4 CBS Sci-Fi Shows That Were Spinoffs of Popular Movies, Ranked

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It’s now common for popular movies to be turned into TV series. Just looking at science fiction, HBO’s Dune: Prophecy premiered in 2024, exploring the history of the Dune universe thousands of years before the recent films, and was quickly renewed for a second season. Amazon’s Prime Video is also planning Blade Runner 2099, set after Blade Runner 2049, with Ridley Scott overseeing the project. Previously, Fox created the Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles TV show in 2008, and HBO’s Westworld expanded on the original 1973 film over four seasons. This strategy works because a successful movie already provides a built-in world, recognizable style, and a dedicated fanbase, which lowers risks and increases the chances of a hit.

Before streaming services made TV spinoffs popular, CBS tried something similar with traditional broadcast television. The network created series based on classic science fiction movies, hoping fans who’d seen those films in theaters would tune in each week to explore those universes further. Some of these shows were impressively creative, while others quickly failed.

4) Beyond Westworld

Inspired by the 1973 movie Westworld, Beyond Westworld debuted on CBS on March 5, 1980, but was quickly canceled, making it the shortest-running show on this list. The series followed Delos Corporation’s Security Chief John Moore (Jim McMullan) as he tried to prevent scientist Simon Quaid from using androids to take over the world. This turned the original film’s scary, contained story about a malfunctioning amusement park into a worldwide spy adventure. However, that change lost what made the original Westworld so compelling – the terrifying feeling of being trapped with dangerous, out-of-control machines.

CBS quickly canceled the show Beyond Westworld after only two episodes aired, and of the five episodes made, only three were ever shown on American television. The final two episodes weren’t available in the US until they were released on DVD in 2014. While Beyond Westworld received two Emmy nominations for its makeup and art direction – proving it had good production quality – the show’s biggest mistake was moving away from the original Westworld setting that made the story compelling.

3) Logan’s Run

In 1977, CBS released a television adaptation of Logan’s Run, just a year after the acclaimed film—which won an Academy Award for its special effects—hit theaters. The series immediately stood out as different. It starred Gregory Harrison as Logan 5, a law enforcer who escapes a bleak future where people are required to be executed at age 30. He’s joined by rebel Jessica 6 (Heather Menzies) and an android named Rem (Donald Moffat) as they search each week for the legendary Sanctuary.

The pilot episode was co-written by William F. Nolan, who also co-authored the original novel, and D.C. Fontana, an experienced writer from the original Star Trek series, acted as story editor. Despite this promising creative team, the show’s limited budget became apparent. It quickly fell into a predictable pattern of featuring a different fugitive each week—a format very similar to the contemporary Planet of the Apes series. Adding to the problem, CBS frequently replaced Logan’s Run episodes with higher-rated programs, which caused the audience to dwindle and ultimately led to the show’s cancellation after only 14 episodes.

2) Planet of the Apes

The 1974 Planet of the Apes TV series had more backing from its network, CBS, than any other show of its kind. CBS had already shown all five Apes movies on television to huge audiences, and those strong ratings led them to approve a weekly series with a large budget of around $250,000 per episode. The show starred Roddy McDowall, who had played Cornelius in several of the films, as Galen, a kind chimpanzee who helps two astronauts, Alan Virdon (Ron Harper) and Pete Burke (James Naughton), as they try to escape the clutches of the aggressive gorilla general Urko (Mark Lenard).

Like Logan’s Run, the Planet of the Apes TV series struggled with a predictable, repetitive plot that didn’t allow for much character growth. This, combined with strong competition from NBC’s Sanford and Son, led to its cancellation by CBS mid-season after ratings dropped on Friday nights. However, the show’s commitment to the look and feel of the original films, along with David McDowall’s excellent performance, have given it lasting appeal. CBS acknowledged this in 1980 by editing select episodes into five television movies.

1) Limitless

The TV series Limitless first aired on CBS on September 22, 2015, and became the most popular show of its kind. It continued the story of the 2011 movie, picking up four years later, and followed Brian Finch, played by Jake McDorman, a musician who unlocks his full mental potential with the drug NZT-48. He’s then forced to work with the FBI to solve difficult crimes. Bradley Cooper reprised his role as Senator Edward Morra from the original film, serving as a subtle but constant source of conflict – something previous CBS spin-offs hadn’t achieved.

With 22 episodes, Limitless stood out from other shows on this list, and its debut attracted over 9 million viewers. Despite strong ratings when viewers recorded and watched later—making it a top performer for CBS in delayed viewing—the show was cancelled in May 2016. This was due to the network prioritizing initial overnight ratings rather than overall audience engagement. Throughout its single season, Limitless uniquely used the main character’s enhanced perception—thanks to the drug NZT—as a visual tool, employing split screens and fast-paced montages to create a distinctive style that earlier CBS spinoffs couldn’t achieve. Consequently, its cancellation after just one season is particularly disappointing.

Out of these four shows that started as spinoffs from CBS series, which one do you think doesn’t get enough attention? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-03-28 03:11