As a seasoned movie enthusiast who has seen more films than I can count, I must say that some of these cinematic ventures are truly unique and memorable, while others… not so much. The first category includes gems like “Looney Tunes: Back in Action,” which, despite its unconventional origins as a Nike ad, offers an exciting adventure with our beloved cartoon characters. On the other hand, films such as “Bewitched” and “Teacher’s Pet,” though well-intentioned, failed to capture the magic of their original counterparts, leaving us scratching our heads in bewilderment.
There are plenty of largely forgotten TV shows based on movies but did you know that there are just many cinematic TV series adaptations that have not stood the test of time? See for yourself by taking a look at some notable (or should we say “obscure”) movies based on TV shows that you likely forgot about.
Munster, Go Home! (1966)
If you’re not fond of Rob Zombie’s Munsters movie, consider giving “Munster, Go Home!” a try instead. This film, released in color shortly after the final episode of the original sitcom, features the original cast members and follows the Munsters as they encounter disagreements with their English neighbors when they inherit a grand estate in England.
The Avengers (1998)
The movie titled “The Avengers,” not to be mistaken for the Marvel production of the same name, is actually a remake of a 1960s British spy television series. Despite its negative critical reception and initial box office failure, it boasts an impressive cast featuring Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman as secret agents. Their mission: to thwart Sir August de Wynter, portrayed by the legendary Sir Sean Connery, from seizing control of the world using a weather manipulation machine.
Return To The Batcave: The Misadventures Of Adam And Burt (2003)
One of the initial full-length, live-action Batman films was directly inspired by the TV series starring Adam West and Burt Ward, and it hit theaters not long after its television debut in 1966. Approximately forty years later, they appeared as themselves in “Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt,” a movie that served as both a biographical account (with Jack Brewer and Jason Marsden portraying West and Ward) and a reunion project where the Batman stars had to recover the stolen Batmobile.
David Brent: Life On the Road (2016)
Prior to calls for a reunion special of NBC’s “The Office” cast, the original U.K. version had already produced a spin-off film. Ricky Gervais returns to his role in “David Brent: Life on the Road,” where the ex-office manager pursues his ambition to become a rock star.
The Brady Bunch In The White House (2002)
Gary Cole and Shelley Long took on the characters of Mike and Carol Brady in two movies that reprised and humorously satirized the iconic 1970s sitcom, with a third installment, “The Brady Bunch in the White House“, premiering originally on Fox.
Car 54, Where Are You? (1994)
Prior to their roles as Herman and Grandpa on “The Munsters”, Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis previously acted as inept policemen in the TV series “Car 54, Where Are You?“. Later, Al Lewis reprised his role in a movie version of the show, which also featured David Johansen, future cast member of “Scrubs” John C. McGinley, Rosie O’Donnell, and Fran Drescher.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996)
Each episode of “Mystery Science Theater 3000” runs full-length to ensure there’s ample time for the rotating human hosts and their robotic companions to mock a plethora of cheesy films. The only instance where the Satellite of Love’s wisecracking was exhibited in cinemas was in a box office flop, titled “This Island Earth,” where Mike (Michael J. Nelson), Tom Servo (Kevin Murphy), and Crow (Trace Beaulieu) make an appearance in the 1955 movie.
The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (2002)
As a gaming enthusiast, I’d rephrase it like this: The popularity of “The Crocodile Hunter” TV show sparked the creation of an action-packed movie blend of nature docudrama and humorous spy thriller titled “The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course.” In this film, the legendary Steve Irwin and his wife Terri step into their real-life roles, where they find themselves unexpectedly caught up in the hunt for a missing satellite part, swallowed by a crocodile.
The Nude Bomb (1980)
The Steve Carell-starred 2008 remake of “Get Smart” wasn’t actually the initial movie adaptation of the popular ’60s spy sitcom. Instead, Don Adams had previously taken on the role of CONTROL agent Maxwell Smart in “The Nude Bomb,” a film made before that.
Dragnet (1987)
The classic police drama, “Dragnet,” created and played by Jack Webb, has spawned multiple versions, but the movie adaptation stands out as something quite different. It is a humorous take on the original, with Dan Aykroyd portraying Sergeant Friday’s straight-laced nephew and Tom Hanks playing his more unorthodox partner, Streebek.
Æon Flux (2005)
Æon Flux initially debuted as a six-episode sequence within MTV’s Liquid Television anthology, eventually evolving into its standalone series and becoming one of the network’s most captivating animated productions. Charlize Theron assumed the character in Karyn Kusama’s live-action film adaptation, but it wasn’t as warmly received, even by the show’s creator Peter Chung.
The Dukes Of Hazzard: The Beginning (2007)
In the years following Tom Wopat and John Schneider’s portrayal of Bo and Luke Duke on the original smash-hit series, “The Dukes of Hazzard”, Johnny Knoxville and Seann William Scott breathed new life into these iconic characters in a 2005 cinematic reinterpretation. Two years after that, Freeform (formerly ABC Family) broadcasted a prequel titled “The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning“, where Jonathan Bennett and Randy Wayne took on the roles of the cousins during their teenage years.
The Flintstones In Viva Rock Vegas (2000)
1994’s live-action version of “The Flintstones,” initially met with unfavorable reviews, is now often hailed as a masterpiece when contrasted with its earlier counterpart. In “The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas,” Mark Addy portrays Fred, Kristen Johnson plays Wilma, Stephen Baldwin takes on the role of Barney, and Jane Krakowski embodies Betty. For the first time, these characters intertwine their lives, embarking on a romantic escapade in the glitzy city of Sin City.
Hey Arnold!: The Movie (2002)
The standalone sequel to the popular Nicktoon “Hey Arnold!” initially failed as both critics and audiences disliked it, resulting in the termination of further plans for a second film. However, by 2017, “Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie” was able to materialize and is now widely regarded as the definitive feature-length adaptation of Craig Bartlett’s cherished series.
The Gong Show Movie (1980)
The Gong Show, which was a well-known talent competition, was hosted by Chuck Barris. Contrary to popular belief, the movie spin-off, titled The Gong Show Movie, is not a real-life showcase of amusing acts performed by participants, but rather a fictional portrayal of a week in Barris’ life.
The Honeymooners (2005)
Jackie Gleason’s iconic 1950s sitcom, titled The Honeymooners, featured his characters Ralph Kramden and Art Carney as Ed Norton, who constantly came up with flawed plans. More recently, Cedric the Entertainer and Mike Epps took on these roles in a movie version, which garnered an exceptional review from renowned critic Roger Ebert.
I Spy (2002)
The original “I Spy” television show, with Bill Cosby and Robert Culp playing characters Alexander Scott and Kelly Robinson, marked a significant breakthrough as one of the first series to prominently feature a Black lead actor. Conversely, the movie version featuring Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson failed to offer any innovative elements.
Jetsons: The Movie (1990)
The iconic animated series set in the future, known as The Jetsons, is one of Hanna-Barbera’s cherished productions. However, initial reactions from critics were rather unfavorable, and many viewers remained unaware when George, Jane, Judy, and Elroy made their big-screen debut for the first time.
Leave It To Beaver (1997)
“In the 1950s, the most popular family sitcom was Leave It to Beaver, which told the humorous stories of Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver, his siblings, father, and mother. However, when they were reimagined in the late ’90s for a film starring Christopher McDonald and Cameron Finley, it didn’t receive the same positive reception from critics and viewers as the original series.
Johnny’s Golden Quest (1993)
In Johnny Quest, the popular Hanna-Barbera series, young Johnny ventures off on numerous exciting journeys alongside his scientist father. One of these less frequently recalled escapades was portrayed in the extended spin-off titled Johnny’s Golden Quest, which initially aired on the USA Network.
Lost In Space (1998)
As a devoted fan, one thing that truly stood out in the modern take on the ’60s sci-fi classic “Lost in Space” was the addition of Matt LeBlanc from “Friends,” steering the doomed spacecraft. Compared to the 1998 film that garnered mostly negative reviews, Netflix’s 2018 reboot left a much more lasting impact on me.
The Mod Squad (1999)
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Michael Cole, Clarence Williams III, and Peggy Lipton played key characters on The Mod Squad, portraying three youthful rebels who were compelled to work as undercover police officers in order to escape imprisonment. However, when Giovanni Ribisi, Omar Epps, and Claire Danes took over these roles for a film remake, the outcome was widely criticized and ultimately flopped at the box office.
DuckTales The Movie: Treasure Of The Lost Lamp (1990)
In the footsteps of Huey, Dewey, and Louie’s thrilling escapades with their affluent Uncle Scrooge, DuckTales stands as one of Disney’s finest animated TV shows ever created. Though it often receives favorable reviews from critics, its big-screen spinoff, DuckTales The Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp, didn’t fare well at the box office and missed out on the opportunity to spawn sequels.
Clifford’s Really Big Movie (2004)
The PBS Kids’ movie adaptation of Norman Bridwell’s book series, titled “Clifford’s Really Big Movie“, did not meet expectations in terms of critical acclaim or box office performance compared to the 2021 live-action film. Nevertheless, it holds a significant place as the last film where the late John Ritter lent his voice to the main character, Clifford.
Blue Mountain State: The Rise Of Thadland (2016)
Five years after the TV series “Blue Mountain State” wrapped up, we finally got a feature-length follow-up titled “The Rise of Thadland”. As a fan who’s been waiting, it feels like a dream! This rowdy, straight-to-video comedy brings back many familiar faces from our favorite college football team. With the rising fame of Alan Ritchson, known for his role in “Reacher”, I have high hopes that this sequel will garner even more attention and love among us gamers and comedy enthusiasts.
CHiPs (2017)
The TV series CHiPs catapulted Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox into stardom, as they portrayed highway patrol officers Frank “Ponch” Poncherello and Jonathan “Jon” Andrew Baker respectively. The 1998 made-for-TV sequel didn’t stand out much, and even the cinematic reboot with Michael Peña and Dax Shepard (who also co-wrote and directed the film) failed to leave a lasting impact on viewers.
Boris and Natasha: The Movie (1992)
Prior to Rocky and Bullwinkle gracing our screens in their live-action film, it was their archrivals Boris and Natasha who starred in a special movie adaptation. This Showtime original is titled Boris and Natasha: The Movie, with Dave Thomas and Sally Kellerman portraying the cunning European criminal duo.
Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird (1985)
The first movie centered around a Sesame Street character is called “Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird.” This film focuses on the cherished, avian character of Big Bird, played by actor Caroll Spinney. The story follows Big Bird’s quest to return to a place where the air is fresh, with assistance from his caring neighbors after he is relocated away from home.
Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie (2002)
The popular kids’ cartoon show, VeggieTales, sparked two feature films to hit theaters – the second one, The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything from 2008, didn’t do as well financially compared to its debut. On the other hand, Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie, which tells the biblical tale of a prophet who was swallowed by a whale, has since faded into obscurity in the annals of this otherwise successful series.
Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003)
1996’s Space Jam, despite sharing some similarities with a Nike ad, has undeniably left an everlasting impression as my favorite cinematic extension of the beloved Looney Tunes universe. However, when it comes to its sequel, Looney Tunes: Back in Action, directed by Joe Dante, I must admit that it didn’t quite manage to achieve the same level of enduring popularity. In this film, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck join forces with a daring stuntman, portrayed by Brendan Fraser, and a Warner Bros. executive, played by Jenna Elfman, embarking on a covert mission to thwart the malicious chairman of ACME, brilliantly brought to life by Steve Martin.
Teacher’s Pet (2004)
Disney’s “Teacher’s Pet” is a heartwarming tale about a talking dog (voiced by Nathan Lane) who disguises as a human boy to pursue his dream of education. This full-length film is essentially a reimagined version of the same narrative, featuring the same actors, but transforming it into a musical production.
Bewitched (2005)
In contrast to the frequent Hollywood trend of remakes during that time, the cinematic reboot of Bewitched attempted something unique by exploring the scenario where an actual witch played Samantha in a contemporary adaptation of the popular supernatural sitcom. Regrettably, many who recall it view the humor as a blot on both Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell’s career records.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-12-05 22:38