If a horror movie is so successful that it can spawn 10 sequels, then the franchise should be popular enough to warrant a TV show. While that sounds logical, this practice has only caught steam in the last decade or so with shows such as Scream, Bates Motel, Ash vs Evil Dead, and From Dusk till Dawn: The Series. Prior to that, it was a rarity for a horror film to earn a series, although there were a few exceptions.Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, the Beetlejuice cartoon, and the plethora of Ghostbusters releases all have plenty of fans, with some shows even eclipsing the original movies. However, not every TV adaptation or sequel is fondly remembered; in fact, some have completely slipped through the cracks. What horror movie franchises have forgotten TV shows?
Special Mention: Chucky
- Debut: October 12, 2021
It is way too soon to say whether Chucky will stand the test of time, and there is a decent amount of hype surrounding the killer doll's TV romp. Despite 2019's remake, Chucky is a continuation of 2017's Cult of Chucky, and the pilot episode delivers the over-the-top mayhem and black comedy synonymous with the Child's Play franchise.
Chucky is very much for existing fans of the movies, although newcomers who appreciate a good (and bloody) slasher flick should find something to enjoy here.
Special Mention: I Know What You Did Last Summer
- Debut: October 15, 2021
Compared to Chucky, I Know What You Did Last Summer's TV adaptation is garnering less attention. An Amazon Prime Video exclusive, the series will return to the beginning by providing a modern update of the 1997 film, meaning it will also adapt the original novel.
I Know What You Did Last Summer is a dated but enjoyable '90s slasher film, but the franchise lost quite a bit of steam due to its underwhelming sequels, the last of which came out in 2006.
7 Freddy's Nightmares (1988-90)
A Nightmare on Elm Street released sequel after sequel in the late '80s, and the franchise still found time to drop a TV show. Despite its title, Freddy's Nightmares reduces Krueger to little more than a host, limiting his story appearances to a handful of episodes and the occasional (corny) cameo.
The show tells standalone stories that take place within Springwood, and the episodes are all over the place in terms of quality. Lacking the creativity of the films, Freddy's Nightmares is often cheesy rather than scary. That said, there are a couple of decent episodes, including one featuring a young Brad Pitt.
Friday the 13th: The Series is better than Freddy's Nightmares but it has nothing to do with Jason.
6 Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996-99)
Name aside, The Legacy is only slightly connected to Poltergeist and certainly doesn't deliver the type of scares found in the classic haunted house movie. Focusing on a group of Legacy members that investigate incidents involving demonic or otherworldly entities, the show is somewhat similar to series like X-Files and Buffy, although it doesn't quite reach the height of either of those releases.
While by no means a masterpiece, Poltergeist: The Legacy is a pretty engaging sit for the most part, and the cast does a great job with the material. People looking for some supernatural thrills can do much worse than this series.
5 Wolf Creek (2016-17)
One of the better movie-to-(web)-TV transitions, Wolf Creek should be deemed a must-watch for any fans of the Australian horror films. Created by Greg McLean, the director of 2005's Wolf Creek, the series brings back the movies' killer, Mick Taylor, and pushes to the forefront two survivors who are easy to like and root for.
Lasting for 12 episodes spread over two seasons, Wolf Creek doesn't overstay its welcome. The show makes the most of every second, delivering an experience that holds up well when compared to the movies.
4 Tremors: The Series (2003)
The Tremors franchise has lived on for three decades, creating six sequels in the process. Following the release of Tremors 3: Back to Perfection, one of the weaker entries, the franchise found its way to Syfy Channel for a TV show. Only lasting one season and 13 episodes, Tremors: The Series is slightly more interested in its characters than the movies, and it also features a few appearances from El Blanco.
Unapologetically campy, Tremors: The Series is entertaining for what it is, permitting someone doesn't go in expecting anything other than budget B-movie shenanigans.
3 Blade: The Series (2006)
Blade lost a lot of steam following the release of its third movie, and its uneven TV show did not help much in steadying the ship. Set after the events of Blade: Trinity, the Marvel hero heads to Detroit to take care of business and kill a few vampires along the way.
Surprisingly, the show does not devote its time solely to its titular character. Krista, a combat medic, takes center stage for large sections of Blade's solitary season, and she is interesting. Blade does get his share of moments to shine as well, and the series doesn't hold back on the action. If nothing else, Blade: The Series is better than Blade: Trinity​​​​​​.
2 The Exorcist (2016-17)
Outside of 1973's The Exorcist and its spiritual sequel The Ninth Configuration, 2016's TV show is the best thing associated with this franchise. Things start familiar enough, with a mother coming to believe that her daughter has caught a case of the demon; from there, The Exorcist expertly expands its concepts, cast, and locations en route to telling an effective and consistently unsettling story.
While scares are a bit in short supply, The Exorcist is well-written and unnerving. Both seasons are great and well worth seeking out for horror fans in general.
1 Damien (2016)
Set a few decades after the events of 1976's The Omen, Damien finds its titular Anti-Christ leading an adult life after having repressed the chaos that was his childhood. Like his younger self, Damien's passive presence is enough to bring death to those who threaten his existence, which naturally attracts the attention of a detective.
Damien is well produced but suffers from a meandering plot that struggles to build any significant momentum throughout its 10 episodes. There is a reason this show has been already forgotten.