As a rule of thumb, TV movies suck. But there are examples of outstanding quality that could have had a nice theatrical run before landing on television. This is definitely the case with these five.
Night of the Twisters (1996, 5.7 on IMDb)
Available on: Amazon Prime
Inspired by Ivy Ruckman's novel of the same name, this disaster movie is set in the fictional town of Blainsworth, Nebraska, where a series of tornadoes form in one night and wreak havoc on the place. The movie centers on the Hatch family as they struggle to survive the cataclysm that changes the lives of the town's residents forever.
Monday Night Mayhem (2002, 6.5 on IMDb)
Available on: Amazon Prime
This sports comedy is a fictionalized account of the creation of ABC's Monday Night Football program, revolving around a trio of football commentators who, in a modern move by the network, are hired to call games together. Very different from each other, the trio of journalists rarely agree on anything, and most of their broadcasts end up being live fights and arguments. Surprisingly, however, the audience seems to like it and the ratings continue to rise.
Without Warning (1994, 6.8 on IMDb)
Available on: Apple TV+, Amazon Prime
The CBS television movie is made to look like a real news broadcast, featuring reports from various journalists around the world about a series of meteor crashes in the Northern Hemisphere. To add insult to injury, the movie features interviews with 'scientists' who assure viewers that the meteor shower is just the beginning of a much larger cosmic event, as a huge group of meteors is approaching Earth.
The Day After (1983, 7.0 on IMDb)
Available on: Amazon Prime
This ABC television movie recounts the events of a fictional military conflict between NATO forces and the Warsaw Pact that took place in divided Germany and quickly escalated into a full-scale nuclear exchange between the United States and the Soviet Union. As the film chronicles the lives of various people before and after the 'war,' it reminds viewers of what should never happen.
Duel (1971, 7.6 on IMDb)
Available on: Apple TV+, Amazon Prime
Steven Spielberg's action thriller tells the story of David Mann, a middle-aged salesman who drives across California to meet a client. On an endless California highway, he notices that a big truck is following him everywhere he goes, as if the driver wants to run him over. But the thing is, there doesn't seem to be a driver at all. Isn't it a nice movie to watch in the age of self-driving Teslas?