Cinema and television so regularly overlap that they can inspire and influence each other. Many actors and directors begin their careers in television. Similarly, there are times when films transition into TV shows. This can be a difficult transition, as the premise of the show needs development and change from its source content. Much like sequels, TV shows are often disappointing and seen as money-grabbing attempts to ride the wave of popularity.
Despite this, there has been a number of successful shows that keep the heart and soul of a film. They stay true to their origins, whilst developing their own themes and styles. Generally, success stems from changing and adapting the original content for a new group of characters, something that What We Do In The Shadows has done so well. Others merely change the whole concept, such as The Pink Panther, and there is no given formula for success.
The Emperor's New Groove / The Emperor's New School
The Emperor's New Groove is a cult hit. Whilst not the most famous Disney film, it certainly has a loyal following. With loveable and goofy characters, such as Kronk and Kuzco, the film never fails to bring a smile to audiences' faces.
This success was translated onto the smaller screen in the form of The Emperor's New School. Equally as fun and kooky as its source content, the TV show thrives off its wacky premise. With many of the voice cast returning for the show, it never lost its core of talent and this is what makes the show so watchable in comparison to other, less enjoyable Disney adaptations.
Fargo / Fargo
Fargo, the Coen Brothers' much-loved film, was followed by an equally loved TV show. Starring a completely different cast and following an anthology-style, the show merely references the film in a few subplots and minor details.
The reason this show was so successful was due to the Coen's approval and agreement to be Executive Producers. Each season is set in a different time zone within the same universe, allowing it to remain fresh and watchable. Furthermore, the show continued to bring in stars to shine in new roles, ranging from Martin Freeman to Ewan McGregor.
Monsters Inc. / Monsters At Work
Following the success of Monsters University, Disney+ decided to release Monsters at Work as one of its first original TV shows. Similar to other shows that follow the same characters from a film, Monsters at Work was able to bring back Billy Crystal and John Goodman, ensuring the show's success.
Not completely accepted by critics, with a score of 65 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, it still keeps its heart and soul from the films.
The Pink Panther
Whilst many shows will stay true to their source content, The Pink Panther changed its style and focus almost completely. Many fans remember watching Pink Panther running around the screen whilst their parents talked of Peter Sellers. To say that the two couldn't be further apart would be an understatement. However, both are as loveable as each other.
The source content stars the comedic genius Peter Sellers as the inept Inspector Clouseau, whereas the TV show takes on the form of a cartoon. A reboot of the film was far less successful in the mid-2000s, and many fans try to remember only the originals and the follow-up cartoon.
Psycho/ Bates Motel
Hitchock's Psycho can be considered one of the most iconic pieces of cinematic history and Norman Bates is a character with so much depth and so much history to explore.
Bates Motel begins to delve into the background of what made him who he became. It is a villain origin story that no fan knew they needed until Freddie Highmore stepped up to the plate and hit it out of the park with his performance. It's a truly creepy and respectful homage to the great director, furthering his legacy rather than tarnishing it.
Wet Hot American Summer / Wet Hot American Summer
A truly bizarre comedy film that was followed by an equally strange TV show, Wet Hot American Summer helped introduce fans to comedy heavyweights such as Paul Rudd and Bradley Cooper.
Netflix's follow-up series scores highly on Rotten Tomatoes, retaining much of the original cast and staying true to its source content. As funny, if not funnier, than the film, the TV shows continues this wacky and hysterical legacy.
The Karate Kid / Cobra Kai
Cobra Kai is an especially interesting piece of television due to its ability to re-evaluate the narrative that is told in The Karate Kid. The show essentially flips the fortunes of its two leads and shows the audience the perspective of the original antagonist, Johnny Lawrence. It also allowed viewers to like characters they previously disliked.
With both leads returning, this show is the perfect sequel to the original 1984 film but with new problems, as the characters are in a completely different stage of their lives. It is difficult to watch this show without thinking of Barney Stinson and his view that Johnny was the karate kid.
What We Do In The Shadows / What We Do In The Shadows
It seems as if everything Taika Waititi touches turns to gold. Following a new group of vampires, What We Do In The Shadows further delves into the vampiric lifestyle in the modern-day. As one of the most underrated cinematic universes, the show fleshes out the world that Waititi created with Jemaine Clement while retaining its mockumentary style.
Arguably funnier than the film, the TV show is carried by exceptional performances by its cast. The chemistry between Matt Berry and Natasia Demetriou is phenomenal and impossible to take your eyes off of. With some well-placed cameos from the original film, the TV is respectful of its source content whilst successfully exploring its potential.
Star Wars / The Mandalorian, The Clone Wars, & More
When George Lucas created Star Wars, he introduced viewers to a whole galaxy of potential storylines. This has been utilized by television creators ever since. Most notably, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian have captured the attention of audiences the most.
Pedro Pascal leads the much-praised The Mandalorian, which explores the Star Wars universe through a completely new character. There is no doubting the potential, and guaranteed success, of any Star Wars TV show, but these two stand out for their ability to capture the audience and utilize the wide-ranging possibilities of the Star Wars universe.
Marvel Cinematic Universe / WandaVision, Falcon And The Winter Soldier, Loki & More
The MCU has tried to break into television with Netflix to varying success. The confusion came with whether these shows were canon and the answers were varied depending on the success of the show. Instead, Disney decided to create a number of shows for its streaming service, all of which are 100 percent canon.
This began with the much anticipated WandaVision and further thrived through Falcon and The Winter Soldier and Loki. These shows have garnered so much praise and have been successful due to their relevance to the MCU and returning of key characters and actors. It has also allowed Marvel and Disney to open up the multi-verse and successfully set up Phase 4 of the MCU.