Television movies have a pretty bad rep in general and tend to be frowned upon. The consensus seems to be that since they weren't good enough to have a theatrical release, they were relegated to the confines of a smaller, and not nearly as impressive, screen. And yes, many movies that are written and produced for television aren't exactly on par with the ones released in cinemas on several levels. However, that's not the case for every single film in this category.
Especially in the past few years, the advent of streaming platforms came to challenge the mindset that only theatrically released movies are quality ones. Netflix, for instance, has produced and made available dozens of original movies that became insanely popular with audiences. So let's take a look at some television films that prove they can be just as good - or better - than they're cinematic counterparts, according to the ratings in Rotten Tomatoes.
Room 237 (2012): 94%
Stanley Kubrick is one of Hollywood's most famous directors, having helmed iconic projects such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, and Full Metal Jacket. One of Kubrick's most famous movies to date is the adaptation of Stephen King's The Shining, a movie that is still as relevant today as it was three decades ago.
Room 237 is a documentary entirely dedicated to the analysis of the hidden meanings and secret hints that supposedly surround the movie. Several different perspectives on the subject are presented, making for a gripping experience.
The Return (2003): 95%
This Golden Globe-nominated drama follows the unexpected journey of two boys in the Russian wilderness. After the father they never knew resurfaces, Andrey and Ivan have to face an entirely new range of emotions and thoughts.
Over the course of six days, the lives of these three men intertwine in ways they never imagined, and it's safe to assume the hearts of the audience won't remain untouched by the time it's over.
Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008): 95%
The 70s were quite the decade in general, but for the Australian movie industry in particular, they were something else. During this time, Aussie films saw an unprecedented escalation in themes of violence, sex, over the top action, and horror.
Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! is a 2008 documentary that dives deeper into this era, praising the incredibly talented people behind the industry at the time, and educating new generations on the splendid history of Australian filmmaking.
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey (2011): 95%
Elmo is one of the most beloved puppets in the world. Young and old, it's hard to find a single soul out there who hasn't heard of or grown up around Elmo in some way, shape, or form.
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey peeks behind the curtain and explores the life of the man behind the puppet, the man who brings Elmo to life - Kevin Clash - in a lighthearted and sweet manner.
Behind The Candelabra (2013): 95%
Singer Liberace had a feverous and complex love affair with a young Scott Thorson that lasted for half a dozen years and became one of the most talked-about relationships of that time.
2013's Behind The Candelabra stars none other than Matt Damon and Scott, in a movie depiction of this convoluted love affair that took home two Golden Globes.
Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003): 96%
Los Angeles, city of angels, city of stars. This place has been used as the backdrop to hundreds of movies over the course of time, and that's exactly what Los Angeles Plays Itself attempts to convey.
Thom Andersen takes a magnifying glass to LA and depicts how the city has been used by studios, distorting the perception of the people and the place itself in the process. A beautiful love letter to one of the most famous places on Earth.
A Film Unfinished (2010): 97%
After the Second World War, an unfinished movie depicting life in the Warsaw ghetto was discovered, only for historians to thoroughly analyze and find out the extent of manipulation going on behind the scenes in the movie industry pre-WWII.
A Film Unfinished shows the dichotomy between the way Jewish people were portrayed in front and behind the camera, using both historical records and the reel of the infamous unfinished movie.
49 Up (2005): 97%
This documentary has one of the most interesting premises and satisfying executions out there. In 1964, director and producer Michael Apted filmed a series of seven-year-old kids. And every seven years, he kept visiting them, up until the point they reached the mark of 49.
49 Up is thus a raw and real portrayal of a series of children growing up and finding themselves well into adolescence and, later, adulthood. Their dreams, love stories, and careers are followed thoroughly through the eyes of the camera, and it's impossible for members of the audience not to relate to certain aspects of the film.
Life Itself (2014): 97%
Born in 1942, Roger Joseph Ebert is known to many professionals in the film industry as the best and most famous movie critics in history. His relationships with famous directors, actors, and producers allowed him to build a career that culminated in the spectacular win of a Pulitzer Prize, making him the first movie critic to ever do so.
2014's Life Itself was released the year after Ebert passed away, and it's a heartfelt, sincere biography that documents the life and adventures of this dear figure, missed by many, and loved by even more.
Afghan Star (2009): 100%
Shows that look to create the next big superstar are older than time itself. American Idol, The Voice, The X Factor - all of these television series have been around for ages in the Western world, and have been replicated time and time again to fit different countries, but always with the same goal in mind.
Afghan Star is a documentary that follows for contestants of the show it's named after - but the stakes are higher than they could ever be in the UK, US, or in Europe. The finalists all plead for unity and pursue their dream in spite of the fact that their participation in the show alone is almost a death sentence.