[DISCUSSION] The "Golden Age" of Live-Action Revival Films from Classic TV Shows
I recently re-watched “The Flintstones” (1993). It both reminded and blew me away by how well they revived the classic animated series and brought it to life in such amazing detail while staying perfectly true to the source.
Then, I started thinking about how there was a kind of “golden age” of revival films based on classic TV shows that hadn’t yet received feature-length films. Not to mention, most of them were pretty entertaining, if not excellent. I began compiling a list.
The parameters of the list is are as follows:
- The original IP must be a television series with a premier date prior to 1970.
- It must be a live-action, feature-length, theatrical release released between 1990 and 1999.
- It must feature an all new cast (but cameos are permitted).
- It must not be a continuation of the original series’ storyline.
- It must not be a spin-off of the original series from which it is based.
And so, here is the list I came up with:
- “The Addams Family” (1991)
- “The Beverly Hillbillies” (1993)
- “Addams Family Values” (1993)
- “Dennis the Menace” (1993)
- “The Flintstones” (1994)
- “The Brady Bunch Movie” (1995)
- “A Very Brady Sequel” (1996)
Honorable mention:
- “The Little Rascals” (1994)
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- While the original IP is not a television, but a short film series from the 20s, 30s, and 40s, I do feel it deserves to be included with the revival films mentioned above. It was just so well done!
This marks the end of this “golden age” in my mind and I feel the quality of these revival films began to slide as their novelty began to fade and audiences began to lose interest:
- “McHale’s Navy” (1997)
- “George of the Jungle” (1997)
- “Leave It to Beaver” (1997)
- “Lost in Space” (1998)
- “Dudley Do-Right” (1999)
- “Wild Wild West” (1999)
Admittedly, I haven’t seen (or don’t remember seeing) most of the post-1996 films, so perhaps I’m being unfair to some of them.
So, what do you think? Did I miss any? What are some of your favorites? Did I pay too much attention to American comedies? Am I wrong about some or all of them? Are there any that should be revisited?
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