The Addams Family is the perfect satire of an ideal American household. They're wealthy, aristocratic, and seemingly detached from society... and reality. They enjoy the macabre and remain unfazed by others' opinions about them. The Addams Family began a series of cartoons—most of them originally published in The New Yorker—before being adapted into several other mediums.
To this day, there are six movie adaptations of the comically sinister family. The best known is the 1991 version starring Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston, which also produced a sequel in 1993. An animated adaptation of the characters premiered in 2019, with a sequel expected to premiere this year. The Addams Family remains relevant and influential in mainstream culture, and that won't change any time soon.
The Addams Family 2 (TBD)
The success of the first The Addams Family movie led to an upcoming sequel. Set to premiere on October 1st, 2021, it will follow the titular family as they "find themselves involved in hilarious run-ins with all sorts of unsuspecting characters."
Most of the main cast returns to voice their respective characters, although Javon "Wanna" Walton replaces Finn Wolfhard as the voice of Pugsley. The hilarious and talented Bill Hader also joins the cast a new character called Cyrus, although his role in the film remains a mystery.
Addams Family Reunion (3.9)
Addams Family Reunion was conceived as the pilot for a new television series based on the popular family. Director Dave Payne intended to keep the dark humor and satire of previous films, but the studio interfered and demanded a funny and lighthearted movie intended to entertain children.
The movie stars Daryl Hannah as Morticia and the iconic Tim Curry as Gomez. It follows the eccentric family as they mistakenly arrive at the wrong family reunion and stumble upon a murder plot. Addams Family Reunion released straight-to-video and received negative reviews from critics, who tore apart nearly every aspect of the film. Tim Curry's performance, however, did receive some praise, and many considered it the film's only saving grace.
The Addams Family (5.8)
In 2019, Metro Goldwin-Mayer released an animated reboot of the franchise. It stars an ensemble cast that includes Charlize Theron as Morticia, Oscar Isaac as Gomez, Chloë Grace Moretz as Wednesday, Finn Wolfhard as Pugsley, Bette Midler as Grandmama, and Nick Kroll as Fester.
The film follows the family as they moved to a quiet and conservative suburb. When Wednesday forms an unlikely friendship with the daughter of a conventional reality show host, the two families find themselves at odds. The film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, as evidenced by its 5.8 rating on IMDb. Most of the film's criticism went to the film's narrative and the toning down of the source material's darkness. However, the voice performances of the cast and the animation did receive considerable praise.
Halloween With The New Addams Family (6.1)
Halloween with the New Addams Family is a 1977 movie made for television. It stars most of the original cast from the 1964 sitcom The Addams Family, including Carolyn Jones as Morticia, John Astin as Gomez, Ted Cassidy as Lurch, Jackie Coogan as Fester, Lisa Loring as Wednesday, and Ken Weatherwax as Pugsley. The cast also includes veteran television actor Henry Darrow as Gomez's brother, Pancho Addams.
The story follows the unassuming Addams as they inadvertently defend themselves against a gang of criminals that want to rob them. The movie has its fans, and many remember it fondly, mainly because it's the only project that reunited the original cast eleven years after The Addams Family's cancelation.
Addams Family Values (6.8)
The sequel to the 1991 hit doubles up on the macabre humor and dark innuendo. Addams Family Values follows Debbie Jellinsky, a beautiful serial killer who marries Fester in order to kill him and steal his fortune. Meanwhile, teenagers Wednesday and Pugsley get sent to summer camp after their many unsuccessful attempts at killing their newborn brother, Pubert.
Unlike the first film which attempted to maintain the madcap vibe of the 1964 series, Addams Family Values goes all in with the macabre satire. The film stars most of the cast from the previous film, with Joan Cusack playing the now-iconic character of Debbie. Critics praised the film, particularly the overtly dark humor, and performances of the cast. Audiences were less receptive, though, and the film was a box-office bomb, grossing only $48.9 million against a production budget of $47 million. Nowadays, Addams Family Values is considered a classic and a prime example of a sequel being better than the original.
The Addams Family (6.9)
Cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld made his directorial debut with this 1991 reboot of the classic property. The film stars Anjelica Huston as Morticia, Raul Julia as Gomez, Christopher Lloyd as Fester, and Christina Ricci as Wednesday. It follows a recently returned Fester who, after getting lost in the Bermuda Triangle, loses his memory and is adopted by a loan shark who intends to steal the Addam's fortune.
The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the cast's performances and the film's dark humor but were critical towards the disjointed tone of the film. Audiences, however, reacted positively to the film and made it a box-office success. It grossed $191 million against a production budget of $30 million, successfully revitalizing the long-dormant property.