Netflix has had incredible success with its movie adaptation of a popular TV show – arguably the best one ever made. Adapting a TV series to film is always risky, though. What works well over many episodes doesn’t always translate into a satisfying movie because storylines built for a longer format can be difficult to condense.
There are many examples in film history of TV shows that didn’t translate well to the big screen. Movies like Sex and the City 2 and The Last Airbender are often listed among the worst ever made, yet they both started as TV series. Other examples include the live-action The Flintstones, Baywatch, Doctor Who, Entourage, and Zoey 102. Whether they continue the original story or reimagine the concept, it’s clear that TV shows don’t always make good movies.
El Camino Took Breaking Bad’s Perfect Ending And Somehow Made It Better
Vince Gilligan took a risk in the late 2010s. After successfully wrapping up the popular show Breaking Bad with a satisfying finale – something rarely achieved – he could have easily stopped there. But instead, he chose to return to that same world with a full-length movie.
Despite facing high expectations, El Camino seamlessly continued the story of the original series, both in terms of plot and quality. While many wondered if Walter White had somehow survived, the film’s greatest strength was its focus on Aaron Paul’s character, Jesse Pinkman. It seemed Paul had already explored every side of Jesse, but El Camino revealed there was more to discover.
After Walt’s death and the horrifying experience of being held captive by Jack’s crew, Jesse Pinkman was a changed man. While still recognizably Jesse, he appeared older, haunted, and desperately searching for a reason to keep going. Giving the character these new layers in El Camino instantly made the film feel like a valuable story to tell.
One of the most important things about El Camino was that it didn’t ruin the open ending of Breaking Bad. The final scene of “Felina” showed Jesse driving away with a sense of hope, but also uncertainty about his future. El Camino continued this, showing Jesse starting a new life in Alaska while still leaving some questions unanswered. Vince Gilligan skillfully expanded Jesse’s story with a satisfying conclusion without changing the original meaning of Breaking Bad‘s ending.
El Camino was both exciting and deeply moving. While it stood on its own as a film, it strongly maintained the spirit of Breaking Bad. It left viewers feeling hopeful, but also with a touch of sadness.
El Camino Got Even Better After Breaking Bad’s THIRD Ending
Vince Gilligan, the creator of Breaking Bad, didn’t stop at two great endings – he made a third! The finale of Better Call Saul built upon the story of Breaking Bad, bringing the whole saga to a satisfying conclusion. Importantly, this new ending added to the previous ones—including Felina and El Camino—without overshadowing them.
Better Call Saul enhanced how we view El Camino. Seeing Jimmy McGill face the repercussions of his involvement in the meth trade—while ensuring Jesse Pinkman remained untraceable—made the hopeful ending of El Camino, where Jesse heads to Alaska, feel even more powerful. Because of Better Call Saul, viewers could genuinely believe Jesse had finally achieved complete freedom.
As a huge fan of both shows, I always appreciated how Aaron Paul’s appearances in Better Call Saul actually made El Camino even better. Seeing Jesse with Walt and Saul again, and then that incredibly poignant scene with Kim Wexler, really drove home how much of a genuinely good person he was – just someone who got swept up in things way over his head. It showed he wasn’t a criminal at heart, but a victim of bad luck and manipulation. Honestly, those Better Call Saul moments completely explained why El Camino let Jesse finally get away and start a new life, while Jimmy took the fall – it felt totally earned and justified.
Other Movies Based On TV Shows That Come Close To El Camino
Though El Camino stands out as particularly well-made, many TV shows have been successfully adapted into movies. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, another continuation of the story, initially received mixed reactions, but it has since gained a dedicated following and is now seen as an important piece of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks universe.
Both Serenity and The Simpsons Movie were well-received, with Serenity successfully continuing the quality of Firefly and The Simpsons Movie exceeding expectations. The Star Trek films have been consistently successful, mirroring the popularity of the original TV series, and The Wrath of Khan from 1982 is often considered the best of the bunch.
Several movies based on TV shows have successfully expanded their franchises – like 21 Jump Street, The Fugitive, and Mission: Impossible, which many consider better as films than their original series. However, Netflix’s El Camino stands out. It not only enhances the original show but also works brilliantly as a standalone, top-rated movie.
Read More
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Meet the cast of Mighty Nein: Every Critical Role character explained
- Eldegarde, formerly Legacy: Steel & Sorcery, launches January 21, 2026
- Bitcoin’s Wild Ride: Yen’s Surprise Twist 🌪️💰
- Fishing Guide in Where Winds Meet
- Netflix’s One Piece Season 2 Will Likely Follow the First Season’s Most Controversial Plot
- Avatar 3 Popcorn Buckets Bring Banshees From Pandora to Life
- This RAM Crisis Is Looking Like a Nightmare for the PS6
- The Surface Laptop 7 with a Snapdragon X Elite is down to $699.99 — and you can still get it before Christmas
2025-12-25 16:29