“Fargo, based on the 1996 Coen brothers film of the same name, is well-written and excellently acted; it seems to be building toward a “clockwork universe” of intricate plot points that all add up to a satisfying whole without too many plot holes. It’s managed to pay homage to the original film while also standing as its own story.” – Jonathan Raeder

Hollywood is no stranger to making films based on popular TV shows. Just take a look at Firefly, Twin Peaks, Veronica Mars, 21 Jump Street, Mission Impossible and many more. However, the reverse — TV shows based on movies — has grown increasingly popular in the past few years. The classic examples of film-to-TV show adaptations have been M*A*S*H, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Friday Night Lights, but now we can add Fargo, From Dusk Till Dawn, Rosemary’s Baby and some more terrible shows (Bad Teacher and About a Boy) to the list.

Fargo on FX is perhaps the greatest example of the potential of such adaptations, even though it’s only four episodes in. Fargo, based on the 1996 Coen brothers film of the same name, is well-written and excellently acted; it seems to be building toward a “clockwork universe” of intricate plot points that all add up to a satisfying whole without too many plot holes. It’s managed to pay homage to the original film while also standing as its own story.

Merely recreating the plot of a film on television is lazy and not likely to reach success. The original viewers of the film probably will keep comparing the two, most likely in the film’s favor. Making a prequel or sequel that involves the same characters is tricky as well; most actors probably won’t reappear for any of a number of reasons, and some roles might be almost blasphemous to recast. However, the films that spawn great shows create convincing and unique worlds and have the potential for more stories set in those same worlds.

Whereas taking a TV show and squeezing it into a film requires a lot of chopping, the reverse actually expands the world and themes into a much longer format. Here are some great films that would make even greater TV shows.

The film: Looper (2012)

Possible Network: AMC

The premise: The film takes place in two timelines: one in the near future, and one in the slightly more distant future. In the far-away future, time travel is invented but seemingly only used by gangsters. Chips are implanted in everyone, making it impossible to commit murder — unless you send the target back in time to be killed. The Sopranos, The Wire, Justified and countless other crime shows are popular for a reason: We love shows about antiheroes and criminals. Throw in time travel, the possibility for two parallel time streams and a dilapidated post-apocalyptic world, and you’ve got a recipe for a successful show.

The film: Inception (2010)

Possible Network: HBO

The premise: The original Inception involved a group of people who infiltrated the dreams of others to gain valuable information or to insert information into the target’s mind. Despite its fantastic premise, most of the dreams were remarkably normal. Imagine a show that really took advantage of dreamlike logic and imagery — a show that went full-on surreal in its portrayal of dream espionage. Bizarre and philosophical, an Inception series produced (or at least approved) by Christopher Nolan likely would be quite profitable and acclaimed.

The film: Pulp Fiction (1994)

Possible Network: FX

The premise: Just like Fargo, Pulp Fiction is a classic film with a horde of loyal followers who wouldn’t want the show’s plot recycled. But just like the Fargo TV show, a series that reflected the funny, violent and interconnected world of Pulp Fiction with different characters could be a fantastic show. Imagine a show with the hilarious dialogue of a Tarantino film for 10 episodes, in which the series finale wasn’t the chronological final event. The showrunners could craft an original story that references Pulp Fiction but still remains fresh. Of course, we’d need Tarantino to sign off on it, which seems unlikely, but as TV grows more and more prestigious, a famous director moving to television doesn’t seem so far-fetched.

The film(s): Star Wars series (1977-present)

Possible Network: ABC

The premise: OK, Star Wars has had some TV series before, but they’ve all been animated. With the recent announcement of Disney’s plans for Star Wars (a new trilogy and at least three spin-offs) and Marvel’s continued attempts to rule the world with films and shows (The Avengers and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), this doesn’t seem so difficult to pull off. It would be a show set before Episode I, during the Old Republic. Hundreds of Jedi, hundreds of possible planets, lightsaber battles, new aliens, a diverse team of heroic Jedi against rogue Jedi betraying their former allies, space battles, references to the original films and more: The possibilities are endless. Let’s get this made.

The film(s): Harry Potter series (2001-2011)

Possible network: BBC

The premise: Yes, technically these were books first, but the TV series would draw heavily from the look and feel of the films. Fans have been itching for the story of the Marauders in the previous generation of characters (with James and Lily Potter, Sirius, Lupin, Peter Pettigrew), and there’s no way a show like this would tank. If a show about 11- to 18-year-olds is targeting a too-young audience, the show could feature the Marauders in the few years after they graduate, chronicling the rise of Voldemort and the dark years before his first defeat. Get a good crew together with some young, talented unknowns and a few of the original cast members to make guest appearances, and the world of Harry Potter lives on.