# TV series that would be better as a movie, and vice versa **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 9, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-would-be-better-as-a-movie-and-vice-versa/700892 "2014-10-09T20:24:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-would-be-better-as-a-movie-and-vice-versa/700892/1 "2014-10-09T20:24:40Z")
What are some TV shows that have the type of plots that really don’t support an ongoing series, but might make terrific stand-alone movies? Alternatively, what are some movies that didn’t really work in that format, but would have made great TV series instead? My example to start the thread: _The Greatest American Hero_. The main conceit, of course, is that Ralph found a suit that grants him superpowers, but they didn’t come with instructions. So, he has to bumble his way through until he can figure out enough of the suit capabilities to solve the crime/make the rescue for that week. Good idea, but in an ongoing TV series that means he has to be at least a little klutzy before accomplishing anything - which got old week after week. The character has to grow in ability- but not too much, or else he has to regress some every week. Both methods got stale quickly. But in a movie, Ralph could have had a normal character arc where he grows in his ability to handle the suit at a watchable pace. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-would-be-better-as-a-movie-and-vice-versa/700892/2 "2014-10-09T20:41:12Z")
Watchmen would have worked better as an HBO series. All comic book movies might though. ---
**Author:** ![Eddie\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@Eddie\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eddie_F)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-would-be-better-as-a-movie-and-vice-versa/700892/3 "2014-10-09T20:43:46Z")
The upcoming (well, if it ever gets off the ground) movie version of **The Stand** needs to be an upcoming HBO, Showtime, FX, or AMC 10 - 12 episode limited series of **The Stand**. ---
**Author:** ![Abracadebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f04885/32.png) [@Abracadebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abracadebra)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-would-be-better-as-a-movie-and-vice-versa/700892/4 "2014-10-09T21:58:26Z")
In other Stephen King news, Under the Dome should have been a movie instead of the abomination it is as a TV series.