In the modern age of television, adaptations like Scream and Chucky have engineered a fair dose of rising popularity. Interpretations on renowned movies have seen horror franchises receive their own tv shows, such as Bates Motel and Hannibal. Decade after decade, the horror genre has proven its increased marketability. As such, several key horror franchises deserve a TV show reboot of their own. Here are just five franchises that fit that bill.
5) Hellraiser
Based on Clive Barker’s The Hellbound Heart, Barker adapted the novella in favor of a film. Hellraiser’s plot focuses on the demonic antagonist, Pinhead, a Cenbobite with an infatuation with sadomasochism. As the leader of the Cenobites, Pinhead confines his other-dimensional presence in the nature of a special puzzle box. When opened, the demonic Pinhead tests the limits of pleasure and pain to those who request as such.
While the first three films in the Hellraiser franchise were released in theaters and met with decent success, the following sequels were direct-to-DVD catastrophes. A reinvention of the once-forgettable franchise has the potential to reach a new foundation of critical success. The reintroduction of the sadistic, yet somehow likable Pinhead presents the opportunity of gaining notability once more. Thus, Hellraiser is a horror franchise that deserves its own tv show.
4) Dracula
When Bela Lugosi’s charming, gentleman-like vampire craves the blood of the living, he’ll stop at nothing to achieve his desires. Tod Browning’s 1931 Dracula highlighted the Transylvania Terrorizer, and in turn, spawned countless sequels and spin-offs. As such, actors Christopher Lee and Gary Oldman would both go on to play the Count. Count Dracula first appears in Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, where an English solicitor visits the infamous creature of the undead.
While several attempts at a reimagination of the franchise have generated remembrance, a fresh reintroduction of the franchise could influence a new generation of fans. A television adaptation has the chance to explore Count Dracula’s background further, all while lining up a new victim for each episode of a possible series. As classic horror films cement their legacy more and more into contemporary television, Dracula is a horror franchise that deserves its own tv show.
3) A Nightmare on Elm Street
Out of many of the successful horror franchises that deserve its own tv show, Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street sits near the top of the list. The plot follows one of horror’s favorite final girls, Nancy Thompson, who is experiencing terrible nightmares at the hands of the controversial, burnt-faced Freddy Krueger. Robert Englund’s memorable portrayal of Freddy Krueger, the notorious serial killer with razors as fingers, sparked a long-lasting franchise. The franchise produced nine films total, including a remake in 2009, though it was met with less than favorable reviews.
Since its intimidating debut in 1984, A Nightmare on Elm Street has become a pioneer in the world of cinematic horror. In many polls, it remains one of the most successful horror franchises of all time. Wes Craven’s masterpiece cemented its perfection as a teen slasher. As such, Krueger horrifies both the teenagers in the film and the audience alike. Much like reinventions of the past, A Nightmare on Elm Street could easily adapt into a television original. A star-studded cast could see teenagers working together, episode by episode, in hopes of ending their nightmares for good.
2) Halloween
Halloween is one of the most successful horror franchises to this day. With a collection of twelve films total, Halloween revolutionized the world of cinematic horror with its inventive kills and divine premise. John Carpenter’s Halloween breathed life into the slasher sub-genre, and thus, birthed one of horror’s most recognizable forces, Michael Myers. The plot of the 1978 film follows a teenage Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), a babysitter with a particular innocence. Michael Myers is introduced as the film’s antagonist, a psychopathic serial killer with a mean streak who murdered his sister at six years old.
With the releases of Halloween (2018) and Halloween Kills (2021), the franchise has gained a fresh wave of popularity. A television reboot has the potential to dive further into Michael’s troubled backstory, rather than sticking with the outdated Curse of Thorn theory. A television adaptation holds the key to explaining Haddonfield’s yearly carnage. As such, the sibling history behind Laurie Strode and Michael Myers can be thoroughly uncovered. A strong team of dedicated writers and perfect casting presents the opportunity of the Halloween franchise once against striking cinematic gold. This time, as a successful horror franchise that deserves a TV reboot.
1) Saw
James Wan’s Saw undoubtedly shocked audiences when it first hit theaters in 2004. Made famous for its nonlinear narrative and overabundance of gore, Saw reimagined the world of horror with its puzzling plot. As one of the most successful horror franchises, Saw has created a total of nine feature films. The central focus of the films is the Jigsaw Killer, also known originally as John Kramer, who punishes his victims by placing them in deathly scenarios. Kramer’s motivation is explained in later sequels, in which his cancer diagnosis motivates him to test others’ will to live. As the films go on, several copycat killers adopt Kramer’s sadistic vision, creating their own scenarios. One of these killers happens to be his protégé, Amanda, who survived one of Kramer’s tests.
While later sequels began to steer from the actual plot, focusing primarily on the gore factor, a reinvention of the franchise could prove to be effective. Exploring further into the Jigsaw Killer has the potential to produce an engaging series with plenty of longevity on the horizon. Perhaps the creators of the show would be prompt in discovering more about John Kramer’s past. As such, learning more about the various imitation artists who take inspiration from his games. One of the most influential figures of the franchise is Billy the Puppet. Kramer uses Billy as a communicative source with his victims through recorded messages. Gaining more knowledge about the puppet’s origin and Kramer’s methods would further garner popularity for the franchise. As such, Saw sits at the top of the list of horror movies that deserve their own television reboots.
