12 Movies Turned Into TV Shows ... For Better or Worse

With 12 MonkeysSeason 1 launching Friday, I thought it would be fun to list 12 movies that became TV shows.

Though it seems like every new television series these days is making the jump from the big screen to the small, it's not a new trend. M*A*S*H* was a 1970's film which later ran for 11 seasons on CBS. Did you know Clueless, Private Benjamin and Ferris Bueller's Day Off also spawned TV shows?

For every movie turned TV series that bombs, I'm lookin' at you Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, there are several like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Highlander and Stargate that run for many years.

Flip through the slideshow and check out 12 (in honor of 12 Monkeys) series that originated as feature films.

12 Movie to Television Show Adaptations

1. 12 Monkeys

Syfy's 12 Monkeys premieres this Friday and it's just the latest film to make the jump to television. Many fans are skeptical that Terry Gilliam's 1995 film is being revisited as a TV series. What they might not realize is that Gilliam's version was inspired by the 1962 short film La Jetee. In other words, this series is a reimagining of a remake. With clever writing and a great cast, you owe it to yourself to check out 12 Monkeys. Trust me, you'll thank me later.

As with fashion or boy bands these trends are cyclical, but you've got to admit today's showrunners sure are delivering some top notch television. Let's hope this new golden age of TV continues for at least another decade.

So... which TV show based on a movie has been your favorite so far?

12 Monkeys premieres this Friday, January 16 at 9/8c on Syfy. Make sure to follow our 12 Monkeys Twitter account.