naughty jonny

I'm trying to think of television series that have been based on a movie that have gone on to be MORE successful than the film they were based on. The only one that I can think of is "Buffy".

Note that I am not looking at series that started with a pilot style TV movie, but movies in their own right (and obviously excluding movies that were based on TV shows that spawned another TV show (such as Star Trek)).

I had thought of "Highlander", but most people still would think of the movie first.

Anyone think of any?

Jon.

bboisvert

M*A*S*H probably qualifies...

naughty jonny

Forgotten about that one.

RobCA

Alice (based on Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore)

MATCOR2

You youngsters (Buffy),

Happy Days based loosely on American Graffiti =)

Dazed

Stargate SG1 ( Although I like the film too, especially the Non Flipper version )

ravan

Ferris Bueller ? Cruel Intentions.

Or maybe not

Good thread though!

yangshouwen

Truman Show/Edtv and Big Brother/Suvivor
(any reality based show here then)

RobCA

You could make a case for The Odd Couple, though I'm not sure which would be considered more successful, the movie or the TV show..

GodzillaMusic

How about the 1950's Superman TV show? There were some serials shown in movie theaters before that and I would say the TV show was more popular.

Rand

I would say Highlander since I think the series was far better than any of the films.

Eplicon

Actually, Garry Marshall conceived the idea for "Happy Days" before American Graffiti hit the screens. However, that project was put on hold, but it was the popularity of the movie that allowed him to make the series.

naughty jonny

I wouldn't have made the connection (aside from Ron Howard). Yes, they were kinda similar, but HD is set in the 50s, whereas American Graffiti is set in the early 60s. I guess HD could be considered a "prequel" of sorts (even if the show wasn't directly based on the movie).

Jon.

Afro_Ryan

I too don't know which would be considered more successful, but I personally find the television series to be far superior... One of my all-time favorites.

As for another television show that surpasses the movie it was based upon... how about Pee-Wee's Playhouse?

-AR

raytrade

Hmmm... maybe "Battlestar Galactica" would count. (I know, it first was shown on TV, then released in the theaters, but then, it spawned several tv series for years).

Kenwood

Moving to TV Forum