Though we seem to be living in the "golden age of television," there's still a constant debate between fans of both TV and film about which medium is superior - or which projects should be featured in one versus the other.
This prompted the idea that some TV shows would have been better as a movie, with many of them seemingly being more impactful had they been condensed into a feature long flick. From miniseries where the drama left fans exhausted after binge-watching to book adaptations that could have been the perfect festive flick, there are ten TV shows in particular that many fans feel should've been films instead.
Sharp Objects (2018)
The book to TV adaptation of Sharp Objects proved to be a hit with both book and TV lovers, as it captured the true essence of Gillian Flynn's writing through haunting performances from Amy Adams, Eliza Scanlen, and Patricia Clarkson. The series provides viewers with a great crime drama that touches on several sensitive issues whilst also having a feminist undertone to it.
The show is jam-packed with plot twists made even more believable and shocking by each character's ability to have their own opinion. For many book lovers, the series did Gillian Flynn justice, but others felt as though the TV series would have made an equally impressive movie due to its constant plot twists leaving fans wanting more instantly after every episode.
The Haunting Of Hill House (2018)
The Haunting Of Hill House may be the best TV mystery miniseries to date and continues to terrify fans today through its spine-tingling performances and mind-bending plots. The series caused something of a cultural phenomenon as well as a stir on social media, with many fans empathizing with the characters whilst also being somewhat terrified of them.
The series plays on viewers' senses by providing several unexpected jump scares that certainly see the show live up to its name within the horror genre, but it also provides emotionally-driven character stories that revitalize the genre and what viewers are used to seeing within it. There have been many debates about whether the show would have been better as a movie, many fans suggested that the show enabled the characters to progress, but others disagreed and wanted to see a horror movie where the characters had substance.
Dash & Lily (2020)
Dash & Lily may have been one of the sweetest festive TV shows to ever hit screens, which is why fans were devastated when the series wasn't renewed. The show depicts a wholesome unconventional teen romance that doesn't try too hard to appeal to its desired demographic by adopting a more childlike approach to the pair's relationship.
Whilst the adaption pleased many book and TV fans, some fans agreed that it should have been a classic festive flick. The series emanates the very essence of Christmas time and provides a relatable relationship between Austin Abrams' Dash and Midori Francis' Lily, who quickly became one of the most loved couples in a Christmas romcom.
When They See Us (2019)
The Ava Duvernay miniseries When They See Us contains some of the most powerful scenes in TV history and continues to prompt important conversations even today. The series tells the sad but true story of the Central Park Five, and delves into racial injustice, especially within the justice system, making it a poignant and vital bit of television.
The series followed the group of boys and the repercussions of their arrests in close detail by paying close attention to the racial injustice at play when the wrongful arrests of the boys took place. The series was an incredibly powerful addition to the world of TV, but some fans felt that the miniseries would have made a more impactful feature-length movie that was easier to follow due to its important topics.
The Thief, His Wife, And The Canoe (2022)
The recent release of The Thief, His Wife, And The Canoe stunned fans, especially when it was revealed that the unusual story was actually based on truth. The series retold the completely unbelievable yet honest story of John Darwin faking his own death, highlighted by Eddie Marsan's spot-on performance.
The series adopted the use of comedy to tell the bizarre story and entertained fans through its combination of black comedy, drama, and crime. Each of the four episodes provides viewers with a series of insane plot twists and whilst viewers remained gripped by the TV, many fans felt as though the series would have excelled as a reconstruction movie due to the story seeming like such a fictional one that could've been contained in two hours or so.
The Society (2019)
Whilst many couples within The Society are perfect together, fans were never able to see their romances progress, as the show's second season was just another one to fall victim to the pandemic. The series combined teen angst with a somewhat familiar post-apocalyptic story that was extremely well written, and gripped viewers from the offset through its shocking deaths, powerful monologues, and complex characters.
Whilst the series was highly popular, it also prompted a debate into whether it should have been a show or a movie and many viewers felt as though it would have been a great plot for an apocalyptic YA movie like The Hunger Games or Divergent that would have been drama fueled from start to finish.
Looking For Alaska (2019)
Looking For Alaska is potentially the only John Green book to end up as a TV series rather than his more famous movie adaptations like The Fault In Our Stars and Paper Towns. The series is a great coming-of-age series with it tackling many typical teen topics like love, rebellion, and adventure, ultimately leading to its success with TV and book lovers.
The series perfectly depicted the retelling of the famous John Green novel, but for many fans, the show would have been better as a movie due to the hidden theme of mystery that kept the story moving. By making a movie rather than a series, viewers would have seen the story follow its natural pace and ultimately watch the mystery of Alaska unfold in one sitting.
Normal People (2020)
Marianne and Connell of Normal People have become an iconic couple within the world of the book to series adaptations, with their slow burning love developing onscreen and encompassing the very realities of love, no matter how heartbreaking.
Many fans likened the pair to Celine and Jesse from The Before Trilogy, which is just one reason viewers desired a movie rather than a TV series. The conversationalist style of the pair's romance mirrored that of Jesse and Celine, especially with the series following them throughout different stages in their lives, resulting in many fans wanting a movie trilogy of Marianne and Connell, condensing their story.
The Wilds (2020- )
Season 3 of The Wilds may have prompted fans to look for shows just like it, but some fans wanted a movie instead of another season. The show proved to be a hit with fans, with the first series providing fans with many girl power moments after a group of teens found themselves stranded.
The series included a wonderful cast that all complimented each other well onscreen and executed the show's well-written script perfectly, it kept fans guessing the whole way through with its darker storyline of why they ended up there but also had a wholesome plot of female friendships. Whilst the series was well-received, many fans would have liked to see the series in movie format as the show's more complex plot made it difficult to binge-watch (despite many fans wanting to).
Pieces Of Her (2022)
Pieces Of Her exploded onto viewers' screens with one of the most brutal opening scenes in the history of drama shows but, unfortunately, the movie's fast pace soon wore off and it become more of a slow burn watch. It's safe to say the series caused viewers a lot of stress, confusion, and suspense with many rooting for both Laura and Andy after their safety was compromised.
The series contained a total of 8 episodes, which grabbed fans' attention for the most part but saw others lose interest with the show replacing its action-packed pace for something very different. This resulted in many fans wanting a more condensed but fast-paced retelling of the favorite TV thriller.