Movies that became TV shows

Whether due to their strong conceptual potential or sheer familiarity, film and TV history is full of stories that originated in one medium and were adapted for the other. Beloved stream online now.

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Lethal Weapon

Lethal Weapon

7.6/10
1h49min
R
1987
Action
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Rent or Buy:
Apple TV (iTunes)

One of the undisputed action movie classics of the '80s is Lethal Weapon, originally directed by Richard Donner with a script by Shane Black. The movie was rebooted as a modern-day TV series, starring Damon Wayans and Clayne Crawford in the lead roles.

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The Karate Kid

The Karate Kid

7.3/10
2h7min
PG
1984
Drama
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The Karate Kid saga is another fan-favorite from the '80s, with three original films starring Ralph Macchio, a sequel with Hilary Swank, and a reboot with Jaden Smith (which will soon get a sequel titled Karate Kid: Legends, tying everything into the original canon). Its enduring popularity led to the hit series Cobra Kai, set after the events of the first four films, following Daniel-San (Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) as adults training a new generation of students.

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Fargo

Fargo

8.1/10
1h38min
R
1996
Drama
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Rent or Buy:
Apple TV (iTunes)
Subscription:
HBO Max

The darkly comedic crime film Fargo, written and directed by the Coen brothers, is one of the most acclaimed entries in their stellar filmography—which says a lot. It was adapted into an equally praised TV series that, while not following the same storyline, is set in the same continuity.

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Snowpiercer

Snowpiercer

7.1/10
2h6min
R
2013
Action
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Rent or Buy:
Apple TV (iTunes)
Subscription:
Netflix

Although Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho’s Snowpiercer is itself a film adaptation of a French graphic novel, the TV series draws inspiration from both the movie and the original comic. It features a different storyline and new characters, but retains the central premise: the remnants of humanity survive aboard a perpetually moving train after a failed climate experiment renders Earth a frozen wasteland.

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12 Monkeys

12 Monkeys

8/10
2h9min
R
1995
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
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Rent or Buy:
Apple TV (iTunes)

Though the TV show 12 Monkeys carries the name of the 1995 sci-fi classic directed by Terry Gilliam, its roots go back further—the movie was based on the iconic short film La Jetée by Chris Marker. The series follows a similar premise: a time traveler from 2043 goes back to the past to prevent the release of a deadly virus by the "Army of the Twelve Monkeys," which would otherwise wipe out most of the human population.

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