Every 'The Addams Family' adaptation, ranked

Addams Family Values, Wednesday, and the original Addams Family — Carolyn Jones and John Astin on 'The Addams Family'; Raul Julia in 'The Addams Family'; Jenna Ortega on 'Wednesday'. Photo:
mgm; everett; netflix

As the "first family of goth," The Addams Family was created by cartoonist Charles "Chas" Addams as an inversion to the "ideal" American Dream. The characters premiered in a 1938 cartoon strip in The New Yorker. The family includes parents Gomez and Morticia, children Wednesday and Pugsley, in-house workers, and extended family members Thing, Grandmama, Cousin Itt, Uncle Fester, and Lurch. A TV show featuring the mysterious and spooky clan first aired in 1964, and their popularity has only continued to grow.

The family's resonance with multiple generations of fans is evident in the multimedia adaptations popping up almost every decade. Each one adds something new to the Addams Family heritage while keeping in line with the lowbrow satire of the manicured lawn and white picket fence Addams captured in his original cartoon strips.

Read on to see how we've ranked all The Addams Family adaptations, including animated and live-action, TV and film — which ones we think should stay in the grave and which ones will live forever.

12. The New Addams Family (1998–1999)

(From left to right) Glenn Taranto, Brody Smith, Nicole Fugere, and Ellie Harvie on 'The New Addams Family'. Everett Collection

The New Addams Family is the most disposable of all the property's iterations. Featuring a cast of relative unknowns, it also drags back John Astin (Gomez on the original '60s series), this time portraying Grandpapa Addams in a glorified cameo that brings nothing new to the historic franchise.

The Canadian remake had a surprising 65-episode run and even a Game Boy Color videogame based on it. One of the few bright spots is a return to the family's love of horror and gore, harkening back to the tone of the original comic strip. The success of the various remakes is often due to the caliber of the ensemble cast, and, given this version has few familiar faces beyond Astin, it remains underwhelming and lacks the solid scares of the older iterations.

11. The Addams Family Fun House (1973)

(From left to right) Stubby Kaye, Pat McCormick, Jack Riley, and Liz Torres on 'The Addams Family Fun House'. ABC

For a family that thrives on the strange and surreal, a musical variety show around the Addamses might have been too bizarre even for them. The idea never materialized beyond an unsold pilot, which aired on various channels from 1973 to 1974. Comedy bits included a dance party, musical numbers, and blue-screen gags such as the front door being opened to reveal a film of a man parachuting through the air.

This adaptation fails not because of its cast or themes, but because it veers away from the sitcom format that made it so unique. That said, The Addams Family Fun House is still somewhat significant in retrospect for linking to the history of the Addams' potential Hispanic heritage, as this iteration was one of the first to cast a Latina — Puerto Rican American actress Liz Torres — to portray the Addams matriarch, Morticia.

10. The Addams Family (1973)

'The Addams Family' ensemble. Everett Collection

The first cartoon adaptation of The Addams Family lacked the chilling charm of the live-action TV series. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Studios, the show's dark humor and environment were toned down for a younger audience, created for the Saturday morning cartoon slot. While the 1960s black-and-white TV adaptation charted the family into its best and most well-known format, this cartoon returned the family to 2-D origins — and its softer tone is better enjoyed in The New Yorker cartoon strip.

Perhaps this version is best remembered for having a 10-year-old Jodie Foster voicing Pugsley, a gender-swapping performance that was certainly ahead of its time in 1973. The animated series also diverted from the live-action show's format by having the family on a road trip across the country, stopping at various cities where their dark sensibilities would clash against the boring ethos of Middle America.

9. The Addams Family: The Animated Series (1992–1993)

Uncle Fester and Gomez Addams of 'The Addams Family: The Animated Series'. ABC

Building off of the success of the 1991 live-action feature film, Hannah-Barbera produced this animated reboot of The Addams Family, which ran for two seasons in the early-'90s on ABC. The show gave the Addamses a rival family to contend with, the Normanmeyers, who, as their surname suggests, wanted the creepy Addams clan out of their town.

Aimed at children, this series is the most accessible and watered-down version of the ghoulish family. Unfortunately, the show fails to bring anything new to the table, relying too heavily on a rinse-and-repeat plot formula where the family encounters an issue they need to overcome collectively, which is neatly wrapped up by the end of the episode. It comes across as a cash-in on the popularity of the live-action film, but fails at entertaining at the same level given the lack of dark tone, personality, and edginess that makes the family so unique.

8. Halloween With the New Addams Family (1977)

(From left to right) Carolyn Jones, Jackie Coogan, John Astin, and Ted Cassidy in 'Halloween With the New Addams Family'. Everett Collection

This seasonal made-for-TV special is an extension of the 1960s live-action show, with many original cast members, such as John Astin and Carolyn Jones (Morticia on the '60s show), returning. Halloween With the New Addams Family came out 11 years after the original series was canceled, meaning it was the first time viewers saw this specific cast in color, marking a dramatic change from the Addams' trademark black-and-white aesthetic.

As for the (somewhat underwhelming) plot, the Halloween special mostly centers around the family's gothic abode being robbed by thieves posing as fake Gomez and Morticia. In this case, fans of the original show are better off rewatching old episodes, as this special delivers a mediocre storyline easily surpassed by standout episodes of the original TV series.

7. The Addams Family 2 (2021)

Wednesday and Morticia Addams in 'The Addams Family 2'. Everett Collection

The success of the 2019 animated film spawned this sequel, which featured the talented voice cast reprising their roles — minus Finn Wolfhard as Pugsley (Javon Walton does the voice instead). The story takes on a similar approach as the 1973 animated series, as it sees the Addamses leave their haunted mansion, embarking on a vacation to become closer. The family trip is also an attempt by Gomez (Oscar Isaac) and Morticia (Charlize Theron) to overcome fears that Wednesday (Chloë Grace Moretz) might have been switched at birth.

While it breaks little ground from its live-action counterparts, the talented voice cast and crisp, lively animation make it an easy watch for families looking to introduce their kids to the ghoulish gang. In the end, The Addams Family 2 succeeds with gorgeous animation despite its simple plot, as well as with engaging vocal performances. Hey, it's for the kids, after all.

6. The Addams Family Reunion (1998)

Tim Curry and Daryl Hannah in 'The Addams Family Reunion'. Everett Collection

This direct-to-video film, disconnected from any previous adaptation, boasts another solid cast of actors: Tim Curry as Gomez, Daryl Hannah as Morticia, and veteran character actors Estelle Harris and Ed Begley Jr. in supporting roles. Family Reunion was a reboot of sorts to the feature films of the early-'90s, as producers decided against another sequel after the death of Raul Julia. Meanwhile, viewers had gotten used to the iconic chemistry between Julia and Anjelica Huston as Gomez and Morticia, making it difficult for the newcomers to leave their mark.

Addams Family plots rarely matter, and this one utilizes a simplistic formula of an outsider looking to steal the Addams' fortune, only to be thwarted by the family's love of revenge and each other. While the plot is tired, the eclectic cast of character actors makes it worth a watch, though it's by no means the best of the bunch.

5. The Addams Family (2019)

Grandmama and Pugsley in 'The Addams Family'. Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures

Once again, what a cast! Along with Oscar Isaac stepping into the role of Gomez, Charlize Theron as Morticia, Finn Wolfhard as Pugsley, and Chloë Grace Moretz as Wednesday, The Addams Family animated film, in a bit of perfect casting, enlisted Nick Kroll as Uncle Fester. The well-known stars brought acting chops and recognizable voices without veering away from the previous film's dark humor. It had been more than 20 years since the last Addams Family reboot, introducing the clan to a new generation of viewers mostly unaware of their artistic history.

Which is great, because the secret to a successful Addams adaptation has always been how well it walks the line between its dark sensibilities and themes of family and being yourself — and this iteration does both. The film reignited the characters' popularity, though some critics were less than thrilled with its homage to the celebrated franchise.

4. Wednesday (2022–present)

Luis Guzmán, Jenna Ortega, and Catherine Zeta-Jones on 'Wednesday'. netflix

Helmed by macabre maestro Tim Burton, this spinoff series stands out from the Addams adaptation canon by putting Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) center stage, this time as a schoolyard detective at an academy for monstrous pupils, where she uses her budding psychic abilities to solve the murders perpetuated by a mysterious creature.

And so far, critics and viewers alike are reveling in this fresh take on a pop culture favorite, as it debuted at No. 1 on Netflix and has become one of the most-watched English language series in the streamer's history. Wednesday has also drawn praise for Ortega's Emmy-nominated performance, as she manages to honor the iconic character in all the necessary ways (that foreboding gaze, a less-is-more comedic timing) while also making Wednesday her own.

3. The Addams Family (1991)

Raul Julia in 'The Addams Family'. Everett Collection

The first film adaptation of the Addams Family boasts an excellent ensemble cast of A-list actors. Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston play the gothic patriarch and matriarch roles with unmatched passion, whispering sweet nothings in the moonlight (many related to death). Having two award-winning actors of their caliber — along with Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester, Christina Ricci in her first (and perhaps, the most culturally iconic) turn as Wednesday Addams, and Judith Malina as Grandmama — elevates the film to one of the best movie versions of the horror-loving family.

Improved special effects at the time made for the best portrayals of some of the family's most unusual members, like Cousin Itt and Thing, which were depicted by early (and often crude) special effects in previous iterations. But it's the chemistry of the cast, each expertly selected, that brings a heightened level of authenticity and portrayal to the titular family.

2. Addams Family Values (1993)

(From left to right) Carel Struycken, Jimmy Workman, Carol Kane, Raul Julia, Christina Ricci, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, and Joan Cusack in 'Addams Family Values'. Everett Collection

The sequel to the beloved 1991 film has a more straightforward plot, which feels more in line with the Addams family's unique ability to walk the line between horror and comedy. Uncle Fester falls in love, although his bride-to-be (Joan Cusack) turns out to be a serial killer out for murder — and Fester's inheritance. The film is a bit cheesier than its predecessor, but gets by on the talent of its ensemble and the genuine wit of its script. Cusack is at her huckster best as the film's antagonist, but Addams Family Values is a star vehicle for Lloyd, who is the quintessential Uncle Fester in the eyes of most present fans.

Meanwhile, the film's standout subplot centers on Wednesday (Ricci) and her brother Pugsley (Jimmy Workman) being forced to attend a summer camp where their gore-loving outsider ways clash with the "normie" campers.

1. The Addams Family (1964–1966)

(From left to right) John Astin, Lisa Loring, Jackie Coogan, Carolyn Jones, Ken Weatherwax, Marie Blake, and Ted Cassidy on 'The Addams Family'. Everett Collection

The first-ever adaptation of The Addams Family set the blueprint for the various versions we would see throughout the decades. As Gomez, John Astin brought a sophisticated, playboy essence to the family patriarch, adding a lusty undertone between him and Carolyn Jones' Morticia unseen on television at that time. Innovative and transgressive for its era and genre, the show was a departure from the original black-and-white comic strip.

Before the Addams family's first TV adaptation, there was nothing else like it. The sitcom deconstructed the white-washed nuclear family portrayals that were par for the course for viewers (and, often, still today). The show pushed the boundaries on how women were portrayed, as more than just dutiful objects, and instead as independent-thinkers, passionate, pessimistic individuals. Come for the spooky laughs, and stay for a fantastic cast, sharp and witty dialogue, and crisp black-and-white cinematography. Also, who could forget the finger-snapping theme song?