It’s no secret that Hollywood is currently in the middle of an unprecedented moment. With movie theaters across the country staying open late and showing multiple films a day, audiences have more options than ever before.
And what’s driven this moment is the changing power bases of our favorite TV shows. Once dominated by the big four networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox), the world of entertainment is now populated by countless independently owned and operated TV shows and movies. It’s an endless buffet of content, catering to our desires.
But while the variety is incredible, it can also make selecting content a little more complicated. After all, it’s not like there’s one show that’s suited for all audiences. In fact, there are multiple choices that would fit perfectly into your lifestyle. Which one should you watch?
To help you figure out what would be best for your needs, we’ve identified the top five shows that deserve to be made into movies.
The Handmaid’s Tale
If you’re looking for a show tailor-made for a rainy day at home, try The Handmaid’s Tale. Based on the award-winning novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood, this dark reimagining of Emily Dickenson’s 19th century classic follows a group of women who must swear an oath of loyalty to the newly established Republic of Gilead. Banned under the new regime, the once-proud members of the Order of Maids are forced to adapt to their new life of subservience.
As the story opens, we see Offred (played by Elisabeth Moss), a handmaid working in the home of Commander Fredrick (Peter Vaughan) and his wife, Mrs. Hannah Childress (Yvonne Strahovski). Amidst the ostentatious display of wealth, Offred finds some comfort in working for the couple’s granddaughter, Serena (Alice Englestad), who has inherited her grandmother’s taste for adventure and her Aunt Bertha’s talent for embroidery. But even as her circumstances change for the better, Offred knows that she still lives in a world where women are expected to obey and serve men. And she must prepare to do so, as the novel’s epilogue reveals.
The story lines of the book and the series are so interwoven that if you’ve never read it, you may not fully appreciate the complexity of its plot. This adaptation really does require a multilayered approach, as it’s about so much more than simply following the story’s main character as she makes numerous pivots and switches to navigate her way to a better life.
The Handmaid’s Tale is a very rich, layered narrative that can hold a mirror up to society’s treatment of women, as well as the institution of marriage. While certainly depicting the oppression women faced in the latter half of the 20th century, it also seeks to illuminate the ways in which they have the power to change their destinies – either by speaking up and demanding rights or by refusing to accept lesser circumstances.
Like many of the shows on this list, The Handmaid’s Tale is a cautionary tale. Its depiction of the future of women in an ultra-conservative society is haunting in its precision and rings true from a socio-political perspective. But as implausible of fiction as this story may be, it’s also a testament to human nature that such a dark tale could be so impactful. Wherever you are in the world, the idea that women could be used as breeding vessels is still deeply disturbing. And it begs the question: If men were to discover that women could bear children without a male heir, would they continue treating women as second-class citizens?
The Handmaid’s Tale won’t hold up its end of the bargain if it doesn’t keep you guessing. The very first episode sets the stage for a narrative that will keep you guessing right up until the series finale. The story quickly opens with Offred, a handmaid working in the home of Commander Fredrick and his wife, Hannah. The scene is shot in bright daylight, but a glance away from the windowsill reveals that it’s actually nightfall, casting a shadow over the setting that suggests unnaturally deep shadows and an overbearing setting sun. Soon enough, your mind will be racing, trying to figure out what’s going on and who these people are – and more importantly, who the protagonist is and what she wants.
This is a dangerous game that the show likes to play with its audience. Throughout the premiere, we’re treated to lengthy flashbacks that play like a horror movie foreshadowing that something terrible is about to happen. And we know exactly what: the protagonist, Offred, is about to be discovered and punished for her crimes. But as the story opens, Offred is still in the process of discovering herself and her place in the world, as well as the motivations of her oppressors. So while you’re caught up in the intrigue, it’s also important to remember that you’re not quite figuring out the big picture yet.
Episode two opens with some of the characters we’ve met in the first episode returning, which is par for the course for this series. Though now they’re traveling in a decidedly less-than-glorious manner – a fact which is stressed through repeated references to their previous, privileged lives. This time around, they’re on the run from the law, having committed the unpardonable sin of conspiring to help a woman realize her dreams of becoming an actress. Though the circumstances that caused them to flee in the first place remain vague, their timing couldn’t be worse, as it happens during a time of crisis for the Republic of Gilead. The situation is further complicated by an ongoing rebellion that’s been fomenting among the people for years and which has now reached a critical mass that’s threatening to tear the country apart. As we learn in the course of this episode, the law that had previously overlooked the existence of women seeking equality has now been mobilized to hunt them down. The Handmaid’s Tale is at its best when it forces you to pause and rethink your assumptions about the world you live in. And it never feels like a chore – there’s always something new to learn about this wonderfully complex narrative, as well as the characters that populate it. It’s a story that doesn’t shy away from difficult topics like feminism and the role men play in oppressing women, but it also never shies away from being spectacularly entertaining. Which is, of course, the purpose of fiction in general.
The Handmaid’s Tale is set to arrive in theaters on May 10, 2019. Though it’s already available on Netflix, it’s well worth seeking out in its entirety. If you’ve never read the book and are interested in seeing how it was adapted for the screen, you can always watch the first season. And if you have, you may want to consider rereading it before the season two premiere on June 24.
Veep
If you’re looking for a cynical take on the nature of politics and what’s motivating the key players, look no further than Veep. Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus as the titular character, this sharp comedy depicts a world of backstabbing and petty rivalry deeply marred by corruption and deceit.
Veep takes place in an undefined future where a once-popular American president named Julia Louis-Dreyfus has decided that enough is enough and decides to run for the highest office in the land. What follows is a madcap satiric riff that mocks both American politics and media through a characteristically ironic lens. It’s sharp wit and dead-on comedic timing will have you laughing out loud. But while the series is often hilarious, it’s also unflinching in its portrayal of the venality and duplicity that typify modern politics.
If you’re not already familiar with the work of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, you may not know what to expect from Veep. The actress is famous for playing the title role in the original incarnation of Seinfeld, a role for which she won an Emmy Award. But aside from the occasional guest spot on a hit TV show, she’s mostly stayed away from film. This is unlikely to change with Veep. Not only does she take the role of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, she also does all of the directing and most of the writing herself. So if you’re expecting a typically written and acted-out version of Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ comedy routine, you may be in for a big surprise.
Veep was originally created for television, but this year marks its transition to the big screen. Though it’s the character of Julia Louis-Dreyfus that predominates, much of what we see onscreen is actually being played out in front of a live audience. This alone should be enough to convince you to see this satirical drama. Not only does it deserve to be made into a movie – it demands to be made into a movie.