Rapid Insights: Time Bandits Balances a Cinematic World with TV Character Depth

Who’s the typical audience for these TV reinterpretations? 
It depends. The idea of a “cult classic” spans genres and storytelling styles, and the viewers who tune in for their series-length iterations are just as varied; horror comedy Ash vs Evil Dead (based on the Evil Dead trilogy), for example, attracts men (55%) and primarily those 35+ (90%), supernatural thriller Teen Wolf (from the 1985 Michael J. Fox film) has a broader age appeal (61% age 35+), and action-fantasy-romance Buffy the Vampire Slayer (a reimagining of the 1992 Kristy Swanson movie) is a big draw for women (65%). For Time Bandits, we’re seeing a viewership that leans mostly to men (64%) and those aged 30+ (64%).

Are shows based on these films likely to succeed? 
They quite often do. A number of these series have made a major impact on mainstream TV, and a few have even become cult classics in their own right. For example, Fargo (inspired by the 1996 Coen brothers movie) has won prestigious awards, Westworld (based on the 1973 Michael Crichton film) dominated the conversation in its early years, and Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (a prequel to the 2001 movie) reassembled a storied cast, and all maxed out our social buzz meter (at 160) with each new season’s  release. Time Bandits saw an encouraging upswing in online conversation (hitting a peak at 158) with its first episode and is now seeing weekly spikes with each new episode drop.

Why do viewers tune in for these types of series? 
To see a fully-realized world. Cult classic movies are often filled with fantasy and sci-fi, and their TV versions carry over the same trappings; their Magic (137) (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, a prequel to the 1982 Jim Henson movie), Supernatural Forces (117) (Teen Wolf), and Paranormal Activity (118) (Ash vs Evil Dead) are typically top ratings drivers because they flesh out an original universe that truly pulls viewers in. Series that inhabit other genres use a similar technique, immersing their audience in unique real-world locales to jump-start viewership, from Fargo’s frozen north and its bumbling cops and criminals (Solving a Murder, 122; Moral Corruption, 120) to the karate dojo (Physical Activity, 144) of Cobra Kai (a sequel to the Karate Kid movies). Time Bandits does both, leveraging cool Time Travel (152) alongside a sense of everyday suburbia as its boy protagonist’s World Is Turned Upside-Down (142). Interestingly, these shows’ movie origins do not typically appear in their top viewership drivers; these series live or die by their own storytelling merits. (Time Bandits is a notable exception, as its IP Extension (116) helps promote its bingeability.)

What’s making Time Bandits stand out? 
Its Family (133)-friendly aspects and comical version of the past. Unlike most other cult classics, the main character in Time Bandits is an 11-year-old boy, and the show follows his young perspective as he travels through history with a band of adult thieves. His Child POV (136) and High-Stakes (117) Outdoor Adventures (122) in imaginative landscapes from Georgian England to the Harlem Renaissance to the realm of the ancient Mayans are top viewership draws. While the show delves into a similar general sense of Myth & Fantasy (117) as other series in this category, it nevertheless feels entirely original.

What keeps these shows going for multiple seasons? 
The character relationships. While their unique, unfamiliar worlds are the key to drawing in viewers, it’s the TV medium’s strength in crafting universally relatable character dynamics that keeps audiences coming back. The goofy Unlikely Friendship (117) at the heart of Ash vs Evil Dead, Cobra Kai’s heartwarming focus on Mentorship (146) and Parenthood (140), the growing Camaraderie (115) in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, and Teen Wolf’s angsty Teen Romance (119) are all crucial drivers for each show’s longevity. For Time Bandits, it’s the Team Up (123) between the titular thieves and the young boy protagonist–a geeky outcast searching for where he belongs–that will push the story forward into future seasons.