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TV shows created by movie directors are always an interesting watch. As viewers, it is interesting to see how the grand visions of a movie director land on screen and how capable they are of handling the TV version of their creations.
However, there have been various TV shows created by movie directors that have proved that acclaimed directors can create a good movie and a good show as well. Here are 10 must-watch TV shows created by movie directors.
Devs, Mindhunter, and other TV shows created by movie directors
1. Twin Peaks
When it comes to TV shows created by movie directors, this mystery-horror drama series from the 90s comes right at the top. Created and produced by David Lynch along with Mark Frost, Twin Peaks revolutionized the TV industry. The series focuses on a Pacific Northwest titular town where an FBI special agent, Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan), investigates the murder of a local teenager, Laura Palmer.
The show is known for its uncanny tone, surrealist scenes, offbeat humor, and parodying of soap opera tropes. The successful show spawned a movie and a revival show, and David Lynch has proved that he is one of those who can create influential TV shows created by movie directors. The show stretched the boundaries of TV storytelling and has continued to inspire many other shows even after 30 years, such is the enigma of the show.
2. Band of Brothers
Created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, this war drama miniseries is based on the non-fiction book by Stephen E. Ambrose. Hanks and Spielberg were also the executive producers of the show. The series is about the history of the “Easy” Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. The show covers the regiment’s journey from its paratrooper training days to its participation in the Western Front of World War II.
The show was a massive hit and won an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award. Hanks and Spielberg collaborated on this show after working on Private Ryan, and continued to offer viewers a realistic portrayal of World War II. The show is intense, dramatic, and has historical accuracy. Spielberg’s perfectionism proves that this show is one of those TV shows created by movie directors that is a must-watch. Hanks and Spielberg have also created two other war-based series.
3. Mindhunter
David Fincher is known for his affinity towards serial killer stories, and he developed his interest in the psychological crime thriller Mindhunter. Fincher was the show’s showrunner, co-executive producer, and one of the most frequent directors. Based on the 1995 true-crime book by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker, the series focuses on the founding of the Behavioral Science Unit in the FBI in the late 1970s and the beginning of criminal profiling.
The show deals with two agents, Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), who travel across the country to interview some of the most dangerous serial killers and understand their psychology. The show is chilling, unflinching, and ruthless in its description of the killers and their crime. While the show has only two seasons, it was well-loved by critics and fans, and Fincher proved that his series is one of those TV shows created by movie directors that is a stellar watch.
4. Devs
Created, written, and directed by Alex Garland, this science fiction thriller series explores themes of free will and determinism. The show is about a software engineer, Lily Chan (Sonoya Mizuno), who works at a quantum computing company called Amaya. The CEO of the company is Forest (Nick Offerman).
However, Lily becomes involved in a murder mystery when her boyfriend dies mysteriously while on the first day of his job at the Devs team at Amaya. Alex Garland is known for his movies, Ex Machina and Annihilation, which deal with science fiction. He therefore takes his creative pursuits further to create an acclaimed series, and it is, therefore, one of the must-watch TV shows created by movie directors.
The show highlights a harrowing future where free will and determinism are controlled by corporations. It is one of the must-watch TV shows created by movie directors.
5. Poker Face
Speaking of TV shows created by movie directors, Rian Johnson is an upcoming director known for his murder-mystery movie series, Knives Out. He has also directed the movie Looper and the Last Jedi installment of Star Wars. In Poker Face, he creates a crime comedy-drama that is acclaimed for its character-driven plot and inventive premise.
The acclaimed series focuses on Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne), who is a casino worker on the run. However, she gets embroiled in several mysterious deaths of strangers along the way. She also has the ability to detect lies, and she therefore uses her powers to solve murders along the way. The show’s format follows a “case-of-the-week” murder mystery and adapts the inverted detective story format.
The show continues Johnson’s fascination with whodunit stories and infuses a supernatural element into it. It is one of those TV shows created by movie directors that is a must-watch.
6. Tokyo Vice
Based on the 2009 memoir by Jake Adelstein, this crime drama series was created by J.T. Rogers and was executively produced by Michael Mann and others. Mann also directs the first episode of the series and lays down the visual and thematic style. The show is one of the must-watch TV shows created by movie directors and focuses on Adelstein (Ansel Elgort), who is an American journalist investigating the yakuza in Tokyo. The series is set in 1999 and is fast-paced and thrilling.
Mann is known for movies like Heat and knows how to showcase the crime genre. Therefore, the series brings his vision to the fore and creates a rich tale of the dark underworld of Tokyo. The series is a blend of political intrigue and action, which makes it one of the must-watch TV shows created by movie directors. While the show was cancelled after the second season, it has received universal praise and acclaim and is a stylish crime series.
7. The Get Down
Co-created by Baz Luhrmann, who is also one of the executive producers of the show, this musical drama series is set in the South Bronx region of New York City and covers the late 1970s. The show is one of the must-watch TV shows created by movie directors and is a great series for all those who like to learn more about the history of a particular genre of music. The show follows the rise of hip-hop and disco music, and the series is set from the point of view of a group of teenagers.
Each episode has real footage and newscasts from the era, and each episode begins with a rap artist telling the story to a large crowd. Luhrmann is known for his stylish and extravagant storytelling, and the show brings his vision to the small screen. Like many other movies of Luhrmann, the show has a fun and carnival-like atmosphere that makes it a colorful watch.
While the show was canceled after one season, it received positive reviews for its mix of showcasing the realities of city life in the 1970s and juxtaposing it with melodious musical numbers and a rich tapestry of fashion. It is one of the must-watch TV shows created by movie directors.
8. Sense8
Created by Lilly and Lana Wachowski and J. Michael Straczynski, this science fiction drama series brings the Wachowskis’ fascination with sci-fi concepts to the small screen and is one of the must-watch TV shows created by movie directors. The director-duo is known for the Matrix franchise, and they therefore love delving into mind-bending scientific concepts.
The series is about eight people from different parts of the world who discover that they are “sensates” and have the ability to be mentally and emotionally linked. The central theme of the show focuses on embracing empathy and being accepting of each other. It also deals with questions of identity, sexuality, and gender.
When the “sensates” discover that they have a connection, they begin to take on the characteristics of one another. The show was hugely successful and was noted for its representation of LGBTQ+ themes. It is one of the must-watch TV shows created by movie directors.
9. Top of the Lake
Co-created, co-written, and co-directed by Jane Campion, this mystery drama series is a chilling and unnerving tale and is one of the must-watch TV shows created by movie directors. Campion is an Oscar-winning director known for movies like The Power of the Dog, The Piano, and The Portrait of a Lady. The series focuses on detective Robin Griffin (Elizabeth Moss), who investigates the disappearance of a pregnant 12-year-old girl in New Zealand.
The second season deals with Griffin investigating the death of an unidentified Asian girl at Bondi Beach. Both seasons of the show were well-received and dealt with murder and women as victims of brutal crime. The show is dark and full of twists and turns. It also has top dramatic quality and is one of the must-watch TV shows created by movie directors.
10. Believe
Believe is a fantasy drama series created by Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Friedman, and is one of the must-watch TV shows created by movie directors. Cuarón also serves as the show’s executive producer. The show is about a young girl, Bo, with supernatural abilities beyond her control. As her powers keep growing, the people who were protecting her have to ask an outsider, William Tate (Jake McLaughlin), for help.
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Tate was a death row inmate and dealt with anger outbursts and past trauma because of his prison stay. However, he is saved from his execution in exchange for protecting Bo. While Tate is hesitant at first, he begins to guard the young girl, and the two share a bond that keeps them protected from other evil forces. Cuarón is known for his sci-fi movie, Gravity, and he directed the show’s first episode, which has his characteristic long takes.
While the show has only one season, it was noted for its plot and performances. At the heart, the show was about love and building a bond, and it is one of the must-watch TV shows created by movie directors.
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