Slot developers are constantly looking for new themes for their games. Themes are an important part of ensuring there’s an in-built audience for new games, essential for hitting the ground running whenever a new title launches. One of the most effective ways of reaching a guaranteed audience is for developers to license titles and themes from popular culture, of which TV series’ and films are amongst some of the most instantly recognisable.

If there’s a hugely popular TV show, for example, you can bet that there will be an existing market for a slot based around that show. At the same time, giving a slots game a recognisable theme provides an extra reason for avid slots fans to give it a whirl, and commercially, this makes good sense for slots developers and the casinos they work with.

With that in mind, there are a number of amazing games that draw their inspiration from TV and movie classics. We’ve put together a run-down of our top 5, to give you a flavour of some of the TV and film-themed slots currently making waves amongst slots fans.

Game of Thrones Slot – Microgaming

Game of Thrones is arguably the biggest TV show of all time. Cult-status doesn’t do justice to the sheer level of engagement, excitement and interest that follows each new season. As the show draws to its conclusion, fans from across the world simply can’t get enough of all-things GoT. So it’s perhaps not surprising, then, that the Game of Thrones slot from Microgaming is one of the most popular slots based around a TV series’ theme, and for good reason.

The slots game has 15 or 243 paylines, with symbols spun across a standard five reels. The in-game jackpot stands at 1,500x, and with coins ranging from £0.15 to £6 and up to 25 in play at any one time, there’s plenty of money to be won if you strike it lucky. The coolest feature of this game is the free bonus round, where players choose from the four houses, depending on their bonus preference. These free spins and multipliers are responsible for some of the most profitable spins available in this slot, and alongside a multitude of other elements you’ll recognise from the show, give this game a feel GoT fans will love.

The Terminator franchise is another that has stood the test of time. When we left Arnie in the original Terminator, he famously pledged ‘I’ll be back’. In the second installment, he returned to the big screen as promised – kind of in the same way as Microgaming has rolled out this second installment of their hugely successful Terminator slot, packed with a ton of features you’ll recognise from the big screen. Expect the likes of T-800 vision, and the powerful T-1000 symbol, which can make for some interesting wins in the bonus feature.

There are 1024 ways to win in this game, through forming combinations of like slots on your reels, in addition to the usual collection of feature symbols that keep things spicy. Even better, you can play from just £0.30 per spin, with a jackpot that stands at up to £88,000. You don’t even have to be a Terminator fan to find that appetising – and when you consider that this game is actually great fun too, it’s hardly a surprise it’s a perennial fan favourite.

When Family Guy burst onto our screens back in 1998, it was an almost instant hit. Picking up from other popular animated series’ like The Simpsons and South Park, Family Guy quickly found mainstream popularity, before worldwide syndication took it to the next level. Today, it stands as one of the longest-running scripted shows of all time and still continues to attract guaranteed audiences with every episode broadcast.

Fortunately, the Family Guy slot from IGT does excellent justice by this hilarious series, and sets the slots game in amongst the characters and thematic elements that make the show the success it is today. Expect Peter, Lois, Meg, Brian, Stewie, Chris and the whole supporting cast, appearing across the reels, plus a whole lot of bonus features that can seriously boost your bankroll. Watch out for the walk on bonus features too, awarded at random intervals which can mean seriously good news for your spinning fortunes.

If there’s something strange in your neighbourhood, don’t freak out – just take Ghostbusters from IGT for a spin. The successful Ghostbusters franchise was a smash hit first time around, and its more recent reboot invited a whole new generation to get behind the ghoul-fighting gang. Aside from its authentic theme, this game stands out for the sheer range of different bonus features – some 6 in total, including wild reels, multiple free spins, and locked wilds.

The slots are packed with characters from the film, as well as a few notable props based on the various ghost-busting technologies depicted in the movie. Across the reels, there are 30 paylines playable, plus a jackpot of up to 500x. If you enjoyed Ghostbusters, you’ll find it hard to dislike this slot. But even if you’re not looking for an authentic Ghostbusters slot experience, you’ll still enjoy the unique quirks of this slot that make it a must-spin.

There’s something inspiring about the Rocky story, the perfect inspiration for putting in a shift down the gym or downing some raw eggs of a morning (don’t tell your doctor). Playtech have captured the essence of the Rocky film in their themed slot by the same name, which offers an impressive 95.02% RTP amongst characters you’ll recognise from the classic film franchise.

Behind the scenes, this is a game that operates 25 paylines across the 5 reels. There’s also a neat gamble function, which gives you the chance to double up on your winnings, if you pick correctly on a 50/50 red or black draw of a card. The theme, sound effects and animations all speak to the classic film, and the Knockout Bonus and Rocky Scatter help keep things fresh with added features. A must-play game for anyone who enjoyed the Rocky films!