Amazon Prime Video’s newest original series A League Of Their Own has been receiving an overwhelming amount of positive reviews since its release on August 12th. The series is able to perfectly pay homage to the original 1992 film and convey its themes of female friendship and adversity while injecting it with a more modern tone and inclusive casting.
A League of Their Own is one of many iconic and beloved female-led films that have gone on to entertain and inspire multiple generations. Because the new series has been so well received, it opens up opportunities for similarly classic female-led movies to go for a TV adaptation. When transitioning from film to TV, this allows the classic material to be introduced to new audiences and remain a timeless part of storytelling.
Mermaids (1990)
Mermaids focuses on the lives of the dysfunctional Flax family, led by single mother Rachel and her two daughters, Charlotte and Kate, in 1963 Massachusetts. Struggling with her burgeoning sexuality, Charlotte develops resentment towards her bubbly and sex-positive mother while trying with all her might to stifle a crush on a hunky new neighbor.
The film’s charming and hilarious portrayal of a dysfunctional mother/daughter relationship is easily Mermaid’s most memorable aspect and would offer a plethora of interesting and relatable storylines about the difficulties of that dynamic. The heavy matriarchal themes and 1960s setting could be an amazing project for a creator like Amy Sherman-Palladino, who found success with The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel which dealt with those elements respectfully.
Mystic Pizza (1988)
Considered one of Julia Robert's best movies, Mystic Pizza follows sisters Kat and Daisy, alongside their best friend Jojo, who all work as waitresses in a Mystic, Connecticut, pizza parlor. The film follows each of the young women as they deal with first loves, first heartbreaks, and other various challenges that occur when becoming an adult.
A Mystic Pizza series could perfectly present a lighthearted comedy about the struggles of the working class and the challenges young women face when they come of age, like the popular current series Good Trouble. An adaptation would also be a great opportunity to hire actors of actual Portuguese descent to portray the main lead roles.
Steel Magnolias (1989)
Steel Magnolias centers on the lives of the women who visit Truvy Jones' salon in 1980s Louisiana and follows each of them through comedic and tragic circumstances. The film is known for being Julia Roberts’ breakout role as Shelby, which is still considered one of the most likable Julia Roberts characters ever.
While the film focuses primarily on Shelby's home life, a series could provide more insight into the lives of the other women that visit Truvy’s salon. This would also be an opportunity to cast an ensemble made up of many talented actors, like This Is Us, which have proven to be very successful.
9 to 5 (1980)
Before Grace & Frankie, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin starred in one of the most iconic workplace comedies in cinematic history. 9 to 5 follows three female co-workers who, through a series of mishaps, kidnap their sexist boss and begin to implement a more positive and productive change in their place of business.
This was already made into a show in the 1980s, but with the success of workplace sitcoms like 30 Rock, 9 to 5’s setting is ideal for an updated television adaptation. The film’s themes of gender discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace are still as relevant today as they were in 1980, which would make a 9 to 5 series a perfect way to comment on these current societal issues with a delightful comedic spin.
The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants (2005)
This pleasant tale of friendship follows four lifelong friends, who discover a magical pair of jeans that somehow manage to fit all of their different body types perfectly. The group then decides to share the pants back and forth over their summer vacation, where they each deal with substantial life events and discover themselves.
The movie does an irable job highlighting the development of each of the best friends and their respective character arcs over the course of the summer. However, since the franchise only included a few storylines from the subsequent novels in the series, there are plenty of entertaining storylines that could be adapted and brought to the small screen - perhaps an idea for a great female-led miniseries.
Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
In England, Jess Bhamra dreams of playing professional soccer, but can’t seem to convince her traditional parents to allow this. After meeting Jules, a female soccer player, Jess decides to secretly her amateur team without telling her family. Complications arise when the double life begins to be too much for young Jess.
A Bend It Like Beckham series adaptation could not only bring a modern take on the movie's classism and racial themes, but could also deliver a truly thrilling spectacle thanks to film’s soccer element. With the recent influx of Ms. Marvel finding success, Bend It Like Beckham would be a great addition to the list.
Beaches (1988)
Beaches follows the multi-decade friendship between aspiring musician CC and timid Hilary. While both women are complete opposites, their special bond remains an important priority for the pair and helps them through life’s toughest moments, including Hilary’s tragic diagnosis of viral cardiomyopathy.
The purpose of Beaches is to show the friendship between Hilary and CC over many years. Given this premise, it would be a great fit for a TV show that spans multiple seasons and pose an opportunity for in-depth storytelling. Not only will the complex relationship between the two be more developed, but the sequences in the film that felt rushed or out of place can be rectified with a fully fleshed-out arc.
Little Women (2019)
The free-spirited March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, come of age against the backdrop of the American Civil War. While the film shifts between two timelines, the main narrative follows the young women, as they deal with the unexpected and harsh realities of adulthood.
While there have been numerous adaptations of The Gilded Age have proven that audiences are enthralled with period settings, and Little Women could definitely satiate that yearning with its beautifully complex characters and lush costume and production design.
Bring It On (2000)
When privileged Torrance is elected cheer captain of her high school squad, she receives a rude awakening when she learns that the previous captain stole all their routines from a predominantly black high school. Motivated to win the championship the ethical way, Torrance discovers that it is easier said than done.
Bring It On TV series could be a unique way to introduce these societal issues to a younger demographic.
Now & Then (1995)
When Chrissy is about to give birth to her first child, she calls her three childhood friends to come back to their small town and be there for the delivery. Now reconnected, the group begins to reminisce on the formative summer that changed all their lives years before.
Not only is Now & Then a seminal classic for many, it’s also one of the best portrayals of female friendships. Its distinct depiction of coming-of-age during the 1970s would set the series apart from others, making it a truly unique viewing experience. The transitions between modern day and the past have proven to be quite successful for shows like Firefly Lane and Once Upon A Time, which bodes well for continuing that framing device for a TV show.
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