10 TV Shows That Would Have Worked Better As Movies

In the age of streaming, the lines between movies and TV shows have continued to blur, meaning some shows seem to be much better as movies. There used to be a clear delineation between the two mediums, but television trends have dictated that shows should have higher production values, fewer serialized stories, and more varied directorial choices. All of these elements are inherently cinematic.

When a new trailer appears on social media, it is sometimes unclear whether the project being sold is a movie or a TV show. This highlights how the two art forms continued to merge and overlap. Miniseries are even more cinematic than most other TV shows, and many big hits would be even better if they had made a few more cuts to the story and were conceived as movies.

10

Sharp objects

Amy Adams' performance could have been just as captivating on the big screen

Sharp objects is an intense psychological thriller that still stands as one of the best miniseries ever produced by HBO. Its eight episodes draw audiences into a binge-watching marathon, but leave a lasting impression that most shows fail to achieve. It's strange to consider that such a critically acclaimed TV show could be even better as a movie, but Sharp objects It could have been a heady thriller if it had been squeezed into a shorter running time.

Sharp objects revolves around an excellent performance by Amy Adamswho certainly has the kind of magnetic presence that makes her a great film actress. Sharp objects could have cut out some of the slower passages and made a breathtaking psychological thriller. A movie also wouldn't give the audience the option to rest between episodes, so it could have kept the intensity and pressure high.

9

Obi Wan Kenobi

Many Disney+ shows feel like they should be movies

Many Disney+ shows are derived from Wonder and Star Wars movies, and many of them seem to be better suited for the big screen. Obi Wan Kenobi is one of the few Star Wars TV shows that were originally supposed to be movies, but the box office failure of Solo: A Star Wars Story caused Disney to change its strategy. The Mandalorian and Andor they work brilliantly as TV shows, but many other shows feel like missed opportunities.

Obi Wan Kenobi It's certainly not a bad show, and it's a joy to see Ewan McGregor returning to the character he played in the prequel trilogy. Ultimately, looks like a great movie turned into a good show. The story of Obi-Wan trying to rescue Leia and confronting Darth Vader is clear enough to work as a movie plot, and the show is filled with filler that slows it down in places.

8

Hunters

Hunters runs out of space after the first season

Hunters it created quite a stir when it premiered, simply because Al Pacino had only starred in one TV show before. Ultimately, Hunters It probably would have been better if they had utilized Pacino's movie star presence and turned the first season into a movie. The big twist at the end of Season 1 is incredibly satisfying, but it makes for a weak Season 2 that only includes Pacino in a flashback storyline that kills the show's tension and pacing.

Hunters It would have been an interesting action movie if it had focused on Jonah's first steps into the hunters as he tries to avenge his grandmother's death. This could have meant more exciting action scenes from the show, and not having to worry about preparing for the second season. Cutting the story about Adolf Hitler would have made the stakes seem more personal, and that partly explains why the second season seems so comparatively lifeless.

7

Nobody wants that

No one wants this could have been a Romcom throwback

Nobody wants that is one of the best Netflix shows of 2024, but it still feels like a movie dressed up as a TV show. There are countless romantic comedies in which the two main characters are separated by some external factor. In Nobody wants that, are their different religious beliefs and backgrounds, but that's not much different from films like Crazy Rich Asians, Roman Holiday or Titanic.

20 or 30 years ago, Nobody wants that It probably would have been a movieBut romcoms aren't as big as they used to be, nor do they have the same style. Nobody wants that Season 2 has already been confirmed, so it will be interesting to see how the series progresses after the climactic kiss at the end of Season 1. Romcoms don't usually have sequels, and Nobody wants that may lose steam as Noah and Joanne move into the next phase of their relationship.

6

Bletchley Circle

The crime drama could have kept the movie pace

Bletchley Circle It's a hidden gem of British TV and it's a shame it didn't get a few more seasons. The story follows four British women in the 1950s who previously worked as codebreakers at Bletchley Park during the Second World War. Unhappy with their return to the domestic sphere after the war, they band together to use their skills to investigate crimes that are too complex for the police to decipher.

Bletchley Park Could have been more dynamic if it were a movie rather than a TV show, and that would have eliminated some of the slower moments. It's still a great show, but a movie could have had a more ambitious visual design to accompany the twisting murder mystery story, and it would also have set the stage for a more intense, action-packed finale. If Bletchley Circle wasn't destined to last many seasons, the next best thing would be to make a big splash with a movie.

5

Chuck

Chuck eventually runs out of steam

Chuck starts with a dynamite premise, but eventually struggles to keep the party going. Most ChuckThe Game's best seasons arrive early on, while the premise is still fresh and the dynamics between the characters haven't changed much. If Chuck Had it been a movie instead of a TV show, it still could have been just as funny and action-packed, but it wouldn't have had as many low points. This would also have avoided the terrible Season 5 storyline where Morgan becomes the Intersect.

ONE Chuck the film would have to cut some subplots from the series, such as Volkoff's story and Ellie's relationship with Captain Awesome. Still, there's enough potential in the story of a slacker who downloads the entire CIA database into his brain to make a great action comedy. Casey and Sarah may still be involved as two rival agents trying to control Chuckand there would only have to be one disaster with a worldwide threat. Chuck reduces risk by promising a new catastrophe every week.

4

The Pentaverate

Mike Myers Comedy Needs Some Cutting

Mike Myers plays a total of eight characters in his Netflix comedy series The Pentaverate, which is absurd even by your standards. Although this detail does The Pentaverate looks like the Austin Powers franchise in some ways, the show didn't reach the heights of Myers' more popular films. It is possible that The Pentaverate It could have been a lot funnier if it had been shortened and made into a movie.

Mike Myers' best films showcase the actor's comedic talent, quickly jumping from scene to scene. The Pentaverate offers the same potential as it analyzes absurd conspiracy theories. However, it is a bit uneven and Myers could drop three or four of his eight characters without hurting the story. The Pentaverate It could have focused on fewer characters while maintaining the same main narrative, and it would have offered more chances for satire, silly slapstick, and gross-out comedy without feeling overwhelmed.

3

When they see us

A film could have had an even greater impact

Ava DuVernay's historical drama about the Central Park Five is the kind of captivating, meaningful television that doesn't come around very often, but When they see us It could have been even more powerful as a film. It's a story that deserves to be seen by as many people as possible.and what it says about the inequalities of the American justice system is still relevant, even though the case in question began in 1989.

In just four episodes, When they see us wouldn't have to cut much to reduce the runtime to an appropriate movie length. There would be some deleted scenes and subplots, but this could actually streamline the story and maximize its impact. If DuVernay could have made these cuts without losing the humanity that makes the case feel so relevant and fully realized, it could have been a remarkable courtroom drama.

2

Space Force

The Space Force should have committed to its joke

Space Force it was based on Donald Trump's decision to establish the United States Space Force as a new branch of the Armed Forces. This was seen as a joke by many people at the time, but Space Force it would never last long. The US Space Force isn't talked about as much anymore, so a comedy about it would be culturally irrelevant today. Instead of trying to create a generic workplace comedy, Space Force should have committed to his satirical joke by making a film.

Space Force It could have been a fun satirical film about scientists, politicians, and the military being forced to work together in the public eye, and it could have leaned into its political satire. Instead of, Space Force clumsily overtook its premise and became a comedy that avoided politics. Had the potential to be next On the circuit or Idiocracy, using the idea of ​​the Space Force to talk about much deeper issues.

1

Bad Monkey

Vince Vaughn's crime comedy could have been even more hectic and fast-paced

Bad Monkey was one of the best new Apple TV+ shows of 2024, but it could have been even better as a movie. Like many Apple programs, Bad Monkey managed to attract an actor better known for his film work, in this case Vince Vaughn. It's a joy to watch his laid-back, fast-talking detective character as he fumbles his way through a ridiculously complicated criminal investigation in Florida that features a man who fakes his own death.

Bad Monkey The second season has already been greenlit, but the next season will likely adapt the next book in Carl Hiaasen's series of novels, Razor Girl. Bad Monkey could have easily created a film franchise, and the film's condensed format would have kept pace during some of the TV show's declines. Vaughn has movie star charisma and Bad MonkeyThe twisty plot of has all the hallmarks of a Coen Brothers crime comedy, or something similar.