I decided to take the best telefilms or feature film continuations of beloved shows and rank them all in one huge list. Please note: no TV pilots or edited-together episodes were incorporated here. Movies based on earlier shows or reboots of such are also not mentioned here as that’s a different category.
10. Spooks: The Greater Good
The TV espionage show proved to be just as moody as the Bourne Identity films, twisted as the US show 24 and feature more insane action than even the typical James Bond film (and this was involving MI-5, not MI-6!). It was fitting that there would be a follow-up film to the popular series. I came into the show late during its final years before giving this film a go and it easily rivaled the other aforementioned franchise as well as Mission: Impossible, Kingsmen and Taken saga. Now that I’ve reseen the whole show, the film delivers another final yet steller blow in the best possible way. Supporting characters from the series appear without disrupting or relying on prior knowledge of who they are and it was a rather cool move to introduce a new spy (played by rising movie and TV star of the time, Kit Harrington) and have him play a twisted spy whodunit game while figuring out if the well-liked character Harry Pearce truly is a traitor or being framed. It wouldn’t be the first time given Harry’s questionable actions and various enemies he’s done battle with but on the big-screen it makes for a rewarding excuse to see organized yet brutal fights, mind-games and chases of many kinds!
9. Babylon 5: A Call to Arms
Before I got into the series itself, I stumbled onto this telefilm and despite outdated graphics and taking a slight bit to get going, it’s one that could easily rival the big-screen Star Trek films themselves (that’s right, I said it!) due to the well-focused mix of mystery, space battles, surprising amount of witty quotes and dramatic tension throughout. The guest cast of characters also include co-star Tony Todd who makes this easily on Shakespeare worthy level as how could he not: it’s Tony freaking Todd, ladies and gents! The battles are rather suspenseful and shocking in both their strategic maneuvers and well-filmed intensity. An altogether kickass movie that definitely needs more love!
8. 24: Redemption
An effective war-adventure movie in its own right about the troubles of South Africa, it provides emotionally rewarding drama as well while also easily rivaling similar blockbusters like Tears of the Sun and Blood Diamond. We see our beloved anti-hero Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) having to do exactly what the title indicates: come to terms with himself by redeeming his soul. The first part of that process will be kickstarted when he unexpectedly has to save a group of refugees on a school under attack by guerrilla soldiers while back home in Washington D.C., we are introduced to other scummy lobbyists with murder on their mind! The film truly is rather solid and the extended edition is also recommended for additional not-safe-to-air action, add-ons to the political thriller plot twists and extra dramatic dialogue which packs five times the needed punch, making for altogether satisfying film.
7. Law & Order: Exiled
Wait, Law & Order is Action you say? Yes, it sure as hell is! When it’s not doing a whodunit or spending time in the courtroom, it’s got our beloved detectives out on the streets of New York kicking ass and arresting shitheads (especially in the first three shows). Providing key yet beyond effective cameos by the show’s signature characters Lt. Van Buren, Briscoe, Curtis and McCoy, this is both a solid Serpico/L.A. Confidential style corruption case as well as an above-average two part episode that felt like it got mashed together, although rather effectively well. It also at this time was a cool return for the beloved Det. Logan character played well by an Emmy considered Chris Noth, who being that he knew the character better than anyone, also co-wrote the story for this telefilm. The film itself is also strikingly well shot with Neo-noir styled music and scenery but hardly even feels like a telefilm. The plot is also not the easiest to figure out at first but when it gets you, it’s in the style of a “gotcha!”-level gut punch with a “Holy shit!” moment that follows. Easily a must for all detective mystery fans who like some additional foot chases and moody lighting to go along with it!
6. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn
The first big-screen movie voyage was a rough one as while it had good effects and was financially successful, the story wasn’t to everyone’s liking. I personally would’ve never become a Trek fan had I only seen the first film and not given it a second go-around with this sequel listed here.
Enter Wrath of Kahn: an equally intelligent and visually striking flick that will rock even the most stubborn moviegoer’s socks off. For all the Bill Shatner overacting which you may or may not like, it still nonetheless has great pacing, editing, camerawork, one-liners, themes and a perfect title villain. This Trek film proved that the franchise was just as relevant a film franchise as rival Star Wars while also making for the perfect party movie. It’s an instant classic by all means due to also providing much substance for hard-sci-fi genre nuts and never having a single wasted scene throughout the whole deal.
5. Highlander: Endgame
Highlander was already a cult favorite and infamous film franchise-turned-TV show that had much of the same fan appreciation and critical disdain. The producers decided to return to the big screen only this time with Connor from the previous films and Duncan from the series together on-screen. It wasn’t entirely successful given that the Weinsteins and Miramax interfered in the creative process, forcing rather unneeded MTV style hack editing and some of the subplots had different endings.
This film series for that matter had already been a victim of too many cooks-in-the-kitchen prior with its original film’s script even introducing the infamous notion that the Highlanders were aliens from another planet only for it to be cut and forcibly injected in Part 2 (which also had 3 different yet messy cuts). The mayhem continued in Part 3 when it was released as a forgettable PG-13 release only to be only available on home video with barely extra fighting and a few lame softcore-like sex scenes added.
This fourth film though was hardly a disappointment given that it had more going for it and was really trying to please both the film and TV show spin-off fan-bases. After fixing the CGI bloopers and other edits for its home media release, the original producers were able to at least also include an original workprint cut as a bonus feature on the DVD. And while you have to endure some unmastered shots and time-coding, it’s still worth a look as there is some better material here in either cut.
4. Stargate: Continuum
Reuniting lead star Richard Dean Anderson as well as another alien invasion-meets-time travel premise, this DVD released film manages to be rather high-speed and very entertaining. One minute you’re laughing for the right reasons, the next you’re seeing some unexpectedly well-executed battles with characters you instantly like and would gladly jump into battle with. Not always easy for a non-fan to get into, it still comes highly recommended for the way the show creators utilize outrageous humor and shocking moments to propel the story forward and introduce some unexpected plot twists- all without feeling like a dull two-hour episode. The visual storytelling also comes recommended and the mix of boarding spaceships and last stand finale could all easily make big-screen maestros like Christopher Nolan jealous!
3. Prison Break: The Final Break
Yes, you might say this entry aired as two episodes overseas but someone here in the States decided it would be a better fit as an exclusive DTV feature here so I’ll make an exception (unlike what shows like Highlander later did where they took 2 eps. and mashed them together). Overall, this is a fun standalone prison rescue film while also having some solid dramatics and fights to go along with it. It’s not the ultimate must-see film for all fans of the show but it still serves it purpose especially with a rather satisfying finale followed by a surprising ending (I’d say “shocking” but that would be an unintentional pun- watch the film to find out what I mean).
2. El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
This outro film hits the mark in virtually every area due to never over-complicating matters and providing a hopeful future for one of the most troubled characters on the series: Jesse Pinkman. Aaron Paul is still in effective form, showing both a different side of the character and being an effective leading man. The new crime hustle is presented in a rather compelling format without feeling like excess story details or like deleted scenes which were scooped up, only to be reinserted later. It’s also an easy watch for non-fans and is the rare kind of film where you can easily play on loop because much like the drugs portrayed, well do I have to say it? It’s addicting as all get out and anyone wanted an easy watch with a complex premise can’t go wrong here.
1. Star Trek: First Contact
Yeah, I don’t mean to let Star Trek take over this list. But I can’t not have it on here either it’s a raw, bloody gem. It’s aged much like a fine wine due to the Moby Dick-story parallels and by featuring the most unstoppable alien race seen on-screen since Kahn’s people and the Terminator franchise villains combined. Any movie that deals with time-travel should take a look at how to make a proper entry in that subgenre: introduce it at the start than abandon it in favor of just focusing on the good vs. evil material without over complicating the material with time loops. Following it up with those earlier points, it’s truly an endlessly rewatchable film with unexpected kickass moments, off-color dry humor and a scene-stealing supporting cast that made their characters just as memorable as the main series’ cast. Much like many of these other picks here, it’s rather remarkable how well it holds up on it’s own terms without relying on prior knowledge of the show as well as being the extra boost that kept this franchise relevant at the cinema for far longer.
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