List of films based on television programs

This is a list of television programs that were later adapted into feature films.

Programs with films which are prequels, sequels or based upon the series

Pilot episodes released as feature films

Television pilots that were soon or later adapted into feature films for either a release or re-release to movie theaters or direct-to-video.

Many other series have released pilots or edited multi-part episodes as films overseas, including The Greatest American Hero and The X-Files.

Failed pilots

Some feature films began as a pilot for a TV series that was not picked up by any networks; most of these many failed pilots have been aired as television films.

• 1994 Baker Street: Sherlock Holmes Returns (TV, 1994)
• The Adventures of Pollyanna (TV, 1982)
• Adventures of the Queen (TV, 1975)
• The Alpha Caper (TV, 1973)
• Annihilator (TV, 1986)
• Atlantis: Milo's Return (direct-to-video, 2003)
• The Archer: Fugitive from the Empire (TV, 1981)
• Band of the Hand (1986)
• Bates Motel (TV, 1987)
• Battles: The Murder That Wouldn't Die (TV, 1980)
• Beyond Witch Mountain (TV, 1982)
• Body Bags (TV, 1993)
• Belle's Magical World (direct-to-video, 1998)
• Call Her Mom (TV, 1972)
• Call to Danger (TV, 1973)
• Captain America (TV, 1979)
• Chamber of Horrors (1966)
• The City (TV, 1977)
• The Clone Master (TV, 1978)
• Code Name: Diamond Head (TV, 1977)
• Cover Girls (TV, 1977)
• Cruel Intentions 2 (direct-to-video, 2001)
• Dead on Target (TV, 1976)
• Delta County, U.S.A. (TV, 1977)
• Dr. Strange (TV, 1978)
• Earth II (TV, 1971)
• Earth Star Voyager (TV, 1988)
• Exo-Man (TV, 1977)
• Fireball Forward (TV, 1972)
• Fluppy Dogs (TV, 1986)
• Generation X (TV, 1996)
• Genesis II (TV, 1973)
• The Georgia Peaches (TV, 1980)
• Goodbye Charlie (TV, 1985)
• Hell Ship Mutiny (1957)
• Hellinger's Law (TV, 1981)
• Hollywood Confidential (TV, 1997)
• The Hunted Lady (TV, 1977)
• In Like Flynn (TV, 1985)
• Incident on a Dark Street (TV, 1973)
• International Airport (TV, 1985)
• Invisible Avenger (1958)
• The Invisible Woman (TV, 1983)
• The Judge and Jake Wyler (TV, 1972)
• Justice League of America (TV, 1997)
• Justin Case (TV, 1988)
• Key West (TV, 1973)
• The Killer Who Wouldn't Die (TV, 1976)
• The Lone Ranger (TV, 2003)
• Longarm (TV, 1988)
• Lum and Abner Abroad (1956)
• Madame Sin (TV, 1972)
• The Man Who Fell to Earth (TV, 1987)
• The Man with the Power (TV, 1977)
• The Mark of Zorro (TV, 1974)
• Men of the Dragon (TV, 1974)
• Mulholland Drive (2001)
• Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (TV, 1998)
• Nightmares (1983)
• Nightside (TV, 1980)
• The Norliss Tapes (TV, 1973)
• The Orphan and the Dude (TV, 1975)
• Partners in Crime (TV, 1973)
• Party Wagon (TV, 2004)
• Planet Earth (TV, 1974)
• Poor Devil (TV, 1973)
• Popeye Doyle (TV, 1986)
• The Questor Tapes (TV, 1974)
• The Return of Sherlock Holmes (TV, 1987)
• The Return of the World's Greatest Detective (TV, 1976)
• Ride the High Iron (1956)
• Rooster (TV, 1982)
• Sabu and the Magic Ring (1957)
• Savage (TV, 1973)
• Scruples (TV, 1981)
• Search for the Gods (TV, 1975)
• The Secret War of Jackie's Girls (TV, 1980)
• Shoot Out at Big Sag (1962)
• Shooter (TV, 1988)
• Sidekicks (TV, 1974)
• Spectre (TV, 1977)
• Star Command (TV, 1996)
• Strange New World (TV, 1975)
• Tales of Robin Hood (1951)
• Tarzan and the Trappers (1958)
• Tex and the Lord of the Deep (1985)
• They Call It Murder (TV, 1971)
• Time Travelers (TV, 1976)
• The Trackers (TV, 1971)
• Travis McGee (TV, 1983)
• Wolfshead: The Legend of Robin Hood (1973)
• Wonder Woman (TV, 1974)
• Ultraman: The Adventure Begins (1987)
• The Warlord: Battle for the Galaxy (TV, 1998)
• Yuma (TV, 1971)
• Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (TV, 1999)

Television films

The following are television films that never saw theatrical release.

Pilots

Some television films have functioned as pilots or backdoor pilots for a subsequent TV series, but most of them start off as the first regular episode of a series overall.

Before main run of show

First episode proper

Reunion films

Many American TV series have had TV films, usually filmed five or more years after the run of the original series, which reunite the cast of the series for a new plot. In some cases, there has been an entire string of such films, including for the detective shows Perry Mason (1957-1966; 30 films from 1985 to 1995), The Rockford Files, (1974–80; eight films from 1994 to 1999), and Hart to Hart (1979-1984; eight films from 1993 to 1996). In at least one case, with the 1988 Get Smart reunion film Get Smart, Again!, the success of the TV film eventually led to a brief 1995 revival of the series.

There have also been many television reunion specials, in which some or all of the original cast is brought together for interviews and clips.

Specials

Television series that have had standalone episodes as films, from continuations and resolutions of storylines through expanded installments with similar miscellaneous purposes, and specials based on their respective characters and elements for alternative reasons of otherwise.

Programs re-edited for release as feature-length films

One or more episodes from the following television programs were edited together for release as a feature film. Some of the films add new material, and others do not.

Episodes released theatrically

• The 20th Century Fox Hour: The season one episode "Overnight Haul" was given a theatrical release in Australia as a standalone film.
• The All-New Pink Panther Show
• Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe
• Doctor Who: The 50th anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor (2013), and series 8 opener, Deep Breath (2014), were both shown in theatres alongside their premiere broadcast.
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: Six episodes were released in theaters to coincide with the high-definition release of the series on Blu-ray.
• Game of Thrones: The episodes "The Watchers on the Wall" and "The Children" were given a week-long IMAX release.
• Walt Disney anthology television series: Many select television films that aired in the anthology, including Guns in the Heather and The Omega Connection, were adapted for theatrical release in international territories.

Films re-edited as episodes for a television program

Highest-grossing films based on television series

See also

• List of films based on radio series
• List of films based on British television series
• List of television programs based on films

References

External links

• Cinematical Seven: TV Spies That Made Terrible Movies
• Cinematical Seven: TV Continued on the Big Screen

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