10 Not-So-Good Movies That Should Have Been TV Shows Instead
Love it or hate it, these movies were TV shows that were wronged by fate and creators’ vision — or, at least, most fans claim so. Do you agree or not?
10. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
Following, as you might have already guessed, the young Arthur on his journey to become the mythical king, Guy Ritchie ’s Legend of the Sword features wild action sequences, great banter, and stunning sceneries. But if it were to be a TV show, it would have been able to tell the story at a slower pace while also teaching history.
You can watch King Arthur: Legend of the Sword on Netflix and Prime Video.
9. Wanted (2008)
You know how it goes: if your parents were superspies, you have their skills in your DNA. The same goes for assassins — even if you were a pathetic loser, the glimpse of the truth grants you great powers. If Wanted wanted (sorry, okay?) to avoid using such an annoying trope, it really should have been a TV show to allow better pacing.
You can watch Wanted on Netflix and Prime Video.
8. Jupiter Ascending (2015)
When your name is Jupiter, working as a cleaning maid feels wrong on every level. Thankfully, there’s always a chance that a cool intergalactic agent will appear to notify you that you’re an heir to the space nobility and take you on an adventure, so there’s that… But such an ascend really needs more time than just two hours, duh.
You can watch Jupiter Ascending on Apple TV and Prime Video.
7. V for Vendetta ( 2006)
Any dictatorship must fall, and it’s only more satisfying if someone pushes it. A mysterious freedom fighter haunts the authorities of the dystopian Britain, known under the alias of V; a young woman he saved from the secret police helps him. The movie is great as it is, but we’d love to have more time to learn about this grim world.
You can watch V for Vendetta on Netflix, Apple TV, and Prime Video.
6. Mystery Men (1999)
In the era of Avengers and the Justice League, seeing a parody superhero movie is always refreshing, even if it’s an old one. A team of questionably gifted amateur superheroes must save the day when a villain captures their idol… Their adventures are just amusing enough for us to have preferred a TV show, instead.
You can watch Mystery Men on Apple TV and Prime Video.
5. Divergent (2014)
Remember Hunger Games? Throw in Hogwarts Houses and the Chosen One, and you’ll get Divergent. A girl that can’t be sorted into any of the well-established factions is seen as a threat to her dystopian society, especially after she discovers a plot… And she really would have performed better in a series rather than a movie.
You can watch Divergent on Netflix and Prime Video.
4. The Dark Tower (2017)
What does it mean when a movie with Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey has a 15% Critic Score on Rotten Tomatoes? That something went terribly wrong, that’s what. The Dark Tower deserved a much better and deeper adaptation, and it would have been perfect as a well-paced TV show, not the rushed mess of a film we got.
You can watch The Dark Tower on Max, Netflix, Apple TV, and Prime Video.
3. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
For a Star Wars-set project, Solo made a rather poor choice. The adventures of everyone’s favorite smuggler deserved a standalone series since day one, but for some reason, we got a movie, instead. If performed rather well, mind you, if somewhat middle-ish — and we’re sure it’s partially the fault of the wrong format.
You can watch Solo: A Star Wars Story on Apple TV, Disney Plus, and Prime Video.
2. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
Oh but to make a Harry Potter prequel franchise so awful even the most avid fans would pretend it never existed… Fantastic Beasts tried to be too many things at once, all while being limited by the movie format. If you want dozens of cute beasts and a magical war in one package, be a darling — and be a TV show, instead.
You can watch Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them on Max, Netflix, and Prime Video.
1. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is the prime example of having an idea just bizarre enough for it to be brilliant — and then throwing it under the bus. This level of ridiculousness begged to be turned into a series, but the ruthless creators doomed it into being a movie that failed to capture much attention despite its funny ideas.
You can watch The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen on Apple TV, Disney Plus, and Prime Video.