10 Underrated Movies Based On TV Shows You Might Have Missed

by

Many movies have been made from popular TV shows, and while some have become major successes, others haven’t gotten much attention. Blockbusters like Mission: Impossible, The Addams Family, Star Trek, The Simpsons Movie, and 21 Jump Street are just a few examples of films originally based on television series.

Surprisingly, some of the best movies based on TV shows are hidden gems that often go unnoticed. These are films – often animated – that either went straight to video in the past or quietly appeared on streaming services without getting much attention. But despite flying under the radar, they’re all genuinely good.

Invader Zim: Enter The Florpus (2019)

Many fans were surprised when Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus was announced. The original Nickelodeon show had ended in 2002, making a sequel movie almost twenty years later seem unexpected. Luckily, the film did well after being released directly on Netflix.

Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus picks up after the original series ended. Zim discovers a shocking truth: his Irken leaders never actually intended to invade Earth. Everything he’d been doing was meaningless – just a distraction to keep him occupied.

Zim’s self-doubt creates an opportunity for his enemy, Dib. The movie received excellent reviews and boasts a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, which is unusual. Even though it was released long after the original show, it successfully captured the same fun and quirky spirit.

Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (1998)

Batman is one of the most frequently appearing characters in film history. The DC Comics hero is hugely popular, and while he’s known for many live-action movies, he’s actually starred in even more animated projects. One example is Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero.

This Batman movie is different from many others because it’s inspired by the classic Batman: The Animated Series TV show, not the comic books. The story revolves around Mr. Freeze, who kidnaps Barbara Gordon hoping to use her organs to save his wife, forcing Batman and Robin to come to her rescue.

Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero tells a simple, effective story much like the classic Batman TV series. The voice acting is excellent, with Kevin Conroy delivering a particularly strong performance as Bruce Wayne. Many fans consider it the best Batman animated movie released in the late 1990s.

The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (2024)

Released in 2003, Looney Tunes: Back in Action followed in the footsteps of Space Jam by combining animation and live action. Unfortunately, despite its interesting concept, the movie wasn’t successful at the box office.

Considering the previous box office failures and a lack of current interest in Looney Tunes characters, a new movie seemed unlikely. However, in 2024, The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie was released in theaters as a completely animated film starring Porky Pig and Daffy Duck.

While the movie wasn’t a big hit in theaters, it didn’t lose much money because it was made with a limited budget. People who watched The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie remember it as an enjoyable film. It was creative and still captured the classic spirit of the Looney Tunes characters.

Get Smart (2008)

Despite many TV-to-movie adaptations flopping, Get Smart was a hit when it came out. The film, based on the classic 1960s series, earned a solid $230 million in theaters. It’s surprising it’s rarely mentioned these days.

The comedy Get Smart centers around Maxwell Smart, an intelligence analyst who bumbles his way through the world of espionage, but somehow manages to defeat dangerous villains. The movie boasts a talented cast including Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, and Alan Arkin.

While reviews for Get Smart weren’t overwhelmingly positive – it has a 51% rating on Rotten Tomatoes – the movie is still really fun. Steve Carell is reliably funny, Anne Hathaway proves she’s great at comedy, and the action sequences are genuinely enjoyable.

Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)

Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Many recent movies based on old TV shows come out long after those shows were popular. This happened with the 2022 film Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers, which was based on a cartoon that originally aired in 1989. Despite the long gap, the movie turned out to be surprisingly good.

Akiva Schaffer directed Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers, and Dan Gregor and Doug Mand wrote the script. Both writers are big fans of the original cartoon series, and that passion really shows in the film. It’s visually unique, blending live actors with classic animation for Chip and CGI for Dale.

Okay, so this movie totally flew under the radar for a lot of people because it went straight to Disney+, but trust me, it’s good! It’s about Chip and Dale getting back together after a falling out, and they end up investigating this crazy case of cartoons being… kidnapped, basically. It sounds wild, and it is! What’s really cool is it actually won an Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie. Seriously, it’s a fun ride and deserves more attention.

Beavis & Butt-Head Do The Universe (2022)

Beavis and Butt-Head was a surprisingly popular TV show. It simply followed the daily lives of two lazy teenagers, punctuated by their funny reactions to music videos. The show was a big success and even led to a well-received movie in 1996.

I really enjoyed Beavis and Butt-Head Do America, but I honestly think Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe is even better, even though it didn’t get quite as much attention. I remember when Beavis and Butt-Head were huge in the ’90s – everyone was talking about them! But by the time this new movie came out, things had quieted down, and because it went straight to Paramount+, it felt like a lot of people just missed it. It’s a shame, because it’s a great movie!

In Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe, the two iconic teens are accidentally sent from 1998 to 2022, where they meet alternate versions of themselves. The movie was very well-received by critics, earning a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

S.W.A.T. (2003)

The S.W.A.T. franchise has a surprisingly long history. While the current TV series is what most people know, many weren’t aware that the 2003 movie was actually based on a TV show from the 1970s.

The movie S.W.A.T. boasts a powerful cast, including Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, LL Cool J, and Samuel L. Jackson. They play members of a Los Angeles SWAT team assigned to transport a fugitive who’s offered a huge reward – $100 million – for assistance in escaping.

The movie has great action, but what really makes it enjoyable is how well the actors play off each other. The casual scenes of them interacting are particularly fun to watch. While critics weren’t big fans of S.W.A.T., general audiences liked it, though it hasn’t remained a widely remembered film.

Teen Titans Go! To The Movies (2018)

Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures via MovieStillsDB

The Teen Titans, a team of DC Comics superheroes, don’t always get the recognition they deserve, though they’ve been featured in several TV shows. The most popular of these is Teen Titans Go!, which premiered in 2013 and continues to air new episodes, with over 400 completed so far.

Even though the Teen Titans Go! TV show is very popular, the movie Teen Titans Go! To the Movies didn’t get much attention and wasn’t appreciated by many people. It only made $52 million in theaters, which was disappointing considering the huge success of other superhero movies that year, like Avengers: Infinity War and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

People who enjoyed the Teen Titans Go! TV series also had a lot of fun with the movie, which captured the same playful spirit. Critics gave it very positive reviews, praising it as a genuinely enjoyable film. It was also recognized for its strong writing with a nomination for an Annie Award.

Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special (2023)

Harley Quinn is one of the most popular animated superhero shows available today. This HBO Max original is definitely for adults, with plenty of mature content, strong language, and graphic violence. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, the show recently released a movie on the streaming service, which has been very well-received by fans.

Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special isn’t a full-length movie—it’s more like a special episode. But it still feels like the show we know and love, with the same great animation and familiar characters.

The story centers around Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy enjoying their first Valentine’s Day as a couple, showcasing a sweet and loving relationship. Meanwhile, other characters like Bane experience their own chaotic Valentine’s Day adventures.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas (2021)

Early in 2020, the TV show Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist premiered and quickly gained a reputation as a hidden gem. The show centers around Zoey, who after an accident, can hear what people are really thinking – expressed as elaborate musical performances.

Despite receiving positive reviews and being a heartwarming show, it was canceled after only two seasons due to low ratings. Fortunately, Roku revived the story with a holiday movie, Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas, which also didn’t reach a large audience but was well-liked by those who saw it.

The movie is a hit with audiences, earning an 84% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It tells the heartfelt story of Zoey navigating her first Christmas after losing her father, and features some wonderful songs.

Read More

2025-11-29 23:25