80s kids TV shows based on non-PG-rated films
by jirifl | created - 10 Jul 2016 | updated - 10 Jul 2016 | PublicThe 80s were a bizarre time for pop culture - case in point the nowadays unbelievable trend of TV animated series based on films originally not intended for kids, some of them R-rated, or modelled on celebrities, who base their image on their iconic roles in R-rated films. Curiously enough, most of the series were based on the popularity of sequels, not the original films, and it is fair to assume that a major factor for green lighting a show was the popularity of the films on the home video market, not in cinemas. This trend, just like all the good and weird things from the 80s, continued in the first half of the 90s. The list is organised chronologically by the series and each series is paired with the movie that inspired it or a movie which bears most resemblance with it and stars the show's celebrity. On the bottom of the list are a few TV shows based on PG rated movies, which by today's standards might not be considered kids-safe or which actually in their days got a higher rating outside the US.
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1. Mister T (1983–1985)
TV-Y7 | 47 min | Animation, Action
Mr. T and his young gymnastics team fight crime whenever they encounter it on their tour.
Stars: Mr. T, Cathy Cavadini, Peter Cullen, Phil LaMarr
Votes: 408
2. D.C. Cab (1983)
R | 100 min | Action, Comedy
The misadventures of a group of unfortunate but streetwise cabbies working for a Washington, D.C., decrepit taxicab company.
Director: Joel Schumacher | Stars: Max Gail, Adam Baldwin, Mr. T, Charlie Barnett
Votes: 5,264 | Gross: $16.13M
3. Rambo (1986)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
On Colonel Trautman's request, John Rambo leads special unit The Force of Freedom against paramilitary terrorist organization S.A.V.A.G.E. (Specialist-Administrators of Vengeance, Anarchy and Global Extortion) all over the globe.
Stars: Neil Ross, Alan Oppenheimer, Mona Marshall, James Avery
Votes: 847
4. Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
R | 96 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller
Rambo returns to the jungles of Vietnam on a mission to infiltrate an enemy base-camp and rescue the American POWs still held captive there.
Director: George P. Cosmatos | Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Charles Napier, Steven Berkoff
Votes: 182,473 | Gross: $150.42M
5. Chuck Norris: Karate Kommandos (1986)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Family
Chuck Norris is an operative for the United States government who has a team consisting of Pepper, a technological genius, Kimo, a Samurai warrior, Reed, his apprentice, Tabe, a Sumo ... See full summary »
Stars: Chuck Norris, Alan Oppenheimer, Keone Young, Kathy Garver
Votes: 312
6. Invasion U.S.A. (1985)
R | 107 min | Action, Thriller
A one-man army comes to the rescue when the United States are invaded by communists.
Director: Joseph Zito | Stars: Chuck Norris, Richard Lynch, Melissa Prophet, Alexander Zale
Votes: 11,013 | Gross: $17.54M
7. RoboCop (1988)
TV-Y7 | 21 min | Animation, Action, Crime
Alex Murphy, a police officer, mortally wounded in the line of duty, is turned into a powerful cyborg and continues to serve the public trust, protect the innocent and uphold the law.
Stars: Robert Bockstael, Barbara Budd, Len Carlson, Allen Stewart-Coates
Votes: 1,104
8. RoboCop (1987)
R | 102 min | Action, Crime, Sci-Fi
In a dystopic and crime-ridden Detroit, a terminally wounded cop returns to the force as a powerful cyborg haunted by submerged memories.
Director: Paul Verhoeven | Stars: Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Dan O'Herlihy, Ronny Cox
Votes: 283,052 | Gross: $53.42M
9. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (1990–1991)
TV-Y7-FV | 23 min | Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi
A group of people thwart a mad scientist trying to take over the world with evil mutated tomatoes that he can change into people.
Stars: John Astin, Christian Guzek, Kath Soucie, Neil Ross
Votes: 517
10. Return of the Killer Tomatoes! (1988)
PG | 98 min | Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi
Crazy old Professor Gangreen has developed a way to make tomatoes look human for a second invasion.
Director: John De Bello | Stars: Anthony Starke, George Clooney, Karen M. Waldron, Steve Lundquist
Votes: 7,670
11. Toxic Crusaders (1991–1993)
TV-Y7 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
A group of mutants fight against the pollution-loving alien Dr. Killemoff in the fictional city of Tromaville, led by Toxie, a nerd-turned-superhero.
Stars: Gregg Berger, Susan Blu, Rodger Bumpass, Paul Eiding
Votes: 592
12. The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie (1989)
R | 102 min | Action, Comedy, Fantasy
Toxie finds he has nothing to do as a superhero, as he has ridden his city of evil. He decides to go to work for a major corporation, which he discovers may be the evilest of all his adversaries.
Directors: Michael Herz, Lloyd Kaufman | Stars: Ron Fazio, Phoebe Legere, John Altamura, Rick Collins
Votes: 5,237 | Gross: $0.36M
13. Little Shop (1991)
30 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
A nerdy junior high student who works in a floral shop cares for a prehistoric talking Venus Fly Trap which has supernatural abilities.
Stars: David Huband, Jennie Kwan, Michael Rawl, Terry McGee
Votes: 144
14. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
PG-13 | 94 min | Comedy, Horror, Musical
A nerdy florist finds his chance for success and romance with the help of a giant man-eating plant who demands to be fed.
Director: Frank Oz | Stars: Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia, Levi Stubbs
Votes: 86,353 | Gross: $38.75M
15. Conan the Adventurer (1992–1993)
TV-Y7 | 25 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Young Cimmerian barbarian Conan and his allies must stop snake-man wizard Wrath-Amon and his snake-men army from resurrecting evil serpent god Set. Conan must also destroy the evil wizard's ring that turned his family into stone.
Stars: Michael Donovan, Michael Beattie, Scott McNeil, Doug Parker
Votes: 1,492
16. Conan the Destroyer (1984)
PG | 103 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Conan leads a ragtag group of adventurers on a quest for a princess.
Director: Richard Fleischer | Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Grace Jones, Olivia d'Abo, Wilt Chamberlain
Votes: 85,339 | Gross: $31.04M
17. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1995–2000)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
The completely-bonkers Ace Ventura continues to tackle cases involving stolen or missing animals, usually arriving at the solutions by pure fluke as he blunders his way through the facts in his inimitable way.
Stars: Michael Daingerfield, Richard Binsley, John Stocker, James Rankin
Votes: 929
18. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
PG-13 | 86 min | Comedy
A goofy detective specializing in animals goes in search of the missing mascot of the Miami Dolphins.
Director: Tom Shadyac | Stars: Jim Carrey, Courteney Cox, Sean Young, Tone Loc
Votes: 325,064 | Gross: $72.22M
19. Dumb and Dumber (1995–1996)
TV-Y7 | 21 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
The continuing nutty adventures of Lloyd and Harry and their pet beaver, as they drive around the country in their Dogmobile.
Stars: Bill Fagerbakke, Matt Frewer, Tom Kenny, Maurice LaMarche
Votes: 854
20. Dumb and Dumber (1994)
PG-13 | 107 min | Comedy
After a woman leaves a briefcase at the airport terminal, a dumb limo driver and his dumber friend set out on a hilarious cross-country road trip to Aspen to return it.
Directors: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly | Stars: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Lauren Holly, Mike Starr
Votes: 412,196 | Gross: $127.18M
21. Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm (1995–1996)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
After the events of the first Mortal Kombat movie and the third MK video game, the evil forces of Outworld begin their invasion of the Earthrealm and only Raiden and his Mortal Kombat champions stand in their way.
Stars: Clancy Brown, Olivia d'Abo, Dorian Harewood, Luke Perry
Votes: 1,456
22. Mortal Kombat (1995)
PG-13 | 101 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Three unknowing martial artists are summoned to a mysterious island to compete in a tournament whose outcome will decide the fate of the world.
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson | Stars: Christopher Lambert, Robin Shou, Linden Ashby, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
Votes: 124,616 | Gross: $70.45M
23. Police Academy: The Animated Series (1988–1989)
TV-Y7 | 22 min | Animation, Comedy, Crime
The further adventures of the Police Academy (1984) gang.
Stars: Ron Rubin, Howard Morris, Charles Woods Gray, Greg Swanson
Votes: 977
24. Beetlejuice (1989–1991)
TV-Y | 22 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
Adventures of the ghostly con-artist and his 12-year-old pal, Lydia.
Stars: Stephen Ouimette, Alyson Court, Tabitha St. Germain, Elizabeth Hanna
Votes: 7,955
25. The Real Ghostbusters (1986–1991)
TV-Y7 | 23 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
The continuing adventures of the staff of the ghost removal service.
Stars: Maurice LaMarche, Dave Coulier, Frank Welker, Arsenio Hall
Votes: 11,019
26. Teen Wolf (1986–1988)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Saturday morning cartoon based on the movie.
Stars: Townsend Coleman, James Hampton, Don Most, Jeannie Elias
Votes: 385
27. The Karate Kid (1989)
TV-Y7-FV | Animation, Action, Adventure
Animated series (loosely) based on the film series, in which Daniel, Miyagi and new friend Taki travel the world in search of an ancient Japanese talisman.
Stars: Pat Morita, Robert Ito, Janice Kawaye, Joey Dedio
Votes: 306
28. Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures (1990–1991)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The further time travelling adventures of those two most excellent dudes.
Stars: Alex Winter, Keanu Reeves, Maurice LaMarche, George Carlin
Votes: 1,908
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