L.M. Montgomery's beloved novel Anne of Green Gables has become a classic since it was first released over a century ago, in 1908. The story of a young girl finding happiness in a new adoptive home, while still managing to get herself in plenty of light-hearted trouble has resonated with audiences of all ages. For this reason, the story has received several film and television adaptations over the years.
These movies and TV series have seen several different versions of Anne and her story, from traditional retellings from the mid-20th century to more modern versions like Netflix's Anne With An E. No matter how they decide to tell it, screen adaptations were received with varying degrees of approval from audiences, and their IMDb scores reflect this.
Anne Of Green Gables: A New Beginning (2008) - 5.0/10
Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning was released in 2008, and was directed by Kevin Sullivan, who also directed the popular Anne of Green Gables miniseries. This movie is meant as a direct sequel to that series, and sees Anne as a middle-aged woman, recounting her years at Green Gables.
The movie was not based on any of Montgomery's writings and was poorly received by fans of Sullivan's original series. It received only an IMDb score of 5.0/10, reflecting the poor reviews from fans.
L.M. Montgomery's Anne Of Green Gables (2016) - 6.4/10
This version of Anne's story was directed by John Kent Harrison in 2016 and was filmed as a television movie. The story stays fairly true to the novel, though it greatly accelerates the story.
IMDb gave the film a 6.4/1o. The role of Anne was well cast, with Ella Ballentine perfecting the airy imaginative way of speaking that Anne has become known for. However, the movie contributed very little to the story, which may be why it gained little audience interest.
Anne Of Windy Poplars (1940) - 6.5/10
Anne of Windy Poplars is the sequel to the 1934 version of Anne of Green Gables. It follows Anne, who recently became engaged to Gilbert Blithe, as she sets off to teach at a prestigious school. The somewhat snobby residents of the town are slow to accept her, but eventually, her charms wear them down.
IMDb scored this film a 6.5/10, which is slightly lower than its prequel. The story is only slightly different than the sequel Anne of Avonlea that Montgomery had written, but puts more emphasis on romance than the original author had ever seen necessary.
Anne Of Green Gables (1972) - 6.6/10
This version of Anne's story was a BBC miniseries that has been regarded by reviewers as the "definitive version" of Montgomery's classic story, perfectly following the plot of the novel. Anne was played by Kim Barden, who gave the character the perfect dreaminess of the novel.
IMDb gives this series a 6.6/10, but it is thought that all copies of this Anne of Green Gables period drama are lost. So while those that have seen it remember it fondly, it's possible that the show will never gain any new viewers.
Anne Of Green Gables (1934) - 7.0/10
When the 1934 version of Anne of Green Gables was released, it was advertised to be the "picture made for the millions who loved little women." This is one of the earlier adaptations of the novel, so it became the first telling for those who had no interest in reading the book. It was very successful, and followed the events of the book closely, but focused more on Anne Shirley ending up with Gilbert Blithe than the novel had.
This film has an IMDb rating of 7.0/10, which reflects the movie's popularity of the time.
Anne Of Green Gables: Road To Green Gables (2010) - 7.1/10
Anne of Green Gables: Road to Green Gables is an anime series that was released in 2010 under the original title of Akage no An: Gurin Geburuzu e no Michi. The anime follows Anne from the age of 11 to 17 and sees her making friends and doing her best to behave in a sensible way, while still being her unique self.
The series has an IMDb score of 7.1/10, and while it didn't gain the same mainstream traction as some of the live-action adaptations, it is still a favorite for those who caught it.
Anne Of Avonlea (1975) - 7.4/10
Anne of Avonlea is the sequel to the lost BBC Anne of Green Gables miniseries. Thankfully, this version of Kim Barden's performance as Anne has made it through the decades. This series sees Anne as she completes her studies at Queens, and continues her adventures as a teacher, as well as explores her relationship with Gilbert.
The series has an IMDb score of 7.4/10, making it the only sequel to rate higher than its prequel, likely due to the fact that, in this case, the prequel can no longer be viewed.
Anne Of Green Gables (1979) - 7.7/10
This 1979 Anime also adheres closely to the events of the novel, with the episode names even correlating with the names of the book's chapters. The series, which was originally named Akage no An, has 50 episodes, that have all been given an English dub, and legally made available on YouTube in 2016.
IMDb gives this series a 7.7/10, and Akage no An is a great cottagecore-style anime for fans of Anne of Green Gables.
Anne Of Green Gables (1985) - 8.5/10
For many, the 1985 miniseries by Kevin Sullivan is what comes to mind when thinking of an Anne of Green Gables screen adaptation. Megan Follows perfectly depicts Anne, and grew up playing the character. Her final reprise of the role was when she was 36, in Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story.
The original four-hour miniseries has an IMDb rating of 8.5/10, with the sequel gaining a similar score.
Anne With An E (2017) - 8.7/10
Anne's most recent adaptation is in the Netflix original series Anne With An E which took a more progressive spin on the story, showing more realistic depictions of how a girl of Anne's background might struggle when joining the society of Avonlea. Anne goes through a number of the same situations she saw in the book, but more mature themes are added to the story.
Amy McNulty's performance was perfect for Anne, and the series has an 8.7/10 score on IMDb. However, Netflix canceled Anne With An E after its third season, much to the disappointment of fans.