It’s always fun to see your favorite horror movies expanded on the small screen and turned into spin-off series. Some were short-lived, like Freddy’s Nightmares, based on A Nightmare on Elm Street; and, more recently, I Know What You Did Last Summer, based on the movie of the same name.

However, others have lasted a little longer and have gone on to receive accolades from both viewers and critics, like Hannibal and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

The age of the spin-off series is heavily upon us and has led to recent additions like the Chucky series, based on the Child’s Play movies. Also, while it may be a reach to call The Addams Family a horror movie, the dark, ghoulish spin-off series, Wednesday, is also premiering soon on Netflix.

Closer to the horror genre is the upcoming Welcome to Derry spin-off, which will serve as a prequel to Stephen King’s classic It. Welcome to Derry is posed to tell the story of the small town in Maine where Pennywise the Dancing Clown makes a killer appearance every 27 years.

It’s not always easy to take a well-known plot, universe and characters from the big screen and turn it into a watchable series, but here are some of the best shows adapted from horror movies.

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7 Scream (2015-2019)

Scream: The TV Series premiered in 2015, and aired for three seasons, wrapping up in 2019. MTV aired the first two seasons, while VH1 picked up the third. The show is based on the slasher franchise of the same name and follows a very similar plot that was updated and adapted for modern day.

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The series received mixed reviews across all three seasons. While there were some engaging parts of the show, it was difficult to translate the magnitude of the Scream movie franchise into a TV show. However, those who enjoyed the series really did love it. Big fans of the original movies certainly enjoyed seeing some familiar pieces of the Scream movies on TV. But arguably in this case, the movies were better.

6 The Mist (2017)

     Dimension Television

The Mist TV series is based on Stephen King’s 1980 novella and 2007 movie adaptation, both of the same name. It’s about a small town that has a foreboding mist moving in that releases vicious creatures throughout the town, breaking down society and threatening everyone in town.

The Mist aired in 2017 and lasted for just one season. While its run was short-lived, it still managed to capture the suspenseful nature of King’s work. It’s not necessarily a part of the horror genre; it’s more suspenseful thriller than anything else. But, it’s a good, short watch for those looking for something that’s gripping, but doesn’t require a big time commitment. It’s also a good watch for Stephen King fans making their way through all of his works.

5 Chucky (2021-Present)

     Pheidippides/David Kirschner Productions/Universal Content Productions

The Chucky series is one of the newest movie-turned-TV-show adaptations. The series is inspired by the Child’s Play movie franchise, and events in the show take place after the seventh movie, Cult of Chucky, from 2017. The Chucky TV series is similar to every other Chucky movie, and even features Brad Dourif reprising his role as the voice of the killer doll. Dourif is well-known for voicing Chucky throughout the entire original franchise.

The first season aired in October 2021 and received great feedback. The show manages to play to the franchise’s strengths and balances both satire with slasher-style horror. It also has a fresh feeling to it that seems to keep expanding the franchise in a positive way. Fans of the franchise will love it, and those who are new to the Chucky universe will find no problem jumping in.

Following the success of the first season, season two is set to premiere sometime this fall.

RELATED: Chucky: How the TV Series Expands on the World of Child’s Play

4 Bates Motel (2013-2017)

     Carlton Cuse Productions/NBCUniversal/A&E Networks

Bates Motel serves as a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 horror classic Psycho. The series aired from 2013 to 2017, with a five-season run. It told the story of Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) and his uncomfortably close relationship with his mother Norma (Vera Farmiga), prior to the horrific events that occur in the original movie. The show is a perfect example of what a good psychological horror drama looks like. It’s engaging, suspenseful, and scary all at the same time, but it’s blended together perfectly.

Across all five seasons, the show received significant praise and was a massive hit among both critics and audience members. Impressively, on Rotten Tomatoes Bates Motel holds a 93% approval rating.

3 What We Do in the Shadows (2019-Present)

     20th Television

What We Do in the Shadows is a hilarious mockumentary comedy show based on the 2014 movie of the same name, directed by Jemaine Clement (Men in Black 3, I Used to Go Here) and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok, Jojo Rabbit). It’s about four vampire roommates living in modern day Staten Island, balancing their undead vampire lifestyle with the land of the living.

The show premiered in 2019 and just aired its third season last year. What We Do in the Shadows is ridiculously funny, and the mockumentary film style makes for a unique viewing experience, similar to The Office. The episodes are short, quick bites, the writing is incredible, and the characters are well-developed and jump off the screen. With a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 10 Emmy nominations, What We Do in the Shadows is a must-watch. The fourth season is set to premiere on July 12, 2022, on Hulu.

2 Hannibal (2013-2015)

     Sony Pictures Television

The Hannibal TV series was developed by Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies, Star Trek: Voyager) for NBC and premiered in 2013. The series was based on characters and plot lines from Thomas Harris’ novels Red Dragon, Hannibal and Hannibal Rising, but mainly focused on the relationship between FBI investigator Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and forensic psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen). The series also follows the 1991 psychological horror movie The Silence of the Lambs, also based on a Harris novel.

Hannibal had a brief three-season run and was eventually canceled in 2015 due to low viewership. Despite its low ratings, during the show’s run, it received critical acclaim and was well-loved by those who watched it. Even though it was only on air for a short time, it’s still worth a watch. It expands the Hannibal universe in a fresh way and plays homage to the source material while also creating a brand-new TV experience.

RELATED: Will Hannibal Ever Get Its Long-Awaited Season 4?

1 Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is arguably one of the most popular supernatural TV shows. The show follows Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), a teen girl who is next in line in a group of young women chosen by fate to become vampire slayers. At the start, Buffy just wants to live a normal teenage life, but later in the series, she learns to embrace her vampire-slaying destiny and surrounds herself with a supportive friend group, dubbed the “Scooby Gang.”

The series premiered in 1997, and is based on the 1992 movie of the same name. Buffy the Vampire Slayer ran for seven seasons, concluding in 2003. The show was a massive success and inspired the spin-off series Angel, as well as a massive fandom. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is also recognized for its feminist undertones and use of a strong female lead, and is considered a large part of that kind of media that blossomed in the ’90s and early 2000s, alongside similar works like Xena: Warrior Princess.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a monumental success, celebrated the 25th anniversary of its premiere earlier this year, and still remains a fan favorite. The series is a prime example of a movie-to-TV adaptation done right.