British shows that became blockbuster smashes - It has been announced that 'Downton Abbey' will be adapted for the big screen. The show ended in 2015, but the story will live on in a film that begins production later this year. It's not the first British show to be adapted for film. Take a look at this gallery of British shows that inspired blockbuster hits.

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‘The Inbetweeners' -

This hit E4 series was turned into two films. The first was a smash, having the biggest opening weekend for a comedy in the UK.

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'I’m Alan Partridge' -

'I’m Alan Partridge' was a hit comedy that ran for two series. In 2013, it was transformed into an action comedy hit titled 'Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa'.

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'Monty Python's Flying Circus' -

Monty Python have been called The Beatles of comedy. Their 'Flying Circus' series provided the basis for two comedy classics, 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' and 'Monty Python's Life of Brian'.

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'The Office' -

Thirteen years after the original UK version of 'The Office' gave the lead character his own feature length film. 'David Brent: Life on the Road' follows Brent’s dreams of being a rock star.

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'The Thick of It' -

Political comedy ‘The Thick of It’ was adapted into hit film 'In the Loop', which saw British and American characters face off in Washington, DC.

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'Wallace and Gromit' -

The only full-length 'Wallace & Gromit' film took around five years to make, but it was well worth it. 'The Curse of the Were-Rabbit' was an Oscar-winning hit.

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'The Avengers' -

Way before 'Iron Man' and 'Black Panther', 'The Avengers' was a popular spy series. In 1998 it was adapted into a feature-length film starring Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman.

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'Doctor Who' -

‘Doctor Who’ was so popular it had to have a film adaptation. ‘Dr. Who and the Daleks’ was the first ‘Doctor Who’ story to be made in colour.

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‘Thunderbirds’ -

‘Thunderbirds’ was turned into three films, though the 2004 version is perhaps the most popular.

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‘Shaun the Sheep' -

‘Shaun the Sheep’ was a spin-off from 'Wallace and Gromit' that was brought to the big screen back in 2015. This stop-motion comedy was a huge hit, and even scored an Oscar nomination.

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‘Da Ali G Show’ -

Sacha Baron Cohen created something big with ‘Da Ali G Show’. The show inspired three films, ‘Ali G Indahouse', ‘Borat’, and ‘Brüno’.

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‘Dad’s Army’ -

‘Dad’s Army’ inspired two films, one in 1971 and a later version in 2016. The second one starred Bill Nighy, Tom Courtenay, and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

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‘Bad Education’ -

BBC Three comedy ‘Bad Education’ hit the big screen with ‘The Big Education Movie’ in 2015. Jack Whitehall starred as the hapless young teacher Alfie.

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‘Mr Bean’ -

Rowan Atkinson’s ‘Mr Bean’ series inspired two films that came out ten years apart, ‘Bean’ and ‘Mr. Bean’s Holiday’.

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‘Edge of Darkness’ -

Thriller series 'Edge of Darkness' hit TV screens in 1985. In 2010, it was adapted into a blockbuster starring Mel Gibson.

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‘Traffik' -

This Channel 4 series was adapted into an American film in 2000. ‘Traffic’ was directed by Steven Soderbergh and starred Michael Douglas, Don Cheadle, and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

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‘Are You Being Served?’ -

The familiar British sitcom was turned into a film in 1977. Both centre of the life of staff members at a clothing department store.  

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‘Porridge’ -

‘Porridge’ was an incredibly popular sitcom about life behind bars. The big screen adaptation was released in 1979.

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‘The League of Gentlemen’ -

This surreal comedy series got its own film in 2005. 'The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse' combined horror and comedy for a boundary-pushing blockbuster.

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‘Absolutely Fabulous’ -

'Ab Fab' had two spin-off films, one in 2001 and one in 2016. The latter film acted as finale for the show, which started way back in 1992.

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'On the Buses' -

ITV’s ‘On the Buses’ was a rib-tickling sitcom unlike any other. It inspired a trilogy of films that came out between 1971 and 1973.

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‘The Sweeney’ -

This 1970s police drama was remixed in 2012 with a film adaptation starring Ray Winstone and Plan B.

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‘Postman Pat' -

The stop-motion series about a friendly postman was adapted into a 2017 film.

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'Bottom' -

Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson came together for this sitcom, which first aired in 1991. It was adapted into ‘Guest House Paradiso’, which came out in 1999.

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‘State of Play’ -

This BBC One drama inspired a political thriller starring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, and Rachel McAdams.

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‘Love Thy Neighbour’ -

The British sitcom was adapted into a 1973 film starring Jack Smethurst and Rudolph Walker.

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‘The Benny Hill Show’ -

The best bits from ‘The Benny Hill Show’ were stitched together for 'The Best of Benny Hill' film in 1974.

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‘Harry Enfield’s Television Programme’ -

‘Kevin & Perry Go Large’ was a film based on The Teenager sketch from ‘Harry Enfield’s Television Programme’.  

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‘Please Sir!’ -

John Alderton stars in this adaptation of the television series, which takes place at a chaotic school unlike any other.

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‘Stella Street’ -

This mockumentary series starring Phil Cornwell was adapted for the big screen in 2004.

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