TV as it was Meant to be Seen. In a Movie Theater.

April 3, 2003

Ok, so I stole the headline from UHF. But it may be more relevant today than ever. In Hollywood’s ever increasing attempt to cash in on already successful products, creating movies based on TV shows should be a safe bet. Like remakes, sequels and comic book adaptations, Based on a TV Show can be thought of as its own genre. Here is a list of some of the up-coming Based on a TV Show films.

Cowboy Bebop the Movie: Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Based on the hit Anime series from Japan, this film has already been out for a year and a half in Japan. Anime has traditionally been a tough sell for American audiences, but if it succeeds look for more anime to coming over soon. Opens this Friday.

Malibu's Most Wanted

Based on a skit from The Jamie Kennedy Experiment. A few weeks ago I would have thought a movie that focuses on a white man trying to act black wouldn’t stand a chance at the box office. But that was before Bringing Down the House made $100 million in just four weeks. Of course, Jamie Kennedy is no Steve Martin. Opens on the 18th of April.

The Lizzie McGuire Movie

Based on one of the most popular series on Disney’s Family Channel ever. For Hilary Duff, it’s the second movie this year, with an estimated four to five hundred others in the works. Opens May 2nd, opposite X-2, which is an excellent piece of counter-programming.

Rugrats Go Wild!

A crossover between two successful carton series, Rugrats and The Wild Thornberrys. Last year’s The Wild Thornberrys movie under-performed, so there’s a lot of questions about whether this movie can do better.

Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle

Sequel to the adaptation of the 70s action / crime / sexy woman series. The combined salaries for the three leading ladies nearly doubled for this go around. So this one will have a much harder time making a profit. Opens June 27th.

Garfield

Live action adaptation (a la Scooby Doo) of the popular comic strip and successful TV series. Stars Breckin Meyer and Jennifer Love Hewitt have name recognition on their side, (ok, Jennifer Love Hewitt has name recognition on her side.) But neither of them has starred in a huge breakout movie. Of course, the same could have been said for Sarah, Freddie, Matthew and Linda, but Scooby Doo made over $150 million at the box office anyway. Opens December 19th.

Starsky & Hutch

Was originally planned for a 2003 release, but it has been delayed to 2004. Reportedly a prequel to the 70s cop show, with a stronger emphasis on comedy. While this will please some, it is driving some of the Starsky & Hutch purists nuts.

Spongebob Squarepants

Begins production soon for a planned Thanksgiving 2004 release. However, production on the series has ended to concentrate on the movie. And their target audiences, (little kids and drunken college students) tend to have short attention spans. So by the time the movie is released, its popularity might have waned significantly.


NOTE: As usual, all release dates are subject to change.

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