Small Screen Hits, Big Screen Duds
Why, oh why can't Hollywood leave a good thing alone? It seems that any TV show you ever loved eventually gets recycled into a big-budget, big-screen version ... and that's not always an improvement.
As often as these TV-to-movies misfire, we can bet more ideas are in the works, some of them sure to be good fun ('Transformers,' anyone?) and others destined to tarnish your fond memories of cult classics forever. Here's a look at some of the worst offenders in the latter category -- our countdown of the 25 worst movies based on TV shows. -- By Liane Bonin
Warner Bros (3) / Disney
25. 'Josie and the Pussycats' (2001)
In the 1970 animated series, Josie and her pals are pop music stars who just happen to solve mysteries in their free time. Not exactly rich dramatic fodder, but the movie struggled to find meaning with snarky commentary on the music industry and an evil scheme to brainwash the public with marketing messages. But it wasn't enough to save a really bad remake idea. And did we mention Tara Reid? (Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 53)
AP
24. 'Sgt. Bilko' (1996)
On 'The Phil Silvers Show,' Sgt. Ernie Bilko is a con man who's always working an angle at a Kansas army camp. A hit in 1955, by the time the movie rolled around with Steve Martin in Silvers' shoes, audiences weren't feeling much nostalgia for cutesy military humor or a black-and-white TV show they'd never seen. (Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 32)
Getty Images
23. 'Dennis the Menace' (1993)
Even Walter Matthau as grumbly neighbor Mr. Wilson couldn't help this stinker. Hoping to spice up the conflict between mischievous Dennis and Mr. Wilson, writer John Hughes decided to throw in a real menace with town robber Switchblade Sam. Like we needed to see 'Home Alone' with a slightly different blond kid. (Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 25)
Everett Collection
22. 'The Saint' (1997)
Before Ian Fleming created Bond, there was 'The Saint,' an equally dashing thief with a mysterious past. So what does Bond have that 'The Saint' doesn't? Plenty, it turns out. In this very unsaintly movie, a yawn-worthy plot, dull action scenes and a curiously restrained performance by Val Kilmer made audiences pine for the 1962 original starring Roger Moore. (Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 30)
Everett Collection
21. 'The Flintstones' (1994)
Sure, everyone loves Fred and Wilma and their modern stone age family, but after an episode or two, we all realized it was just a pale imitation of 'The Honeymooners.' Unfortunately, the live action movie was just a pale imitation of the cartoon, though John Goodman, always the perfect shlubby husband on 'Roseanne,' brought Jackie Gleason-worthy bluster to his turn as Fred. (Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 18)
Universal
20. 'Speed Racer' (2008)
Take some retro Japanese anime, add the Wachowski brothers ('The Matrix') and you get ... an overblown, high-budget mess. We're sure it sounded like a good idea on paper, but the movie version is almost too true to the animated original, which lacked character, plot and logic. Dragged out to more than two hours, this bubblegum-colored special-effects explosion is just painful. (Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 36)
Warner Bros.
19. 'Mr. Magoo' (1997)
Maybe it was fun to laugh at the legally blind in 1960, but the adventures of this nearsighted millionaire got old fast for most people over the age of 8. Leslie Nielsen tried to bring his bumbling 'Airplane' persona to the movie version, but sadly, it still wasn't funny. (Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 4)
Everett Collection
18. 'McHale's Navy' (1997)
Of course, WWII is always funny, so who couldn't yuk it up over a bunch of misfits floating around the South Pacific with a Japanese house boy? Sadly, while the series had talents like Ernest Borgnine, Tim Conway and Gavin McLeod to lighten the mood, the movie version had ... Tom Arnold. (Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 4)
Everett Collection
17. 'Fat Albert' (2004)
Aside from some brilliant casting ('SNL' star Kenan Thompson was made to play Fat Albert), this movie is like school on Saturday: no class. Fans who loved the funky '70s original will find the movie version -- in which Albert and his animated pals jump out of a television to help a girl battle with loneliness -- bland at best, dumb kid stuff at worst. (Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 21)
Darren Michaels, 20th Century Fox

Reader Comments (114)
Thomas195 at 6:32PM on Jun 10th 2009
Boss Hogg wasn't the sheriff. Rosco somebody was...
Oh, I had to look it up... Rosco P. Coltraine.
B-ret at 7:36PM on Jun 10th 2009
Roscoe P. Coltrane. Geh geh geh. (And his partner/dog Flash.)
s at 4:48PM on Jun 13th 2009
Regarding the Dukes of Hazzard, the author states in dismissive fashion: "If you saw one episode on [sic] the 1979 series, you'd seen them all." I question whether he saw even one episode, however, because he confused Boss Hogg with Roscoe P. Coltrane. And, he confused Catherine Back (Daisy) with "Barbara" Back. Sloppy work.
everybody at 6:05PM on Jun 13th 2009
Rosco Peco Train hehehe
Holly at 1:26AM on Jun 11th 2009
Hey, I love Josie and the Pussycats!
Nick at 3:32AM on Jun 11th 2009
Looks like the guys that made this list haven't actually seen any of the movies. Josie and the Pussycats is actually pretty clever and Speed Racer is a super fun and awesome movie. It's literally the same thing as the TV show, and none of the reviewers saw the TV show so they whined and cried.
Paul at 3:10PM on Jun 13th 2009
for all of you who liked josie and the pussycats movie, one question. How? I saw the movie and it was awful. apparently you can go from playin a bad song in a bowling alley to playin it for a big label once the add subliminal messages. and if you find out, the take you on a plane ride, jump out, and let your jet crash. it was awful
Luke G at 9:30AM on Jun 11th 2009
I stopped reading at Josie and the Pussycats. WRONG.
Stacy at 10:20AM on Jun 11th 2009
What about Miami Vice and Starsky and Hutch? Those were pretty bad. I didn't even make it all the way through Miami Vice. I'm glad Charlie's Angels isn't on the list though, I love those movies!
Mitch at 5:32PM on Jun 13th 2009
@#$K YOU! Starsky and Hutch is one of my favorite movies EVER!
chase_selassie at 2:13PM on Jun 11th 2009
There was South Park that ended up being a pretty good film. Other than that I got nothing.
Joshua Ruth at 10:14PM on Jun 11th 2009
While most of the films on this list are absolute drivel, I COMPLETELY disagree with 'Masters of the Universe' and 'Lost in Space' being on this list. Those are freaking classics.
Sam at 10:39PM on Jun 11th 2009
Good TV to film adaptations? I enjoyed The Addams Family movies, Miami Vice, Mission Impossible 3, Brady Bunch, X-Files, Transformers, The Simpsons, The Fugitive, South Park, Naked Gun, and a few of the Star Treks. If you count SNL sketchs, then Wayne's World and Night at the Roxbury were fun. But the rest were pretty crappy.
SylvesterFox007 at 4:36PM on Jun 13th 2009
I've actually seen most of these, and enjoyed them, at least to some level.
Bruce at 9:28PM on Aug 2nd 2009
One could argue that The Saint was not a TV to movie remake, since it was original a pulp novel series starting in 1928, then was several movies starting in 1938, and several radio series starting in 1940 before it ever became a TV series. Maybe I watch too much Turner Classic Movies, but when I think of Simon Templar, I think of George Sanders.
Robert at 5:39PM on Jun 17th 2009
The still with the title "The Flintstones (1994)" is, in fact, from the 2000 prequel "Flintstones In Viva Rock Vegas" (which you adknowledge that John Goodman "passed on", although that may have had to do more with the fact that playing a younger version of himself six years later may not have worked, hence an entirely new, younger, cast). That's Mark Addy as Fred.
MIke at 9:11AM on Jun 12th 2009
Can I add Get Smart at no.26?
Not a horrible film, but completely subverts the spirit of the show.
Back then, Max always saved the day...but only because his dumb plans backfired.
Steve Carell's Max was the smartest guy in the room...he just needed to "believe in himself."
I call bullshit.
dafadf at 2:05PM on Jun 12th 2009
what are the bests
Jay at 5:53PM on Jun 12th 2009
Hey, I really enjoyed The Wild Wild West even if it was nothing like the series, it was still a lot of fun. You know what they say, "Opinions are like %&&holes, everyone's got one and a lot of 'em stink." ;-)
Pete at 7:32PM on Jun 13th 2009
i agree Jay, i enjoyed Wild Wild West too...i thought it was very entertaining, and hey, isn't that what going to the movies is all about? Who cares if it doesn't win any awards, Will Smith and Kevin Kline were really good together