TV Cop/Private Detective Shows Turned Into Movies

Grab a donut and some coffee and come along for the ride as we review some of TV's cop/detective shows turned big-screen movies.

CAR 54, WHERE ARE YOU?

Someone give this flick a “movie violation.” Universally panned, most moviegoers considered this 1994 remake of the 60s TV show to be an out-and-out crime.

DRAGNET

Dan Aykroyd is LAPD Sgt. Joe Friday and Tom Hanks is Pep Streebek in this 1987 movie version of the classic 1950s TV show. And that’s “just the facts, ma’am.”

MIAMI VICE

Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx take on the roles of Crockett and Tubbs, swapping out the pastel shirts and white blazers for tougher, grittier fashion statements in this 2006 movie update.

THE MOD SQUAD

This Claire Danes flick was a flop, probably because this updated trio really wasn’t that mod. No cool afros, no hippie duds, no groovy slang, ya dig?

POLICE SQUAD/NAKED GUN

Leslie Nielsen reprised his TV role as Sergeant Frank Drebin, going after the bad guys and wreaking havoc in the process. Just don’t call him Shirley. Especially since that’s from another movie.

STARSKY & HUTCH

Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson star as two streetwise cops with Snoop Dogg taking on the tough guy role of, uh, “Huggy Bear.”

S.W.A.T.

The Special Weapons and Tactics crashed the box office, guns blaring, in this 2003 action-crime thriller starring Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, Samuel L. Jackson and Jeremy Renner.

VERONICA MARS

Fans of the TV show gave this up-and-coming movie a much needed KickStart by investing their own money in their favorite female detective.

CHARLIE’S ANGELS

The hit TV show about three crime-fighting beauties burst into the theater, fighting its way to box-office success. Of course it didn’t hurt that it starred the lovely Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu and Cameron Diaz.

GET SMART

Would you believe this 2008 movie starred Steve Carrell and Anne Hathaway as agents 86 and 99? What do you mean you asked me not to tell you that?

GUNN

Craig Stevens reprised his role as P.I. Peter Gunn, creating one of TV’s most memorable crime-fighting detectives. Not to mention that awesome theme song.

THE UNTOUCHABLES

Robert DeNiro played the untouchable Al Capone in this 1987 flick. The film also stars some guy named Sean Connery, who won an Oscar for his role.

21 JUMP STREET

Johnny Depp makes an appearance in this film based on his hit TV show. And as if that weren’t enough eye candy, the film also features Channing Tatum and um… Jonah Hill.

INSPECTOR GADGET

Matthew Broderick plays a bumbling, stumbling cybernetic police officer in this live action movie version of the 80s cartoon. Hmm… kind of sounds like RoboCop, no?

SCOOBY-DOO

The Scooby Gang of amateur sleuths come to the big screen where the big mystery is how Freddie Prinze, Jr. was able to woo Sarah Michelle Gellar while sporting that ridiculous platinum wig.