TV series that became movies: 9 shows that made it to the big screen
Nine TV series that became films, from Batman and The Addams Family to The Fugitive, Mission: Impossible, South Park, Firefly's Serenity, The Simpsons, Downton Abbey and Breaking Bad's El Camino.
Some TV shows move to the cinema, either to retell the story or to close it. This list gathers nine of them, in release order, with posters and the series each film comes from.
For each film we explain how it connects to its series, who returned from the cast and whether you need to know the show first. Some are fresh retellings for a new audience, others are farewells made for longtime fans.
Why TV series move to the big screen
A film gives a series things television often cannot: a bigger budget, a larger screen and the attention of an event. Studios use it to bring a famous title to new viewers, while creators use it to tell a story too big or too daring for a weekly episode.
There are two main paths. Some films start over, recasting old characters for a new generation, as with The Fugitive or Mission: Impossible. Others continue the story with the original cast, and those depend much more on what fans already know.
The challenge is balance. A film made only for fans can confuse everyone else, while a film that ignores the series can disappoint the people who cared most. The best entries on this list manage to work for both, or make a clear choice and do it well.
How we chose
We chose films directly based on or continuing a TV series, from the 1960s to today. This is not a numbered ranking, and the films differ widely in tone and quality.
We looked for films that grew directly out of a TV series, either retelling it or continuing it, and that left a mark of their own. We wanted different decades and genres, from sixties camp and cartoons to thrillers, period drama and crime.
The films are in release order. Under each one you will find how it relates to the show, what makes it work and whether newcomers can jump in, so you know if it is worth watching the series first.
Batman: The Movie (1966)
TV series: Batman (1966).
From series to film: Batman: The Movie was made between the first and second seasons of the colorful sixties series, with Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin. It brought together four villains at once: the Joker, the Penguin, the Riddler and Catwoman, who team up to take over the world.
The bigger budget allowed new vehicles such as the Batcopter and the Batboat, and the humor is pure camp, from the shark repellent spray to Batman running around with a bomb he cannot get rid of. It never takes itself seriously, and that is the point.
You do not need to know the series to enjoy it, since every episode followed the same playful formula. It is ideal for families and for anyone curious about a very different Batman from the dark films of later decades.
The Addams Family (1991)
TV series: The Addams Family (1964).
From series to film: The Addams Family brought the macabre family from Charles Addams's magazine cartoons, and from the sixties TV series, back to the screen. Barry Sonnenfeld made his debut as a director, with Anjelica Huston as Morticia, Raul Julia as Gomez, Christina Ricci as Wednesday and Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester.
Watch the dark humor, the gothic sets and Thing, the helpful severed hand. Ricci's deadpan Wednesday became the model for the character, which much later got her own series on Netflix.
It works perfectly without knowing the original show and led to a sequel, Addams Family Values, which many fans consider even better. It is ideal for families who like their comedy a little spooky.
The Fugitive (1993)
TV series: The Fugitive (1963).
From series to film: The Fugitive, directed by Andrew Davis, retold the sixties series about Dr. Richard Kimble, a surgeon wrongly convicted of killing his wife who escapes and searches for the real killer, a one-armed man. Harrison Ford played Kimble and Tommy Lee Jones played the relentless U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard.
Watch the train crash that sets Kimble free and the famous jump from a dam, both built with large practical effects. The duel between the two leads, one running and one chasing, drives the whole film.
Tommy Lee Jones won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, and the film was nominated for Best Picture. You do not need the series at all, and it is ideal for anyone who loves a smart, fast thriller.
Mission: Impossible (1996)
TV series: Mission: Impossible (1966).
From series to film: Mission: Impossible, directed by Brian De Palma, turned the sixties spy series into a film starring Tom Cruise as agent Ethan Hunt, in his first job as a producer. It kept the famous theme by Lalo Schifrin, the masks and the self-destructing messages.
Watch the break-in at a CIA vault, with Cruise hanging from wires in total silence, one of the most copied scenes of the decade. Fans of the original series were upset that its hero, Jim Phelps, was turned into a traitor.
The film launched one of the longest-running action franchises, with Cruise doing ever bigger stunts in each sequel. You do not need the series, and it is ideal for anyone who wants a clever spy puzzle.
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
TV series: South Park (1997).
From series to film: South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, by series creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, follows the boys after they sneak into an adult film and start repeating its bad language, which leads the United States into a war with Canada. It is also a full musical.
Listen to the songs, which parody Broadway and Disney musicals, especially Blame Canada, which was nominated for the Oscar for Best Original Song. The film is a sharp satire about censorship and about blaming movies for everything.
It is meant for adults only, with constant swearing and crude humor. You do not need to know the series, and it is ideal for viewers who enjoy fearless comedy and catchy songs.
Serenity (2005)
TV series: Firefly (2002).
From series to film: Serenity, written and directed by Joss Whedon, continues the space western series Firefly, which was cancelled after a single season. A passionate fan campaign helped convince a studio to make the film, with Nathan Fillion returning as Captain Mal Reynolds.
Watch how the film explains the secret of River Tam and the origin of the Reavers, two mysteries the series never had time to solve. It mixes humor, action and western style, and it does not hesitate to make painful choices with its characters.
It works on its own, but it hits much harder if you have seen the fourteen episodes of Firefly first. It is ideal for science fiction fans who like small crews and big personalities.
The Simpsons Movie (2007)
TV series: The Simpsons (1989).
From series to film: The Simpsons Movie brought the longest-running American animated series to the big screen after years of development. Homer pollutes the town lake, and Springfield is sealed under a giant dome, forcing the family to flee to Alaska.
Watch for Spider-Pig, the pig Homer adopts, who became one of the most quoted jokes of the film. The animation is richer than on TV, but the humor is the same mix of family warmth and satire.
It earned more than five hundred million dollars worldwide, and for its release some stores were turned into real Kwik-E-Marts. You do not need any homework, and it is ideal for families and fans of every age.
Downton Abbey (2019)
TV series: Downton Abbey (2010).
From series to film: Downton Abbey continues the British period drama created by Julian Fellowes, which follows the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants. In the film, set in 1927, the house prepares for a visit from King George V and Queen Mary.
Watch the costumes, the huge house and the sharp lines of the Dowager Countess, played by Maggie Smith, who steals every scene. The film gives almost every character from the series a moment of their own.
It was followed by two more films, A New Era and The Grand Finale. It works best for fans of the series, but newcomers who love period drama and gentle humor will still enjoy it.
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)
TV series: Breaking Bad (2008).
From series to film: El Camino, written and directed by series creator Vince Gilligan, follows Jesse Pinkman, played by Aaron Paul, in the hours after the final episode of Breaking Bad. Jesse tries to escape his past and start a new life, while flashbacks bring back familiar faces.
Watch the tense, quiet scenes and the flashbacks that fill in what Jesse lived through as a prisoner. The film was shot in secret and released on Netflix, and it was the last film of actor Robert Forster, who died on the day of its release.
It is made for people who have watched Breaking Bad and will make little sense without it. For fans, it is a moving farewell that gives Jesse the ending many hoped for.
Where to start
Choose by how well you know the series:
- Never saw the series: The Fugitive, Mission: Impossible or The Addams Family.
- Fans of the show: Serenity, Downton Abbey or El Camino.
- Animated comedy: The Simpsons Movie, or South Park for adults only.
- Sixties camp fun: Batman: The Movie.
If you want one film that works for anyone, start with The Fugitive. It needs no knowledge of the series and is one of the best thrillers of the nineties.
If you love one of the series, watch the film right after finishing it. Serenity after Firefly and El Camino after Breaking Bad feel like a final chapter, and they are much more powerful that way.
Frequently asked questions
Which TV series became movies?
Well-known examples include Batman, The Addams Family, The Fugitive, Mission: Impossible, South Park, Firefly, The Simpsons, Downton Abbey and Breaking Bad.
Do I need to watch the series before the movie?
Some films, such as Serenity, Downton Abbey and El Camino, work best if you know the series, while others stand alone more easily.
Which of these movies continues the story of its series?
Serenity continues Firefly, Downton Abbey continues the TV show, and El Camino follows Jesse Pinkman after Breaking Bad.
Did any of these movies win an Oscar?
Yes. Tommy Lee Jones won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for The Fugitive, and South Park was nominated for Best Original Song.
Which of these movies started a film franchise?
Mission: Impossible became a long series of films, The Addams Family had a sequel, and Downton Abbey was followed by two more films.
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Sources: official studio releases, filmographies and public records.
