These 7 movies, you didn’t know, had a spinoff show

Popular movies diversify their franchises by creating television shows, which occasionally escape viewers' awareness of their origins. In addition to developing fresh ideas, the TV show delves deeper into the settings and characters of the original movie. The TV shows based on these films either replicated their movie success or failed to duplicate it.

Popular characters made a comeback to television in a variety of formats, including science fiction adventures, teen comedies, and horror movies. This article introduces seven film adaptations that led to less familiar television series developed from beloved original stories.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.

The list of 7 movies you didn’t know had a spinoff show is provided below:

7. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

My Big Fat Greek Wedding | Image via Max

Joel Zwick directed My Big Fat Greek Wedding. On April 19, 2002, the film was released. Nia Vardalos wrote the script. According to the plot, Toula Portokalos from the Greek-American community develops romantic feelings for Ian Miller, who has a different cultural background. Toula struggles to get her traditional relatives to acknowledge Ian while learning about her ancestry and cultural roots.

The original film's success led to CBS airing My Big Fat Greek Life as a spin-off series between February 24 and April 13, 2003. Nia (Toula) and Thomas (Ian) play the main characters in the spinoff show as they navigate life together while dealing with Nia's unusual Greek relatives. The show only ran for seven episodes, even though most of the original cast made a comeback.

With an average viewership of 22.9 million, the sitcom had a successful debut. Since NBC's Jesse, its launch had the best ratings of any network sitcom. Ratings fell 28% the next week, averaging 16.5 million people, but still outperformed FOX's The Simpsons, which came in second.

6. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

A Nightmare on Elm Street | Image via Netflix

Wes Craven directed and wrote A Nightmare on Elm Street, a supernatural slasher film that debuted on November 9, 1984. Freddy Krueger is portrayed as a disfigured murderer who kills teenagers while they sleep, resulting in their deaths in real life. The film shows that Nancy Thompson must reveal all of Freddy's hidden past secrets to stop him.

Media Home Entertainment first released the movie on home video in early 1985, and it was later made available on Laserdisc. Since then, it has been made available on DVD, initially in the US in 1999 as a part of the Nightmare on Elm Street Collection box set.

The hit film established a TV anthology series titled Freddy’s Nightmares for broadcast between October 1988 and March 1990. Freddy Krueger himself hosted this television series, which featured standalone horror stories set in the town of Springwood. Freddy took pride in his position throughout the episodes of Freddy's Nightmares. However, the additional storylines showcased various characters in multifaceted situations that maintained their bond through the horror dream theme.

5. Teen Wolf (1985)

Teen Wolf, a comedy film, was directed by Rod Daniel and released on August 23, 1985. High school student Scott Howard discovers his transformation into a werewolf as the main character in this story. Scott majored in teenage life but struggled initially to balance his academic and athletic pursuits. The transformation makes him a school favorite, but he realizes how superficial and difficult it is to live as a werewolf. The movie uses humorous elements to depict the struggles of discovering self-acceptance while going through teenage hardships.

The film's success resulted in an MTV TV series reboot called Teen Wolf. The TV show aired from 2011 to 2017. Under the direction of Jeff Davis, the show presents a supernatural teen adaptation of the original narrative. Scott McCall faces his struggle with werewolf identity in addition to typical teenage problems after being bitten by a werewolf.

The show depicts a somber portrayal of meaningful connections, paranormal perils, and the ongoing conflict between mortals and their beastly counterparts. Teen Wolf became a critical success and gained popularity among viewers throughout its six-season run.

4. Clueless (1995)

Clueless, a teen comedy film, was released on July 19, 1995, directed by Amy Heckerling, who also wrote the screenplay. The film follows the story of Cher Horowitz, played by Alicia Silverstone, after drawing inspiration from Emma by Jane Austen. Cher is presented as a wealthy, fashion-forward high school student from Beverly Hills.

Cher establishes recognition through her talent for matchmaking while attempting to make positive changes for others through situations that sometimes result in comedy. The film is notable for its sardonic commentary on adolescent life in the 1990s, iconic fashion sense, and outstanding dialogue.

Following its initial success, the film studios created the Clueless TV series, which debuted in 1996. Cher enjoyed brief success at Bronson Alcott High School, where her friendships, including romantic ones, and social gatherings became the main subject of the television adaptation.

Richard Blanchard played Cher, replacing Alicia Silverstone, who did not return. Fans of the original film found the TV show appealing since it kept the film's playful tone and avant-garde style. Many people still find it nostalgic. It ran for three seasons, ending in 1999.

3. Psycho (1960)

Psycho was a suspenseful horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and debuted on June 16, 1960. Fluent Marion Crane steals money before arriving at the Bates Motel under the ownership of its strange proprietor, Norman Bates. The film stands out because it delivers unexpected, sudden plot changes and presents a disturbing dynamic between Norman and his mother. This film achieved the status of a horror masterpiece.

From 2013 to 2017, Bates Motel was broadcast as a TV series. Critics gave the first season favorable reviews. On Metacritic, 34 critics gave the season 66 out of 100. Based on 43 reviews, the season has an 84% rating and an average score of 7.11/10 on the review aggregate Rotten Tomatoes.

The TV series is an earlier narrative that reveals the beginnings of Norman Bates and his mother, Norma. After the death of her husband, Norma buys a seaside motel to create a fresh start with Norman. The show explores Norman's mental health issues and Norma's intense bond with her son throughout its streaming. Bates Motel explains to viewers how Norman Bates became the Psycho character through its plot.

2. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

Ferris Bueller's Day Off | Image via Paramount+

On June 11, 1986, John Hughes released the teen comedy film Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which he directed. Ferris Bueller, a teenage student, is followed as he poses as ill to spend a day in Chicago with friends. Ferris frequently addresses the audience by defying the conventions of storytelling throughout the presentation, which distinguishes his interpretation of the film.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off was released by Paramount Pictures on June 11, 1986. The film made $70 million over a $5 million budget, making it the tenth highest-grossing movie in the US that year. Both critics and viewers gave the movie mostly favorable reviews, praising Broderick's performance and the humor and tone of the film.

From 1990 to 1991, the TV show Ferris Bueller was broadcast on television. The film's main elements are preserved in the television version, which shows Ferris's exciting antics while he avoids his friends and schoolwork. John Hughes and the original cast of the movie were not directly involved with the TV show, and while it tried to maintain continuity, the series had to stop airing after just one season because of these factors.

1. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids | Image via Prime Video

On June 23rd (1989), Joe Johnston's family science fiction comedy Honey, I Shrunk the Kids debuted in motion pictures. Wayne Szalinski's humorous inventiveness is demonstrated when he creates miniature figure devices, compressing his children and three local children into sixteenth-of-an-inch-sized shapes. As they work to return to their home, the shrunken children must overcome several threats that have now appeared in their backyard.

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show, which ran from 1997 to 2000, capitalized on the movie's success. Peter Scolari took the place of Wayne Szanlinski. The series expanded on the original concept through a series of scientific mishaps and adventures triggered by Wayne's interventions.

The TV show, which was set in Matheson, Colorado, featured new characters such as the McKenna family, who were neighbors and frequently became embroiled in the adventures of the Szalinskis. The show, which had 66 episodes over three seasons, was renowned for its creative storylines and amazing effects.

It is concluded that seven films and the television shows that accompanied them were produced using several creative techniques. The series adaptation Teen Wolf continued its original spirit to delight viewers across multiple seasons, just like Bates Motel. After a successful start, My Big Fat Greek Life stopped creating content before the end.

Television media use movie adaptations to create longer storylines that give their shows more uniqueness. People have a strong emotional bond with movie characters and their fictional worlds, as evidenced by the continuous efforts to create new film versions.