TV shows based on movies are more popular than ever. Recent shows like Hannibal, Bates Motel, and the brand new FX series Fargo have succeeded with new ways of presenting old stories. We here at CutPrintFilm have compiled a list of ten films we think could work well on the small screen.

10. Gangs of New York

Martin Scorsese’s 2002 film is a sprawling epic that effectively recreates another world—that is, the world of late 1800’s New York. Inspired in part by Herbert Asbury’s historical book, the film effectively showcased an entirely different way of life. A show like HBO’s Boardwalk Empire proves that historical crime dramas set in the past can really pay off, and there’s a wealth of actual historical material to use. Of course, they’d have to pony up a lot of cash to get Daniel Day-Lewis to reprise his role as Bill the Butcher, but we can easily ditch Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, since he was the least interesting thing in that movie. Just picture a show set in 1800’s New York, featuring the ways these various gangs clash against each other, and you’re on your way.

9. Do the Right Thing

Spike Lee’s 1989 look at racial tensions in Brooklyn, NY somehow manages to be unquestionably of its time and completely relevant to today. The indictment of our society when it comes to race would make for a riveting HBO-style drama series (I can’t imagine this being able to take flight on ABC) and Lee’s stylistic camera work would fit right in on the small screen these days. Hell, HBO’s own original series Oz liberally borrowed from Lee’s visual bag of tricks with their pitch black-backed narration scenes starring Harold Perrineau’s Augustus Hill. With its claustrophobic setting and vibrant characters, Do the Right Thing would make for some absolutely phenomenal weekly drama while also being able to say things people might still not want to hear about race in America.

8. Brick

Television is full of horrible teen shows and it’s also full of horrible detective shows. It even has some lackluster teen detective shows. So if people want to watch this shit why not do it right? Rian Johnson’s Brick would be the perfect property to adapt to this formula. The movie plays like an episode of an overarching story that exists outside of the film. It seriously did things that Breaking Bad did way before it was cool!! (Suburban drug kingpin, anyone?) Joseph Gordon-Levitt may be a little too old now, but I would still love to see him in this.

7. The Matrix

Forget those really awful sequels, the first The Matrix did a wonderful job of universe building. We wouldn’t need the show to focus on Neo and his band of leather jacket wearing, Prodigy-listening bandits. Instead, imagine the show focusing on different characters all living inside the Matrix, slowly realizing the world around them is a lie. The animated short films The Ani-Matrix explored this idea a bit, but a weekly live-action show full of mystery could end up being a sort of cyber-punk version of Lost (and hopefully one with a more satisfying series finale).

6. High Fidelity

High Fidelity already has its own ready-for-primetime gimmick built into its heart: protagonist Rob Gordon’s (John Cusack) penchant for making top five lists that apply to whatever he’s going up against in his life. That list format is tailor made for the internet generation’s obsession with taking information in with colorful lists; imagine the twitter campaign this show could exploit! Pair that with Rob’s kooky record store co-workers and revolving door of love interests and you’ve got yourself a half hour comedy that would fit right in on NBC’s, “Must see TV” Thursday night block.

5. The Big Lebowski

The Coen Brothers are perfect at creating their own little worlds for their movies, and if Fargo can transfer over to the small screen, there’s no reason The Big Lebowski can’t do the same. Lebowski already has an entire cast of kooky, wonderful characters to use. Picture a sort of weekly detective show, with the Dude and Walter bumbling their way through a different crime every week. It’s hard to picture anyone else playing the Dude besides Jeff Bridges of course, but since this is an entirely fictional list made purely for fun, let’s go ahead and say he’s already signed on for the show.

4. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

We already have proof that the Fincher-verse translates well to television. House of Cards is an amazing show with huge lead actors. Sony seems hell bent on not making The Girl Who Played with Fire, so it does not make any sense that they are not developing this as a television series. It has everything a good HBO or Netflix show needs: interesting characters and an abundant source material. This would be an instant hit. Although, I would suggest ponying up for Rooney Mara and recasting Daniel Craig; there is no way they can afford both, and Craig is easier to replace.

3. L.A. Confidential

I can’t believe this hasn’t been made into a TV show already, especially given the public’s reception of period piece series like Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire and Downton Abbey. L.A. Confidential would fit right in on Netflix since you’d want to take in as much pulp noir as possible without having to wait until next week. Maybe I’m just making the leap to Netflix because of the Kevin Spacey connection, but seriously, just imagine navigating the twists and turns that a television version of this movie could map out over the course of twelve hours. They’d really have to fuck it up royally not to have a hit show. I’d like Netflix to pay me in one lump sum should this actually happen. This post is time-stamped after all.

2. Shaun of the Dead

This may be the most valuable untapped television property out there right now. The Walking Dead has proved that people will watch ANYTHING with zombies in it, while The Office has proved that people will watch awkward British comedy. Now imagine those two things combined! Shaun of the Dead would be an instant hit. Recast it with an American cast? maybe…only if Simon Pegg and Nick Frost won’t sign on to do it.

1. Videodrome

The technology in David Cronenberg’s 1983 horror masterpiece Videodrome may be slightly out of date (“Videos? You mean like on YouTube?” teens everywhere cry out in between sending text messages and listening to Macklemore), but the film’s premise of a society slowly corrupting from the inside out, glued to television screens, is more prevalent than ever. Think of the story updated for our more tech-savy times, where people can view videos on their phones and iPads; it would be very easy for someone to succumb to a malevolent signal emanating from their technology that causes violent, sadomasochistic thoughts. Long live the new flesh.

This list was compiled by the CutPrintFilm staff.

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