The Complete Timeline of The Addams Family: TV Shows and Movies in Chronological Order

Summary

The Addams Family franchise has a long history of TV shows and movies, with various adaptations that have attracted a dedicated fanbase.

The animated adaptations, such as Scooby-Doo Meets The Addams Family and The Addams Family (2019), have enjoyed significant success, reintroducing the family to the public's awareness. Moreover, the recent live-action series, Wednesday, has widely captivated audiences on Netflix, earning a second season renewal and reinforcing the enduring popularity of the Addams Family characters.

The Addams Family has been a popular franchise for over 60 years, with numerous shows and movies. Created by Charles Addams in 1938, this eccentric and unusual family has been featured in animated and live-action projects. Currently, the second season of the Netflix show, "Wednesday," has been renewed. While waiting for its release, fans can explore the extensive collection of older Addams Family TV shows and movies. The success of Netflix's "Wednesday" suggests that more content will be coming in the future. As fans reflect on the franchise, they can enjoy the Addams Family film series, along with the various TV shows.

1 The Addams Family (1964 - 1966)

Stream The Addams Family TV series on The Roku Channel and Fubo. ABC was the first network to bring the Addams Family to life on screen before the successful film series. The show, which aired for two seasons, is a ghoulish yet family-friendly situational comedy that explores the clashes between the peculiar family and the outside world. The series features the beloved characters like Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, Grandmama, Uncle Fester, Lurch, and Thing. It is also the first to introduce the iconic finger-snapping theme music by Vic Mizzy, which has become a signature element of the franchise.

2 Scooby-Doo Meets The Addams Family (1972)

Stream 'The Addams Family' on Boomerang.

Following the conclusion of 'The Addams Family,' the iconic family made their return to television in 1972 as guest stars in Hanna-Barbera's 'The New Scooby-Doo Movies.' In the episode 'Scooby-Doo Meets the Addams Family,' also known as 'Wednesday is Missing,' Scooby and his friends are deceived into babysitting Wednesday and Pugsley while Gomez and Morticia enjoy a second honeymoon. This series played a crucial role in reintroducing the Addams Family to the public and laid the foundation for future adaptations that would bring this eccentric family back to the small screen. It also showcased their suitability for animated adaptations, a factor that continues to contribute to the franchise's success today.

3 The Addams Family Fun-House (1973)

The Addams Family Fun-House, unfortunately, cannot be streamed or rented. It gained notoriety among fans as an infamous addition to the franchise, despite only having a pilot episode. This ABC project aimed to bring a musical twist to the Addams Family saga, featuring live actors portraying the family members who also acted as hosts for a spooky variety show. Although new actors like Jack Riley and Liz Torres were chosen, the project never progressed beyond the pilot and The Addams Family Fun-House remains a mere footnote in the franchise's extensive history of highly successful films and television series.

4 The Addams Family (1973)

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Thanks to the popularity of Scooby-Doo Meets the Addams Family, Hanna-Barbera Productions launched the first animated Addams Family TV series in 1973. The show, which lasted for only one season, follows the Addams Family as they embark on a cross-country road trip in their appropriately named Creepy Camper. Despite its short-lived fame, the series features the voice talents of 11-year-old Jodie Foster, who plays Pugsley. While this particular series did not greatly influence future Addams Family projects, subsequent animated series would achieve greater success.

5 Halloween With The New Addams Family (1977)

Watch on The Roku Channel

Before the release of the Addams Family film series, NBC paid tribute to the original live-action series with a 1977 Halloween special titled Halloween with the New Addams Family. This special brought together most of the original actors from the 1964 series, such as John Astin and Carolyn Jones. In this made-for-TV feature-length film, Gomez and Morticia face a threat from a group of thieves while Gomez also deals with conflicts with his brother Pancho. It would be more than a decade before the family made another live-action appearance in any form, making it one of the franchise's longest hiatuses.

6 The Addams Family (1991)

Stream the highly anticipated revival of The Addams Family on Paramount+, a whopping 15 years after their Halloween special. The 1991 theatrical film, directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, serves as the first installment of the beloved Addams Family movie series, delightfully updated for modern audiences. This cinematic gem showcases unforgettable performances from Anjelica Houston, Christopher Lloyd, and Christina Ricci. The captivating plot follows a loan shark's conniving attempts to hoodwink the Addams clan and their extensive wealth and belongings. As this iconic family introduced themselves to contemporary viewers, they quickly became a resounding success. This film masterfully breathed new life into the dormant franchise, guaranteeing years of incredible triumph.

7 The Addams Family: The Animated Series (1992 - 1993)

The Addams Family: The Animated Series premiered on ABC in 1992 as part of their Saturday morning cartoons, coinciding with the release of the next Addams Family movie. Lasting for two seasons, the show follows the family’s sitcom adventures at home. Like other family sitcoms, the characters ultimately come together to resolve their problems, adding another heartwarming but perhaps not particularly memorable installment to the Addams Family franchise.

8 Addams Family Values (1993)

Watch on Paramount+

The sequel to the 1991 film "The Addams Family," titled "Addams Family Values," is directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. After the arrival of their new child named Pubert, Morticia and Gomez hire a nanny named Debbie. However, they soon discover that Debbie is a gold-digging serial killer. To protect their children, Wednesday and Pugsley are sent to summer camp, while Debbie sets her sights on Uncle Fester with the intention of stealing his fortune. This installment of the Addams Family franchise offers another thrilling and exhilarating experience. It is widely acclaimed as one of the best adaptations of the Addams Family, solidifying its status as the definitive version of this beloved family for an entire generation.

9 Addams Family Reunion (1998)

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Addams Family Reunion is a direct-to-video movie that was originally intended to serve as a pilot for a new live-action Addams Family series. The film features Tim Curry and Daryl Hannah in the roles of Gomez and Morticia, respectively. Director Dave Payne initially aimed to create a dark comedy. However, Saban Entertainment, the production company, insisted on adjusting the story to specifically cater to children. Despite Tim Curry's impressive portrayal of Gomez, the critics heavily criticized the film, ranking it as one of the worst in the Addams Family franchise. The movie ultimately failed to captivate long-time fans, particularly those who had enjoyed Barry Sonnenfeld's adaptation just five years earlier.

10 The New Addams Family (1998 - 1999)

The Addams Family revival produced by Saban and Shavick Entertainment, which originated from the 1998 TV movie, is not currently available for streaming or rental. This American-Canadian collaboration resulted in a 65-episode sitcom called The New Addams Family. However, the show was canceled after its first season. Notably, John Astin, the original actor who portrayed Gomez, reprised his role as Grandpapa Addams in this revival. Although The New Addams Family offered ample content for devoted fans of the franchise, it ultimately failed to revive the series in a meaningful and long-lasting manner. Consequently, it took twenty years for another adaptation of The Addams Family to make its way onto screens, effectively marking a two-decade hiatus for the franchise.

11 The Addams Family (2019)

Stream "The Addams Family" film series on Paramount+ and Prime Video. Universal Pictures animated the Addams Family for the first time in 2019, introducing the beloved characters to a new generation of children. The star-studded cast, featuring Oscar Isaac and Charlize Theron, bring their voices to the iconic crew. In the movie, the Addams Family faces harassment from a reality TV producer who aims to remove Morticia and Gomez from the town to make her show, Assimilation, a reality. This successful film not only reignited interest in the well-known family but also paved the way for a 2021 sequel and other upcoming adaptations.

12 The Addams Family 2 (2021)

The Addams Family 2, a computer-animated film, made a comeback on the big screen in 2021. Continuing from its previous installment, the sequel features several of the same voice actors, along with the addition of Bill Hader and Javon "Wanna" Walton to the cast. However, unlike its predecessor, The Addams Family 2 received widespread criticism and disappointment from both critics and fans, who deemed it as a lackluster sequel. The film failed to capture the attention of longtime fans, leading to the end of this particular adaptation of the Addams Family, with no future sequels currently in the works.

13 Wednesday (2022)

Stream the Addams Family's first live-action adaptation in over 20 years on Netflix. Join Jenna Ortega's character as she embarks on an eight-episode adventure at a mysterious boarding school. Catherine Zeta-Jones, Fred Armisen, and Luis Guzmán bring to life Morticia, Uncle Fester, and Gomez, respectively. Wednesday quickly became one of Netflix's most popular original series, thanks to Tim Burton's perfect tone and Jenna Ortega's unforgettable performance. Excitingly, Wednesday season 2 has been given the green light, with an expected release date in 2024.