The 20 Best TV Shows Based on Movies, Ranked

by Amber Dowling, for Metacritic – August 5, 2022

Movies have the ability to deliver punchy stories, top-notch action, and ideas that can linger well after the closing credits roll. TV shows, on the other hand, can take those same pros and extend them over a much longer timeframe. Only on TV can viewers really get into a character and get to know all of their nuances, plus watch them develop and change as the episodes or seasons go on.

Given that, it’s no surprise so many TV shows are based on movies. Here, Metacritic has rounded up the 20 best film-to-TV adaptations as ranked by Metascore. Only live-action TV shows from 1985 and onward are eligible for inclusion.

Note also that we opted to make all Marvel Cinematic Universe shows eligible based on their ties to the film series as a whole even though many of the shows are not a direct adaptation of a single film. Don't like that decision? Here are seven honorable mentions that would have made the top 20 if we excluded MCU shows:

19 of 21 photo by FX

85 Fargo (FX, 2014-present)

adapted from ▣ Fargo (1996)

(tied at #2) The Coen brothers certainly created a memorable world with their Oscar-winning flick of the same name in 1996, but this anthology from creator Noah Hawley is equally beloved. The initial season stars Billy Bob Thornton as a quirky stranger and Martin Freeman as a man caught up in all of the drama. Allison Tolman also stars in the breakout role of Molly Solverson. Not only did the season earn the Outstanding Miniseries trophy at the 2014 Emmys, but it was nominated for a total of 18 Emmys that year. Since then, three more seasons have followed, each one following a unique cast of characters and storyline, anthology style, in black comedy genre.

“The show’s pace is slow in spots, but the dark humor and twisted tone make it oddly compelling.” —Lori Rackl, Chicago Sun-Times

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