list of films based on television programs

This a list of television programs that were later adapted into feature films.

Programs with films which are prequels, sequels or based upon the series

Pilot episodes released as feature films

Television pilots that were soon or later adapted into feature films for either a release or re-release to movie theaters or direct-to-video.
*''77 Sunset Strip'' (Pilot, '' Girl on the Run'', 1958, initially briefly shown as a "feature film" in one Caribbean theater in order for the studio to cheat Roy Huggins of television series creator rights)
*'' The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius'' (Original unaired TV pilot, "Runaway Rocketboy", 1998, expanded and remade into a feature film as '' Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius'', 2001)
*''The Amazing Spider-Man'' ('' Spider-Man'', 1977)
*'' Battlestar Galactica'' (Three-part TV pilot, " Saga of a Star World", re-edited into a big screen release in 1978 in the UK and international territories, in order to recoup its high production costs, and in the US in 1979 after the series' original cancellation that same year)
*'' Buck Rogers in the 25th Century'' (1979, TV pilot released theatrically as a standalone film when no networks picked it up)
*'' Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins'' (2000)
*'' Gargoyles'' ('' Gargoyles the Movie: The Heroes Awaken'', 1995)
*''House of Mouse'' ('' Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse'', 2001, were the series finale and ''Mickey's House of Villains'', 2002, the pilot respectively)
*'' Lilo & Stitch: The Series'' (''Stitch! The Movie'', 2003, and '' Leroy & Stitch'', 2006, were the pilot and series finale to the series respectively)
*'' Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series'' ('' Mighty Ducks the Movie: The First Face-Off'', 1997)
*'' The New Addams Family'' (''Addams Family Reunion'', 1998)
*'' The Road Runner Show'' (Original TV pilot, '' Adventures of the Road Runner'', 1962, released as a featurette five years before the series was picked up)
*'' Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' (2008)
*'' TaleSpin'' ('' Plunder & Lightning'', 1990)
*''Temple Houston'' (''The Man from Galveston'', 1963)
*''The Three Musketeers'' ('' Knights of the Queen'', 1954)
*'' Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie'' (1997, took place between ''Power Rangers Zeo'' and '' Power Rangers Turbo'')
*''Twin Peaks'' (1990, TV pilot released as a film in Europe)
*'' The Untouchables'' (TV pilot edited into film for theatrical release as '' The Scarface Mob'', 1962)
Many other series have released pilots or edited multi-part episodes as films overseas, including ''The Greatest American Hero'' and ''The X-Files''.

Failed pilots

Some feature films began as a pilot episode for a TV series that was not picked up by any networks.
*'' Atlantis: Milo's Return'' (direct-to-video, 2003)
*'' Band of the Hand'' (1986)
*''Body Bags'' (TV, 1993)
*'' Belle's Magical World'' (direct-to-video, 1998)
*'' Chamber of Horrors'' (1966)
*'' Cruel Intentions 2'' (direct-to-video, 2001)
*'' Hell Ship Mutiny'' (1957)
*'' Lum and Abner Abroad'' (1956)
*''Mulholland Drive'' (2001)
*''Nightmares'' (1983)
*'' Ride the High Iron'' (1956)
*''Sabu and the Magic Ring'' (1957)
*'' Shoot Out at Big Sag'' (1962)
*'' Tales of Robin Hood'' (1951)
*''Tarzan and the Trappers'' (1958)
*'' Tex and the Lord of the Deep'' (1985)
*'' Wolfshead: The Legend of Robin Hood'' (1973)
*'' Ultraman: The Adventure Begins'' (1987)
Many failed pilots have been aired as television films; see Television pilots not picked up as a series.

Television films

The following are television films that never saw theatrical release.

Before main run of show

Some television films have functioned as pilots or backdoor pilots for a subsequent TV series.
*''21 Jump Street'' (1987)
*''Alias Smith and Jones'' (1971)
*''All Grown Up!'' (started off as a one-hour TV movie in 2001, coinciding with ''Rugrats 10th anniversary before being spun off into its own series two years later)
*''Airwolf'' ('' Shadow of the Hawke'', 1984)
*''American Dad!'' (short film pilot episode, ''Inside the CIA'', 2005)
*''The A-Team'' ('' Mexican Slayride'', 1983)
*''Automan'' (1983)
*''Banacek'' ('' Banacek: Detour to Nowhere'', 1972)
*'' Big Hawaii'' (''Danger in Paradise'', 1977)
*'' Brand New Life: The Honeymooners'' (1989)
*''The Brady Kids'' (''The Brady Kids on Mysterious Island'', 1972)
*''Cagney & Lacey'' (1981)
*''Cannon'' (1971)
*''ChalkZone'' (''The Big Blow-Up'', 2004)
*''Charlie's Angels'' (1976)
*'' Chase'' (1973)
*''Chicago Story'' (1981)
*'' Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers'' (''Rescue Rangers: To the Rescue'', 1989)
*'' Code of Vengeance'' (''Code of Vengeance'', 1985, and ''Dalton: Code of Vengeance II'', 1986)
*''Columbo'' ('' Prescription: Murder'', 1968, and '' Ransom for a Dead Man'', 1971)
*'' The D.A.'' (''Murder One'', 1969, and ''Conspiracy to Kill'', 1971)
*''Darkwing Duck'' (''Darkly Dawns the Duck'', 1991)
*'' The Delphi Bureau'' (''The Merchant of Death Assignment'', 1972)
*'' Dog and Cat'' (1977)
*''DuckTales'' (''Treasure of the Golden Suns'', 1987)
*''Ellery Queen'' (''Too Many Suspects'', 1975)
*'' The Family Holvak'' ('' The Greatest Gift'', 1974)
*''Fantasy Island'' (''Fantasy Island'', 1977, and ''Return to Fantasy Island'', 1978)
*'' Firehouse'' (Pilot first aired in 1973, a year before the series debuted in 1974)
*''Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends'' (''House of Bloo's'', 2004)
*'' Gemini Man'' ('' Code Name Minus One'', 1976)
*''Get Christie Love!'' (1974)
*'' Gibbsville'' (''The Turning Point of Jim Malloy'', 1975)
*''Griff'' (''Man on the Outside'', the pilot which was supposed to proceed the series, actually aired two years after the series' cancellation in 1975)
*'' Gun Shy'' (''Tales of the Apple Dumpling Gang'', 1982)
*''Harry O'' (''Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On'', 1973 and ''Smile Jenny, You're Dead'', 1974)
* ''Hart to Hart'' (1979)
*'' Hec Ramsey'' (''The Century Turns'', 1972)
*'' Hercules: The Legendary Journeys'' ('' Hercules and the Amazon Women'', '' Hercules and the Lost Kingdom'', '' Hercules and the Circle of Fire'', '' Hercules in the Underworld'', and '' Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur'', all 1994)
*''Hey Arnold!'' (short film pilot episode, ''24 Hours to Live'', 1996)
*'' How the West Was Won'' ('' The Macahans'', 1976)
*''Hunter'' (1984)
*'' The Immortal'' (1969)
*''The Incredible Hulk'' (''The Incredible Hulk'' and ''The Return of the Incredible Hulk'', both 1977)
*''The Invisible Man'' (1975)
*''Iron Horse'' (''Scalplock'', 1966)
*'' Ironside'' (1967)
*'' Jigsaw'' (''Man on the Move'', 1972)
*''Justice League'' ('' Justice League: Secret Origins'', 2001)
*''Kiteretsu Daihyakka'' ('' Fujiko Fujio no Kiteretsu Daihyakka'', 1987)
*''Knight Rider'' ('' Knight of the Phoenix'', 1982)
*''Knight Rider'' (2008)
*'' Kobo, the Li'l Rascal'' (''Kobo-chan Special: Filled with Autumn!!'', 1990, and ''Kobo-chan Special: Filled with Dreams!!'', 1991)
*''Kojak'' ('' The Marcus-Nelson Murders'', 1973)
*'' Kolchak: The Night Stalker'' ('' The Night Stalker'', 1972, and '' The Night Strangler'', 1973)
*''Kung Fu'' ('' The Way of the Tiger, The Sign of the Dragon'', 1972)
*'' L.A. Law'' (1986)
*''Lassie's Rescue Rangers'' (''Lassie and the Spirit of Thunder Mountain'', 1972)
*''The Lion Guard'' ('' The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar'', 2016)
*''Little House on the Prairie'' (1974)
*''Logan's Run'' (1977)
*'' Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman'' ("Pilot", 1993)
*'' Longstreet'' (1971)
*''The Love Boat'' (''The Love Boat'', 1976, and ''The Love Boat II'' and ''The New Love Boat'', both 1977)
*'' The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove'' (''Stickin' Together'', 1978)
*'' Magnum, P.I.'' ('' Don't Eat the Snow in Hawaii'', 1980)
*''Man from Atlantis'' (''Man from Atlantis'', ''The Death Scouts'', ''Killer Spores'', and ''The Disappearances'', all 1977)
*'' Manimal'' (1983)
*'' M.A.N.T.I.S.'' (1994)
*'' Marcus Welby, M.D.'' ('' A Matter of Humanities'', 1969)
*''Matt Helm'' (1975)
*'' McCloud'' ('' McCloud: Who Killed Miss U.S.A.?'', 1970)
*''McMillan & Wife'' ('' Once Upon a Dead Man'', 1971)
*''Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer'' ('' Murder Me, Murder You'', 1983, and ''More Than Murder'', 1984, the third film, ''The Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer'', 1986 launched the sequel series, ''The New Mike Hammer'')
*''The Mod Squad'' ('' The Teeth of the Barracuda'', 1968)
*''Murder, She Wrote'' (''The Murder of Sherlock Holmes'', 1984)
*'' The Naked Brothers Band'' ('' The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie'', 2005)
*'' Nakia'' (1974)
*'' The New Adventures of Flash Gordon'' (Originally conceived and produced as an animated made-for-TV movie, under the title '' Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All'', it was later reconfigured into an animated TV series. After the said TV cartoon show version of ''Flash Gordon'' ended in 1981, the originally intended feature-length animated film eventually made it to television in 1982.)
*'' The New Beachcombers'' (2002)
*''Night Gallery'' (1969)
*'' Night Man'' (1997)
*'' Outlaws'' (1986)
*''Petrocelli'' (''Night Games'', 1974)
*'' The Phoenix'' (1981)
*'' Police Story'' ('' Slow Boy'', 1973)
*''Quantum Leap'' (''Genesis'', 1989)
*'' Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure'' ('' Tangled: Before Ever After'', 2017)
*'' Richie Brockelman, Private Eye'' ('' Richie Brockelman: The Missing 24 Hours'', 1976)
*''RoboCop'' (''The Future of Law Enforcement'', 1994)
*''Robotech'' ('' Codename: Robotech'', 1984)
*''The Rockford Files'' (''Backlash of the Hunter'', 1974)
*''The Rookies'' (1972)
*'' Samurai Jack'' ('' Samurai Jack: The Premiere Movie'', 2001)
*'' Sarge'' (''The Badge or the Cross'', 1971)
*''Search'' ('' Probe'', 1972)
*''Serpico'' ('' The Deadly Game'', 1976)
*''Simon & Simon'' (''Pirate's Key'', 1978)
*''The Six Million Dollar Man'' (''The Six Million Dollar Man'', ''Wine, Women and War'' and ''The Solid Gold Kidnapping'', all 1973)
*''The Sixth Sense'' ('' Sweet, Sweet Rachel'', 1971)
*'' The Snoop Sisters'' ('' The Female Instinct'', 1972)
*'' Spenser: For Hire'' (''Promised Land'', 1985)
*'' Starsky & Hutch'' (1975)
*''Street Hawk'' (1985)
*''The Streets of San Francisco'' (1972)
*''The Swiss Family Robinson'' (1975)
*''Sword of Justice'' (''A Double Life'', 1978)
*'' Toma'' (1973)
*'' Transformers: Animated'' (''Transform and Roll Out'', 2007)
*''Viper'' (1994)
*''The Waltons'' ('' The Homecoming: A Christmas Story'', 1971)
*''Wonder Woman'' ('' The New Original Wonder Woman'', 1975)
*''Yogi's Gang'' ('' Yogi's Ark Lark'', 1972)
*''The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles'' (''Young Indiana Jones and the Curse of the Jackal'', 1992)
*'' The Young Pioneers'' ('' Young Pioneers'' and '' Young Pioneers' Christmas'', both 1976)

Reunion films

Many American TV series have had TV films, usually filmed five or more years after the run of the original series, which reunite the cast of the series for a new plot. In some cases, there has been an entire string of such films, including for the detective shows ''Perry Mason'' (1957-1966; 30 films from 1985 to 1995), ''The Rockford Files'', (1974–80; eight films from 1994 to 1999), and ''Hart to Hart'' (1979-1984; eight films from 1993 to 1996). In at least one case, with the 1988 ''Get Smart'' reunion film ''Get Smart, Again!'', the success of the TV film eventually led to a brief 1995 revival of the series.

There have also been many television reunion specials, in which some or all of the original cast is brought together for interviews and clips.

Other

Television series that have had varying episodes, from sequels, double-length installments, multi-part storylines, and television specials based on their respective shows as films for miscellaneous purposes and alternative reasons.
*'' The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius'' (''The Jimmy Timmy Power Hour'' and ''Win, Lose and Kaboom'', both 2004, '' When Nerds Collide'', 2005, and '' The Jerkinators'', 2006)
*'' All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series'' (''An All Dogs Christmas Carol'', 1998)
*''Archie's Weird Mysteries'' ('' The Archies in Jugman'', 2002)
*'' As Told by Ginger'' (''Summer of Camp Caprice'', 2002, ''Far from Home'', 2003, and ''Butterflies Are Free'' and ''The Wedding Frame'', both 2004)
*''Arthur'' (''Arthur's Perfect Christmas'', 2000, '' Arthur, It's Only Rock 'n' Roll'', 2002, '' D.W. and the Beastly Birthday'' and '' Arthur and the Haunted Tree House'', both 2017, '' The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur'' and '' An Arthur Thanksgiving'', both 2020, '' Arthur's First Day'', 2021)
*'' Avatar: The Last Airbender'' ('' Sozin's Comet'', 2008)
*''The Banana Splits Adventure Hour'' ('' The Banana Splits in Hocus Pocus Park'', 1972)
*'' The Beachcombers'' (''A Beachcombers Christmas'', 2004)
*''Ben 10'' (''Ben 10 vs. The Negative 10'', 2008)
*''Bewitched'' ('' Tabitha and Adam and the Clown Family'', 1972)
*''Big Time Rush'' ('' Big Time Movie'', 2012)
* '' Call of the Wild'' (''Pilot'', 2000)
*''Camp Lazlo'' ('' Where's Lazlo?'', 2007)
*''Captain Future'' (''Captain Future: The Great Race in the Solar System'', 1978)
*''Care Bears'' ('' Care Bears Nutcracker Suite'', 1988)
*''Case Closed'' ('' The Disappearance of Conan Edogawa: His History's Worst Two Days'', 2014, and '' Episode One: The Great Detective Turned Small'', 2016)
*''CatDog'' (''CatDog and the Great Parent Mystery'', 2000)
*''City Hunter'' (''The Secret Service'', 1996, '' Goodbye My Sweetheart'', 1997, and ''Death of the Vicious Criminal Ryo Saeba'', 1999)
*'' Codename: Kids Next Door'' (''Operation I.N.T.E.R.V.I.E.W.S.'', 2008)
*''Columbo'' (1990-2003)
*''Death Note'' (''Death Note: Relight - Visions of a God'', 2007, and ''Death Note: Relight 2 - L's Successors'', 2008)
*'' Dennis the Menace'' ('' Dennis the Menace: Cruise Control'', 2002)
*''Dexter's Laboratory'' ('' Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip'', 1999)
*''Digimon'' ('' Digital Monster X-Evolution'', 2005)
*''Dragon Ball GT'' ('' A Hero's Legacy'', 1997)
*''Dragon Ball Z'' ('' Bardock – The Father of Goku'', 1990, and ''The History of Trunks'', 1993)
*''Drake & Josh'' ('' Really Big Shrimp'', 2007)
*''DuckTales'' (''Catch as Cash Can'', 1987, ''Time Is Money'', 1988, and ''Super DuckTales'', 1989)
*'' The Facts of Life '' ('' The Facts of Life Goes to Paris'', 1982, and '' The Facts of Life Down Under'', 1987)
*''The Fairly OddParents'' (''Abra-Catastrophe!'', 2003, '' Channel Chasers'', 2004, '' School's Out! The Musical'', 2004, '' Fairy Idol'', 2006, ''Fairly OddBaby'', 2008, and '' Wishology'', 2009)
*''Family Ties'' ('' Family Ties Vacation'', 1985)
*''The Famous Jett Jackson'' ('' Jett Jackson: The Movie'', 2001)
*'' The File of Young Kindaichi'' (''The Last Opera House Murders'' and ''Vampire Legend Murder Case'', 2007)
*'' Flight 29 Down'' (''The Hotel Tango'', 2007)
*''The Flintstones'' ('' A Flintstone Christmas'', 1977, '' The Flintstones: Little Big League'', 1978, '' The Flintstones Meet Rockula and Frankenstone'', 1979, ''I Yabba-Dabba Do!'' and ''Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby'', both 1993, and '' A Flintstones Christmas Carol'', 1994)
*''Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends'' (''Good Wilt Hunting'', 2005)
*'' Galaxy Express 999'' (''Can You Live Like a Warrior!!'', 1979, and ''Emeraldes the Eternal Wanderer'' and ''Can You Love Like a Mother!!'', both 1980)
*'' Goof Troop'' ('' Goof Troop Christmas: Have Yourself a Goofy Little Christmas'', 1992)
*''The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy'' ('' Billy & Mandy: Wrath of the Spider Queen'', 2007, and '' Underfist: Halloween Bash'', 2008)
*'' Groovie Goolies'' ('' Daffy Duck and Porky Pig Meet the Groovie Goolies'', 1972)
*''Hajime no Ippo'' (''Hajime no Ippo - Champion Road'', 2003)
*''The Huckleberry Hound Show'' ('' The Good, the Bad, and Huckleberry Hound'', 1988)
*''iCarly'' ('' iGo to Japan'', 2008)
*'' Ikkyū-san'' (''Ikkyū-san: Ōabare no Yancha-hime'', 1980)
*''The Incredible Hulk'' (''Bride of the Incredible Hulk'', 1978)
*'' Inspector Gadget'' (''Inspector Gadget's Last Case'', 2002, and '' Inspector Gadget's Biggest Caper Ever'', 2005)
*''Kenan & Kel'' (''Two Heads Are Better Than None'', 2000)
*''Kim Possible'' ('' Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time'', 2002, and '' Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama'', 2005)
*''Kimba the White Lion'' ('' Jungle Emperor Leo: The Brave Changes the Future'', 2009)
*''Kinnikuman'' ('' Showdown! The 7 Justice Supermen vs. The Space Samurais'', 1984)
*''Knight Rider'' ('' Knight Rider 2000'', 1991, and '' Knight Rider 2010'', 1994)
*''The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams'' (''The Capture of Grizzly Adams'', 1982)
*''Little House on the Prairie'' (''Look Back at Yesterday'', 1983, and ''The Last Farewell'' and ''Bless All the Dear Children'', both 1984)
*''The Littles'' (''Liberty and the Littles'', 1986)
*''The Lone Ranger'' (''The Lone Ranger Story'', 1955)
*''Lupin III'' (1989–present)
*'' Madeline'' (''My Fair Madeline'', 2002)
*''Maison Ikkoku'' (''Maison Ikkoku: The Final Chapter'', 1988)
*''Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer '' ('' Mike Hammer: Murder Takes All'', 1989, was the final installment of the Stacy Keach television series)
*''My Gym Partner's a Monkey'' (''The Big Field Trip'', 2007, and ''Animal School Musical'', 2008)
*'' My Life as a Teenage Robot'' ('' Escape from Cluster Prime'', 2005)
*'' The Naked Brothers Band'' ('' Battle of the Bands'', 2007, '' Sidekicks'', ''Polar Bears'', '' Mystery Girl'' and '' Operation Mojo'', all 2008, '' Naked Idol'' and '' The Premiere'', both 2009)
*''Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide'' ('' Ned's Guide to: Field Trips, Permission Slips, Signs and Weasels'', 2007)
* ''Oishinbo'' (''Oishinbo: Kyūkyoku Tai Shikō, Chōju Ryōri Taiketsu!!'', 1992, and ''Oishinbo: Nichibei Kome Sensō'', 1993)
*''One Piece'' (2000–present)
*''Peanuts'' ('' A Charlie Brown Celebration'', 1982, '' It's an Adventure, Charlie Brown'', 1983, '' You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown'', 1985, and '' Snoopy! The Musical'' and '' It's the Girl in the Red Truck, Charlie Brown'', both 1988)
*''Pokémon'' (''Mewtwo Returns'', 2000, and ''The Mastermind of Mirage Pokemon'', 2006)
*'' Police Story'' (''A Cry for Justice'', 1979, ''Confessions of a Lady Cop'', 1980, and ''The Freeway Killings'', 1987)
*''Popeye the Sailor

HOME


Content is Copyleft
Website design, code, and AI is Copyrighted (c) 2014-2017 by Stephen Payne


Consider donating to Wikimedia



As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases