Inspiration can be found anywhere, even in our favorite movies. Sometimes, television creators use films as their source material. The longer run time on TV gives the story more breathing room.
The ten movies on this list are based on some of your favorite films. It’s exciting to see what different forms can do with these much-loved characters. From Star Wars to Alfred Hitchcock's movies, this list has a little something for everyone.
'Andor'
This one is for all the Star Wars fans out there. The Disney+ series Andor is based on the movie Rogue One. More specifically, it is the prequel to the 2016 film, which is a prequel to the original 1977 Star Wars film. Andor tells the story of Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna, and his journey from thief to rebel spy. Tony Gilroy, one of the screenwriters of Rogue One, created Andor and serves as its showrunner.
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'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series'
The 2006 Disney Channel original movie High School Musical and its sequels were hugely successful for the company. The third installment was even released in movie theaters. Naturally, Disney wanted to continue to cash in on this intellectual property, so it turned its eye to television. High School Musical: The Musical: The Series debuted on the Disney Channel, ABC, Freeform, and Disney+ in 2019. It told the story of high school students putting on a new musical every year and presented it in documentary style. The first show was the stage version of High School Musical. This series put actors Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett on the map.
'Parenthood'
The 1989 Ron Howard film Parenthood inspired two NBC television series. The 2010 show of the same name, developed by Jason Katims, was the more successful venture. This series follows three generations of the Braverman family doing their best to navigate life's ups and downs in Berkeley, California. The ensemble cast featured Craig T. Nelson as the patriarch, Zeek, and Bonnie Bedelia as matriarch Camille Braverman. It also featured Peter Krause as their adult son, Adam Braverman; Lauren Graham as their adult daughter, Sarah Braverman-Holt; Dax Shepard as Crosby Braverman; and Erika Christensen as Julia Braverman-Graham. The popular series ran for six seasons.
'Cobra Kai'
Before there was the 2018 series Cobra Kai, there was the 1984 Robert Mark Kamen film The Karate Kid and its sequels, The Karate Kid Part II and The Karate Kid Part III. Cobra Kai acts as a sequel to the films. It follows Daniel LaRusso, played by Ralph Macchio, and his long-running karate feud with Johnny Lawrence, played by William Zabka. The series began on YouTube Red but has since moved over to Netflix.
'Lilo & Stitch: The Series'
Lilo & Stitch: The Series is based on the 2002 full-length animated film Lilo & Stitch. It continued right where the movie left off and ran for two seasons. Lilo and Stitch help find Jumba's 623 missing experiments a good home. This is, of course, after they work to change some of their bad habits.
'Buffy The Vampire Slayer'
Before Sarah Michelle Gellar slayed, Kristy Swanson fought the vampires. Joss Whedon wrote the 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer but ended up walking off set because he didn't agree with the direction the movie was heading. This fueled him to create the 1997 series of the same name so he could see his original vision come to life. It ran for seven seasons and was a critical and commercial success.
'The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa'
Disney's Timon & Pumbaa ran for three seasons, from 1995 to 1999. It was based on the hit 1994 animated movie The Lion King. This wacky comedy followed Timon and Pumbaa as they lives their best hakuna matata lives.
'Teen Wolf'
Tyler Posey had some very big shoes to fill when talking on the title role in the Teen Wolf series — or should we say paws? Michael J. Fox was the original Scott McCall in 1985, and played a teen who discovers he is actually a werewolf. The series, developed by Jeff Davis for MTV, puts a darker spin on things. It ran for six seasons, from 2011 to 2017.
'A League of Their Own'
There's no crying in baseball, but maybe it's OK to shed a tear for the short-lived series A League of Their Own based on the 1992 film of the same name. Part of the reason it was canceled after just one season was because of the 2023 writers strike. The series and movie told the same true story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War II, with the series embracing more diverse characters. It was a shame to see it go so soon.
'Bates Motel'
If you are feeling a little Psycho, this is the series for you. Bates Motel premiered in 2013 on the A&E Network and was developed by Carlton Cuse, Kerry Ehrin, and Anthony Cipriano. The series considers itself a "contemporary prequel" of Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 film. It focused on Norman Bates' origin story. Actor Freddie Highmore played the title character, while Vera Farmiga portrayed his mother, Norma. The show ran for five seasons.
