There’s nothing quite like seeing your favorite TV show characters make their way onto the big screen. Shows likeScooby-Doo, Alvin and The Chipmunks, and evenSouth Parkhave all been adapted into feature-length presentations over the years. TV shows, especially those enjoyed as kids, hold a special place in people’s hearts. They’re nostalgic, comforting, and generally lighthearted, giving people a break from their typical day-to-day.
Update July 20, 2025: With the upcoming release ofPaw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, this article has been updated with even more animated films based on television series.
Adapting animated TV shows into movies is also a successful, profit-driven production strategy.The Simpsons Moviewas a box office hit, bringing in over $500 million when it premiered in 2007. It’s clear that making animated TV shows into movies is a moneymaker, and there are even more adaptations on the way. The most recent isPAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, which has a theatrical release set for June 05, 2025, based on the popular kid’s show. In anticipation of more movie adaptations of beloved animated series, now is as good a time as any to take a trip down memory lane and look at some of the best-animated movies based on TV shows.
10Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
Any wish for a definitive Batman story can be fulfilled withBatman: Mask of the Phantasm. The spectacular first feature of the DC Animated Universe tells a story that takes multiple elements from the comic books as well as a unique story that feels like a heartfelt love letter to all things Batman. The film, directed by Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm, is written by Alan Burnett and works as a standalone story that fills a few holes inBatman: The Animated Serieslore.
The noir-inspired tale goes forth and back between the present time and Bruce’s recent past, just as he arrives back in Gotham City after years of training. In the present,he’s dealing with the mysterious Phantasm, a seemingly supernatural entity killing mobsters left and right. In the past, we see Bruce’s first outings as a vigilante and how he grew into the role of Batman. It’s a solid story starring the marvelous voice talents of Kevin Conroy as Batman, Mark Hamill as the Joker, and Dana Delany as Andrea Beaumont.
9The Transformers: The Movie (1986)
Ask any kid of the 1980s what was the most traumatic moment related to Saturday morning cartoons, and nothing topples watching Optimus Prime die surrounded by what’s left of his beloved Autobots squad inTransformers: The Movie. The pivotal moment was directed by Nelson Shin and had a script by Ron Friedman. The film is meant to bridge seasons 3 and 4 of the animated show while overhauling things for a whole new set of storylines.
The story takes place quite a few years after episode 65, in 2005. Spike is now an adult with a kid,and we get all our favorites back in action: Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime, Frank Welker as Megatron, and Judd Nelson as the new Autobot Hot Rod. The Decepticons mount a full frontal attack against Autobot City and many of the characters we grew up loving die in action. Optimus and Megatron duke it out for the last time while the Autobots' remnants deal with Unicron’s impending menace.
8Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018)
Ask anyDragon Ballfan which portion of the separate lore established by the OVAs should be included in the current canon, and the answer was simple: Broly. The legendary Super Saiyan is easily the most popular character in the franchise, not created by Akira Toriyama (he was created by Takao Koyama, with Toriyama contributing to his visual appearance). Broly finally made his in-canon debut in Dragon Ball lore inDragon Ball Super: Brolyin 2018.
The film, directed by Tatsuya Nagamine and written by Akira Toriyama, tells the story of the final fate of the Saiyansand how Broly came to be. The film covers the character’s background until he reaches adulthood, and it’s found by Freezer, who aims to use the volatile warrior to eliminate his Saiyan nemesis. The film is a wild ride featuring the excellent voiceover of Goku by Sean Schemmel, Vegeta by Christopher Sabat, and Broly Vic Mignogna.
7Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)
After Batman TAS ended its run,Batman Beyondtook over to continue the story of the TAS universe. Keep in mind this show proved so popular that there are still stories about this potential future for the DCU told in comic book form. The show was also retroactively added to the expanded continuity explored inThe Justice Leagueseries, with Terry McGuiness being retconned as Batman’s progeny created by Amanda Waller.
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Return of the Joker is a movie exploring the last confrontation of Batman and Joker in TAS, which broke Tim Drake and left the Joker dead for good. The story picks up in the future as the clown prince of crime has resurfacedto fight this new version of Batman. The haunting tale is directed by Curt Geda, with a script penned by Paul Dini, featuring the acting talents of Will Friedle as Terry McGinnis, Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne, and Mark Hamill as the Joker.
Beavis and Butt-Headis one of those pieces of pop culture from the 1990s that really represents the decade. The adult animated TV show was created by Mike Judge (King of the Hill) and originally aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 1997. It was later revived in 2011 for an eighth season and is alsoslated to make a returnthis year on Paramount+. The second revival of the series is bringing two new seasons and a new movie,Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe.
Following the show’s success, Judge co-created the movieBeavis and Butt-Head Do Americain 1996. The movie follows the duo as they set out to find their stolen TV set, and through a series of events, become wanted fugitives with the FBI on their tails. The movie is a perfect blend of funny and stupid. For fans of the show, the movie just feels like one long episode from the series. It carries all the same jokes and mannerisms that penetrated the zeitgeist at the time.
5Rugrats in Paris (2000)
Nickelodeon’sRugratsis a slice-of-life comedy and adventure series that follows the lives of a group of toddlers. While their experiences seem rather mundane, everything in the show is through their imaginative, childlike point of view, making even the most basic of days feel larger than life. The original series' success led the cast of toddlers on several movie adventures. There wasThe Rugrats Moviein 1998, which introduced Tommy Pickles' baby brother Dil,Rugrats Go Wildin 2003, which was a crossover movie withThe Wild Thornberrys, andRugrats in Parisin 2000.
Rugrats in Parisis one of the most entertaining movie adaptations from the series. In the movie, Tommy’s dad, Stu has to travel to EuroReptarland, a Japanese amusement park in Paris, to fix a malfunctioning animatronic Reptar. The entireRugratscast travels to Paris, where we meet the kid-hating CoCo LaBouche, who runs the amusement park. The movie has a rich plot with adventure, romance, scheming, and fun-loving comedy. It also introduced new characters that appear in later episodes of the series: Kimi Watanabe and her mom, Kira.
4The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)
SpongeBob SquarePantsis another one of those incredibly popular animated TV shows that never goes out of style. The adventures of SpongeBob and all his friends under the sea have been entertaining audiences since 1999. Following a few years of success as a series, the show was adapted into its first movie,The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, in 2004.
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In the movie, Plankton (Mr. Lawrence) hatches an elaborate plan to steal the Krabby Patty Secret Formula - a consistent goal of his - and take over the world by stealing King Neptune’s (Jeffrey Tambor) crown and framing Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown) for the theft. SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) and Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) then team up to retrieve the crown and save the world from Plankton.The SpongeBob SquarePants Movieis truly fun for all ages. It has jokes for both kids and their parents, a fun, catchy soundtrack, and goofy scenes that stick in your mind for years to come.
3Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998)
Few animated series are as massive and expansive as that ofScooby-Doo. The spooky mystery show originally premiered in 1969 and has since been rebooted and revived in a million ways, and still is today.Sccoby-Doohas had a significant presence in pop culture since it debuted. It has been adapted into a variety of spin-offs, video games, media crossovers, and comic books and has garnered a cult following that stands the test of time.
Along with various spin-off series and other pieces of pop culture and merchandise, theScooby-Doouniverse has also yieldedseveral exceptional big screen adventures. One of the best is 1998’sScooby-Doo on Zombie Island. The movie follows the Mystery Inc. gang as they reconnect after a year-long hiatus from solving mysteries and encountering ghosts together. They venture out on the bayou to investigate an island that is rumored to be haunted by pirate Morgan Moonscar.
2A Goofy Movie (1995)
1995’sA Goofy Movieis based on the short-lived animated sitcomGoof Troopthat aired in 1992.Goof Troopfocused on the lives of Walt Disney’s character Goofy, a single father, and his son Max, along with their neighbors Pete and his son P.J. While the show didn’t have a long runtime, it did lead to two movies:A Goofy Moviein 1995 andAn Extremely Goofy Moviein 2000.
A Goofy Movieis a continuation ofGoof Troop, with Max now in high school. Goofy is on a mission to bond with his son, so the pair embark on a cross-country fishing trip. It’s a funny movie with significant depth and emotion, as it really emphasizes the dynamics of a father-son relationship as kids grow up. It’s also pretty fast-paced and doesn’t waste any time getting to the peaks of the plot, making for an engaging watch. It would go on to have a sequel,An Extremely Goofy Movie, which follows a similar plot to the first installment, except now Max is in college.
1The Simpsons Movie (2007)
The Simpsonsis one of thelongest-running animated TV showsof all time, second toLooney Tunes. Since its premiere in December 1989,The Simpsonshas gone on to release over 700 episodes and counting. Created by Matt Groening,The Simpsonsis a comedic sitcom known for its parodies and commentary on American culture and society. The series has had consistent success since its original debut and has amassed a cult following that spans generations. The series' success eventually led to a jump onto the big screen withThe Simpsons Moviein 2007.
The movie follows Homer Simpson (Dan Castellaneta) as he pollutes the lake in their town, causing the EPA to put Springfield under a protective glass dome. Eventually, Homer returns to Springfield to try to redeem himself and save the town from demolition by the EPA.The Simpsons Moviehas everything that made the show so well-loved. There’s satire, laughs, and a calculated look at the human condition and the American family in general. The movie is so well-written that it captivates you from start to finish, even if you weren’t a longtimeSimpsonsfan before watching the big-screen adaptation.
