The limitations that come with the TV medium haven't been enough to stop a few made-for-TV action made-for-TV horror and sci-fi films have proven to have the same effect on audiences as big Hollywood releases.

The same can be said for the action genre. Of course, a large screen is ideal for the fast pace and high levels of energy expected of the genre. The visual and sound quality of a movie theater prompts a more immersive viewing experience. Still, made-for-TV action films like Duel and L.A. Takedown show the TV medium is not to be underestimated, and a similar experience can be had on a smaller scale.

10 The Brotherhood Of Justice (1986)

Aired on ABC

In the mid-'80s, a group of high schoolers in Texas sought out anyone they suspected of vandalizing property on school grounds. The high schoolers' means of punishment and getting their message across was extreme and inspired numerous films and TV specials about teen vigilantes. One of these films is The Brotherhood of Justice. Keanu Reeves leads the TV film as Derek, the leader of the film's titular group of vigilantes who becomes increasingly more violent in their attempt to rebuke vandalism.

Alongside Reeves, Lori Loughlin, Billy Zane, and Kiefer Sutherland also star in the film. While the latter isn't displaying the sort of action hero persona he would eventually become known for, it's still fun to see him in an action setting early on in his career. Though The Brotherhood of Justice has the star power of an action film on the big screen, the low-intensity levels and lack of an action-packed ending help make sense as to why it was made for TV.

9 The California Kid (1974)

Aired on ABC

Both Martin Sheen and Nick Nolte rose to fame in the '70s, but an underrated entry in their filmography is the TV film The California Kid. Released in 1974, The California Kid follows Sheen's character, Michael McCord, as he enters a town that's known to be strict with speeding laws. Michael comes to town with a mission of uncovering the truth behind his brother's death, which he suspects has something to do with a local sheriff, portrayed by Vic Morrow.

The action in The California Kid isn't nonstop, but it is quite compelling, especially as it's coupled with the mystery surrounding the crooked sheriff's intentions. The story is simple, but the cast's performances and the thought-out characters are just enough to keep audiences anticipating how Morrow and Sheen's characters will confront one another.

8 Babylon 5: In The Beginning (1998)

Aired on TNT

Airing just a few weeks before the season 5 premiere, Babylon 5: In the Beginning is the second film in the Babylon 5 franchise. The space opera franchise is set in the titular space station, which is seen as the hub for diplomacy and trade. In the Beginning provides additional information as to how the space station was created by detailing a war between humans and aliens.

Seeing the conflict that kicked off the premise of the beloved sci-fi series is a treat for fans, but casual audiences can still enjoy the film just as much. Similar to the Babylon 5 series as a whole, In the Beginning is well-written and plays on complex themes that still allow audiences to easily give their undivided attention. Of course, the multi-layered stories presented within In the Beginning are accompanied by captivating action sequences and impressive special effects from a TV movie in the late '90s.

7 Terror On The Beach (1973)

Aired on CBS

A few years after starring in Steven Spielberg's Duel, Dennis Weaver led another made-for-TV film with a similar setup. In Terror on the Beach, Weaver plays a father whose family is heading to the beach for a much-needed vacation. Trouble forms immediately when a bus recklessly drives them off the road. From that point on, the family is continuously harassed by the group of people on the bus.

Terror on the Beach draws many comparisons to the premise in Wes Craven's The Hills Have Eyes, which came out later in the '70s.

There is a heavy amount of action in Terror on the Beach, as well as some elements of horror. Terror on the Beach draws many comparisons to the premise in Wes Craven's The Hills Have Eyes, which came out later in the '70s. Though the quality of acting and intensity of scares in Terror on the Beach isn't as high as Craven's film, it still manages to hold its own, providing an ample amount of chills due to its unsettling antagonists.

6 The Deadly Tower (1975)

Aired on NBC

Kurt Russell is no stranger to the action genre. Before starring in films like Escape from New York and Big Trouble in Little China, Russell led the TV film The Deadly Tower. The film is based on the shooting at The University of Texas in 1966, with Russell playing the real-life gunman responsible for the high number of deaths. It isn't often that Russell plays a truly chilling antagonist, but he confidently takes on the role in The Deadly Tower and plays it convincingly.

While there is some dramatization, as expected of any action film based on a true story, the events presented in The Deadly Tower are largely accurate to what happened in real life. There is a great amount of action and violence throughout, and a well-crafted tension that builds throughout the film's hour-and-a-half runtime.

5 By Dawn's Early Light (1990)

Aired on HBO

William Prochnau's book, Trinity's Child, details a nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union and was made into the TV film By Dawn's Early Light. There are a few notable changes made in By Dawn's Early Light, including an added romantic subplot, but otherwise, the film closely follows the story by Prochnau. The special effects aren't the best for a TV film, but they hold up well enough and are effective in establishing the film's tension.

The action and tension in By Dawn's Early Light are balanced with drama and make for a well-rounded viewing experience. Additionally, like many action films released in theaters, By Dawn's Early Light is made up of strong performances by well-known actors. Rip Torn and Powers Boothe are two standouts from the cast, as well as James Earl Jones, who earned an Emmy nomination for his ing role.

4 Jesse Stone: Stone Cold (2005)

Aired on CBS

In addition to his role as Thomas Magnum in Magnum P.I., one of Tom Selleck's more well-known TV characters is Jesse Stone. The character comes from a series of detective novels written by Robert B. Parker, which have been adapted into numerous made-for-TV films. The first is Jesse Stone: Stone Cold, which introduces Selleck as a police chief who investigates a number of similar murders.

Selleck is a strong lead for the film as he handles playing the moody, weary detective with ease and establishes Jesse as someone audiences should root for. Accompanying Selleck is Stone Cold's cast, which includes notable actors like Viola Davis, Stephen McHattie, and Jane Adams. The action isn't as strong in Stone Cold, considering a majority of the film is focused on establishing Selleck's character. However, audiences' response to Stone Cold was strong and allowed for a total of nine TV films to be made.

3 Treasure Island (1990)

Aired on TNT and in theaters outside the United States

Author Robert Stevenson's Treasure Island is a book that has been adapted numerous times into film and TV series. One of the best adaptations, and one of the most faithful to the original text, is Fraser Clarke Heston's Treasure Island, starring Christian Bale and Christopher Lee. The story follows two individuals, Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver, who are on the search for the famous treasure left behind by a deceased pirate, Captain Billy Bones. The close similarities between Treasure Island and Stevenson's book are why the film holds up high to theatrical action and adventure films.

The action scenes in Treasure Island are attention-grabbing and there are barely any moments where the film's plot dragged and risked losing audiences' attention. Similarly, as eye-catching as the commotion in the film was Charlton Heston. As the antagonist of Treasure Island, Heston made it clear Long John Silver wasn't a character to be messed with, but he exuded a certain charisma that made audiences gravitate towards his performance. The appeal of him as an actor explains how Heston's filmography was as vast as it was.

2 L.A. Takedown (1989)

Aired on NBC

Unlike many made-for-TV films, L.A. Takedown would eventually have a theatrical release and become a standout film in its director's catalog, but with a few changes made to its casting and name. Written and directed by Michael Mann, L.A. Takedown is centered around Scott Plank's detective character as he's on the search for a known criminal played by Alex McArthur. Mann had planned to release L.A. Takedown as a television show, but when NBC didn't pick up the series, it was released as a film on the network instead.

A few years later, Mann would transform the story of L.A. Takedown for the big screen, remaking it under the name Heat, which would soon be considered by many to be Mann's best film. Unfortunately, L.A. Takedown is often viewed by most as merely a setup for the iconic film. However, there's a lot to enjoy about it on its own. Despite the lack of violence and profanity seen in the remake, L.A. Takedown has impressive high-stakes action and the film does a fine job of developing its main characters in its limited 92-minute runtime.

1 Duel (1971)

Aired on ABC

Steven Spielberg expertly fuses the action and horror genres in his TV film Duel. Eventually earning a theatrical release with an extended cut, Duel first premiered on ABC. Duel follows Dennis Weaver's character David on a long drive that quickly becomes dangerous when a semi-truck driver taunts him. To make matters worse, the identity of Duel's antagonist is never revealed.

The high levels of tension in Duel are equal to that of a blockbuster thriller and keep audiences engaged the whole time.

The cat-and-mouse dynamic between David and the semi-truck driver results in heart-pounding action sequences. The high levels of tension in Duel are equal to that of a blockbuster thriller and keep audiences engaged the whole time. Duel's story is simple, yet highly effective, as not only do audiences' hearts race, but so do their minds. The mystery of the antagonist's identity leads to many theories about who it is and what their reasons for threatening David's life are.