it could use more breathing room.
The film covers decades of Frank Sheeran’s life as a hitman and union official.
A multi-season series could dedicate entire episodes to specific jobs, relationships, and the gradual erosion of Frank’s humanity.
The Hoffa storyline alone deserves deep exploration across multiple hours.
Supporting characters and historical events could be fleshed out without feeling rushed.
The slow burn of guilt, aging, and regret would hit harder when viewers spend years alongside these morally compromised characters.
12. Cloud Atlas (2012)
The Wachowskis’ ambitious film weaves six interconnected stories across centuries, from the 1800s to a distant post-apocalyptic future.
The movie’s three-hour runtime couldn’t give each timeline adequate depth.
An anthology series could dedicate multiple episodes to each era, allowing viewers to fully invest in characters before jumping timelines.
The thematic connections between stories would emerge more organically.
Actors playing multiple roles across eras would be even more impactful with extended screen time.
The philosophical themes about reincarnation, freedom, and human connection would resonate deeper through serialized storytelling.
13. The Book of Eli (2010)
The main character treks across a devastated America protecting a sacred book.
The film’s post-apocalyptic world is visually striking but leaves much of its society and history unexplored.
A series could follow Eli’s journey town by town, encountering different survivor communities and their unique adaptations.
Each location would reveal more about how civilization collapsed and humanity persists.
The philosophical and religious themes could be examined through various characters and moral dilemmas.
Flashbacks to the apocalypse itself would add context, while the destination’s significance would build across episodes.
14. Dredd (2012)
Image Credit: © IMDb
Judge Dredd’s 2012 film was a tightly focused action movie set mostly in one building.
But Mega-City One is a massive dystopian metropolis with 800 million residents and endless crime.
A procedural series could follow Dredd and other Judges tackling different cases weekly—gang wars, mutant uprisings, corrupt officials, and psychic criminals.
The city itself would become a character.
Long-form storytelling could explore the fascist justice system’s moral complexities and the citizens’ struggles.
Recurring villains and ongoing conspiracies would build toward explosive season finales in this rich, dark universe.
15. The Gentlemen (2019)
Guy Ritchie’s film features colorful criminals, witty dialogue, and interconnected schemes across London’s underworld.
The snappy narrative and ensemble cast beg for episodic expansion.
A series could rotate focus between different criminal enterprises—drug dealers, fixers, tabloid journalists, and aristocratic gangsters.
Each episode might center on a new heist or scheme with overlapping consequences.
The Ritchie-style humor and stylized storytelling would thrive in a format allowing deeper character exploration.
Subplots and double-crosses could build across a season, culminating in a satisfying, chaotic finale where everything collides.
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