TV Adaptations That Are Better Than The Movie Adaptations
Sometimes, bringing beloved stories to new mediums doesn't always work. There have been multiple cases of this happening over the past almost 50 years, with many of them being adaptations of either lengthy comic books, multi-part book series, or 8-hour long video games. These films usually miss the point of what made their source material so iconic in the first place and as a result, end up being rushed, cheaper, and overall inferior versions of the stories they're supposed to be bringing to life in front of their fans' eyes. The good news is that studios are slowly realizing this and putting future adaptations in a medium that better suited the long-form storytelling and character development that was lost missing in previous adaptations of the books and comics featured below. Thanks to the rise of the television set, higher budgets, fan-based production teams, and streaming services that offer more creative freedom than ever, the things that we've been able to cherish growing up can now have the potential to bring justice to the worlds people have given praise to for decades. This is a list of such shows that've learned from said past mistakes.
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- CreatorDrew GoddardStarsCharlie CoxVincent D'OnofrioDeborah Ann WollA blind lawyer by day, vigilante by night. Matt Murdock fights the crime of New York as Daredevil.Rotten Tomatoes score for 2003 movie: 43%
Overall Rotten Tomatoes score for 2015 series: *92%* - CreatorDamon LindelofStarsRegina KingYahya Abdul-Mateen IITom MisonSet in an alternate history where masked vigilantes are treated as outlaws, Watchmen embraces the nostalgia of the original groundbreaking graphic novel of the same name, while attempting to break new ground of its own.Rotten Tomatoes score for 2009 movie: 65%
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2019 miniseries: *96%* - CreatorRolin JonesStarsJacob AndersonAssad ZamanSam ReidBased on Anne Rice's iconic novel, follow Louis de Pointe's epic story of love, blood and the perils of immortality, as told to the journalist Daniel Molloy.Rotten Tomatoes score for 1994 movie: 63%
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2022 series: *98%* - CreatorDon ManciniStarsZackary ArthurBjorgvin ArnarsonAlyvia Alyn LindAfter a vintage Chucky doll turns up at a suburban yard sale, an idyllic American town is thrown into chaos as a series of horrifying murders begin to expose the town's hypocrisies and secrets.Highest rated RT score in the film series: 78%
Overall Rotten Tomatoes score for 2021 series: 91% - CreatorJemaine ClementStarsKayvan NovakMatt BerryNatasia DemetriouA look into the nightly lives of four vampires who have lived together on Staten Island for over a century.Rotten Tomatoes score for 2014 movie: 96%
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2019 series: 97% - CreatorLarry GelbartStarsAlan AldaWayne RogersLoretta SwitThe staff of an Army hospital in the Korean War find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation.Rotten Tomatoes score for 1970 movie: 84%
Rotten Tomatoes score for first season of the TV series: 92% - StarsNeil Patrick HarrisPatrick WarburtonMalina Pauli WeissmanAfter the loss of their parents in a mysterious fire, the three Baudelaire children face trials and tribulations attempting to uncover dark family secrets.Rotten Tomatoes score for 2004 movie: 72%
Overall Rotten Tomatoes score for 2017 series: *96%* - CreatorEmma ReevesStarsRaquel CassidyJenny RichardsonClare HigginsMildred lives an ordinary life until the day that Maud Spellbody crashes her broomstick into their balcony. Maud then introduces Mildred to Cackle's Academy--a school for young witches set high on a mountaintop.IMDB score for 1987 movie: 6.8/10
- CreatorRachel ShukertStarsSophie GraceMomona TamadaShay RudolphBased on the book series of the same name focusing on a group of young girls who start their own babysitting service.Rotten Tomatoes score for 1995 movie: 67%
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2020 series: *100%* - CreatorJeff DavisStarsTyler PoseyHolland RodenDylan O'BrienAn average high school student and his best friend get caught up in some trouble causing him to receive a werewolf bite. As a result they find themselves in the middle of all sorts of dramas in Beacon Hills.Rotten Tomatoes score for 1985 movie: 32%
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2011 series: *81%* - CreatorJeremy SlaterStarsAlfonso HerreraBen DanielsKurt EgyiawanFollows two priests dealing with cases of a demonic presence targeting a family and a foster home.Rotten Tomatoes score for 1973 movie: 78%
Overall Rotten Tomatoes score for 2016 series: 89% - CreatorJoss WhedonStarsSarah Michelle GellarNicholas BrendonAlyson HanniganA young woman, destined to slay vampires, demons and other infernal creatures, deals with her life fighting evil, with the help of her friends.Rotten Tomatoes score for 1992 movie: 32%
Overall Rotten Tomatoes score for 1997 series: *82%* - StarsJosh KeatonKevin Michael RichardsonJason SpisakThe further adventures of Hal Jordan and his comrades of the Green Lantern Corps.Rotten Tomatoes score for 2011 movie: 26%
Rotten Tomatoes score for tie-in series (premiered a few months after it): *100%* - CreatorCarter CovingtonStarsLindsey ShawMeaghan MartinEthan PeckAt Padua High, newcomers Kat and Bianca Stratford attempt to navigate the popular crowd.Rotten Tomatoes score for 1999 movie: 71%
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2009 series: 88% - CreatorMatthew MillerStarsDamon WayansKeesha SharpKevin RahmA slightly unhinged cop is partnered with a veteran detective trying to maintain a low stress level in his life.Rotten Tomatoes score for 1987 movie: 80%
Overall Rotten Tomatoes score for 2016 series: 89% - CreatorLodge KerriganAmy SeimetzAnja MarquardtStarsRiley KeoughPaul SparksJulia Goldani TellesExplores the relationships between exclusive escorts and their clients, for whom they provide far more than just sex. Known as GFEs, they are women who provide emotional and sexual relationships at a very high price.Rotten Tomatoes score for 2009 movie: 67%
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2016 series: 71% - CreatorJules VerneStarsDavid TennantIbrahim KomaLeonie BeneschGentleman adventurer Phileas Fogg sets out on a quest to travel around the world and back home in a period of 80 days.Rotten Tomatoes Score for 1956 movie: 72%
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2021 series: 81% - CreatorNick SantoraStarsAlan RitchsonMaria StenMalcolm GoodwinItinerant former military policeman Jack Reacher solves crimes and metes out his own brand of street justice. Based on the novels by Lee Child.Rotten Tomatoes score for 2012 movie: 63%
Overall Rotten Tomatoes score for 2022 series (As of 1/22/24): 95% - CreatorRick RiordanJonathan E. SteinbergStarsWalker ScobellLeah JeffriesAryan SimhadriDemigod Percy Jackson leads a quest across America to prevent a war among the Olympian gods.Rotten Tomatoes score for 2010 movie: 48%
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2023 series (As of 2/1/24): *93%* - StarsMichael CeraMary Elizabeth WinsteadSatya BhabhaScott Pilgrim meets the girl of his dreams, Ramona Flowers, only to find out her seven evil exes stand in the way of their love.Rotten Tomatoes score for 2010 movie: 81%
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2023 series: 96% - CreatorWill GrahamAbbi JacobsonStarsAbbi JacobsonChanté AdamsD'Arcy CardenComedy series about the WWII All-American professional women's baseball league.Rotten Tomatoes score for 1993 movie: 81%
Rotten Tomatoes score for 2022 series: 95% - CreatorJoe FallonStarsFrank WelkerJeff BennettRino RomanoFollows the mischievous adventures of a Monkey by the name of George.Rotten Tomatoes for 2006 movie: 70%
Rotten Tomatoes score for first season of tie-in TV series (premiered several months after its release): *100%* - CreatorJonathan GlassnerBrad WrightStarsRichard Dean AndersonMichael ShanksAmanda TappingA secret military team, SG-1, is formed to explore other planets through the recently discovered Stargates.Rotten Tomatoes Score for 1994 movie: 53%
Rotten Tomatoes Score for first season of the TV series: 60% - CreatorPeter BergStarsKyle ChandlerConnie BrittonZach GilfordA drama that follows the lives of the Dillon Panthers, one of the nation's best high school football teams, and their head coach Eric Taylor.Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2004 movie: 82%
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2006 series: 97% - StarsCarey JonesHannah FiermanKara KimmerThe fictional Creepshow comic books come to life in this anthology series of terrifying tales hosted by the silent Creepshow ghoul.Rotten Tomatoes Score for 1982 movie: 65%
Rotten Tomatoes Score for first season of the TV series: *97%* - CreatorByron MinnsScott SandersMichael Jai WhiteStarsMichael Jai WhiteByron MinnsKym WhitleyAction comedy-spoof that follows ex-C. I. A. Agent and full-time ladies man, Black Dynamite, who's out to avenge the death of his brother against kung-fu masters, drug-dealing pimps, and The Man.Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2009 movie: 83%
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2011 series: *100%* - CreatorJulius J. EpsteinMax ShulmanStarsWayne RogersRay BuktenicaDavid WayneHaving a workplace romance presents challenges, as a surgeon and admin learn. Despite their differences, the two can't help but be drawn together.Rotten Tomatoes Score for 1978 movie: 33%
Rotten Tomatoes Score for first season of the TV series: 61% - CreatorDonald GloverFrancesca SloaneStarsDonald GloverMaya ErskinePaul DanoTwo strangers land jobs with a spy agency that offers them a life of espionage, wealth, and travel. The catch: new identities in an arranged marriage.Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2005 movie: 60%
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2024 series (As of 2/22/24): *90%* - CreatorRobert RodriguezStarsD.J. CotronaZane HoltzJesse GarciaA Texas Ranger is in hot pursuit of the infamous Gecko brothers and their hostages. They all end up trapped in a desert bar secretly run by vampires and discover a vampire conspiracy.Rotten Tomatoes Score for 1996 movie: 63%
Rotten Tomatoes Score for first season of the TV series: 75% - StarsJohn JarrattLucy FryDustin ClareAn anthology series which centers on different characters being targeted by crazed serial killer Mick Taylor in the Australian outback.Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2005 movie: 54%
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2016 miniseries: 77% - CreatorDavid FarrStarsEsme Creed-MilesMireille EnosÁine Rose DalyIn equal parts high-concept thriller and coming-of-age drama, HANNA follows the journey of an extraordinary young girl raised in the forest, as she evades the relentless pursuit of an off-book CIA agent and tries to unearth the truth behind who she is.Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2011 movie: 72%
Overall Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2019 series: 80% - StarsRen HanamiAndrew GraceAndrew LeeA dedicated journalist who doggedly pursues the truth about a government corruption scandal even as powerful enemies seek to neutralize her reporting.Current Rotten Tomatoes scores for both the original movie and this series are at 100%, but the latter has a higher average rating compared to the film (i.e. 6.7/10 to 5.8/10).
- CreatorNicole TaylorStarsLeo WoodallAmbika ModAmber GrappyEmma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways.Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2011 movie: 36%
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2024 series: *91%* - CreatorBruce MillerStarsElisabeth MossYvonne StrahovskiAnn DowdSet in a dystopian future, a woman is forced to live as a concubine under a fundamentalist theocratic dictatorship.Rotten Tomatoes Score for 1990 movie: 32%
Overall Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2017 series: *83%* - CreatorGary DaubermanMark VerheidenStarsCrystal ReedVirginia MadsenAndy BeanAbby Arcane returns home to Marais, Louisiana to investigate a deadly swamp-borne virus, only to discover the dark, terrifying mysteries of the swamp.Rotten Tomatoes Score for 1982 movie: 60%
Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2019 series: *92%* - StarsAlessandro BorghiGiacomo FerraraFilippo NigroIn 2008, a fight over land in a seaside town near Rome spirals into a deadly battle between organized crime, corrupt politicians and the Vatican.Rotten Tomatoes Score for 2015 movie: 91%
Rotten Tomatoes Score for first season of the TV series: 100%