Films Based on TV

Based on TV refers to three types of films, all of which are derived from popular tv series.

• Films that consists of pilot episodes or episode compilations released to theatres. This was a popular fad before the VHS and streaming era, where US tv series would be repackaged as theatrical films for international audiences. Examples include The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Battlestar Galactica films.

• Spinoffs/Continuations from Popular Existing Series. These usually feature the same characters actors and creative talent from the tv series in an expanded plot – examples might include the Star Trek, Dark Shadows, The Muppets and The X Files films.

• Big Screen Remakes of TV Series. A fad that began in the mid-1990s where old tv series were resurrected on the big screen, given a makeover with a big budget and a new cast (although homage may occur in terms of cameos from original cast members). Some of these gained popularity in their own right – examples include the Mission Impossible, Addams Family and Transformers films. This also included a reasonable fad for cartoon series being given live-action adaptations – see Animation in Live-Action.