List of films based on television programs
Wikimedia list article
This is a list of television programs that were later adapted into feature films.
Programs with films that 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)
Captain Scarlett (1953)
Chamber of Horrors (1966)
The Cherokee Trail (TV, 1981)
The City (TV, 1977)
The Clone Master (TV, 1978)
Code Name: Diamond Head (TV, 1977)
Conspiracy of Terror (TV, 1975)
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)
Ellery Queen: Don't Look Behind You (TV, 1971)
Exo-Man (TV, 1977)
Fear No Evil (TV, 1969)
Fireball Forward (TV, 1972)
Fluppy Dogs (TV, 1986)
The Fuzz Brothers (TV, 1973)
Generation X (TV, 1996)
Genesis II (TV, 1973)
The Georgia Peaches (TV, 1980)
Goodbye Charlie (TV, 1985)
The Hanged Man (TV, 1974)
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)
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 Raiders (1963)
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)
The Saint in Manhattan (TV, 1987)
Savage (TV, 1973)
Scruples (TV, 1981)
Search for the Gods (TV, 1975)
The Secret War of Jackie's Girls (TV, 1980)
The Sheriff and the Astronaut (TV, 1984)
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)
True Grit: A Further Adventure (TV, 1978)
Wolfshead: The Legend of Robin Hood (1973)
Wonder Woman (TV, 1974)
Ultraman: The Adventure Begins (1987)
The Underground Man (TV, 1974)
The Warlord: Battle for the Galaxy (TV, 1998)
The Young Country (TV, 1970)
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.
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