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Kevin Pantoja
Published 58 minutes ago
Kevin Pantoja is a writer and editor at Screen Rant based in New York City, where he brings deep expertise in blockbuster franchises ranging from Harry Potter and Spider‑Man to Succession and the MCU. A passionate storyteller with a creative writing degree (Valedictorian, Full Sail University), Kevin blends entertainment news, feature essays, and pop‑culture commentary into engaging, audience-first content
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Throughout the years, there have been plenty of movies based on TV shows and while some have been huge hits, others have been forgotten about or overlooked initially. Films like Mission: Impossible, The Addams Family, Star Trek, The Simpsons Movie, and 21 Jump Street are just some of the biggest movies based on shows.
However, some of the best movies to stem from TV series are the ones that nobody talks about. Films from the past that went straight to home video or more modern movies that hit streaming services and people didn't give much of a chance. Most of these are animated but the one trait they all share is that they're good.
Invader Zim: Enter The Florpus (2019)
It was surprising to learn that Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus was getting made. The Nickelodeon TV series was canceled way back in 2002, so a sequel film arriving nearly two decades later felt like an odd decision. The movie went straight to Netflix and ended up being rather successful.
Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus takes place after the end of the series and sees Zim have to deal with the fact that he learns his leaders never planned to come to Earth. All of his efforts had been futile and were just given to him as busy work to get rid of him.
Zim starts to doubt himself, opening the door for his nemesis Dib to take advantage. The film was met with strong reviews and actually has a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite coming so long after the show, it succeeded in keeping with the series' original spirit.
Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (1998)
Batman and Mr. Freeze in SubZero.
Not many characters have appeared in more movies than Batman. The DC Comics superhero is incredibly popular and while he's been the star of many live action films, Batman has been the focal point of way more animated projects. Among them is Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero.
Unlike a lot of Batman animated films, this was actually based on Batman: The Animated Series rather than the comics. In this film, Mr. Freeze kidnaps Barbara Gordon to harvest her organs to save his dying wife, meaning Batman and Robin must go after him to rescue her.
Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero features a straightforward story that works in the same way the TV show did. The voice cast is fantastic, especially Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne, and it was considered by many as the best Batman movie released during the back half of the '90s.
The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (2024)
Porky Pig and Daffy Duck in space suits in The Day The Earth Blew Up.
In 2003, Looney Tunes: Back in Action hit theaters and was, like Space Jam a few years prior, a movie that blended animation with live action to make for an intriguing project. Alas, the film ended up as a huge box office bomb.
When you combine that misfire with the fact that the Looney Tunes aren't popular with modern audiences and nobody expected a new film featuring them. However, 2024 saw The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, a fully animated theatrical release centering on Porky Pig and Daffy Duck.
Although this also didn't perform well commercially, the film was made on a small budget, so it wasn't a huge loss. Those who saw The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie can attest to it being a fun project. It had some inventive aspects while staying true to the charm of the original characters.
Get Smart (2008)
Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway look offscreen in Get Smart
Unlike a lot of overlooked movies based on TV shows, Get Smart was actually a successful film when it was released. Thanks to a stellar cast, this adaptation of the series from the 1960s ended up grossing $230 million at the box office. It's just that it never seems to get talked about anymore.
Get Smart follows an analyst named Maxwell Smart who gets in over his head when he becomes a spy, yet he hilariously finds a way to succeed against major evil powers. The film benefits from a cast featuring Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin, and more.
Reviews for Get Smart weren't sparkling, sitting at just 51% on Rotten Tomatoes, but there's no doubt that the film is a blast to watch. Carell is as charming as ever, Hathaway again showcases her underrated comedic chops, and the action scenes are a joy.
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)
(L-R): Dale (voiced by Andy Samberg) and Chip (voiced by John Mulaney) in Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc.Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc.
A lot of modern movies that follow up on TV shows arrive decades after the last time the series was prominent. That was the case again with Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, which was released in 2022 when the show it's based on ended way back in 1989. Surprisingly, this was actually pretty great.
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers was directed by Akiva Schaffer and written by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, whose fandom of the TV series is evident. There was clearly a lot of care put into making this film. The visual style is interesting as it includes live action characters, the traditionally drawn Chip, and the CGI Dale.
The story sees the two friends reunite after a falling out as they investigate cartoons being kidnapped and trafficked. Many overlooked it as it went straight to Disney+, but reviews were quite strong. In fact, Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie.
Beavis & Butt-Head Do The Universe (2022)
Beavis and Butt-Head is one of those television shows that ended up being way more popular than it likely had any right to. It just follows two slacker teenagers through their everyday lives, mixed in with their reactions to music videos. It became a hit and spawned a solid movie in 1996.
While Beavis and Butt-Head Do America is a solid film, Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe just edges it out and is less famous. The popularity of the characters was huge in the '90s but by the 2020s, it had waned. Add in that the film went straight to Paramount+ and it was easy to overlook.
The premise of Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe follows the two teens who get transported from 1998 to 2022 and encounter versions of themselves from parallel universes. Critics raved about this movie, leading to a 97% Rotten Tomatoes rating.
S.W.A.T. (2003)
The history of S.W.A.T. as a franchise is bigger than most people realize. These days, the modern TV show of the same name is most famous but even when this 2003 film iteration arrived, folks weren't all that aware that it was based on a TV show from the '70s.
The movie version of S.W.A.T. stands out immediately for its strong cast. Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, LL Cool J, and Samuel L. Jackson lead a SWAT team in Los Angeles tasked with escorting an international fugitive after he offers $100 million to anyone who helps him escape.
The action sequences are well done, but it's the chemistry of the cast that makes the movie work so well. The scenes where they're just hanging out are a ton of fun. Critics didn't love S.W.A.T., but audiences were happier with it, even if it has kind of been forgotten over time.
Teen Titans Go! To The Movies (2018)
Beast Boy, Robin, Cyborg, Raven, and Starfire from Teen Titans Go to the MoviesCredit: Warner Bros. Pictures via MovieStillsDB
The DC Comics superhero team Teen Titans are underrated as a whole and have appeared in a handful of shows over the years. The most notable of them all is Teen Titans Go!, which started in 2013 and is still running today after more than 400 episodes.
Despite the show's popularity, the film sequel, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies went underseen and undervalued by many. It only grossed $52 million at the box office, overshadowed in a year that saw huge superhero films like Avengers: Infinity War and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Those who saw Teen Titans Go! To the Movies had a great time that fit with what the TV show succeeded at. Reviews were very strong and the film was lauded for being a good time. It landed an Annie Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production.
Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine's Day Special (2023)
One of the best modern superhero animated shows is Harley Quinn. The HBO Max original is not aimed at children, never shying away from adult themes, foul language, and over-the-top violence. The well-received show got a movie on the streaming service to celebrate Valentine's Day.
Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine's Day Special is shorter than most movies, since it acts as more of a special than a feature film. Still, it retains the feel of the series, features the same high level of animation, and the characters who fans have grown to love.
The plot sees Harley and Ivy celebrate their first Valentine's Day together, focusing on a relationship that is heartwarming. Other characters, like Bane, also go through their Valentine's Day events to wild results.
Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas (2021)
In early 2020, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist debuted and quickly became one of the most underrated shows on TV. The wacky premise follows the titular Zoey after an accident leaves her with the ability to hear everyone's inner thoughts through the form of extravagant musical numbers.
The show had a ton of heart and was critically acclaimed but low viewership led to its cancellation after two seasons. Interestingly, Roku picked it up for a sequel movie set during the holiday season. Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas was, like the show, underseen and well-received.
The film holds an 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes' Popcornmeter, proving that the fans who saw it loved it. The story sees Zoey struggling with her first Christmas without her dad after he passed away, leading to an emotional tale with some great musical numbers.
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