Mila Ross
Sometimes the best stories need more than two hours to tell. Many popular television series actually started their lives as movie scripts or theatrical releases before finding their true home on the small screen.
From vampire slayers to quirky roommates, these shows prove that great ideas deserve a second chance to shine. Get ready to discover which of your favorite TV shows began as something completely different.
1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Joss Whedon penned a screenplay in 1992 about a cheerleader destined to fight the undead. The movie flopped at the box office, but Whedon believed in his vision of empowering teenage girls through supernatural metaphor.
Five years later, he got a second chance when the WB network greenlit a television version. The 1997 series transformed the campy concept into something darker and more emotionally complex.
With seven seasons under its belt, the show became a cultural phenomenon that launched careers and inspired countless imitators. Whedon’s expanded universe allowed characters like Willow and Xander to grow beyond simple sidekicks into fully realized heroes with their own arcs.
2. Moonlight
A vampire solving crimes while struggling with his immortal curse sounds like perfect television material. Originally conceived as a feature film, the script explored the tension between detective work and supernatural romance in ways that felt fresh and compelling.
CBS picked up the concept in 2007, turning it into a stylish drama that blended film noir with paranormal elements. The show followed Mick St. John, a private investigator who happened to be frozen at age thirty as a vampire.
Though it only lasted one season, Moonlight developed a passionate fanbase that appreciated its moody atmosphere. The series proved that vampire stories could work outside the horror genre.
3. Parenthood
Ron Howard’s 1989 film starring Steve Martin captured the chaos of raising kids with humor and heart. The movie resonated with audiences who saw their own messy family dynamics reflected on screen, making it a sleeper hit that year.
NBC decided to expand that world in 2010 with a television adaptation featuring the Braverman clan. The show took the film’s core themes about parenting struggles and sibling relationships but gave them room to breathe across six seasons.
Characters dealt with autism, adoption, financial hardship, and marriage troubles in ways that felt authentic. The series became known for making viewers cry while also celebrating the beautiful messiness of family life.
4. Fargo
The Coen brothers created a masterpiece in 1996 with their darkly comic crime film set in Minnesota. Frances McDormand’s pregnant police chief became an icon, and the movie’s unique blend of violence and Midwestern niceness earned critical acclaim.
FX launched an anthology series in 2014 that captured the same spirit without retelling the original story. Each season presents new characters caught up in escalating criminal schemes against snowy backdrops.
Creator Noah Hawley maintained the Coens’ signature style while adding his own twists. The show has earned Emmy awards and proved that some cinematic universes work better when expanded rather than remade shot-for-shot.
5. What We Do in the Shadows
Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement’s 2014 indie film followed vampire roommates in New Zealand dealing with mundane problems like dishes and rent. The mockumentary format allowed for hilarious interviews where ancient creatures complained about modern inconveniences.
FX adapted the concept in 2019, relocating the undead household to Staten Island. The series keeps the deadpan humor while introducing new characters like energy vampire Colin Robinson, who drains people through boring conversations.
Unlike many adaptations, this one feels like a natural extension rather than a cash grab. The show has run for multiple seasons, proving that vampire comedy has endless potential when done right.
6. Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s 2005 action film delivered explosive chemistry alongside explosive set pieces. The premise of married assassins discovering they’re targets for each other provided two hours of stylish entertainment and tabloid fodder.
Amazon Prime reimagined the concept in 2024 as a serialized drama exploring marriage and espionage in deeper ways. The show examines how two strangers forced into an arranged spy marriage navigate trust, intimacy, and deadly missions.
This version prioritizes character development over spectacle, though the action sequences still deliver thrills. The episodic format allows the relationship to evolve naturally while maintaining the original’s core tension between partnership and deception.
7. Dirty Dancing
Nobody puts Baby in a corner, but CBS tried putting her on television in 1988. The original film became a cultural sensation with its romantic story of summer love and forbidden dance moves at a Catskills resort.
Network executives hoped to bottle that magic for weekly audiences just one year after the movie’s release. The series attempted to recreate the setting and romance but struggled to capture what made the film special.
Without Patrick Swayze’s charisma or the movie’s iconic soundtrack, the show felt like a pale imitation. It lasted only eleven episodes before cancellation, proving that some lightning can’t be bottled twice, especially so soon after the original struck.
8. About a Boy
Hugh Grant charmed audiences in the 2002 film adaptation of Nick Hornby’s novel about a carefree bachelor befriending a quirky kid. The story explored themes of growing up and taking responsibility while maintaining a light comedic touch throughout.
NBC brought the concept to television in 2014 with David Walton in the lead role. The series followed Will Freeman as his shallow existence gets upended by friendship with young Marcus and his single mother.
The show maintained the source material’s heart while adding sitcom sensibilities for weekly viewing. Though it only ran two seasons, the series successfully translated the film’s message about found families and unexpected connections into episodic format.
9. The Odd Couple
Neil Simon’s play became a hit 1968 film starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau as mismatched roommates. The comedy of neat-freak Felix living with slob Oscar created timeless laughs about friendship and tolerance.
ABC adapted the property for television in 1970, casting Tony Randall and Jack Klugman in the iconic roles. The sitcom format allowed the writers to explore countless scenarios of domestic discord and unlikely brotherhood.
Running for five seasons, the show became even more beloved than the movie. Randall and Klugman’s chemistry defined buddy comedy for television, influencing countless shows that followed. Their version remains the definitive take on Simon’s classic characters for many fans.
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