TV Adaptations That Are Better Than The Movie Adaptations
by prgiordano | created - 7 months ago | updated - 3 weeks ago | PublicSometimes, bringing beloved stories to new mediums doesn't always work. There have been multiple cases of this happening over the past almost 50 years, with many of them being adaptations of either lengthy comic books, multi-part book series, or 8-hour long video games. These films usually miss the point of what made their source material so iconic in the first place and as a result, end up being rushed, cheaper, and overall inferior versions of the stories they're supposed to be bringing to life in front of their fans' eyes. The good news is that studios are slowly realizing this and putting future adaptations in a medium that better suited the long-form storytelling and character development that was lost missing in previous adaptations of the books and comics featured below. Thanks to the rise of the television set, higher budgets, fan-based production teams, and streaming services that offer more creative freedom than ever, the things that we've been able to cherish growing up can now have the potential to bring justice to the worlds people have given praise to for decades. This is a list of such shows that've learned from said past mistakes.
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1. Daredevil (2015–2018)
TV-MA | 60 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A blind lawyer by day, vigilante by night. Matt Murdock fights the crime of New York as Daredevil.
Stars: Charlie Cox, Vincent D'Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson
Votes: 474,901
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2003 movie: 43% Overall Rotten Tomatoes score for 2015 series: *92%*
2. Watchmen (2019)
TV-MA | 59 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Set in an alternate history where masked vigilantes are treated as outlaws, Watchmen embraces the nostalgia of the original groundbreaking graphic novel of the same name, while attempting to break new ground of its own.
Stars: Regina King, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Tom Mison, Sara Vickers
Votes: 134,329
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2009 movie: 65% Rotten Tomatoes score for 2019 miniseries: *96%*
3. Interview with the Vampire (2022– )
TV-MA | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Based on Anne Rice's iconic novel, follow Louis de Pointe's epic story of love, blood and the perils of immortality, as told to the journalist Daniel Molloy.
Stars: Assad Zaman, Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, Eric Bogosian
Votes: 22,280
Rotten Tomatoes score for 1994 movie: 63% Rotten Tomatoes score for 2022 series: *99%*
4. Chucky (I) (2021– )
TV-MA | 42 min | Comedy, Drama, Horror
After a vintage Chucky doll turns up at a suburban yard sale, an idyllic American town is thrown into chaos as a series of horrifying murders begin to expose the town's hypocrisies and secrets.
Stars: Zackary Arthur, Bjorgvin Arnarson, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Brad Dourif
Votes: 26,897
Highest rated RT score in the film series: 78% Overall Rotten Tomatoes score for 2021 series: 91%
5. What We Do in the Shadows (2019–2024)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
A look into the nightly lives of four vampires who have lived together on Staten Island for over a century.
Stars: Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén
Votes: 102,821
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2014 movie: 96% Rotten Tomatoes score for 2019 series: 97%
6. M*A*S*H (1972–1983)
TV-PG | 25 min | Comedy, Drama, War
The staff of an Army hospital in the Korean War find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation.
Stars: Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, Loretta Swit, Jamie Farr
Votes: 63,824
Rotten Tomatoes score for 1970 movie: 84% Rotten Tomatoes score for first season of the TV series: 92%
7. A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017–2019)
TV-PG | 1,164 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
After the loss of their parents in a mysterious fire, the three Baudelaire children face trials and tribulations attempting to uncover dark family secrets.
Stars: Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Warburton, Malina Pauli Weissman, Louis Hynes
Votes: 66,776
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2004 movie: 72% Overall Rotten Tomatoes score for 2017 series: *96%*
8. The Worst Witch (2017– )
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Family, Fantasy
Mildred lives an ordinary life until the day that Maud Spellbody crashes her broomstick into their balcony. Maud then introduces Mildred to Cackle's Academy--a school for young witches set high on a mountaintop.
Stars: Raquel Cassidy, Jenny Richardson, Clare Higgins, Dagny Rollins
Votes: 3,148
IMDB score for 1987 movie: 6.8/10
9. The Baby-Sitters Club (2020–2021)
TV-G | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Based on the book series of the same name focusing on a group of young girls who start their own babysitting service.
Stars: Sophie Grace, Momona Tamada, Shay Rudolph, Malia Baker
Votes: 4,851
Rotten Tomatoes score for 1995 movie: 67% Rotten Tomatoes score for 2020 series: *100%*
10. Teen Wolf (2011–2017)
TV-14 | 41 min | Action, Drama, Fantasy
An average high school student and his best friend get caught up in some trouble causing him to receive a werewolf bite. As a result they find themselves in the middle of all sorts of dramas in Beacon Hills.
Stars: Tyler Posey, Holland Roden, Dylan O'Brien, Linden Ashby
Votes: 163,300
Rotten Tomatoes score for 1985 movie: 32% Rotten Tomatoes score for 2011 series: *81%*
11. The Exorcist (2016–2018)
TV-14 | 45 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
Follows two priests dealing with cases of a demonic presence targeting a family and a foster home.
Stars: Alfonso Herrera, Ben Daniels, Kurt Egyiawan, Hannah Kasulka
Votes: 31,605
Rotten Tomatoes score for 1973 movie: 78% Overall Rotten Tomatoes score for 2016 series: 89%
12. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)
TV-14 | 44 min | Action, Drama, Fantasy
A young woman, destined to slay vampires, demons and other infernal creatures, deals with her life fighting evil, with the help of her friends.
Stars: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Head
Votes: 159,794
Rotten Tomatoes score for 1992 movie: 32% Overall Rotten Tomatoes score for 1997 series: *82%*
13. Green Lantern: The Animated Series (2011–2013)
TV-PG | 25 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The further adventures of Hal Jordan and his comrades of the Green Lantern Corps.
Stars: Josh Keaton, Kevin Michael Richardson, Jason Spisak, Grey Griffin
Votes: 7,489
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2011 movie: 26% Rotten Tomatoes score for tie-in series (premiered a few months after it): *100%*
14. 10 Things I Hate About You (2009–2010)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
At Padua High, newcomers Kat and Bianca Stratford attempt to navigate the popular crowd.
Stars: Lindsey Shaw, Meaghan Martin, Ethan Peck, Nicholas Braun
Votes: 6,431
Rotten Tomatoes score for 1999 movie: 71% Rotten Tomatoes score for 2009 series: 88%
15. Lethal Weapon (2016–2019)
TV-14 | 44 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
A slightly unhinged cop is partnered with a veteran detective trying to maintain a low stress level in his life.
Stars: Damon Wayans, Keesha Sharp, Kevin Rahm, Michelle Mitchenor
Votes: 40,453
Rotten Tomatoes score for 1987 movie: 80% Overall Rotten Tomatoes score for 2016 series: 89%
16. The Girlfriend Experience (2016–2021)
TV-MA | 30 min | Drama
Explores the relationships between exclusive escorts and their clients, for whom they provide far more than just sex. Known as GFEs, they are women who provide emotional and sexual relationships at a very high price.
Stars: Riley Keough, Paul Sparks, Julia Goldani Telles, Mary Lynn Rajskub
Votes: 11,865
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2009 movie: 67% Rotten Tomatoes score for 2016 series: 71%
17. Around the World in 80 Days (2021– )
PG | 60 min | Adventure, Comedy, History
Gentleman adventurer Phileas Fogg sets out on a quest to travel around the world and back home in a period of 80 days.
Stars: David Tennant, Ibrahim Koma, Leonie Benesch, Jason Watkins
Votes: 12,146
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 1956 movie: 72% Rotten Tomatoes score for 2021 series: 81%
18. Reacher (2022– )
TV-MA | 50 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Itinerant former military policeman Jack Reacher solves crimes and metes out his own brand of street justice. Based on the novels by Lee Child.
Stars: Alan Ritchson, Maria Sten, Malcolm Goodwin, Willa Fitzgerald
Votes: 211,834
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2012 movie: 63% Overall Rotten Tomatoes score for 2022 series (As of 1/22/24): 95%
19. Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023– )
TV-PG | 45 min | Action, Adventure, Family
Demigod Percy Jackson leads a quest across America to prevent a war among the Olympian gods.
Stars: Walker Scobell, Leah Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri, Virginia Kull
Votes: 35,591
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2010 movie: 48% Rotten Tomatoes score for 2023 series (As of 2/1/24): *93%*
20. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023)
TV-MA | 28 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Scott Pilgrim meets the girl of his dreams, Ramona Flowers, only to find out her seven evil exes stand in the way of their love.
Stars: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Satya Bhabha, Kieran Culkin
Votes: 16,898
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2010 movie: 81% Rotten Tomatoes score for 2023 series: 96%
21. A League of Their Own (2022)
16+ | 60 min | Comedy, Drama, Sport
Comedy series about the WWII All-American professional women's baseball league.
Stars: Abbi Jacobson, Chanté Adams, D'Arcy Carden, Gbemisola Ikumelo
Votes: 24,924
Rotten Tomatoes score for 1993 movie: 81% Rotten Tomatoes score for 2022 series: 95%
22. Curious George (2006–2022)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Follows the mischievous adventures of a Monkey by the name of George.
Stars: Frank Welker, Jeff Bennett, Rino Romano, Jim Cummings
Votes: 3,456
Rotten Tomatoes for 2006 movie: 70% Rotten Tomatoes score for first season of tie-in TV series (premiered several months after its release): *100%*
23. Stargate SG-1 (1997–2007)
TV-14 | 44 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A secret military team, SG-1, is formed to explore other planets through the recently discovered Stargates.
Stars: Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge
Votes: 101,427
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 1994 movie: 53% Rotten Tomatoes Score for first season of the TV series: 60%
24. Friday Night Lights (2006–2011)
TV-14 | 45 min | Drama, Sport
A drama that follows the lives of the Dillon Panthers, one of the nation's best high school football teams, and their head coach Eric Taylor.
Stars: Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, Zach Gilford, Aimee Teegarden
Votes: 72,497
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2004 movie: 82% Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2006 series: 97%
25. Creepshow (2019– )
TV-MA | 44 min | Fantasy, Horror, Mystery
The fictional Creepshow comic books come to life in this anthology series of terrifying tales hosted by the silent Creepshow ghoul.
Stars: Carey Jones, Hannah Fierman, Kara Kimmer, David Alexander Kaplan
Votes: 9,262
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 1982 movie: 65% Rotten Tomatoes Score for first season of the TV series: *97%*
26. Black Dynamite (2011–2015)
TV-14 | 22 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Action comedy-spoof that follows ex-C. I. A. Agent and full-time ladies man, Black Dynamite, who's out to avenge the death of his brother against kung-fu masters, drug-dealing pimps, and The Man.
Stars: Michael Jai White, Byron Minns, Kym Whitley, Tommy Davidson
Votes: 4,904
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2009 movie: 83% Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2011 series: *100%*
27. House Calls (1979–1982)
30 min | Comedy
Having a workplace romance presents challenges, as a surgeon and admin learn. Despite their differences, the two can't help but be drawn together.
Stars: Wayne Rogers, Ray Buktenica, David Wayne, Lynn Redgrave
Votes: 145
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 1978 movie: 33% Rotten Tomatoes Score for first season of the TV series: 61%
28. Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024– )
TV-MA | 45 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
Two strangers land jobs with a spy agency that offers them a life of espionage, wealth, and travel. The catch: new identities in an arranged marriage.
Stars: Donald Glover, Maya Erskine, Paul Dano, Parker Posey
Votes: 38,046
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2005 movie: 60% Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2024 series (As of 2/22/24): *90%*
29. From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series (2014–2016)
TV-MA | 45 min | Action, Crime, Fantasy
A Texas Ranger is in hot pursuit of the infamous Gecko brothers and their hostages. They all end up trapped in a desert bar secretly run by vampires and discover a vampire conspiracy.
Stars: D.J. Cotrona, Zane Holtz, Jesse Garcia, Eiza González
Votes: 21,536
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 1996 movie: 63% Rotten Tomatoes Score for first season of the TV series: 75%
30. Wolf Creek (2016–2017)
TV-MA | 45 min | Adventure, Drama, Horror
An anthology series which centers on different characters being targeted by crazed serial killer Mick Taylor in the Australian outback.
Stars: John Jarratt, Lucy Fry, Dustin Clare, Tess Haubrich
Votes: 5,758
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2005 movie: 54% Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2016 miniseries: 77%
31. Hanna (2019– )
TV-MA | 60 min | Action, Drama
In equal parts high-concept thriller and coming-of-age drama, HANNA follows the journey of an extraordinary young girl raised in the forest, as she evades the relentless pursuit of an off-book CIA agent and tries to unearth the truth behind who she is.
Stars: Esme Creed-Miles, Mireille Enos, Áine Rose Daly, Cherrelle Skeete
Votes: 42,322
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2011 movie: 72% Overall Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2019 series: 80%
32. The Journalist (2022– )
TV-14 | 50 min | Drama, Thriller
A dedicated journalist who doggedly pursues the truth about a government corruption scandal even as powerful enemies seek to neutralize her reporting.
Stars: Ren Hanami, Andrew Lee, Keisuke Hoashi, Andrew Grace
Votes: 882
Current Rotten Tomatoes scores for both the original movie and this series are at 100%, but the latter has a higher average rating compared to the film (i.e. 6.7/10 to 5.8/10).
33. Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024– )
TV-PG | 55 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
A young boy known as the Avatar must master the four elemental powers to save the world, and fight against an enemy bent on stopping him.
Stars: Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, Ian Ousley, Dallas Liu
Votes: 68,382
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2010 movie: 5%
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2024 series (As of 3/15/2024): *61%*
"I see this as an absolute win."
- Dr. Bruce Banner
34. One Day (2024)
TV-MA | 28 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways.
Stars: Leo Woodall, Ambika Mod, Amber Grappy, Brendan Quinn
Votes: 41,823
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2011 movie: 36% Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2024 series: *91%*
35. The Handmaid's Tale (2017– )
TV-MA | 60 min | Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Set in a dystopian future, a woman is forced to live as a concubine under a fundamentalist theocratic dictatorship.
Stars: Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Ann Dowd, O-T Fagbenle
Votes: 258,090
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 1990 movie: 32% Overall Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2017 series: *83%*
36. Swamp Thing (2019)
TV-MA | 60 min | Horror, Sci-Fi
Abby Arcane returns home to Marais, Louisiana to investigate a deadly swamp-borne virus, only to discover the dark, terrifying mysteries of the swamp.
Stars: Crystal Reed, Virginia Madsen, Andy Bean, Derek Mears
Votes: 27,734
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 1982 movie: 60% Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2019 series: *92%*
37. Suburra: Blood on Rome (2017–2020)
TV-MA | 50 min | Action, Crime, Drama
In 2008, a fight over land in a seaside town near Rome spirals into a deadly battle between organized crime, corrupt politicians and the Vatican.
Stars: Alessandro Borghi, Giacomo Ferrara, Filippo Nigro, Carlotta Antonelli
Votes: 16,524
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2015 movie: 91% Rotten Tomatoes Score for first season of the TV series: 100%
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