Does Magnum PI need a standalone movie to complete its story?

Magnum PI has wrapped up its run on NBC, but is a standalone movie needed to really give it closure? Here’s why that may be!

Caution: This article contains SPOILERS for the Magnum PI series finale

There’s a sad tendency for a lot of TV shows to be canceled when the producers expected another year, leading to a score of never-resolved cliffhangers. Magnum PI already endured that as the producers and cast were utterly sure they were getting a fifth season in 2022, only for CBS to suddenly ax it. 

NBC moved in to renew the show for a fifth season, split in two. Sadly, despite a good following and promotion, the strikes that hit Hollywood in the summer of 2023 have meant the end of Magnum PI. 

Thus, the fifth season finale, which had been completed in mid-2023, was now the series finale. Luckily, the producers hedged their bets, not leaving off on some epic cliffhanger as the episode revolved around Higgins finding a ring in Magnum’s room and worried he was going to propose to her. 

Meanwhile, Magnum and Higgins were forced to work for sinister businessman Bedrosian, who was blackmailing them with a tape of the pair committing a crime while solving another case.

The duo had to jump through hoops and hold Gordon at bay before uncovering a scandal that forced the governor of Hawaii to resign. Despite that, they couldn't bust Bedrosian, who still had the tape.

It turned out the ring really belonged to Rick, who was going to pop the question to girlfriend Suzy. The final scene had Magnum and Higgins talking with Higgins saying she might be open to marriage someday.

That seemed an okay way to end the series, but could a standalone movie be a better wrap-up?

Does Magnum PI need a movie follow-up?

Jay Hernandez led the charge for a movie, openly saying he thinks it’s needed as it didn’t feel right for NBC to cancel the show without giving the producers a chance to do a real finale. 

The showrunners and writers have shared ideas for Season 6, which would have included Kumu becoming Rick’s new partner running the tiki bar and TC handling Dante enlisting in the army. It’s indicated there would also have been a dramatic running plotline of Bedrosian being elected governor of Hawaii and thus becoming a powerful foe. That alone would be fodder for some solo movie.

It could be fun to have NBC bring back the old “mystery movie” to give the show a nice sendoff. At the least, Peacock offers a major opportunity to get the cast together for a movie or even two, wrapping up some dangling plot threads and seeing if Magnum and Higgins live happily ever after.

It was great to see Magnum PI survive for one more season on NBC. But it’d be better if the network found a way to let the show end on its own terms with a better movie sendoff and be a proper closing to this beloved series. 

Magnum PI Season 5 is now streaming in full on Peacock.