We have a new live-action Scooby-Doo series due out in 2027 for those with a Netflix subscription, and I couldn't be more excited. Granted, I wasn't even thinking much about Scooby-Doo: Origins until the upcoming Netflix series dropped a first look at its live-action puppy, and he's absolutely "radorable," and also who's a good boy, who's a good boyyy?

Ahem, Netflix dropped a brief teaser for the series, which is a reimagined story of the first time the characters who would go on to form Mystery Inc. met. Check out the clip below, which shows Shaggy and puppy Scooby linking up at summer camp:

I'm so used to seeing Scooby as a lanky Great Dane I forgot just how cute he'd look as a little puppy! Bonus points for the fact that he actually looks like a real dog from the breed and they didn't do anything to his ears or body to make him appear more cartoony.

I do wonder: with the dog looking so realistic, will Scooby speak in this series? We don't hear anything in the clip, and the basic synopsis for the series does not say anything one way or another.

The story for Scooby-Doo: Origins says Scooby will be a witness to a murder, which has me thinking he has to have some way of communicating. Otherwise, what good is a dog witness to a crime? I guess there are other ways of addressing that, but we'll just have to wait and see.

As for the other characters, it appears that Daphne (played by McKenna Grace) and Shaggy will have a pre-existing friendship via their summer camp, and happen upon Scooby at the camp. They end up enlisting a townie science nerd by the name of Velma, and new kid Fred, and set out on attempting to solve this crime together.

I've watched a lot of Scooby-Doo in my day, and I have to say, I can't think of many times murder was one of the crimes they had to solve. I wonder if this series will go the Riverdale route of offering us an edgier take on these classic characters, or if it's just more of a serious drama that will sidestep some of the tropes of the teenage mystery genre.

For now, I'm just psyched we get to see Scooby played by an actual dog, and a super cute one at that. I will admit, it's a bit jarring to see Tanner Hagen as Shaggy after seeing Matthew Lillard play the role, but I'm excited to see a new generation step up and take on this classic franchise.

Scooby-Doo: Origins hits Netflix in 2027, and I can't wait to see the entire gang back in action once again. Here's hoping Netflix creates magic with the nostalgic series and revitalizes interest in Mystery Inc. yet again!

The first thing that comes to mind when I hear Universal Studios is doing something after dark is usually how scary it’s going to be—and that’s not surprising. Halloween Horror Nights has built that reputation with intense scares, haunted houses, and scare zones designed to keep you on edge. But you don’t have to love HHN to enjoy Universal after dark.

For those of us who still want to explore the park, go through immersive walkthroughs, see characters, and take in the atmosphere without constantly worrying what might be lurking around the corner, Universal’s Fan Fest Nights – now in its second year – offers a different kind of experience. That's because it's focused more on fun, fandom, and immersion than fear.

There is no shortage of ways fans can delve into some of their favorite stories throughout the evening. This year alone, fans can stick their tongues out with multi-colored Yoshis, join Scooby-Doo and the gang as they take on Universal’s classic monsters in unravelling a mystery on the backlot, and enter the world of One Piece with Luffy and the crew as they set sail on high-energy adventures (while doing many backflips along the way).

So when CinemaBlend was invited to the opening night festivities, we had to make sure that this was going to be a night filled with fun, not fright.

That feeling is immediately apparent the moment you step into the park. The lighting is warm and inviting, Sailor Moon is hosting meet-and-greets, the food is playful and whimsical, and—most importantly—no one is coming at you with a chainless chainsaw.

However, if you are in the mood for some light-hearted scares, you can still find them with Scooby and the gang in the aforementioned backlot mystery. This immersive walkthrough in “Little Europe” has you helping Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. crew solve a whodunit as Universal’s classic monsters are on the loose, with Wolfman, Frankenstein (no '90s pop song number this time) and his Bride, or Dracula, potentially lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce. It’s less about being terrified and more about playful surprise—though, admittedly, a few of them still got me.

Those monsters are about as scary as it gets during Fan Fest Nights. The only other moment that gave me pause was entering the Forbidden Forest with a Hogwarts professor (no name or real backstory) to help a Hippogriff in need. It also didn’t help that it was the first experience I did, and I was still shaking off some lingering HHN-style instincts from walking through Universal at night in the dark. That feeling faded quickly, though, once we ran into a group of pesky pixies causing chaos in the woods.

Overall, there is a lot to love about Universal Fan Fest Nights, and it is all very doable within one evening. One small word of warning: the Forbidden Forest walkthrough had the longest wait of the night, hovering around 70 minutes most of the evening. If you’re short on time, this is probably the one experience I’d consider skipping first.

Fan Fest Nights is an after-hours, separately ticketed event, and all experiences are included with admission. It runs for a limited time on select nights—April 25, May 1–3, 7–9, and 14–16—before wrapping up, hopefully to return next year.

As one of a generation of fans who grew up watching reruns of old Scooby-Doo cartoons, alongside continually reinvented animated series, I was as interested as anybody when it was announced that Netflix was working on a new Scooby-Doo series, the first live-action stab at the franchise since the pair of well-regarded movies written by James Gunn. We recently learned that Mckenna Grace will be playing Daphne in the new series, and it turns out one of the first people to be told was the greatest Shaggy of all-time, Matthew Lillard.

Lillard played Shaggy in the previously mentioned live-action films. He was so perfect in the role that he also became the go-to voice of Scooby Snack munching hippie for most of the animated offerings that followed. Grace and Lillard have gotten to know each other well, having recently appeared in both Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 and Scream 7 together. She informed ET that Lillard was one of the first people she told after landing the role. She explained…

I need to be a fly on the wall when Mckenna Grace meets Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played Daphne in the movies with Matthew Lillard. I absolutely love that she told him about the series, and the very first thing that he said was, “How can I help?” Quentin Tarantino may not like Lillard as an actor, but the guy is an absolute stand-up human being who clearly loves the industry and the people he works with in it.

The new series is set to be an origin story that will see the Mystery Inc. team thrown together to solve a mystery while at summer camp, alongside a lost Great Dane puppy that they find. It’s the sort of premise that will likely have fans scratching their heads, but Lillard has given the show his blessing and is clearly on board with Mckenna Grace’s casting, who seems truly thrilled to be part of the project.

The show is giving off some serious vibes of another show that requires a Netflix subscription, Wednesday. Considering that Netflix series has included several great appearances from actors who were in other entries in the franchise, maybe something like that could happen here. Mckenna Grace could likely get Matthew Lillard to appear, and maybe she’ll get to know Sarah Michelle Gellar, too?

Scooby-Doo is getting the live-action TV treatment on Netflix, and the first actor has just been cast! Mckenna Grace will star in the series, amidst her already being booked and busy with two big 2026 movie releases on the way with Scream 7 and The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Now, I want to talk about why I’m loving this piece of news.

Mckenna Grace Just Signed On To A Scooby-Doo Series, And I Love To See It

The 19-year-old is set to play Daphne Blake (via Variety), a role that she actually has played before because she voiced the younger version of the character in the 2020 animated film, Scoob! The Netflix series will be about how Mystery Inc. formed, starting with Shaggy and Daphne solving a mystery at a summer camp involving a “lonely lost Great Dane puppy that may have been a witness to a supernatural murder.” Check out what Grace had to say on her Instagram now that the casting news is out in the world:

There’s a lot to be hyped about regarding this announcement. For one, they are actively casting this series after the show was picked up by Netflix in March of last year. But, more importantly, I think the fact that the Scooby-Doo series has cast a bona fide scream queen in the role? Even better! It makes me think that the series will lean into its horror elements a bit more, oh, and that they’re picking big names.

Could Her Matthew Lillard Connection Bring The Actor Back To The Franchise?

One other thought on the casting front is how Mckenna Grace has a connection to Shaggy actor Matthew Lillard since working with him in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 and Scream 7. Lillard has shown his support for Netflix’s Scooby-Doo series before and even offered advice to the future Shaggy actor, but could he also be involved as well? I’m thinking of something along the lines of when Christina Ricci was in Wednesday, but got to play a different (but key) role in the reimagining of The Addams Family.

The new Scooby-Doo show has Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg serving as writers and showrunners, who have worked together on the High Fidelity series, the live-action Cowboy Bebop and Amazon’s Citadel. It follows the live-action Scooby-Doo movies starring Lillard, Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar and Linda Cardellini, which were released in 2002 and 2004. I’d love to see more of this cast in the series, of course, as well as the new young cast.

Right now, we don’t know when the live-action Scooby-Doo series will be released, but we can’t wait until we can stream it with our Netflix subscription.

Netflix is in the process of reviving our collective childhoods once again, by way of a live-action Scooby-Doo series being developed by Jumanji franchise co-writer Scott Rosenberg and Citadel creator Josh Appelbaum. To date, the new project hasn’t looped in longtime franchise star Matthew Lillard in any capacity, but you can bet he’s been asked for his thoughts. And much like his beloved character Shaggy, his hopes for Netflix’s series are, like, pretty cool, man.

It’s unclear when the new Scooby-Doo might land among Netflix’s upcoming TV shows, given only the synopsis has been made public at this point, but hopefully Lillard’s thoughts imparted to EW will make it to the creative team’s ears, just in case what they’re crafting isn’t already on the same path. As he put it:

My biggest hope for the first Scooby-Doo live-action TV show is that the only CGI will be used to make Shaggy's neck go all accordion-like after he eats 14-layer sandwiches. (Maybe in every episode, maybe not.) Everything Lillard is saying, however, comes in at a very close second.

Sincerely, I've been a lifelong fan of the gang, and I know I've written somewhere on this site about Daphne being my first childhood crush. Hanna-Barbera's Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? no doubt factored into my lengthy love of all things horror, and it solidified an untold number of narrative tricks and tropes (while also instilling a fascination with impossible hallway door connections).

Lillard, who previously shared advice for the incoming Shaggy portrayer, voiced his further hopes for the new live-action show, saying:

SImilar to HBO Max's maligned and envelope-pushing Velma, the new version (which is also backed by mega-producer Greg Berlanti) will track the familiar characters coming together for their first mystery at a summer camp. Longtime friends Daphne and Shaggy get wrapped into a potentially supernatural case involving a lost Great Dane puppy and a murder. In this unvierse, Velma is the local with all the science know-how, while Freddy is the dashing-if-daffy new kid. Naturally, these teens have secrets that are in danger of coming to light the deeper they dig into the strange happenings.

So long as the writers remember all of the core values that were there from the start, and that their core friendship is key to their longevity as a threat-thwarting quintet. Sure, they get annoyed with each other, and if Fred brings up traps ONE more time, somebody might snap. But none of that goes beyond the end credits.

Meanwhile, Matthew Lillard has remained an all-out scream king for as many years as he’s played Shaggy, and will be returning to the franchise that started it all with Scream 7. Which — ahem, ahem — makes it a great time to also have him return to live-action Scooby-Doo in one way or another. So here’s hoping those meddling showrunners make it happen, or no Showrunner Snax for them.

Last year, Universal Studios debuted one of my favorite theme park experiences of 2025: Fan Fest Nights. It was like the park’s iconic Halloween Horror Nights, but with a focus on non-horror franchises. It had some absolutely incredible attractions, including a rebuilt Enterprise-D bridge for the Star Trek experience and an awesome Beholder animatronic from the Henson Creature Shop for the Dungeons & Dragons experience. However, by far the best part of Fan Fest Nights was the Back to the Future portion of the show.

The Hill Valley set, which is still part of the historic Universal Studios backlot tour, became accessible to guests, and we got to walk around and feel like we were truly in the middle of the movie. Today, Universal Studios Hollywood announced that tickets are officially on sale for Fan Fest Night 2026. Unfortunately, with the news came the detail that Back to the Future won’t be back, but its replacement could be better.

Scooby Doo X Universal Monsters Will Take Guests To The Back Lot

It had previously been announced that one of the major attractions at Fan Fest Nights this year would be Scooby Doo X Universal Monsters, a mashup that would bring the ghost-hunting Hanna-Barbera team together with Universal’s classic creatures. However, we didn’t have any details on exactly what the experience would be.

In a press release, Universal Studios Hollywood confirmed that Scooby Doo X Universal Monsters will take place on the backlot. Guests will take the Studio Tour tram down to the backlot, and then exit the tram and walk along the backlot alongside the Scooby Gang as they go up against the various monsters.

What makes this extra special is that we’re talking about the Universal Studios backlot, which is where many of those classic Universal Monster movies were originally filmed. The Little Europe set, which still stands today, is where movies like Frankenstein and The Wolf Man were shot back in the ‘30s and ‘40s. It’s a classic movie fan’s dream come true.

Fan Fest Nights Has A Lot More To Offer, And It’s Not Done Yet

While the Back to the Future: Destination Hill Valley experience won’t be returning, one of last year’s attractions will. Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep will be back. If you haven’t seen that incredible beholder animatronic, you’ll have another chance.

One other franchise from last year will be back as well, but in a new way. Last year, One Piece appeared at Fan Fest Nights as little more than a photo op, but this year, Universal Studios Japan’s ONE PIECE: Grand Pirate Show, will debut at the Waterworld stunt show location.

Fan Fest Nights is also teasing new experiences at the Super Nintendo World and Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands. Last year, Yoshi debuted at Super Nintendo World as part of the event. This year, we’ll get multiple Yoshis, in multiple colors, all throughout the land. The Wizarding World experience will be a walk through attractions that will send guests into the Forbidden Forest with a Hogwarts professor on the search for a lost Hippogriff.

There’s still more to be announced for this year’s Fan Fest Nights, but what we already have sounds like year two of the event will be just as good, and maybe better than year one.

Few animated franchises have managed to have the staying power of Scooby-Doo. Since 1969, it has tried out many spinoffs with varying degrees of success, and even made it to the big screen a handful of times. With so many different takes on the character over the years, it's hard to imagine there are still avenues to explore, or at least that's what I thought until I learned it's getting an anime.

Whether you're a diehard fan of the anime genre or someone looking to get into it for the first time, you might want to pay attention to what is on the way for Scooby-Doo. Here's what we know so far about the series, and how a Tom and Jerry anime may give us a good idea of what to expect when it arrives.

Scooby-Doo Is Getting An Anime

In news first reported by TVLaint.com, Scooby-Doo! Gokko was announced during an event in Brazil where the franchise was promoting a makeup line. Few details were reported on the series, beyond that it's expected to release in 2027. There was also an image of Shaggy and Scooby making rounds online, which should give an idea of what it will look like.

I'm bummed this one isn't on the 2026 TV schedule, especially after the reveal that the show will likely use the "Gokko" style. For the uninitiated, the style features a "chibi" or small version of the characters, exaggerated, cutesy faces, and light-hearted storytelling. Essentially, expect this series to be more similar in tone to Hello Kitty, rather than a supernatural anime like Dan Da Dan.

Tom And Jerry Gokko May Give Us An Idea Of What It Will Look Like

If that description isn't enough for some readers, we're fortunate to have a more visual example to reference. Check out this clip from Tom and Jerry Gokko, which shows a side of the characters I never expected:

I once wrote that it was time for Hollywood to move on from these types of cartoons, but I officially retract that statement. If Scooby-Doo! Gokko is half as enjoyable as that, I think it's well worth checking out. Sure, it's not going to be the same as the average Hayao Miyazaki film, but does it have to be?

Cards on the table, I am upset there are no updates on Go-Go Mystery Machine, an anime series announced back in 2024 that was expected to have a style more in line with traditional anime. The series was never officially greenlit, and as far as we know, it's still in development. There are some wondering, however, if that series turned into Scooby-Doo! Gokko and is no longer happening.

Anime has always lingered on the fringes of the mainstream, but it seems as though Hollywood is putting in more effort than ever to get the genre front and center with audiences. With shows like One Piece and even Solo Leveling getting live-action adaptations, it feels like we're in a golden era for the genre, and fans should enjoy it and embrace this interest from many. Maybe we'll get some stuff that wouldn't have been possible before, like a decent live-action Dragon Ball Z movie? I can only hope.

Until that day comes, I can only wait for more updates on Scooby-Doo! Gokko, and hope it ends up being as iconic as some of the characters' other spinoff shows. If this ends up being half as good as the time Mystery Inc. teamed up with the Harlem Globetrotters, it'll be great.

2025 has been something of a banner year for Matthew Lillard, who reprised one villainous role for the critical anti-darling Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, then reprised a seemingly dead villain for the upcoming horror movie Scream 7, and even popped up in an Ice Nine Kills music video to promote his premium liquor brand Find Familiar Spirits. Unfortunately, he won’t be reprising his long-held role of mystery-solver Shaggy for Netflix’s upcoming live-action Scooby-Doo series.

Considering he’s played the stoner-esque character for well over 20 years now, first in the pair of James Gunn features and then in a plethora of animated movies, series and video games, Lillard’s pedigree with Shaggy is second only to the great Casey Kasem. Understandably, he has some sage wisdom for the younger actor who inevitably steps into the role of Mystery Incorporated’s most gluttonous human, complete with a comparison to the legacy of Star Wars characters.

Speaking with Polygon, the Life of Chuck actor admits that the globally recognized gig comes with a ton of pressure and expectations, but says one of the key things for the new actor to keep in mind is to deliver the performance that they are most proud of, since that’s what matters most in the end. Lillard shared:

To that end, Hanna-Barbera debuted Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? all the way back in 1969, likely not anticipating these characters to live on across dozens of projects over the next 55 years and counting. Many generations of family grew up with and raised their kids on Scooby-Doo cartoons, myself included on both sides of that equation. It's not as if new series will make or break my happiness, but it is disappointing when new projects don't hook me. (Speaking of Star Wars comparisons...)

That's mostly just talking about animated projects, too. Live-action takes on toons can spark a wholly separate level of fan rage if not handled correctly. There's a good chance that Netflix's new Scooby-Doo series could be the entry to this franchise for thousands (or millions?) of younger audiences, so there's much pressure to deliver on all fronts in the way that Wednesday has for the Addams Family.

Matthew Lillard also shared some solid advice that a lot of actors only end up coming to realize later in life, saying:

So often, actors in their teens and 20s take on an iconic role without the big-picture understanding that they will forever be connected with that character to millions of people the world over, and that embracing that from the jump will only help. The number of actors who've attempted to distance themselves from specific parts, only to regret it years later upon appreciating the fandom, grows all the time. Especially when it comes to projects involving comic books, cartoons, and...Star Wars.

Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford weren't always so eager to embrace the mantles and legacies of their respective heroes in the years post-Return of the Jedi. Matthew Lillard thought Scooby-Doo: Monsters Unleashed's poor box office killed his career, so at least he would have had some motivation to be angsty about ever saying "Zoinks!" again.

As a lifelong fan of the Doo Clue Crew — I know nobody calls them that — I'm as open-minded and optimistic as can be for whatever Netflix is cooking up alongside Warner Bros. It would go a long way if co-developers Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg would take a page from Mystery Incorporated by bringing the parents heavily into the stories, allowing for Matthew Lillard to play Shaggy's father in whatever capacity.

Isla Fisher has been acting professionally for years, and she’s still thriving. Of course, with that kind of longevity comes the possibility that a star will work with younger actors who may not have even been born during the early years of their career. Fisher had a similar experience with one of her scene partners from her 2025 movie schedule release, Now You See Me: Now You Don't. In this case, the Australian actor learned that one of her co-stars was born the year Scooby-Doo was released, and the video of the revelation is perfect.

Joining Isla Fisher in Now You See Me: Now You Don’t is Dominic Sessa (the up-and-comer who rose to prominence as a result of his work in The Holdovers). While promoting their new movie, the stars spoke to interviewer Jeff Thurm, who mentioned that Scooby-Doo detail during the chat. The video, which is on Instagram, is very humbling, but anyone who humorously feels personally attacked by this may surely find humor in Fisher’s response. Check it out:

I mean, what else can you really do in that situation but laugh? Also, the dry way in which Seesa acknowledges he was born in 2002 (October 25, to be exact) is great as well. So Sessa was just a few months from entering this world when Doo hit theaters over the summer of the aforementioned year. That’s honestly surreal, not just from the perspective of Fisher – who played Shaggy Rogers’ love interest, Mary Jane, in the movie – but from my experience as well.

When Raja Gosnell’s first live-action adaptation of Mystery Inc. hit the silver screen, I was a kid and was eager to see the movie. Even today, I can remember that period of time vividly and the excitement that swirled around the film’s release (I even recall the Six Flags America commercial advertising the soundtrack.) Considering all of that, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel just a tad old upon realizing that Dominic Sessa was born later that year.

It’s also somewhat hard to believe it’s been over 23 years since Scooby-Doo, which was penned by James Gunn, hit theaters. The flick proved to be a box office hit and spawned a 2004 sequel, subtitled Monsters Unleashed, which wasn’t as successful. Gunn has since expressed mixed feelings about the movies, especially the first one, given they went through creative changes. The first installment was actually meant to be R-rated before those changes were implemented.

However, both of those Scooby-Doo movies are greatly loved, and they’ve reached new generations of fans in great part due to streaming. Also, while Fred Jones actor Freddie Prinze Jr. admitted his “regret” over doing the movies due to dealing with execs, he also said he appreciated the joy the films brought fans. I know that, for me, these films were formative, and I’m grateful to Prinze, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini and co. for taking part in the films.

Isla Fisher should also be proud of taking part in Scooby-Doo, which was also my first time seeing her on screen. At the very least, though, it seems she can see the humor in now being so far removed from the movie that Dominic Sessa and a host of other actors have been born since its release. That movie Doo-ology (sorry) is now available to rent or buy on various streaming platforms. Also, check out Fisher and Sessa in Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, which is in theaters now.

If Matthew Lillard wasn’t already considered a horror icon, his slate of upcoming horror projects would only help cement that status, as he’s reprising both his breakout role of Stu Machen in Scream 7, as well as his antagonistic role of William Afton in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (which will feature a Scream-tastic reunion with Skeet Ulrich). Not to mention Mike Flanagan’s Carrie TV show. But despite all his spooky successes, Lillard also wants to make his mark in live-action superhero fare.

He’ll first be capitalizing on action-packed comic book adaptations when he arrives in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, although fans have yet to learn who he’ll actually be playing for his MCU debut. Appearing at Los Angeles Comic-Con across the last weekend in September, Lillard confirmed that he won’t be seen wearing any lycra, indicating he won’t be donning superhero costuming. He also made it clear that he’s both willing and eager to reteam with his Scooby-Doo director James Gunn for a role in the DCU. Here’s how he put it (via Screenrant):

Indeed, if not for James Gunn, Matthew Lillard's career might have turned out completely differently, seeing as how those two movies secured him as the voice of Shaggy Rogers in dozens and dozens of animated shows, movies and video games. That was more than 20 years ago, though, so it seems to me like it's time for Gunn to slot Lillard into another role that he'll get to continue with for the next couple of decades.

Lillard thinks his talents are best encased in projects that go big, as opposed to run of the mill procedural shows, and I'm in full agreement on that one. The actor continued, making sure to ward off further speculation that he may be playing someone with powers in the MCU.

Given how animated Matthew Lillard has been throughout his career, I think there's one clear and perfect choice for how he should be utilized within the DCU, assuming James Gunn is willing to stretch the fabric of his fictional universe.

I Think Matthew Lillard Would Be Absolutely Perfect As Plastic Man

With both the live-action and animated version of mystery-solving pseudo-stoner Shaggy, as well as with Scream's Stu and many other roles, Lillard's sense of humor and comedic timing are very often on display, even in projects that arent' outwardly comedies. His talents for bringing levity to any given scene are undeniable, so it would be a crime to affix him to any of DC's more humorless characters.

As such, I'm all in on Matthew Lillard for Plastic Man, who has long been one of comics' most humorous (and surprisingly powerful) superheroes, thanks in part to the hero's malleable body that can morph into just about any shape conceivable. Prior to the acid-based accident that resulted in his abilities, Patrick "Eel" O'Brien was a two-bit criminal on a downward spiral, but he shifted over to heroism to use his elasticity to help humanity, albeit with some unavoidable groaners.

Check Out Some Of My Favorite Plastic Man Runs

• DC Finest: Plastic Man: The Origin of Plastic Man by Jack Cole (1940s-1950s) - Purchase for $25.49 (Currently 36% off)
• Plastic Man: Rubber Banded - The Deluxe Edition by Kyle Baker and Scott Morse (2003-2006) - Read on Kindle or purchase for $35.54 with Amazon Prime discount
• Plastic Man by Gail Simone and Adriana Melo (2018) - Purchase for $22.60
• Plastic Man No More! by Christopher Cantwell and Alex Lins (2024) - Purchase hardcover collection for $20.14 (Currently 19% off)

LIllard would fill those shoes so perfectly, as he'd easily be able to pull off a layered performance as someone who uses his humor and Justice League inclusion to distract from the more haunted family man hiding within. Even if the DCU wouldn't opt for a more serious tone to the character, I think we can all agree Lillard would have zero trouble taking the wackiness to a full 100%.

If Mike Flanagan's Clayface can bring "pure fucking horror" into DC's live-action fare, then I don't think it's too out there to think that we could get a full-blown comedy as well, with Plastic Man as my ideal choice for the genre. So if someone could just magically smoosh together my wishes with Matthew Lillard's then it would probably save the world. Or at least result in a cool movie or something.

Animated and cartoon titles used to often be classic Disney and Saturday morning staples, or raunchy adult counterpoints. Though there was some common ground, it was sparse (and dependent on a kid’s guardian’s perspective--this list included). Today, a lot has changed–the once semi-no man’s land has ballooned to offer plenty of palatable watches for all ages. Below you’ll find cartoon pioneers, today's hits, and some stellar hidden gems outside of typical Disney titles, because that could be a whole separate list! Without further ado, let's get surfing through some great picks.

Peanuts

Charlie Brown and co. are another one of those enduring and endearing cartoons that continue to win generations' hearts. While most of us only consider watching any Peanuts fodder during the holidays, there’s plenty more to choose from, including the 2015 film The Peanuts Movie. And let’s face it, we’re all holding on hope that one day Charlie won’t be tricked by Lucy.

Batman: The Animated Series

Plenty of classic comic book characters could’ve filled out this list with some ease, but Batman naturally won top spot to rep the DC list. The 1992 series was a true highlight for Bruce Wayne and his alter ego, even though it only ran for four seasons. And though there were plenty of BAM!’s and POW!’s to go around, minimal footage of foes being hurt was shown.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Like DC, Marvel’s top comic goes to Spider-Man. And though there are endless iterations, the 2018 film following Miles Morales’ experience getting bitten is an exciting refresh. Regardless of whether you’re a newcomer or a vet of the Peter Parker world, it’s nice to see a new angle on him.

Scooby-Doo

Scooby, Shaggy, Velma, Fred and Daphne, aka “Mystery Incorporated,” have been a sustaining staple since their 1969 introduction. The gang has a huge, comedic, family-friendly franchise that spans multiple shows and movies, and continues to win audiences time and again through their humorously balanced sleuthing skills. Those meddling kids and their dog nailed simple storylines with smart but accessible jokes.

Tom And Jerry

As more or less the OG ‘cat and mouse’ duo, Tom and Jerry are Hollywood royalty. With roots tracing back to the 1940s, their frenemy relationship entertained countless kids, who then, in turn, shared it with theirs. Whether it’s a nostalgia watch or some regular weekday fodder, these two still make the cut.

The Smurfs

Another great vintage cartoon, which has been introduced through a series of blockbuster franchises, is The Smurfs. The comic turned show turned movie is a nostalgia fun fun-filled ride that continues to appeal to old and new fans alike. Although I’m sure, for some stans, Rihanna’s first new song in quite some time being included in the Smurf’s new trailer doesn’t hurt things.

Robin Hood

From a historical standpoint, Robin Hood may be the oldest and, without a doubt, the most recognizable name on the list. With roots tracing back to the 1300s, the Prince of Thieves continues to be a world everyone can enjoy, especially the animated Disney version.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Brothers Mario and Luigi have long been a staple for generations of gamers. Sweetly animated and endlessly fun, they’ve gone on to create quite a world beyond saving Princess Peach from Bowser. This 2023 blockbuster pays homage to the sibling plumbers’ legacy.

Shrek

Boy, does this ogre have layers. When Shrek arrived on the scene in 2001, it was bursting at the seams with bathroom humor created a lot of discourse. Behind it though, was a compelling reimagine of classic fairy tale tropes that left many wanting more. Even though he’s rough around the edges to some onscreen and off, his character arc is genuine and magnetic. Those makings cemented the fictional world and the big green guy himself to sustain in pop culture.

SpongeBob SquarePants

From the jump, everyone’s favorite animated sea sponge has been ready to win the hearts of his audience, both young and old. And to his luck, many continue to adore him and his silly, silly friends of Bikini Bottom long after we grew out of kids' TV. A prime example of how SpongeBob influences a much wider audience is that Nosferatu’s director, Robert Eggers, cited the Nickelodeon icon's influence for the 2024 remake.

The Yogi Bear Show

Like the other vintage pulls on the list, Yogi Bear has lived on and been introduced to new generations of viewers over the decades. The picnic basket-loving bear and his pal Boo-Boo’s antics are simple and routine, yet they continue to steal the hearts of their viewers.

Arthur

As one of the best animated shows ever, Arthur, his family and pals showcased a lot of social, emotional and mental topics in inclusive ways. PBS paired that with realistic familial and friend relationship dynamics (D.W. fan here), which galvanized Marc Brown’s fictional aardvark in an honest way for the masses.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Since its premiere, the Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender has been a fan favorite. Many regard this as one of the ultimate cartoons, noting that it again has a perfect blend of adventure, humor and heart. It’s not your typical easy animated series, but prepare for a great ride.

Bluey

Disney really hit it out of the park with their blue dog show (no offense to Blue of Blue’s Clues). While clearly marketed, made and designed for kiddos, the themes and honest reflections of familial relationships hook plenty of those who have aged out of tuning into the Mouse Ears channel.

Power Puff Girls

I don’t think you can get much better with sugar, spice and everything nice when it comes to a stellar kids’ cartoon. The lab-created superhero sisters of Blossom, Buttercup and Bubbles were a thrill from their unmistakable theme song to defeating Mojo Jojo (or any other foe) before the credits rolled. I’m not the only one who believes it’s a show from the ‘00s that still holds up watching as an adult.

How to Train Your Dragon

As one of DreamWorks' best animated movies, How to Train Your Dragon really hits all the right notes of adventure, humor and heart, perfect for a universal audience. Hiccup and his sweet but brave dragon, Toothless, continue to draw crowds 15 years later. And the live-action remake, coming out later this month, is expected to do the same.

The Lego Movie

This kid's favorite toy-turned-movie is the perfect homage to illuminating all there is to create with the plastic blocks. Pair that with some comedy giants a la Will Ferrell, and you’ve got a blockbuster anyone from age 5 to 95 can enjoy.

Ponyo (many other Studio Ghibli films)

Hayo Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli offer a whole collection of exhilarating animated movies, though not all may be suitable for everyone. Ponyo, though, is essentially a Ghibli counterpoint to The Little Mermaid (although it’s not a musical). Although Ponyo, the magical fish girl, doesn’t have sea-faring friends who accompany her after she comes ashore.

Recess

For some, Recess was a paramount Saturday Morning classic during the late 90s-00s. As the title implies, the show centered around every elementary school-aged kid’s favorite part of the day and the goings-on during that quick 20-minute block. T.J. and his friends are funny yet kind, making it a perfect watch for anyone with a nostalgic bone that needs to be itched or can directly identify with the gang.

Wallace & Gromit franchise

The British claymation duo is another visual world that has found its place in pop culture. Now, with seven titles to their name, the dog and owner pairing continue to find new ground (their 7th was made in partnership with Netflix). While the duo seems straightforward, there’s plenty to take away from each installment.

Phineas And Ferb

Another Disney Channel hit for the masses is Phineas and Ferb. It’s aimed roughly at an age group who’ve graduated from Bluey-esque television but still need pretty straightforward content. What makes the jump into watchable territory for all the silly stepbrothers is the smart writing and goofy jokes, and possibly having a platypus as a family pet.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Fantastic Mr. Fox, the movie, based on the short children's book and directed by Wes Anderson, is just as magical as the Roald Dahl classic. The retelling has a perfect kid-friendly stop animation aesthetic blended with an A-list cast including George Clooney and Meryl Streep.

The Little Prince

Another excellent book adapted into a movie (a couple of times over). This French classic has been collecting fans of all ages since 1943 worldwide, and the 2015 flick continues to carry on that torch. The simple and sweet story reminds us all that it’s the connections we make that matter most while exploring fantastical worlds.

Over The Garden Wall

As one of the great under-the-radar animated shows out there, 2014’s Over the Garden Wall has earned quite a fan base. Brothers Wirt and Greg accidentally find themselves in a captivating, somewhat spooky, and at times adventurous world after jumping over a mysterious wall. From start to end, it’s a simple but compelling tale of the bros finding their way home.

The Hobbit

While the Lord of the Rings trilogy may be the most well-known J.R.R. Tolkien movies based on modern literature, it’s not the only one. For the purposes of this list, we’ll stick to the subject at hand and highlight the 1977 animated version of The Hobbit. While it does depict some violence via battles, it’s a classic gem that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Gravity Falls

Gravity Falls came to Disney long after many of us had moved on, but it hasn’t stopped its popularity among adult audiences. The Pines twins visit their uncle in the Pacific Northwest for the summer, only to unlock a longstanding mystery. It’s a perfect blend of silly-sweet kid humor braided with PG Twin Peaks vibes (be warned, for some kids, there is one dark moment on the Mouse Ears show near the end). You may come for the mystery but you’ll stay for Mabel, Dipper, Grunkle Stan and Soos.

Adventure Time

What starts as a candy-colored quest quickly unfolds into an emotional, often existential journey. With layered characters, sharp humor, and simple but profound themes, it’s a show that’ll appeal to all. There’s something in the Land of Ooo that'll speak to any viewer, exactly why Adventure Time endures.

Klaus

We all knew at least one Christmas movie had to make the list, for good measure. Compared to some of the classics, Klaus could’ve easily gotten lost in the shuffle for many. The Netflix original is a story following a down-on-his-luck postman who befriended a toymaker and set up a deal to help one another.

The Secret Of The Kells

The Secret of Kells is a visual and emotional Irish treasure, first premiering in 2009. Its stunningly hand-drawn animation, paired perfectly with mythic storytelling, holds kid and adult viewers equally. Cellach and Brendan’s story is filled with creativity, fear, and hope as aggressive Vikings near and a revered illuminator comes to town.

Wolfwalkers

Like The Secret of the Kells, Wolfwalkers is another animated Irish folk-like tale that comes to life. While there are a bit of dark tones throughout the film, including hunting wolves, the fairy-tale-like story that follows Robyn as she meets Mebh is true magic.

The Iron Giant

Don’t be fooled by the animation style or color palette for young ones, The Iron Giant is an epic adventure for all to enjoy. The cast is stacked (Vin Diesel, Jennifer Aniston, Christopher McDonald, Harry Connick Jr) and the gentle sincerity of the giant will have you head over heels. Just be warned, it is a tear-jerker!

The Secret of NIMH

Another vintage gem presented as a children's story with a more complex storyline. The Brisby family experiences some strife as conflict arises in the surrounding area, and they must seek help from an unlikely friend. Admittedly, I haven’t watched this, but it’s now on my list!

As a dog parent, I have often pondered how much easier life would be if canines could speak. I have even gone so far as to give my pets dialogue when recalling funny stories about them.

That is why I have a soft spot for great dog movies that give their furry protagonists the ability to communicate through more than barking. This could mean they can magically talk with humans, can only communicate with other dogs, or even exist in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic animals. I cover them all here, go fetch!

Lady And The Tramp (1955)

One of the most heartwarmingly romantic animated Disney movies centers on the unlikely coupling of a pampered cocker spaniel (voiced by Barbara Luddy) and a stray mutt (voiced by Larry Roberts) in Lady and the Tramp. Ward Greene's 1945 short story "Happy Dan, the Cynical Dog" also inspired a live-action 2019 film, featuring Tessa Thompson and Justin Theroux in the title roles, but the power of the original is unmatched.

Strays (2023)

Not every talking dog movie is suitable for family viewing, with the most notable exception being the R-rated comedy, Strays. Will Ferrell voices a Border Terrier named Reggie who, after realizing he has been abandoned by his owner, Doug (Will Forte), teams up with Boston Terrier Bug (Jamie Foxx), Australian Shepherd Maggie (Isla Fisher), and Great Dane Hunter to return home... and bite Doug's "favorite toy" off.

The Secret Life Of Pets (2016)

Illumination's The Secret Life of Pets provides an imagined inside look at what cats, dogs, and other domesticated animals do when their owners are not looking. The story is brought to life through an all-star cast, including Louis C.K. as a Jack Russell Terrier named Max, Eric Stonestreet as a Newfoundland mix named Duke, Jenny Slate as a Pomeranian named Gidget, and more.

Isle Of Dogs (2018)

Some of the best Wes Anderson movies have seen the filmmaker dabble in stop-motion animation, and to wonderful effect, such as with Isle of Dogs. Bryan Cranston leads the star-studded voice cast as a stray living on a trash-littered island inhabited by canines deported from Japan, where young Atari (Koyu Rankin) journeys to find his pet.

All Dogs Go To Heaven (1989)

One of legendary animator Don Bluth's most cherished creations is All Dogs Go to Heaven, which stars Burt Reynolds as Charlie, who meets his fate at the paw of Carface Malone (Vic Tayback). However, the street-smart German Shepherd manages to return to Earth as an angel and embarks on an adventure, where he meets a young girl who can speak to animals named Anne-Marie (Judith Barsi).

The Shaggy Dog (1959)

Based on the 1923 novel The Hound of Florence by Felix Salten, The Shaggy Dog is a unique kind of talking dog story in the sense that the gifted animal in question was once a human. The Disney-produced fantasy-comedy stars Tommy Kirk as teenager Wilby Daniels, who accidentally becomes stricken with a curse that periodically transforms him into a sheepdog.

Balto (1995)

Kevin Bacon voices the title role of Balto, which is the tale of a Husky who helped prevent the outbreak of a deadly epidemic in an Alaskan town. The animated film is actually based on a true story of several Huskies credited with this heroic deed, including Togo, who did not get his own movie until 2019.

A Dog’s Purpose (2017)

Director Lasse Hallström's heartwarming adaptation of W. Bruce Cameron's novel, A Dog's Purpose, could not be categorized as a movie in which the dog does not die, as we see multiple adorable pooches pass away throughout the film. However, all of these dogs share the same soul (and voice, provided by Josh Gad) on a decades-long journey to reconnect with its original owner (played as a teen by KJ Apa and as an adult by Dennis Quaid).

A Goofy Movie (1995)

Classic Disney character Goofy has been described by longtime voice actor Bill Farmer (via Roger Ebert's review) as the missing link between dog and man, which explains how an anthropomorphic canine like him can exist in the same world as Mickey Mouse's pet, Pluto. Every character in the beloved A Goofy Movie is an anthropomorphic canine, including Goofy's teen son, Max (Jason Marsden), who reluctantly joins his father on an unforgettable road trip.

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

Based on Sheila Burnford's 1961 novel, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is the story of a bulldog named Chance (voiced by Michael J. Fox), an aging Golden Retriever named Shadow (voiced by Don Ameche in one of his final roles), and a cat named Sassy (voiced by Sally Field), who brave harsh terrain in hopes of reuniting with their loving owners. The Disney classic spawned a sequel called, Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco, in which the trio of pets struggle to survive the urban jungle.

Up (2009)

The beloved Pixar movie Up features a dog given the ability to talk with a special collar that translates his inner thoughts into English. The canine's name is Dug (voiced by animator Bob Peterson), who would become the star of his own Disney+ series, Dug Days.

Scooby-Doo (2002)

One of the most famous talking dogs in pop culture history is the titular Great Dane from Hanna-Barbera's beloved animated series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?, who is able to pronounced English words through his barks, but only if they start with the letter "R." He and his human companions from Mystery Inc. – Fred (Freddie Prinze Jr.), Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Velma (Linda Cardellini), and Shaggy (Matthew Lillard) – were brought to life in a live-action film taking place at a trouble island resort.

One Hundred And One Dalmatians (1961)

For as much as I enjoy the 1996 live-action adaptation movie, 101 Dalmatians, for Glenn Close's pitch-perfect performance as Cruella de Vil, none of the titular spotted canines speak in that film. For that, you will have to revisit Disney's original animated adaptation of Dodie Smith's 1956 novel, which stars Rod Taylor as the voice of Pongo and both Cate Bauer and Lisa Daniels as his mate, Perdita.

Babe (1995)

Babe is adapted from Dick King-Smith's novel, The Sheep Pig, which follows the titular swine (voiced by Christine Cavanaugh) struggles to be accepted among his fellow farm animals. He becomes friends with a Border Collie named Fly (voiced by Miriam Margolyes) and surprises Farmer Hoggett (James Cromwell) with his ability to take over her position of herding sheep.

Fluke (1995)

Have you ever wondered if your dog was a human in a past life? That topic is explored in the film Fluke, which stars Matthew Modine as a deceased man given the chance to reunite with his wife and son when he is reincarnated as the eponymous dog breed, which also becomes his name.

The Voices (2014)

The horror-comedy movie, The Voices, is an interesting example of a talking dog movie since none of the animal characters are genuinely talking. Bathtub factory worker Jerry (Ryan Reynolds) hears his kindly dog Bosco and evil cat Mr. Whiskers (both also voiced by Reynolds) speak to him as a symptom of his schizophrenia.

Sing 2 (2021)

There are very few major canine characters in the first installment of Illumination's Sing franchise from 2016, but that changes in the sequel. Chelsea Peretti voices a Saluki dog named Suki Lane, who works as talent scout for the shady Arctic wolf, Jimmy Crystal (Bobby Cannavale).

Doctor Dolittle (1998)

Some talking dog movies involve animals speaking to one another and others feature one or more animals that can secretly speak aloud to other humans. However, in Doctor Dolittle, the only human who can communicate with the animals is the title character, played by Eddie Murphy, who first rediscovers his ability when he meets a dog named Lucky (voiced by Norm Macdonald), who also serves as the film's narrator.

Bolt (2008)

The titular White Swiss Shepherd puppy from Disney's Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) is introduced as a heroic canine with special superpowers. Little does he know that his special abilities are a fallacy and that he is the star of a TV show, which he only becomes aware of after running away to rescue his owner, Penny (Miley Cyrus), whom he believes has been kidnapped.

A Dog's Journey (2019)

The sequel to A Dog's Purpose is A Dog's Journey, which follows the continued adventures of the reincarnated soul of a dog (voiced by Josh Gad). After awakening in the new body of a female Beagle named Molly, who accepts the responsibility of looking after CJ, who is the granddaughter of Ethan (Dennis Quaid).

PAW Patrol: The Movie (2021)

Fans of movies in which a dog saves the day are not going to want to miss out on PAW Patrol: The Movie. Spun off from the popular children's TV show, it follows a group of heroic puppies, led by young human Ryder (Will Brisbin), who are tasked with rescuing their home of Adventure City from the corrupt Mayor Humdinger.

The Shaggy D.A. (1976)

The sequel to Disney's original The Shaggy Dog, The Shaggy D.A., sees Dean Jones take over the role of Wilby Jones, who is now a grown man with a family, a law career, and a promising campaign for his community's district attorney. Unfortunately, the dishonorable opposing candidate uncovers Wilby's curse and uses it against him, causing Wilby to fall back into the problem and transforming into his furry alter ego at the worst possible moment.

Absolutely Anything (2015)

Some movies depict a dog's ability to speak as a sudden, magical development, such as in co-writer and director Terry Jones' sci-fi comedy Absolutely Anything. Simon Pegg stars as an average man who, as a test to determine if the human race is worthy of saving, is given absolute power by an extraterrestrial race, which he uses to make his dog, Dennis (voiced by Robin Williams), able to speak English.

Good Boy! (2003)

The family comedy Good Boy! offers an unusual explanation for why dogs exists, being that they are an extra-terrestrial race that originally came to Earth centuries earlier with the intention of dominating the planet. A boy named Owen Baker (Liam Aiken) learns this after discovering that his new Border Terrier, Hubble (voiced by Matthew Broderick), has been sent to make sure his canine brethren carry out his species' original mission.

Ferdinand (2017)

Based on Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson's 1936 children's book, Ferdinand is the story of a kindhearted bull (voiced by John Cena) determined to reunite with his family after being unfairly taken away from them. One of Ferdinand's best friends is a hilariously cynical, elderly Bearded Collie named Paco (voiced by Jerrod Carmichael).

Air Buddies (2006)

One of the most desirable dogs in movie history, Buddy from Disney's classic '90s kids sports movie Air Bud, does not speak in the film, nor in any of the sequels in which he branches out beyond basketball. However, in the spin-off, Air Buddies (which spawned a separate franchise of its own), the Golden Retriever does have a voice (provided by Tom Everett Scott), as do his five puppies who are tasked with rescuing him and their mother, Molly (voiced by Molly Shannon) after they are dognapped.

Underdog (2007)

The classic animated series, Underdog, about a Beagle who fights crime with his super powers, was given the live-action movie treatment. Jason Lee voices the titular superhero, also known as Shoeshine, who becomes able to fly, speak, and other abilities after a lab accident.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008)

In Disney's Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Drew Barrymore voices Chloe, who is a pampered pooch who becomes lost in Mexico City and relies on the help of a German Shepherd named Delgado (voiced by Andy Garcia) to help her survive.

Rover Dangerfield (1991)

Some of Rodney Dangerfield's funniest one-liners come from the film Rover Dangerfield. He lends his voice and signature brand of humor to the animated family film as a Las Vegas Bassett Hound whose luxurious life is interrupted when he is accidentally brought to a farm.

Cats & Dogs (2001)

Fusing spy movies with talking dog movies is Cats & Dogs, which exaggerates the natural rivalry between canines and felines as a centuries-long war over world domination. Tobey Maguire voices Lou, a Beagle reluctantly recruited by veteran secret agent Butch, Anatolian Shepherd (voiced by Alec Baldwin), to help stop the evil Mr. Tinkles (voiced by Sean Hayes).

Marmaduke (2022)

Pete Davidson lends his voice to the title role of Netflix's animated film based on the long-running comic strip, Marmaduke, which was comparatively better received than the 2010 live-action adaptation starring Owen Wilson as the lovable, troublesome Great Dane.

Look Who’s Talking Now (1993)

Look Who's Talking and Look Who's Talking Too gave audiences an inside look into the inner thoughts of babies and toddlers. The hit comedy franchise's third installment shifted its focus to dogs, as told from the perspective of James (John Travolta) and Mollie's (Kirstie Alley) two new pets, Rocks (voiced by Danny DeVito) and Daphne (voiced by Diane Keaton).

Animation is the one screen medium that allows an artist to unlock the most potential out of the story they want to tell, which begs the question of why anyone would want to bother trying to reinterpret a great animated movie or TV show for live-action?

Well, we cannot deny it is amusing to see classic animated TV shows and films recreated in a more realistic light, and many have pulled off the task to surprising esteem. The following are some of the most acclaimed and noteworthy examples and, as you might have guessed, there are a few live-action Disney animated movie remakes included.

The Jungle Book (2016)

OK, we realize that we are technically cheating by including director Jon Favreau's The Jungle Book because one of the few elements not created with CGI is Mowgli actor Neel Sethi. However, the film recreates Disney's 1967 adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's seminal stories with Academy Award-winning visual effects so astonishingly vivid that you would not be able to tell the difference.

Transformers (2007)

Released in tandem with Hasbro's popular toy line was the hit animated series Transformers, which was first spun off to the big screen in a 1986 feature starring Orson Welles. More than three decades later, director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg would help increase the shapeshifting robots' notoriety with a live-action blockbuster that spawned a long-running franchise.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

Artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird first introduced the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1984 with their Mirage Studios comic book series that was later adapted into a toy line and tie-in animated series just three years later. Only three years after that, fans got to see what Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo would look like in the real world in a film that depicts the pizza-chomping urban warriors more accurately than the 2014 reboot.

Paddington 2 (2017)

Author Michael Bond's beloved adventures of a marmalade-slurping, Peruvian bear named after a London train station inspired a popular English animated series in the 1970s. While the character was first adapted for live-action cinema in 2014 with Paul King's well-received film, it is the first sequel, Paddington 2, that especially welcomed the bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) into the hearts of movie lovers of all ages.

The Little Mermaid (2023)

The most famous adaptation of Danish author Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale, The Little Mermaid, is Disney's acclaimed 1989 classic that many audiences thought should be left untouched. However, Halle Bailey's impassioned performance as Ariel and her unbelievable singing talent make director Rob Marshall's live-action take a must-see.

Attack On Titan (2015)

Hajime Isayama's manga depicting a war between humans and giant, man-eating humanoids was made into one of the most popular and acclaimed Japanese anime TV shows of its time, Attack on Titan. Toho would release a two-part feature adaptation that was criticized by fans for the way it deviated from the source material but impressed general film critics with its exciting B-movie-style action and bizarre creature designs.

101 Dalmatians (1996)

Dodie Smith's 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians was first adapted into an instant animated classic in 1961, featuring Betty Lou Gerson as the voice of Cruella de Vil – a villain who seemed too uproarious for a live-action setting. That was until Glenn Close stepped into the role, giving a pitch-perfect performance as the ruthless fashionista in director Steven Herek's fun reboot.

Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019)

When Pokémon: Detective Pikachu was first announced, fans of the trading card game/video game/animated TV show questioned why the franchise's first live-action installment, of all the potential choices, would be based on a game that makes the lightning-spewing creature a talking mystery solver. However, with Ryan Reynolds voicing the adorable title hero, an impressive Justice Smith as his human companion, and a witty script, Rob Letterman's film was heralded as one of the best video game movies ever made.

George Of The Jungle (1997)

A movie you might not have known was based on a TV show is George of the Jungle, which was originally an animated series that ran for only 17 episodes in 1967. Future Academy Award winner Brendan Fraser's performance in the title role would make Disney's hilariously meta live-action feature nearly as iconic as the character it was poking fun at: Tarzan.

Cinderella (2015)

Most audiences would immediately become convinced that Disney really was on to something when it released the live-action version of its animated, 1950 adaptation of the seminal fairytale, Cinderella. Directed by Kenneth Branagh and led by an extraordinary Lily James, the reinterpretation would redefine the titular princess as a strong, independent role model and the story itself as a touching romance worth buying into.

One Piece (2023)

Netflix has released live-action iterations of a few popular anime series and one of the more successful is developers Matt Owens and Steven Maeda's TV show, One Piece. Originally based on a manga by writer and illustrator Eiichiro Oda, the animated series adaptation premiered in 1999 and followed the adventures of a pirate crew searching for mystical treasure.

Scooby-Doo (2002)

There is probably not a single person who disagrees that none of the live-action adaptations of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? have surpassed the beloved Hanna-Barbera cartoon. However, the generation that grew up with the James Gunn-penned reboot, simply titled Scooby-Doo, regards the film as a classic that boasts some spot-on casting for the Mystery Inc. crew, especially Matthew Lillard as Shaggy, even if Scooby's CGI animation is a little dated.

The Flintstones (1994)

Executive producer Steven Spielberg's adaptation of the Hanna-Barbera favorite, The Flintstones, starring John Goodman as Fred and Rick Moranis as Barney Rubble, was not met with the most positive reviews, particularly for its tepid humor and adult-oriented storylines. However, the city of Bedrock reimagined for a live-action setting is truly a wonder to behold.

Office Space (1999)

There are two different types of fans of Mike Judge's filmography: those who love his animated efforts, such as Beavis and Butt-Head, and those who admire his live-action titles, such as Silicon Valley. Well, fans of Office Space might be surprised to learn that their love for the film, technically, makes them a fan of both since the cult-favorite corporate satire is based on a series of short films Judge created called Milton.

Mulan (2020)

Mulan is a modern Disney classic way ahead of its time that some might call a movie that did not need a reboot, especially with the exclusion of its famous musical numbers and the mystical lizard sidekick, Mushu (Eddie Murphy). However, Yifei Liu is wonderful in the title role of a Chinese woman posing as a male imperial soldier to save her father's life and the action is beautifully choreographed.

Speed Racer (2008)

Originally a Japanese manga that became an international pop culture phenomenon as an anime series, Speed Racer was later adapted by Lana and Lily Wachowski into a live-action film starring Emile Hirsch as the ambitious titular driver. The brightly colored, CGI-heavy film was divisive upon release, but has since been widely reevaluated as an underrated cult favorite.

Casper (1995)

Casper made his debut in a series of Paramount-produced animated shorts called The Friendly Ghost before the spirited spirit became an official property of Harvey Comics and went on to star in multiple hit animated series. He would return to cinema in a fun entry-level ghost story, starring Christina Ricci and Bill Pullman, that became the first live-action film to feature a central character who is created entirely with CGI.

Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)

Established Disney favorites Chip and Dale became the stars of their own adventure series, called Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers, in the late 1980s. The anthropomorphic chipmunks would later be voiced by Andy Samberg and John Mulaney in a feature film of the same name that premiered on Disney+ to wide acclaim from both critics and audiences.

Cruella (2021)

Disney had already released two live-action installments to the 101 Dalmatians franchise by the time the company announced director Craig Gillespie's spin-off, Cruella. However, it proved to be a worthy entry thanks to a lead performance by Academy Award winner Emma Stone that would forever change the way audiences saw the typically ruthless villain.

Dora And The Lost City Of Gold (2019)

Nick Jr. introduced a hero who would bring young viewers along with her on her many adventures in the animated series, Dora the Explorer, which originally premiered in 2000. Isabela Merced played a teenage version of the character in the theatrically released live-action feature, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, which also stars Danny Trejo as the voice of her monkey sidekick, Boots.

Looney Tunes: Back In Action (2005)

In 1996, Space Jam brought the real-life basketball champion Michael Jordan into the world of Bugs Bunny and his furry friends. Roughly a decade later, Joe Dante's spiritual sequel Looney Tunes: Back in Action – a globe-trotting espionage adventure with Brendan Fraser, Jenna Elfman, and Steve Martin – would, instead, bring the iconic cartoon characters into our live-action world.

Popeye (1980)

Director Robert Altman could not have picked a better choice than Robin Williams to bring the beloved comic strip character, Popeye, to life in his live-action film, also starring Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl. Williams heavily altered his voice to authentically match the voice of the spinach-chomping sailor, which was originated by voice actor Billy Costello for the character's original animated adaptations.

Christopher Robin (2018)

Author A. A. Milne's world-famous bear, Winnie-the-Pooh, actually made his television debut as a puppet in a live-action 1960 episode of Shirley Temple's Storybook before getting his own beloved animated series later that decade. He and the rest of the animals from the Hundred Acre Wood would return to the medium for Christopher Robin, in which Pooh's human friend (played by Ewan McGregor) grows up to become someone similar to Robin Williams' Peter Banning in Hook.

Ben 10: Race Against Time (2007)

The Cartoon Network original series Ben 10 is about a boy who discovers a device that, when placed on his wrist, can turn him into several different extra-terrestrial species. Two years after it premiered, the channel aired a live-action feature spin-off from director Alex Winter called Ben 10: Race Against Time, starring Graham Phillips in the title role. It was followed by 2009's Ben 10: Alien Swarm, which stars Ryan Kelley as an older Ben.

Aladdin (2019)

One of the most beloved animated movies from Disney's "Renaissance Era" in the '90s is Aladdin, which follows a poor, young Arab man (voiced by Scott Weinger) whose luck begins to change when he befriends a genie (voiced by Robin Williams). Guy Ritchie helmed a live-action retelling starring Mena Massoud in the title role and Naomi Scott as Jasmine, which proved to be a career milestone at the box office for Will Smith, who played Genie.

Madeline (1998)

The first adaptation of Ludwig Bemelmans' Madeline books, which center on a witty, mischievous young girl at a Catholic boarding school in 1950s France, was in a 1960 episode of The Shirley Temple Show. After the books were adapted into a popular animated series in the late '80s and early '90s, a live-action feature was released to theaters, starring Hatty Jones in her debut role as the title character and Oscar winner Frances McDormand as Miss Clavel.

Beauty And The Beast (2017)

Author Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve's "tale as old as time" has been adapted and reinterpreted into countless variations, with few as famous and esteemed as 1991's Beauty and the Beast from Disney. The company would revive the Oscar winner with a live-action feature starring Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the Beast.

Masters Of The Universe (1987)

Some audiences consider the live-action Masters of the Universe film, starring Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor, to be one of the worst movies based on a toy. However, it is a fun cult favorite in the eyes of those who grew up with the tie-in animated series about a prince using his mystical abilities to defend his kingdom.

Mr. Magoo (1997)

Mr. Magoo, an elderly millionaire who often finds himself in uproarious situations due to his extreme near-sightedness, entertained audiences with his animated short films and various iterations of his TV show for decades before Disney adapted the character for live-action. Admittedly, the best reason to check out the film is to watch the great Leslie Nielsen work his comedy magic.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010)

The original Sorcerer's Apprentice was a short film that appeared in Disney's 1940 animated anthology movie, Fantasia, in which Mickey Mouse's character uses his boss' mystical hat to create an army of sentient brooms. Director Jon Turtletaub expands upon the concept and redefines it as a Harry Potter-esque adventure starring Nicolas Cage as a wizard living in modern-day New York City who takes Jay Baruchel's character under his wing.

Dudley Do-Right (1999)

Dudley Do-Right first appeared as a segment on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show in the late 1950s before becoming the star of his own animated series the following decade. Brendan Fraser does his best to do for the heroic Canadian Mountie what he did for George of the Jungle in director Hugh Wilson's live-action feature.

Æon Flux (2005)

Director Karyn Kusama's Charlize Theron-led thriller, Æon Flux, is not a very beloved film by itself. However, seeing the eye-popping, dystopian visuals from the original MTV animated series brought to life for a live-action setting is quite remarkable.

Though zero major holidays are on the horizon, that isn’t stopping retailers and etailers from dropping holiday-esque sales on customers with tax refunds to spend. Anybody with an Amazon Prime subscription can take advantage of the ongoing Big Spring Sale, a broad and expansive variety of deals throughout the site, with lots of goodies for Disney and Marvel fans in the mix. So there’s no better time to shop for physical media faithfuls like myself who love a great Blu-ray or DVD sale.

You can bet that there are plenty of solid offerings to be found while scouring through the site, both popular and obscure. (With the expected smattering of “WTF even is this?” items.) By and large, though, I found the best home entertainment deals from the Big Spring Sale to come from TV Blu-ray and DVD sets for classic and modern favorites, both in live-action and animation.

And when you’re done checking out the below Blu-ray and DVD suggestions and are waiting on impending packages to arrive, take advantage of all the best streaming deals and discounts. To do otherwise would be a disservice to your wallet and your empty shelf space.

The Best TV Blu-Ray And DVD Deals From Amazon's Big Spring Sale

David Lynch will forever be missed, and Twin Peaks will always win out as my favorite of his efforts because not only do we get to enjoy his weirdness en masse, but he's always a delight on-screen as FBI Deputy Director Gordon Cole.

Check out some of the other live-action Blu-ray and DVDs on sale and imagine if each of them was directed by Lynch.

• The Twilight Zone: The Complete Series (1960s) [Blu-ray]: $57.49 (Was $76.99)
• The Twilight Zone: The Complete Series (2019): $19.49 (Was $25.99)
• Seinfeld: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]: $113.90 (Was $149.99)
• Night Court: The Complete Series [DVD]: $58.16 (Was $94.99)
• Yellowstone: The Dutton Legacy Collection (Inc. 1883) Limited Edition Giftset [DVD]: $62.70 (Was $79.19)
• Ted: Season One [DVD]: $17.99 (Was $24.98)
• Dexter: The Complete Series + Dexter: New Blood [Blu-ray]: $47.49 (Was $55.99)
• Family Matters: The Complete Series [DVD]: $44.99 (Was $114.99)
• Arrow: The Complete Series [DVD]: $54.99 (Was $119.99)
• The Expanse Seasons 1-4 [Blu Ray]: $49.99 (Was $89.95)

Check Out These Classic Animated TV Show DVD And Blu-Ray Deals

While waiting to see who James Gunn will cast as the DCU's Dark Knight, relive the magnificence of Batman: The Animated Series with a crispness that kids like me watching tube TVs in the '90s would have lost our minds over. But the true treasure of this Blu-ray set is the new feature-length documentary and all of the commentaries and other behind-the-scenes goodies. Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill are aces.

Speaking of excellent animated Batman shows...

• Batman Beyond: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]: $34.96 (Was $54.99)
• The Looney Tunes Complete Platinum Collection DVD (Volumes 1-3): $12.60 (Was $18.90)
• The Flintstones: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]: $34.99 (Was $84.99)
• The Jetsons; The Complete Series [Blu-ray]: $13.99 (Was $19.86
• Voltron: Defender of the Universe - The Complete Original Series [DVD]: $22.99 (Was $54.97)
• The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends: The Complete Series [DVD]: $21.99 (Was $26.93)
• Scooby-Doo Where Are You!: The Complete Series [DVD]: $14.99 (Was $39.99)
• Top Cat: The Complete Series [DVD]: $9.49 (Was $19.98)
• Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs: The Complete Series [DVD]: $28.99 (Was $69.99)
• She-Ra: Princess of Power - The Complete Original Series [DVD]: $19.97 (Was $54.97)

Check Out These Awesome Movie Box Set Deals!

Just because I favored the TV deals in Amazon's Spring Sale doesn't mean that there aren't more than a few movie deals to take advantage of, especially for family-friendly fare. With Netflix's new Scooby-Doo series in the works, there's no better time to opt in on ghoulish mystery-solving. But don't sleep on that Scary Movie set ahead of that long-awaited sequel currently in the works.

• The Secret Life of Pets: 2-Movie Collection [Blu-ray]: $10.99 (Was $29.98)
• Madagascar: The Ultimate Collection [Blu-ray]: $13.97 (Was $39.98)
• Alfred Hitchcock: The Iconic Film Collection [4K Ultra HD + Digital]: $99.99 (Was $133.30)
• How to Train Your Dragon: 3-Movie Collection [Blu-ray + Digital]: $11.99 (Was $29.98)
• The Running Man [4K UHD w/Digital Copy]: $19.52 (Was $25.99)
• Scary Movie 1-3 Collection [Blu-ray + Digital]: $13.49 (Was $17.99)
• Kung Fu Panda: 4-Movie Collection [Blu-ray + Digital]: $27.49 (Was $33.21)
• Despicable Me 4-Movie Collection [Blu-ray + Digital]: $29.99 (Was $54.99)
• Fantastic Beasts 3-Film Collection [Blu-ray]: $12.99 (Was $21.67)
• Shutter Island [4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital]: $16.99 (Was $25.99)
• A Quiet Place 2-Movie Collection [4K UHD]: $23.49 (Was $33.99)

With all the various IPs in the world, it’s somewhat surprising that Hollywood can’t go more than a few years without attempting to bring Scooby-Doo and his sleuthing compadres back to audiences in one form or another. The most recent large-scale projects have been 2020’s animated feature Scoob! And Mindy Kaling’s adult-skewing animated comedy Velma, which was canceled after two seasons on Max, and didn’t actually feature the talking Great Dane. Now it’s rapparently Retflix’s rurn.Errr, it’s Netflix’s turn.

The streaming giant has surprisingly confirmed an eight-episode series order for a live-action ghost-hunting, mystery-solving adventure centering on Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne and Velma, though it sounds like it’ll take place before Mystery Inc. fully forms. Let’s take a look at some of the early details revealed by Deadline so far before I allow my excitement to ferment into worry.

• The untitled Scooby-Doo series will be an origin story for how Mystery Inc.'s members first became friends and partnered up on solving a spooky case.
• The early synopsis: "During their final summer at camp, old friends Shaggy and Daphne get embroiled in a haunting mystery surrounding a lonely lost Great Dane puppy that may have been a witness to a supernatural murder. Together with the pragmatic and scientific townie, Velma, and the strange, but ever so handsome new kid, Freddy, they set out to solve the case that is pulling each of them into a creepy nightmare that threatens to expose all of their secrets."
• The live-action series is being developed and written by Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg, who have worked on such live-action adaptations as Neflix's Cowboy Bebop, the two TMNT films, and more, with G.I. Joe: Ever Vigilant as one of their other future projects.

As a lifelong fans of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? and its myriad follow-ups, I am inherently pumped about this new project, and I think there's a lot of ways that a live-action Mystery Inc. show could work amazingly well. But there's just one issue...

No Future Shaggy Actor Will Ever Top Matthew Lillard, Live-Action Or Otherwise

Though one's mileage will no doubt vary when it comes to how successful the live-action Scooby-Doo and its Monsters Unleashed sequel were, it's impossible to deny how excellent Matthew Lillard is at personifying the semi-stoner goofball Shaggy in both James Gunn films. I definitely adore Linda Cardellini's Velma as well, and feel that Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar were solid as Fred and Daphne.

But it doesn't get better than Lillard, and he went on to continue excelling in that role over the following DECADES in a slew of animated TV shows, video games, straight-to-DVD movies and beyond. He even popped up as Shaggy in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Mad, Lego Dimensions, Robot Chicken, Jellystone and more. In a post-Casey Kasem world, Matthew Lillard IS Shaggy.

And unless this show somehow works some Wet Hot American Summer: First Day Of Camp magic where Lillard and other actors play younger roles without even trying to explain it away with logic, this new Netflix series means that someone else is going to step into the role, and with all the odds immediately stacked against them.

That said, here's hoping Netflix hires Matthew Lillard as some kind of consultant for the new show so that he can at least school the new Shaggy actor in how to do it right.

The news about a new live-action Scooby-Doo show is all the more surprising after everything that’s gone on in recent years at Warner Bros. and Max in relation to animated franchises and projects. For one, the semi-sequel Scoob! Holiday Haunt was canceled outright alongside Batgirl after nearly the entire movie had been completed, solely so its studio could write off the costs. More recently, WB woes have been tied to the Looney Tunes franchise, which has been all but eradicated from Max nearly two years after the live-action hybrid feature Coyote Vs. Acme was scrapped.

Here's hoping for the best when it comes to casting for this show, and that there are plenty of Scooby Snacks for those of us who are nervous about hearing any of it. In the meantime, there are plenty of mysterious and spooky shows on the 2025 TV schedule to keep everyone busy.

Matthew Lillard knows a thing or two about surviving some of the best horror movies. After all, he played one of Scream’s most iconic killers, and he’s set to return for the upcoming Scream VII. But what if Ghostface came for another one of his classic characters? According to Lillard, Scooby-Doo’s Shaggy wouldn’t just survive one of the iconic slasher movies; he’d be the first one out of there. And, honestly, his reasoning is solid.

It was at MegaCon 2025 that the beloved Scooby-Doo actor shared his hilarious take on how Shaggy Rogers would handle being hunted by Ghostface. While many scary movie victims make the mistake of sticking around when things start going south, the Five Nights at Freddy’s actor argues that Shaggy’s instinct for self-preservation would kick in immediately. In the words of the actor (via People), Scooby’s best mate wouldn’t be an easy target:

Honestly, he’s not wrong. Unlike most horror movie protagonists who make bafflingly bad decisions (splitting up, investigating noises, running upstairs instead of out the door), Shaggy would immediately nope out of the situation. And let’s be real—his track record for escaping monsters speaks for itself.

For decades, Scooby-Doo has given us some of the best animated mysteries and, if there’s one thing we’ve learned about Shaggy, it’s that he has an almost supernatural ability to escape danger, and old men in masks pretending to be ghosts. Shag and Scoob have a survival rate that the best horror characters could only dream of.

Even though the Mystery Inc. gang usually unmasks villains instead of facing supernatural killers, Matthew Lillard’s argument holds up. Shaggy would absolutely do what horror movie characters rarely do—run and never look back.

The beloved Hanna-Barbera cartoon has had its share of crazy cartoon crossovers. Still, it’s unlikely we’ll ever get a Scream/Scooby-Doo mashup, as fun as it is to imagine how the "meddling kids" would handle Ghostface. Given the SLC Punk! alum’s take, Shaggy would be long gone before things got too dangerous—though, knowing Scooby-Doo’s history, he’d probably end up accidentally catching the killer in the end.

The Michigan-born performer, now 55, is set to reprise his role as Stu Macher in some form for Scream 7, as the movie is bringing back a ton of legacy characters. It's great to see him still having fun with both of his most famous characters. Whether he’s playing a villain in the classic horror movie franchise or a beloved cartoon icon, one thing’s clear: Lillard will always be a fan favorite.

You can revisit Matthew Lillard in the original Scream trilogy, which is streamable on Max. As for the next installment, it's set to hit theaters on February 27, 2026. Until then, check out our 2025 release schedule to see what other upcoming horror movies are releasing soon.

Some of the best TV characters are the ones that drive us crazy. Whether it's because they are villains, or simply just because they are obnoxious, we can't wait to see what they do next. Here is our list of all the characters we just love to hate.

Brenda Walsh - Beverly Hills, 90210

Brandon and Brenda Walsh may have been twins on Beverly Hills, 90210, but really, they couldn't have been any more different. Brandon was seemingly loved by everyone, including the audience, while Brenda was the ultimate teenage villain. It probably didn't help that the late Shannen Doherty was also controversial behind the scenes of the show, eventually leaving after Season 4.

Sheldon Cooper - The Big Bang Theory

Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) on The Big Bang Theory was an incredibly funny character. He was also an incredibly annoying and obnoxious character that fans of the show just loved to hate. He was laughed at and with through the show and was so popular (and despised), that the character got his own spinoff, Young Sheldon.

Cersei Lannister - Game Of Thrones

Without a doubt, Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) in Game of Thrones is one of the greatest TV villains of all time. She was universally hated by fans, which is the biggest compliment you can give Headey as the one portraying her. She was so hated that even her death by getting crushed by thousands of pounds of rocks wasn't satisfying enough to fans of the show.

J.R. Ewing - Dallas

"Who shot J.R.?" is arguably the best TV cliffhanger of all time. It wasn't just that fans wanted to know who shot him, but if he survived the shooting. Plenty of people would have been satisfied had the villain on Dallas not made it. Of course, he did make it, and he was only more hated for it - in the best way.

Rebecca - Cheers

Kirstie Alley, who played Rebecca on Cheers walked into a pretty difficult assignment when she joined the show in Season 6. She was essentially replacing another character fans loved to hate, Diane, played by Shelly Long. Still, both the actress and the character slipped right into the sometimes villain, sometimes friend role and fans loved to hate her for it.

Dennis Reynolds - It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

The gang in It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia are all pretty terrible people. It's why we watch them, to see just how awful they can be. There is little redeeming about any of them, but the worst has to be Dennis Reynolds (Glenn Howerton). There's no way anyone would ever be friends with a person like that, and that's why we love him... and hate him.

Dr. Robert Romano - ER

Dr. Robert "Rocket" Romano was one of the great TV villains of the 1990s in ER. He was brash, obnoxious, demanding, and mean. Audiences really hated him on a level that few TV villains are. It was a visceral hatred. That made his ridiculous death all the more satisfying, even though it was pretty over-the-top and somewhat silly.

Gemma Morrow - Sons Of Anarchy

Katey Sagal's portrayal of Gemma Morrow in Sons Of Anarchy was one of the highlights of the whole show. She was wonderful throughout the whole thing. And her character was simply a terrible, self-centered, shockingly sociopathic person. She was great.

Sue Sylvester - Glee

Even shows like Glee can have the most epic villains that audiences can't get enough of. Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) fits the bill better than most on this list, too. She's brilliantly funny and shockingly mean all at the same time.

Dwight Schrute - The Office

Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) is the kind of work frenemy we all are grateful we don't have to deal with. He is obnoxious and overbearing and just simply annoying. Worse, he can be destructive. Of course, that only makes us love him more as a character. We may root for Jim, but secretly, we want to see what Dwight says next.

The Governor - The Walking Dead

Over its 11 seasons, there were a lot of great villains on The Walking Dead and while Negan may be the most notorious, he was pretty much just hated in every way (at least until the end). The Governor (David Morrissey) in Seasons 3 and 4 was the first villain we all truly loved to hate.

Livia Soprano - The Sopranos

Livia Soprano, played by the late Nancy Marchand on The Sopranos, was the worst mother imaginable. The way she dealt with her kids, and the rest of the world, was simply despicable. Had it not been for Marchand's untimely death after Season 3, who knows just how much more she would have been hated by fans of the show. One thing is for sure though, we all loved the late Marchand for her work as Livia.

Gus Fring - Breaking Bad

There aren't a lot of heroes in Breaking Bad. At best Walter White is an anti-hero. Gus Fring, however, is a truly great villain. Giancarlo Esposito's portrayal of Walter's rival is unparalleled in TV history. Fans simply could not get enough of the villain and he'll long be remembered as one of the best parts of one of the most rewatchable shows of all time.

The Entire Roy Family - Succession

When it comes to the HBO hit Succession, it's impossible to pick the worst member of the Roy family. They are all so terrible, and seemingly in competition with each other as to who can worse, that we just have to nominate them all for this list. They are all just awful.

Homelander - The Boys

Of all the shows on streaming, there may not be a bigger concentration of terrible people than the characters on The Boys. There are only one or two redeemable characters on the whole show, and the worst are all completely awful. At the top of the list of characters we love to hate though, is Homelander. How could it not be?

Francis Underwood - House Of Cards

Even setting aside the camera controversies of Kevin Spacey, Frank Underwood on House Of Cards was a shockingly terrible person. His quest for power was unrivaled in television history and his willingness to do anything, including commit murders, made him so easy to hate. Yet we couldn't stop watching, could we?

Joffrey Baratheon - Game Of Thrones

Joffrey Baratheon on Game Of Thrones was such a hated character that a rumor once started that it actually affected actor Jack Gleeson's career negatively (it didn't). That not only says something about the character and how much we loved to hate him, but it also says something great about Gleeson who played the evil tyrant so well, that some people can't separate the actor from the character.

Louie De Palma - Taxi

Danny DeVito may be most famous today for playing another terrible person, Frank on It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, but he got his big break in television playing the awful Louie De Palma on the classic '70s sitcom Taxi. Louie was the worst kind of tyrant boss.

Steve Urkel - Family Matters

Steve Urkel, played by Jaleel White, is hated for a very different reason than many on this list. He's just the most annoying TV character ever created. Fans who loved Family Matters also loved how obnoxious he was. People who weren't fans of the show just found him unbearable. A tribute to White's portrayal of the annoying neighbor.

Mr. Burns - The Simpsons

If there is one character on The Simpsons who does his best to be purely evil, it's C. Montgomery Burns. This is a guy who even tried to block out the sun from shining on Springfield. Of course, on any list of the best Simpsons characters, he'd be near the top, too.

Sawyer - Lost

Make no mistake that by the end of Lost, Sawyer (Josh Holloway) would become a hero. It takes him a long time to get there and in the early seasons, he's a pretty terrible person. That doesn't stop us from laughing at the creative nicknames he comes with or some of the snarky lines he has.

Eric Cartman - South Park

Eric Cartman is the worst kid in South Park. He's also the funniest character on the show (except for maybe Randy). Just about everything Cartman does is awful. He's one of the most self-serving and selfish people on TV, ever, yet, we can't stop coming back for more. We can't wait to see what obnoxious thing he will do next.

Ross Geller - Friends

Even the most die-hard Friends fan will admit that Ross Geller is a pretty awful person. Actor David Schwimmer was so good as Ross that it's hard to separate him from the character and that's too bad because Schwimmer seems like a great guy, while Ross is usually very much the opposite. It makes the "great" love story between him and Rachael (Jennifer Aniston) all the more confusing for fans.

Screetch - Saved By The Bell

The late Dustin Diamond played one of the most annoying nerds ever on Saved By The Bell. Screetch did basically nothing right and why anyone ever stayed friends with him is a complete mystery. Still, he was one of the reasons - if not the main reason - we laughed so hard at the show.

Sylar - Heroes

NBC's Heroes started off so strong before it sadly faded almost as quickly as it came out of the gate. However, throughout the show's short run, the one consistently great character was the one we all hated the most, the villain Sylar (Zachary Quinto).

Frank Burns - MASH

Everyone loved Hawkeye, Trapper John, and BJ Honeycutt on MASH. Everyone equally hated Major Frank Burns (Larry Linville) who did everything he could to ruin everyone else's fun. It made it a critical character in the early seasons of the show, and his replacement after Linville left the show, Charles Winchester (David Ogden Stiers) was equally loved and hated.

Glenn Quagmire - The Family Guy

Quagmire on The Family Guy is just a horrible, horrible person. He's obnoxious and gross. Why the rest of the gang stays friends with just a terrible person is a mystery, though it might be because his awfulness makes him completely hilarious. That must be the reason, actually. It's a character we simply love for being so gross.

Gob Bluth - Arrested Development

Gob Bluth, played by Will Arnett, is the funniest character on Arrested Development. The screwup son and magician is also just awful in every way. He's selfish, rude, and honestly, not very smart. He's also occasionally racist. But again - he's the funniest character on the show and it's not because fans are laughing with him, they are laughing at him. Will Arnett deserves all the praise for that too, because it's not easy to be both.

Scrappy Doo - Scooby Doo, Where Are You?

Scrappy Doo is just the worst. We don't love to hate him because he's a great character, like so many others on this list. No, we love to hate because everything about the character, from his introduction to everything he does just sucks. We love to be angry at him, for real.

Janice Soprano - The Sopranos

There are a lot of characters with awful motivations in The Sopranos and among the worst of those is Tony's sister Janice Soprano. Aida Turturro plays the unlikable character so well that there is really very little redeeming about her. There are moments when we feel sorry for her, sure. She goes through some terrible stuff, but none of it makes her actually likable. In fact, anytime we start to like her, she does something to remind us how much we hate her.

Ben Linus - Lost

Ben Linus, played by the great Michael Emerson, on Lost, is a bit of an enigma. There are times when we almost start to like him, or at least feel empathy towards him, but inevitably he ruins that pretty quickly and fans are reminded that he's not a likable person, like, at all.

Georgina Sparks - Gossip Girl

Georgina Sparks (Michelle Trachtenberg) is the classic high-society mean girl in Gossip Girl. She is so unlikable for her manipulative ways and awful attitude that fans can't wait for her to do something that they can be mad about. The perfect kind of villain.

Celebrities went all in on Spooky Season, which culminated with Halloween. Hailey Bieber’s Kim Possible costume screamed “Call me, beep me if you want to reach me,” while Janelle Monáe looked out of this world as E.T. and Elliot. Also, Lupita Nyong’o blew fans away as Storm. As part of the latest costume reveals, Chloe and Halle Bailey joined Mystery Inc. as Daphne and Velma from Scooby Doo!, and they really need to play the characters ASAP.

Music duo Chloe X Halle have done a great glamming it up for past Halloweens. As part of this year’s batch of celebrity Halloween costumes, Chloe Bailey was Jessica Rabbit, slaying it in that sparkly red dress and those purple gloves. Meanwhile, Halle Bailey also brought her fashion talents this year by wearing Halle Berry's conic orange James Bond bikini. But, together, the sister were total standouts by channeling the Mystery Inc. duo, and you can see their fits in the Instagram post below:

As you can see, Chloe and Halle Bailey brought a modern twist to the stars of some of the greatest Saturday Morning cartoons characters. Honestly, they make me wish I had these costumes in my closet. Halle dressed as Daphne, wearing that orange wig and the character’s signature purple dress and green scarf. Chloe, meanwhile, was just as stylish, bringing chicness to the brainy character via her orange turtleneck with an open chest cutout and bright red short skirt. If a new live-action Doo production does happen, I’m advocating for these same vintage/modern twist costumes to be part of their characters’ ensemble.

Daphne and Velma were the ultimate duo in the Scooby Doo TV series and movies. They proved that despite being different from each other, they brought their own contributions towards solving mysteries. I would love to see these two get into the Mystery Machine in a new production. Back in 2018, Velma and Daphne did headline a DTV movie, which was praised for its female empowerment.

The Bailey Sisters have proven many times that they have a bond that rivals the strength of Velma and Daphne's. Chloe Bailey shared a sweet moment with her younger sister on The Little Mermaid red carpet, and Halle returned the favor by praising her older sister’s new music. Halle also credited the “Have Mercy” singer for helping her through her Color Purple role, which required her to portray a genuine sibling relationship.

Following their Halloween fits, I don't see how someone can't at least consider the notion of casting Chloe X Halle as the young sleuths. I really hope Warner Bros. is taking notes, especially since these photos are gaining so much positive buzz on social media.

While you wait for something to possibly come to fruition, keep an eye on the list 2025 movie releases in case Halle and Chloe Bailey end up with projects dated for that schedule. Also, fans can check out the best Scooby-Doo movies.

It’s not uncommon for the first movie of a franchise to be followed by something that is considered not as good as the original. Sometimes the magic gets lost, or the writing is weaker than the original, regardless of the case it’s why fans are often weary of sequels. Actors like Matthew Lillard expect the continuation of a success will further their career, and when the sequel flops there is fear that their career is now at its end.

The live action 2002 film Scooby Doo is considered a cult classic by a lot of fans of the mystery crew. Following its success a second movie, Monsters Unleashed was announced. In an interview with Business Insider, Matthew Lillard talked about what Monsters Unleashed would do for his career. The Scream star stated:

Lillard spoke about how during this time he was still very susceptible to the opinions of the audience. He was looking for validation in a way that he could be seen as a good and famous actor, so when Monsters Unleashed flopped and offers dried up, Lillard found himself facing some difficult choices.

He reminisced on the pathway his career is going and could go. When talking about the given offer to be on Dancing With the Stars, Lillard spoke about his feelings regarding it:

He made a full reset of his life and career, returning to more humble roots while trying to take a new life for himself. As we know his career continued onwards, Lillard going on to play William Afton in the Five Nights at Freddy's live action movie from Blumhouse.

His discography is varied, the Scream star bouncing around between different roles. When looking back on the entirety of his career, Lillard describes it as such:

Lilliard wasn't asked to do the animated movie Scoob! which he found disappointing. Currently Lillard is filming the sequel for the Five Nights at Freddys, returning as his titular role of William Afton. He described joining the first movie as “a leap of faith”, and the second is probably just as big a leap. It's set to release in December 2025.

As we get closer to Five Nights at Freddy's 2, if you're looking for ways to watch the live action Scooby Doo movies as well as any other of the animated movies, we've got you covered.

There are few novelties within the media landscape that can be more enjoyable than good crossovers. For years now, creatives have found intriguing ways to cross-pollinate properties. Said events are especially common when it comes to TV shows, and viewers have certainly been treated to some entertaining productions involving multiple series mixing it up. On that note, we’re going to talk about 32 particularly excellent small-screen mashups. 

Batman/The Green Hornet

The 1960s series Batman and The Green Hornet linked up in a few small ways during their runs, but their most prominent crossover occurred during a two-part episode of the former show. “A Piece of the Action” and “Batman’s Satisfaction” saw Gotham’s protectors forge an uneasy alliance with the Hornet and Kato, and the result was a truly action-packed hour of pulpy goodness.

Full House/Family Matters

Remember the time Family Matters’ Steve Urkel appeared on Full House? In Season 4’s “Stephanie Gets Framed,” the Urk Man traveled from Chicago to San Francisco for a science fair and ended up giving Stephanie Tanner advice regarding her new glasses. The result was a relatively sweet installment, which built a solid bridge between two of ABC’s best TGIF comedies.

The Jetsons/The Flintstones

The respective casts of Hanna-Barbera’s prehistoric and futuristic animated sitcoms finally came together in the 1987 TV movie The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones. During the special, the two groups walked a mile in each other’s shoes via time travel, and the result was a fun piece of work that could make you yell Yabba Dabba Doo!

The Beverly Hillbillies/Petticoat Junction/Green Acres

It’s no secret that CBS’ The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction and Green Acres are all set within the same fictional universe. All three shows crossed over multiple times, but the sweetest example was arguably the Hillbillies Season 7 episode “The Thanksgiving Spirit,” in which the casts of the three comedies warmly shared a meal together.

St. Elsewhere/Cheers

Both Cheers and St. Elsewhere are set in Boston, so it was only fitting that a connection was built between the two NBC shows. The crossover occurred during Season 3 of the medical drama, when several doctors visited the titular pub from one of the best sitcoms of all time. Come for the intrigue of the mashup, and stay for Rhea Perlman’s Carla Tortelli chewing out a group of medical professionals.

Diff’rent Strokes/Hello, Larry

Honestly, Hello, Larry wasn’t all that interesting on its own, but its three two-part crossovers with fellow NBC sitcom Diff’rent Strokes were solid. The final meetup between the two casts, “Thanksgiving Crossover,” was particularly enjoyable and highlighted character dynamics in fun ways.

Boy Meets World/Sabrina The Teenage Witch

Fan-favorite Sabrina the Teenage Witch star Melissa Joan Hart briefly appeared as her eponymous character during the closing tag for the Boy Meets World Season 5 episode, “The Witches of Pennbrook.” Her appearance may not be considered canon now, but it was certainly cool to see at the time. 

Scooby-Doo/Josie And The Pussycats

Throughout the two-season run of The New Scooby-Doo Movies, Mystery Inc. ran into a number of notable people – both real and fictional. It was only fitting that the sleuths met up with their fellow Hanna-Barbera-birthed peers from Josie and the Pussycats. The two gangs teamed up to solve a mystery in “The Haunted Showboat,” resulting in a fun romp.

NCIS/NCIS: Los Angeles/NCIS: Hawai’i

In early 2023, NCIS’ first triple crossover debuted, bringing together characters from the mothership show as well as the Los Angeles and Hawai’i spinoffs. The shows’ respective teams joined forces to investigate the apparent suicide of a retired military official. It can be said that this Avengers-style event was well worth the wait.

Happy Days/Laverne & Shirley

Within the fictional TV universe co-created by producer Garry Marshall, Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley cross-pollinated multiple times. One of the most notable instances of that was with the two-part crossover “Shotgun Wedding,” in which Shirley and Laverne became engaged to Richie Cunningham and the Fonz to save them from arranged marriages.

The Mask: Animated Series/Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

Both Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Mask: Animated Series were adapted from Jim Carrey movies, so it was only right that they both crossover. The two-part event – which was spread across both shows – was a truly wild romp that involved brain-switching shenanigans, a trip to space and more.

Friends/Mad About You

Amid all the truly strong and ridiculous Friends episodes, is the memorable two-parter, “The One with Two Parts.” The installments see Joey Tribbiani falling for Phoebe Buffay’s twin sister, Ursula, from Mad About You. The fun episodes also featured cheeky cameos from Helen Hunt and Leila Kenzle, who appeared as their MAU characters.

The Golden Girls/Empty Nest/Nurses

Three-show crossovers can be tricky, but NBC pulled off a fun one in 1991 with The Golden Girls, Empty Nest and Nurses. “Hurricane Saturday” saw the characters of the Florida-based sitcoms weathering a massive storm and humorously crossing paths as they did so.

The King Of Queens/Everybody Loves Raymond

Due to a retroactive bridge being retroactively built between them, Everybody Loves Raymond and The King of Queens crossed over multiple times throughout their runs. One of the best of those, however, is the first crossover, which occurred in the Queens Season 1 episode “Road Rayge.” It’s a funny episode that sees Doug Hefferman and Ray Barone striking up a friendship after meeting at the DMV.

Power Rangers In Space/Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation

Power in Space’s “Shell Shocked” marked the realization of a Saturday morning dream, as it saw the rangers team up with the heroes in a half shell. These iterations of the amphibious martial arts masters hailed from Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation (a show that shouldn’t have been canceled after one season). The Turtles were mind-controlled by the Rangers’ nemesis, Astronema, who uses them to take over the power team’s Megaship.

The Office (U.S.)/The Office (U.K.)

Both iterations of The Office collided when Ricky Gervais’ David Brent popped up on a Season 7 episode of the U.S. series. During that installment, he and his American counterpart, Michael Scott (Steve Carell), ran into each other. I don’t know what’s funnier: the two abrasive bosses getting along so well or Michael awkwardly telling David that Dunder Mifflin wasn’t hiring.

Supergirl/The Flash

The Arrowverse showcased a number of great team-ups over the years, but the first was a fun crossover between The Flash and Supergirl, in which the titular hero of the former show found himself in Kara Danvers’ universe. As fun as the Supes Season 1 episode is, what’s even more amazing is that this event happened before the Melissa Benoist-led show moved from CBS to The CW to join its slate of DCTV fare.

Sister, Sister/Smart Guy

Fellow shows on The WB, fan-favorite Sister, Sister and Smart Guy seemed like the right fit for a crossover, with the former sitcom hosting it. The episode saw 10-year-old prodigy T.J. Henderson being recruited to tutor twins Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell for their SATs. T.J. ultimately employed some unconventional – but effective – methods to get the job done.

The Fairly Oddparents/Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius

Few cartoon crossovers can match the greatness of the three-hour-long crossovers between Nickelodeon’s The Fairly Oddparents and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. Known as The Jimmy/Timmy Power Hour, the episodes saw Neutron and Timmy Turner coming into interdimensional conflict on multiple occasions. Even today, seeing characters from two of the best Nick shows of the 2000s is downright delightful.

New Girl/Brooklyn Nine-Nine

I’m not sure anyone could’ve predicted that a crossover between New Girl and Brooklyn Nine-Nine would happen, but that’s exactly what fans were treated to in 2016. This was a two-part event spread across both comedies, and it was certainly fun to see Andy Samberg’s Jake Peralta, Zooey Deschanel’s Jessica Day and more mix it up.

Luke Cage/Iron Fist

After much demand from the fans, Netflix’s Luke Cage featured a true superhero tag team between the show’s eponymous character and Danny Rand of Iron Fist. While reception to the latter show and its protagonist had been relatively underwhelming, fans loved what was done with Rand on Cage. All in all, it was a team-up worthy of the Heroes for Hire legacy.

The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air/In The House

One crossover that I’d argue is rarely talked about is the one that took place between The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and In The House. ITH’s “Dog Catchers” saw Alfonso Riberio guest star as Carlton Banks and Tatyana Ali as Ashley Banks. The story involved Carlton (inadvertently) alerting Marion Hill (LL Cool J) to the fact that friend Tiffany Warren’s (Maia Campbell) new boyfriend was two-timing her with Ashley.

The Simpsons/Futurama

“Simpsorama,” a Season 26 episode of The Simpsons, finally brought Springfield’s famous family into contact with the cast of Futurama. The Planet Express crew made their way to the present to prevent Homer and co. from causing a dire situation in the future. The crossover not only employed the kind of gags specific to both Matt Groening-produced shows but preserved the heart as well.

Scandal/How To Get Away With Murder

Kerry Washington’s Olivia Pope and Viola Davis’ Annalise Keating finally met each other when Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder crossed over. The 2018 multi-episode arc saw the crisis manager and defense attorney join forces to collaborate on a class action case. Both actresses brought their A-game for what proved to be a truly emotional story, with some poignant social commentary.

Supernatural/Scooby-Doo

I’m not sure many people envisioned Supernatural bringing in the Scooby-Doo characters upon the announcement of a crossover in 2017. However, the episode, “Scoobynatural,” ultimately received high praise from critics and fans alike. Seriously, the sight of Sam and Dean Winchester aiding Mystery Inc. in a case (set against the backdrop of one of the animated franchise’s classic episodes) was so much fun.

The X-Files/Cops

Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like if The X-Files’ Mulder and Scully’s off-kilter adventures were ever presented in a format similar to Cops’? Well, look no further than the Season 7 episode “X-Cops,” as it put the two in such a situation. The idea may have sounded wild at the time, but it proved to be highly entertaining TV.

Archer/Bob’s Burgers

It’s rare that a crossover gets wilder than the one between Bob’s Burgers and Archer, which occurred in the later show. "Fugue and Riffs" featured an amnesiac Sterling Archer waking up to discover that he’s the head of the Belcher family from Bob’s. That episode was certainly fun, especially considering that H. Jon Benjamin voiced both Archer and Bob regularly anyways.

That’s So Raven/The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody/Hannah Montana

Disney Channel gifted children of the 2000s with a real treat when the three-way TV event That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana. It brought together the casts of the hit shows That’s So Raven, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Hannah Montana for a madcap meetup that’s still beloved today.

Doctor Who/Torchwood/The Sarah Jane Adventures

Series 4 of Doctor Who ended on a high note with a two-part finale that brought the eponymous Time Lord and his allies together with characters from two spinoff series, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. Not only did the Who writers manage to provide plenty of crossover craziness, but they also wrapped up a number of pivotal story arcs in the process.

Generator Rex/Ben 10

It’s not often that two awesome do-gooders link up on the small screen, and Ben 10/Generator Rex: Heroes United offered a shining example of that. While it was great to see the two eponymous characters ultimately team up, it was also cool to see them come to blows upon first making contact.

Bones/Sleepy Hollow

The notion of the cast of Sleepy Hollow and Bones coming together for a two-part story sounds weird on paper, and that’s because it is. Nevertheless, it was intriguing to watch Special Agents Seeley Booth and Temperance “Bones” Brennan team up with FBI Agent Abbie Mills and Ichabod Crane to investigate a decades-old corpse on Halloween.

Arrow/The Flash/Supergirl/Batwoman/Legends Of Tomorrow

The producers behind “Crisis on Infinite Earths” did the impossible by uniting the casts of not two, three or four Arrowverse shows but all five series that were on the air at that time. What was even more impressive was that in addition to Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow and Batgirl being involved, Black Lightning’s eponymous hero was also in the mix. You’d be hard-pressed to find a small-screen crossover as massive as this one was.

For gearheads, cars and other vehicles are the real stars of some movies. Whether it's sweet vintage cars like those seen in movies like Dazed and Confused or highly customized one-offs like K.I.T.T. on Knight Rider, cars play a huge role in Hollywood history. 

K.I.T.T.

If you grew up in the '80s, you know what one car we have to include here. The talking supercomputer/Trans-Am driven by Michael Knight (David Hasselhoff) known simply as K.I.T.T. The "Knight Industries Two Thousand" car, voiced originally by William Daniels could do just about anything, and it's one of the few examples where the car truly was the star of a show. 

James Bond's DB5

Without question one of the most iconic cars in film history is the ultra-cool Aston Martin DB5 driven by James Bond. Audiences first saw the car in Goldfinger in 1964 and it has since appeared in Thunderball, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, Casino Royale, Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time To Die. You simply can't separate the spy from his sportscar and while there are other very cool cars in other Bond flicks, the DB5 reigns supreme. 

Starsky And Hutch's Gran Torino

Nothing epitomizes '70s cool like the 1976 Ford Gran Torino driven by the police partners in Starsky and Hutch. There's nothing super special about it, it doesn't have machine guns or ejection seats, it's just cool. Fans of the show in the '70s argued over who they wanted to be, Starsky or Hutch, but everyone agreed they wanted to drive the Gran Torino. 

Ecto-1

Before the modifications made by the Ghostbusters, the 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Sentinel that became "Ecto-1" was pretty darn cool. After the modifications in the first Ghostbusters, it became the envy of kids all over the world. From the great siren to the logo on the side, to the ghost storage unit in the back, this is one cool station wagon. 

Batmobile

It's impossible to pick the coolest Batmobile. Throughout the years, every version of Batman has had his own version of the iconic car, and all of them are cool in their own way. Still, it's hard not to highlight the modified '59 Cadillac from the 1960s TV show. It's first among equals. 

Mr. Frye's Ferrari California

The 1961 Ferrari 250GT California. Less than a hundred were made, as Cameron (Alan Ruck) explains in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which might just be the coolest car in the world, on screen or off. While the cars in the movie were actually all replicas, it still has to be included here. Real 1961 Ferrari 250GT California Spyder's are insanely expensive too. One of the most famous has been owned by Hollywood star James Coburn and Former Top Gear host Chris Evans and is thought to be one of the most valuable cars in the world. 

Magnum's Ferrari 308 GTSi

Thomas Magnum is one of the coolest TV characters in history, so it makes sense that the star of Magnum, P.I., played by Tom Selleck, would drive a really cool car. "Robin 1" as it was known (named after the license plate), Magnum's Ferrari 308 was actually a few different 308s over the 8-year run of the show, but they were all super cool. 

The Mystery Machine

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! debuted in 1969, and in a fitting tribute to the era, the Scooby gang roamed around the country in a van painted in psychedelic colors, just like many of the hippies of the era. It's vaguely reminiscent of a VW Bus, of course, but The Mystery Machine is something all its own. 

Eleanor 

While "Eleanor" from Gone In 60 Seconds isn't a factory-perfect 1967 Mustang Shelby GT500, as it's portrayed in the movie, it's still one of the coolest cars ever, both in the movie and in real life. The car used in the movie was modified for filming, but that doesn't make it less awesome. 

The Bandit's Trans-Am

If you're going to bootleg stolen beer across state lines, you're going to need a fast car. The Bandit's Trans-Am in Smokey In The Bandit is maybe the most iconic car in movie history. Not only was it the first Trans-Am, but it's still the version you'd want to buy, a black T-top with a gold eagle. Admit it, you want one. 

Dom's Dodge Charger

If we're honest here, we could populate this entire list with nothing but cars from the Fast franchise. Instead, we've chosen one – Dom's black 1970 Dodge Charger – to represent the entire series. It's the muscliest muscle car that ever muscled with the beefy supercharger poking through the hood and equipped with a nitrous system, and it'll blow away anything else off the line. 

The Bluesmobile

The Bluesmobile, driven by the Blues brothers in the movie of the same name, might not look like much, but, as Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) says, "It's got a cop motor... cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks..." so it goes hard. You'll need to fix the lighter, though. 

Frank Bullitt's '68 Mustang

You simply can't talk about cool cars and Hollywood without talking about the late Steve McQueen. The actor was almost as famous for his love of cars as he was for his movies. Of course, at the top of the list of cars he drove in movies is the '68 Mustang he tears around San Francisco in in Bullitt. 

Pickford's Pontiac GTO

Dazed and Confused is chock full of amazing '70s cars, so we need to pick just one to represent them all. Wooderson's  (Matthew McConaughey) Chevy Chevelle SS might be the obvious pick here, but there isn't anything cooler than the opening notes of "Sweet Emotion" at the beginning of the movie as audiences see Pickford's (Shawn Andrews) 1970 Pontiac GTO cruising around the parking lot. 

The A-Team Van

Not every cool vehicle on TV is a car, either. Any child of the '80s will tell you they grew up dreaming about riding around in the black, grey, and red van that belonged to the crew of military misfits in The A-Team. While stock GMC Vandura's may not be all that cool, the paint job and other modifications make the A-Team's van special. 

Sonny Crockett's Ferrari Testarossa

Miami Vice was a show that could've filled up this list all by itself with all the cool cars that appeared, but none were more iconic than the Ferraris driven by Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson). We've included the Testarossa he drove in the latter seasons, not because it's cooler than the Daytona he drove early on, but because the Testarossas were actual Ferraris, whereas the Daytona was a replica built for the show and was actually a Corvette made to look like a Ferrari Daytona.  

The Bad Boys' Porsche 964

In the original Bad Boys, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence had the pleasure of driving a very cool Porsche 964. The sports car was actually owned by director Michael Bay, and eventually sold (after Bay sold it years ago) for over a million dollars. It's easy to understand why, as the Bad Boy franchise has only gotten more and more popular over the years. 

John Wick's Mustang

The beginning of the first John Wick is rough for the titular character, played by Keanu Reeves. He loses his wife, then the dog she gifted him before her death is murdered. He also has his wicked car, a '68 Mustang, stolen at the same time. Everything John Wick does after that is justified, including getting the car back, even after it gets trashed. 

Mad Max's Ford Falcon Interceptor

Talk about a movie franchise full of wild, cool cars, Mad Max is among the wildest. So, to represent the series, we're going with the O.G. car, Mel Gibson's Ford Falcon Interceptor in the original movie. It's the rat rod to end all rat rods and it's amazing. 

Mach Five

Perhaps the coolest race car in the universe is Speed Racer's Mach Five. It's legendary from the cartoon and has been part of all the various interactions of reboots, sequels, and the 2008 live-action version of Speed Racer. With the distinctive paint job and body style, it's simply the race car every kid wants. 

Blade's '68 Charger

1968 Mustangs are well represented in movies, and one of its biggest competitors, the '68 Dodge Charger is represented admirably in the Wesley Snipes Blade movies. It's the perfect car for the vampire killer and is as intimidating as a car can be. 

EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle

If you're not going to get a fast car to drive in a movie, how about a fully-armed recreational vehicle? That's what the guys in Stripes steal when they go into Czechoslovakia to rescue their big toe, Sgt. Hulka. The EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle is no simple camper, it's ready for war, even if the guys driving it aren't. 

Sebastian's Jaguar XK140 In Cruel Intentions

If you love classic cars, it doesn't get more elegant and classic than a 1956 Jaguar XK140 like Sebastian drives in Cruel Intentions. Sure, it's pretty annoying to watch an annoying spoiled brat drive it around, but it's hard not to stare in awe whenever it's on screen. It does fit for the character, even if we hate him for it. 

Thelma And Louise's Ford Thunderbird

A convertible 1966 Ford Thunderbird is what dreams are made of. It's a car that makes you feel invincible, just like it does for the titular characters in Thelma & Louise. If there's anything we would change, it's the tragic end for the car. While Thelma and Louise go out on their own terms, the poor Thunderbird doesn't, we don't think. 

Christine

Christine, the car in movie with the same name, is terrifying, sure. No one wants to deal with a car with a homicidal mind of its own. But is sure is sweet to look at. The red 1958 Plymouth Fury is definition of classic cool. So if you're willing to let the car take out an enemy or two, and you love  '50s Detroit steel, this is the car for you. Just don't get on her bad side. 

'66 Alfa Romeo Spider In The Graduate

The old hosts of Top Gear, who know a thing about cars, often insisted that if you'd never owned an Alfa Romero, you couldn't really consider yourself a motor head. Just one look at the '66 Alfa Romeo Spider in The Graduate, driven by Dustin Hoffman's character, and you'll almost certainly agree they have as much class and sophistication as a car get. 

Greased Lightning

"Greased Lightning" is arguably the best song in Grease and in no small part to the visuals of building one mean-looking drag racer named Greased Lightning. Systematic, hydromatic, ultramatic, and probably some other "madics" too.  The car itself looks kind of ridiculous, and none of the parts would actually work together, but no matter! It's still awesome. 

Doc Brown's Delorean

You knew we couldn't have this list without one of the most beloved cars (and time machines) in movie history. Doc Brown's time machine in Back To The Future is the only reason anyone in the world remembers or desires the short-lived DMC Delorean. It was a terrible car that looked like the future and drove like the past. It works perfectly for Doc's needs. 

Sonny Corleone's Lincoln Continental

It's definitely not bulletproof, but the '41 Lincoln Continental driven by Sonny Corleone in The Godfather is the epitome of what made the US car industry the envy of everyone in the '30s and '40s. Large and luxurious was the name of the name of the game in Detroit before World War II and the Continental was at the top of many lists for both. 

The Porsche 928 In Risky Business

Nothing says "1980s" more than a really cool Porsche, like the 928 in Risky Business. If you ask an '80s kid to draw the outline of a Porsche, there's a good chance they'll draw the 928 even without knowing what they are drawing. It's just a shame where it ended up. 

The Monkee's Pontiac GTO

Like the band and TV show, Pontiac GTO driven in The Monkees is over-the-top and ridiculous. It's like the designers watched the '60s on TV and made what they thought embodied them. Kind of like the whole show, despite being one of the shows on TV at the time. It's still pretty awesome though. 

Herbie The Love Bug

Herbie The Love Bug in the Herbie series is the anti-Christine. It's a car with a mind of its own, but it's only interested in doing good, not evil. That makes it every kid's favorite car and a big reason for the Volkswagon Beetle's enduring appeal. 

The best kids movies appeal to both older and younger audiences, assuring an enjoyable experience for the whole family. However, to achieve this, sometimes Hollywood incorporates certain jokes, themes, or even entire plot lines that are not appealing to kids at all and might leave them speaking with a colorful new vocabulary, making jokes way above their age level, or even traumatized for life. The following are a few examples of some notable, beloved children’s movies that, looking back, we might have been too young for.

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996)

Had it existed back then, The Hunchback of Notre Dame could have won the Best Animated Feature Oscar for being a very compelling period drama set in 15th-Century Paris. However, the story of the Disney classic — based on Victor Hugo’s dark novel involving an anomalous man nearly killed as an infant and an elderly priest (reimagined as a judge in the film) uncomfortably and passionately obsessed with a young dancer — is not particularly ideal for children’s entertainment at its core.

Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory (1971) 

For years, fans have been re-analyzing Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and coming up with wild fan theories to darken the scrumdiddlyumptious classic, but why bother? The film’s dark themes are spelled out for us pretty clearly, especially in the infamous tunnel sequence when the titular chocolatier (played by Gene Wilder) recites a foreboding poem as unsettling images appear around the boat full of passengers.

The Brave Little Toaster (1987)

Before there was Toy Story, the ultimate animated adventure about sentient inanimate objects was The Brave Little Toaster, in which a group of old appliances set out to find their “master” after being left at a woodland cabin. The great thing about this classic is that it teaches children to be more compassionate and sentimental, but it does so through very upsetting means, depicting the cruel treatment of our innocent protagonists.

Labyrinth (1986)

Director Jim Henson’s cult favorite fantasy, Labyrinth, is already pretty dark with its creepy puppetry and plot involving a kidnapped infant. However, it is the predatory undertones of David Bowie's character, Goblin King Jareth, when interacting with Jennifer Conolly's young protagonist, Sarah, that really makes it hard to recommend to anyone under 13.

Pinocchio (1940)

Because most fairy tales are also cautionary tales, the sight of Pinocchio smoking a cigar after running away to Pleasure Island does not bother us too much. It is the way the titular, enchanted puppet from the Disney classic learns his lesson — seeing other runaway children transformed into donkeys — that leaves us wondering if this story takes its teachable moment a little too far.

One Hundred And One Dalmatians (1961)

Watching dogs save the day in One Hundred and One Dalmatians is what makes the animated film such a rewarding and joyful experience. However, when you consider the fact that these Dalmatians are forced to spring into action because Cruella de Vil wants to skin the spotted puppies for her own fur coat, it makes one hesitant to show it to any younger canine lovers.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

It would be childish of us to think that this musical adaptation of Ian Fleming’s children's novel, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, is inappropriate because of the title alone. Our concern is the fact that it takes place in a land called "Vulgaria" and one of its extremely discomforting main villains is literally referred to as the "Child Catcher.”

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

There is an argument to be made that Who Framed Roger Rabbit was never even intended for children in the first place and only earned its PG rating because they were more common at the time, let alone the fact that many of the characters are animated. Even then, this murder mystery story featuring a cigar-smoking baby with racy dialogue, a hard-drinking protagonist, and a sultry femme fatale (Kathleen Turner's Jessica Rabbit) would have never been PG in this day and age.

The Goonies (1985)

Director Richard Donner and producer Steven Spielberg’s enduring cult favorite, The Goonies, offer a relatively accurate depiction of what might happen if a group of children tried to live out their adventurous fantasies for real. The result includes a great deal of swearing, violence, innuendoes, and constant peril that younger viewers should find distressing.

The Incredibles (2004)

Because it is an animated Disney property and one of Pixar’s best films, we often forget that Brad Bird’s The Incredibles is one of the darkest superhero movies of its time. If the action thriller was not animated, its violence (which involves children) and other various adult elements would have surely cost it its PG rating. 

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Ron Howard’s big-screen attempt at adapting a Dr. Seuss book into a live-action feature, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, has quite a bit of crude humor and a certain mean-spirited tone that the author is certainly not known for. One particular moment that surely went over younger viewers' heads is the scene when the infant Grinch (played as an adult by Jim Carrey) lands at the home of his adoptive mothers, where they are clearly throwing a swingers' party.

The Shrek Movies (2001-2010)

Watching all the Shrek movies is an almost entirely different experience for grown-ups than it is for children with mature jokes and references throughout. For instance, the first installment features Shrek’s (Mike Myers) comment about Lord Farquaad “compensating for something” with his large castle or a fairy tale-style recreation of O.J. Simpson's low-speed chase in 2004’s Shrek 2.

Mulan (1998)

As a film that takes place during a war, violence is to be expected, but is also handled in an impressively tame manner in Mulan. However, what people often tend to forget is how much partial nudity is in this animated Disney classic, particularly when the titular hero (voiced by Ming-Na Wen), posing as a man, is bathing in a lake and his suddenly joined by her fellow, male soldiers.

Ratatouille (2007)

Brad Bird’s Ratatouille is a delicious family treat, but not without its indulgences in adult humor. One notable scene from Pixar's culinary comedy sees Alfredo Linguini (Lou Romano) begin to confess about Remy (Patton Oswalt) to Colette (Janeane Garofalo), he begins by saying, "I have a tiny, little…,” at which point she darts her eyes below his belt.

The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)

Honestly, we believe that one of the things that makes The LEGO Batman Movie just as good as any live-action Batman movie is its more mature, but very clever, jokes. For instance, when Bruce Wayne (Will Arnett) first meets the young man who will be his ward and sidekick, the boy (voiced by Michael Cera) says his name is Richard Grayson, but most people call him "Dick," to which the aristocrat replies, "Well, children can be cruel."

Hocus Pocus (1993)

While certainly one of the more lighthearted movies about witches ever made, because of wall-to-wall innuendos and themes of child murder, calling Hocus Pocus a family movie is a bit of a stretch. Constant mentions of Max Dennison’s (Omri Katz) innocence (the reason why the Black Flame Candle successfully brings back the Sanderson Sisters) and a suggestive exchange between the witches and a bus driver are just a few notable examples.

Monster House (2006)

With a title like Monster House, you’d assume children should not be admitted anyway, but the horror elements are not really anything to be concerned by. However, the not-so-scary favorite does include moments of underage drinking, a reference to Chowder's mother's potential infidelity with her "personal trainer," and Chowder asking if they are in a "girl house" after Jenny calls a chandelier its "uvula."

Bee Movie (2007)

We suppose we should have realized that an animated movie co-written by and starring Jerry Seinfeld was not going to be just for the children. However, who could have expected that Seinfeld’s Bee Movie character — an insect named Barry B. Barrington — would have a crush on a human named Vanessa (Renée Zellweger) and that this strange interspecies romance would be expressed through many bizarre innuendoes?

Scooby-Doo (2002)

Writer James Gunn has said there exists an R-rated cut of Scooby-Doo — the live-action adaptation of the classic cartoon — and signs of that can be found throughout. Among them is the moment when Shaggy (Matthew Lillard) tells Mary-Jane (Isla Fisher) that she has his "favorite name" and when Freddy (Freddie Prinze Jr.), accidentally inhabiting Daphne's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) body, relishes in the ability to look at himself without clothing.

The Road To El Dorado (2000)

The influence of Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Dorothy Lamour’s Road to… franchise in DreamWorks’ The Road to El Dorado is clear, right down to the off-beat and often suggestive humor. The most significant and often debated example from the animated film is when Chel (Rosie Perez) seduces Tulio (Kevin Kline), leading to a love scene that is offscreen, but easily heard.

Tarzan (1999)

It is pretty surprising when you remember that Disney’s animated version of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan is rated G as the violence is actually quite visceral. It is even more disturbing when it is subtle, such as in Clayton’s death scene, when the silhouette of him being hung by the neck with vines can be spotted.

All Dogs Go To Heaven (1989)

The movie may be called All Dogs Go to Heaven, but there is one scene when Charlie (voiced by Burt Reynolds) visits the opposite end of the afterlife. That is only one pivotal, disturbing moment from the fantasy classic by animation legend Don Bluth, whose entire filmography has its fair share of nightmare fuel. 

Zootopia (2016)

There is a pretty funny and cleverly subtle adult joke from Zootopia that both kids and grown-ups may have missed. At one point, Judy (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) says, "I am just a dumb bunny, but we are good at multiplying.”

The Witches (1990)

One of the most sinister and truly grotesque depictions of witches — especially Anjelica Huston’s Eva Ernst — comes from a film intended as a “family picture.” Roald Dahl himself even agreed that director Nicolas Roeg’s adaptation of his 1983 novel, The Witches, was a little too scary for his taste.

Antz (1998)

DreamWorks' Antz is often considered the unintentional twin of Pixar's A Bugs Life, but the latter is far different, especially in terms of its genuine appeal to younger audiences. If it were not an animated film about insects, its innuendos, swearing, and plot involving a genocidal conspiracy would have easily earned it a PG-13 rating, at least.

The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie (2004)

The beloved animated TV show SpongeBob Squarepants has been criticized for a number of mature jokes and its 2004 movie spin-off is absolutely no exception and, in fact, far clearer to detect. To name just a few notable examples, SpongeBob (voiced by Tom Kenny) and Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) get hammered from ice cream at a bar,  the duo later gets launched back to Bikini Bottom by David Hasselhoff's pectorals, and Patrick dons fish nets during SpongeBob's performance of "Goofy Goober Rock."

Rango (2011)

There are plenty of jokes aimed toward the parents who took their children to the Oscar-winning Rango. For instance, when Johnny Depp's titular chameleon introduces his gang as a troupe of "thespians," one of the prairie dogs says, "That's illegal in seven states,” obviously confusing the word for, “lesbians.”

Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014)

Based on special segments from the original animated series, The Adventures of Rocky and Bulwinkle and Friends, Mr. Peabody & Sherman sees the titular duo — a highly intelligent dog (voiced by Ty Burrell) and his adoptive human son (voiced by Max Charles) — accidentally cause a rip in the space-time continuum, which lands them in trouble. Luckily, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln agree to pardon Mr. Peabody, at which point — in the animated family film’s racist joke — Bill Clinton shows up to say, "I've done worse."

The Aristocats (1970)

When Disney+ started putting a content warning in front of older movies that contained insensitive or negatively stereotypical content, one such title was The Aristocrats. The animated film — which some still believe deserves a live-action remake — does, indeed, contain some insensitive racial stereotypes, as evident by how East Asian culture is depicted in “The Siamese Cat Song.”

Inside Out (2015)

There are many mature themes throughout Inside Out that are important for younger viewers to witness, but then there are some more humorous moments that likely go over their heads. For instance, when Fear wonders if Riley saw a bear and Disgust assures none in exist in San Francisco, Anger recalls seeing a hairy man who resembled a bear, in reference to a term from LGBTQ+ culture.

The Cat In The Hat (2003)

About 99.9 percent of the humor in star Mike Myers’ almost universally reviled adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat — following two siblings’ (played by Spencer Breslin and Dakota Fanning) adventures with a giant feline — is of the crudest, most crass, and most inappropriate kind. We could fill this entire list with examples, but we’ll just settle for the moment when The Cat calls a gardening tool a “dirty hoe.”

Cars (2006)

There are a quite a few overtly mature references in Pixar's Cars, such as when Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) gets “flashed” by a couple of fans who put on their high beams. Or, what about when Lightning walks in on Doc Hudson's (Paul Newman) surgery on the Sheriff or when he tells everyone Doc Hudson has three Piston Cups, to which Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) asks, "He did what in his cup?"

If you see no harm in showing these films to your children, we will not stop nor judge you. All we are asking is that you give it a little thought before you.

Everybody loves a good dog movie — not just because most humans cannot seem to get enough of the animal they call “man’s best friend,” but because many of them depict the canine in a heroic light. We picked out a hefty selection of some of our favorite examples of lovable movie and TV dogs whom we can thank for treating us to a happy ending to cheer for. That being said, we also cannot promise that the dog does not die in all of these films and series, but we can assure you that, through their vigilant acts, they did not pass on in vain.

Buddy Leads Josh's Basketball Team To Victory (Air Bud)

Perhaps the Citizen Kane of animal sports movies is Disney's Air Bud, which starred real-life canine celebrity Air Buddy in the title role. After the Golden Retriever is befriended by a boy named Josh (Kevin Zegers), he discovers that he has an astonishing talent for playing basketball and becomes the star player of Josh's team.

Pongo And Perdita Save All Of Cruella's Kidnapped Puppies (One Hundred Dalmatians And One Dalmatians)

While we have a soft spot for the 1996 live-action remake, especially for Glenn Close’s performance as Cruella de Vil, we felt Disney’s original 1961 animated adaptation of Dodie Smith’s book was more deserving of a mention as it is largely told from the perspective of Pongo, Perdita, and their puppies. In addition to rescuing their own children from the cruel fashionista's clutches, the canine couple prevent a whopping 101 Dalmatians (hence the title) from being made into a spotted fur coat.

Benji Rescues Paul And Cindy (Benji)

One of the most famous fictional dogs in history is Benji — the star of many adventures, the first of which was released in 1974. In the Oscar-nominated film, the titular stray (played then by a mixed breed named Higgins) is accepted into the family of two children after saving them from a kidnapping.

Every Time Scooby-Doo Helps Mystery Inc. Crack The Case (Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?)

Whenever the villain of the week is unmasked, they always say that they would have gotten away with it if it weren’t for “those meddling kids,” in reference to Fred, Daphne, Shaggy, and Velma. However, the titular Great Dane from the original classic cartoon, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?, plays a pivotal role in Mystery Inc. and the amount of times his loyalty, occasional bouts of courage, and astonishing ability to speak helped solve the case should not go unnoticed, especially by the criminal caught in the end.

Sparky Saves Beethoven (Beethoven)

The eponymous St. Bernard from the Beethoven franchise is an undeniable canine hero, but the one who really saves the day at the end of the 1992 first installment is his buddy, Sparky. The Jack Russell Terrier prevents evil veterinarian Herman Varnick (Dean Jones) from shooting Beethoven by biting him in the crotch. 

Jock And Trusty Rescue Tramp From The Dogcatcher (Lady And The Tramp)

After he is wrongfully accused of attacking Jim Dear and Darling's baby, Tramp (Larry Roberts) is taken away by a local dogcatcher. However, when neighboring Scottish Terrier Jock (Bill Thompson) and elderly bloodhound Trusty (Bill Baucom) overhear evidence of his innocence, they track him down and derail the dogcatcher's carriage, which unfortunately causes Trusty to become injured in the commotion.

Copper Prevents Amos From Shooting Tod (The Fox And The Hound)

Disney's animated adaptation of Daniel P. Mannix's book, The Fox and the Hound, tells the story of two animals whose friendship is torn apart by the realization that they are meant to be natural enemies. However, their mutual affection remains strong enough in their adulthood that the hound, Copper (Mickey Rooney), protects his fox friend, Tod (Kurt Russell), from his owner — a hunter named Amos (Jack Albertson).

Toto Alerts The Others To Help Rescue Dorothy (The Wizard Of Oz)

In the 1937 family movie classic, The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy’s (Judy Garland) chances of getting back home to Kansas are threatened by the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) when her flying monkeys bring her and Toto to the castle. Luckily, the Cairn Terrier manages to escape and finds the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), Tin Man (Jack Haley), and Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), whom he leads back to the castle to save Dorothy.

Bolt Draws The Firefighters' Attention (Bolt)

In Disney's 2008 animated movie, Bolt, John Travolta voices the title role of a White Swiss Shepherd who believes he is the hero he plays on TV, only to discover he only possesses average abilities when he becomes lost in New York. However, he does end up becoming a real hero when his barks alert nearby firefighters to where he and his owner, Penny (Miley Cyrus), are trapped in a burning building.

Every Time Underdog Saves Polly (Underdog)

There are many great superhero pets we could have mentioned here — such as Batman’s Ace — but we thought we would go with the underdog canine vigilante, who is aptly called Underdog. The Lois Lane to the super-powered Beagle’s Superman was Sweet Polly Purebred, whom he sprung into action to save in nearly every episode of his 1960s-era animated series.

Lou Defeats Mr. Tinkles (Cats & Dogs)

Domesticated house pets got their own spy movie spoof with 2001’s Cats & Dogs, which depicts canines and felines’ natural rivalry as a more complex, high-stakes situation. The one who thwarts Mr. Tinkles’ (voiced by Sean Hayes) plan to make all humans allergic to dogs, and saves his own family in the process, is rookie agent Lou (voiced by Tobey Maguire) — a Beagle who decides that he is better off being a regular dog.

Charlie Gives His Life For Anne-Marie (All Dogs Go To Heaven)

In Don Bluth's 1989 classic, All Dogs Go to Heaven, conniving German Shepherd Charlie (Burt Reynolds) escapes the afterlife with the intent of avenging his murder, but ends up befriending an orphan named Anne-Marie (Judith Barsi). He loses his life again attempting to save the little girl from a fire, which grants him a place in Heaven again and allows him time to temporarily visit his human friend in spirit.

A Mortally Wounded Hooch Saves Turner From Hyde (Turner & Hooch)

In the 1989 buddy cop comedy, Turner & Hooch, the eponymous Dogue de Bordeaux is shot trying to protect Det. Scott Turner (Tom Hanks). Luckily, Hooch still has the will to get up and bite the crooked Chief Hyde (Craig T. Nelson), distracting him for enough time to let Turner take him out.

Gromit Saves Wallace From Were-Rabbit Hunters (Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit)

What makes Gromit one of the greatest pop culture sidekicks in history is his intelligence and unbridled loyalty toward his friend, Wallace (originally voiced by Peter Sallis). This is most evident in the duo’s 2005 feature-length adventure, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit, in which the Beagle discovers Wallace is the titular half-human, half-bunny creature and must protect him from people intent on getting rid of him.

Otis Helps Milo To Safety (The Adventures Of Milo And Otis)

The entire story of The Adventures of Milo and Otis (originally released in Japan as A Kitten's Story) is one big, dangerous collision course for a cat named Milo. Luckily, the orange tabby cat's new buddy, a stray pug named Otis, chases after him, helping him out of his jam by the end.

Reggie And His Friends Bring Doug To Justice (Strays)

The year 2023 brought us an adult take on the talking dog movie called Strays, in which a naive Border Terrier named Reggie (voiced by Will Ferrell) realizes that he was intentionally abandoned by his abusive owner, Doug (Will Forte), and sets out to get even with him. With the help from his new furry friends — Bug (Jamie Foxx), Maggie (Isla Fisher), and Hunter (Randall Park) — Reggie exacts his revenge by biting off… well, let’s just call it Doug’s “favorite thing.”

Scraps Saves The Mayflower (Airplane II: The Sequel)

In the 1982 follow-up to the classic parody movie, Airplane! — aptly titled Airplane II: The Sequel — a malfunctioning AI sending the Mayflower to the Sun instead of the Moon is not the only issue the commercial space shuttle is facing as someone also brought aboard a time bomb they bought from the duty-free shop. An attempt to get bring the device, stashed in a briefcase, to a safe place ends with the briefcase hurtling in the hair, but a passenger dog named Scraps catches it in his mouth before it can hit the ground.

Max Stops Tyler From Killing Justin (Max)

The title character of Max is a military-trained Malinois (played by a show dog named Carlos) who is haunted by the death of his handler, Kyle (Robbie Amell) and is taken in by the family of the fallen Marine. He forms a close bond with Kyle’s younger brother, Justin (Josh Wiggins), and risks his life to save the teen and his father (Thomas Haden Church) from Kyle’s friend Tyler (Luke Kleintank), who turns out to have ties to an illegal weapons trade.

Old Yeller Saves Katie And Lisbeth From A Wolf (Old Yeller)

In Disney’s 1957 adaptation of Fred Gipson’s novel, Old Yeller, the titular Black Mouth Cur (played by Spike) performs many heroic acts that earn him a place among the Coates. His final deed was protecting Katie (Dorothy McGuire) and Lisbeth (Beverly Washburn) by fighting off a wolf, which is ultimately shot by Travis (Tommy Kirk), but not soon enough to prevent it from biting Old Yeller, who sadly contracts rabies as a result.

Dan And Ann Save Grandpa And Billy (Where The Red Fern Grows)

Two of the most loyal and protective dogs in the history of fiction come from Wilson Rawls' 1961 novel, Where the Red Fern Grows, which was first adapted for film in 1974. Billy's two raccoon-hunting dogs, Dan and Ann, end up rescuing the boy's injured grandpa and, later, Dan sacrifices his life to prevent a mountain lion from attacking Billy, which later costs Ann her will to live.

Baxter Tells The Mama Bear To Leave Ron And Veronica Alone (Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy)

One of the funniest examples of a dog who is smarter than his owner is Baxter from 2004’s Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy, who not only speaks Spanish but can apparently speak bear, too. That is how he convinces a mother grizzly to step away from Ron (Will Ferrell) and Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) when they become trapped in the bear habitat at the zoo.

Jake's Many Adventures With Finn (Adventure Time)

On one of the all-time best animated TV shows, Adventure Time, the sole remaining human in the Land of Ooo, Finn (voiced by Jeremy Shada), could have never completed his many quests to protect the mystical, post-apocalyptic world without his buddy, Jake (voiced by John DiMaggio). In addition to his various magical abilities, the talking dog of unspecified breed saves the day again and again just by being a supportive friend.

The Wolf-Dog Rescues Gabriel (Where The North Begins)

One of the most famous canine actors in Hollywood history is Rin-Tin-Tin and one of his most famous roles was known as The Wolf-Dog from Where the North Begins. Initially raised by wolves as a puppy, the German Shepherd is later adopted by a fur trapper named Gabriel (Walter McGrail) after saving him from a certain death. 

Togo Helps Deliver The Life-Saving Serum (Togo)

The 2019 Disney+ original movie Togo is inspired by the true story of musher Leonhard Seppala (Willem Dafoe) and his titular sled dog, who was considered too small and weak when he was born, only to become the leader of his pack. In 1925, Seppala and the 12-year-old Siberian husky embark on a 600-mile trek through a harsh arctic storm to deliver a cure for a deadly epidemic, only to see an Alaskan husky named Balto receive the credit.

Chance, Shadow, And Sassy Save Themselves (Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey)

Who says that an animal has to save someone else to be considered the hero of their story? In Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey — Disney’s 1993 adaptation of Sheila Burnford’s novel — American Bulldog Chance (voiced by Michael J. Fox) and elderly Golden Retriever Shadow (Don Ameche), along with their feline friend, Sassy (Sally Field), manage to find their way back to their family after days lost in the wilderness.

The Many Adventures Of Boomer (Here's Boomer)

In the early 1980s, a series called Here's Boomer aired for two seasons, during which a stray mixed breed (played by Johnny the Dog) traveled the country, often running into people who needed assistance. For 20 episodes, he helped the likes of a family whose camping trip was interrupted by a bear attack, a visually impaired man wanting to be a cyclist, cops looking to crack a big case, and more.

Delgado Saves Chloe From El Diablo (Beverly Hills Chihuahua)

Drew Barrymore’s Chloe may be the titular breed of Disney’s 2008 comedy, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, but she would have never survived her dangerous journey through Mexico City without the help of Delgado (voiced by Andy Garcia). The street-smart German Shepherd is even responsible for helping her escape the clutches of an evil Doberman named El Diablo (Edward James Olmos).

The Sled Dogs Safely Pull Ted And Jack From The Edge Of A Cliff (Snow Dogs)

In 2002’s Snow Dogs, Miami dentist Ted Brooks (Cuba Gooding Jr.) must put his newly found mushing skills to the test to bring his biological father, Jack (James Coburn), to the finish line of a major Alaskan sled race during a bad storm. Their sled nearly falls off a cliff on the way back, but their seven Siberian Huskies and Border Collie, Nana, pull them to safety.

Rowf And Snitter Rescue Abused Lab Animals (The Plague Dogs)

Based on Richard Adams’ novel, the 1982 animated adventure drama, The Plague Dogs, follows a Labrador-mix named Rowf (Christopher Benjamin) and a smooth fox terrier named Snitter (John Hurt), who are hunted under suspicion that they may carry a deadly disease. As it turns out, the commotion they caused around town resulted in the shutdown of the local lab from where they escaped, which, inadvertently, saved the other animals kept there from experiencing any further cruel treatment.

Bingo Rescues Chuckie And Safely Disposes A Bomb (Bingo)

The was a dog movie in 1991 and Bingo was its name-o. It follows a Border Collie who gives up his unsatisfactory life as a circus performer to search for a boy he once befriended named Chuckie (Robert J. Steinmiller Jr.), who later gets kidnapped for ransom. Bingo manages to help Chuckie get out of the burning building where he was being held by activating a fire alarm that alerts the fire department and, later, carries a bomb that was also in the building to an area where it does not harm anyone upon detonation. 

Reno Rescues Wilder From Neo-Nazis (Top Dog)

In response to a trend of action movies partnering cops with canines, 1995 saw the release of Top Dog, starring Chuck Norris as Lt. Jake Wilder, who is initially reluctant to work with a Briard named Reno after his previous owner dies. However, the dog turns out to be a wonderful partner, freeing Wilder from captivity by Neo-Nazis by biting through his bindings and joining in the fight to take down their who operation.

Browning Solves His Own Murder (Oh Heavenly Dog)

We admit that 1980's Oh Heavenly Dog might be a bit of a stretch because the heroic canine in question is actually a reincarnated human, namely Chevy Chase as a private investigator named Browning. He is assigned to return to Earth and solve his own murder, with the catch that he is given the body of a mixed breed who is billed as Benji, but is actually played by Benjean, the daughter of original Benji actor, Higgins.

You may have noticed that we did not mention Lassie in any of these examples, but that is because including her would have been too on-the-snout, as far as we are concerned. After all, when was that Rough Collie not saving somebody at some point?

Throughout the history of TV, much of the public has been fortunate enough to indulge in some incredible animated series (including Saturday morning fare we don’t even talk about anymore). Many might primarily cater to kids, but a lot of them also appeal to those who are a bit older. Despite the abundance of quality programming, not many of them are truly perfect. That’s right, even the greatest toons have their flaws. With that in mind, we’re going to discuss some of the best classic children’s cartoons and list the best and worst things about them. So let’s not waste any more time and jump right into this.

The Flintstones (1960-1966)

Best Thing: The Mix Of The Prehistoric Setting And Modern Sensibilities - While set in the Stone Age, The Flintstones flawlessly makes the time period feel tangible and relatable, which is a reason why it’s one of the greatest animated TV shows of all time.

Worst Thing: Overuse Of "Rock" Puns - The rock jokes (commonly employed via names, items, etc.) on the show are definitely cheeky to a point but, in some ways, they get a little played out.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1960-1970)

Best Thing: Mystery Inc.’s Chemistry - There are plenty of reasons why Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! is beloved and launched a massive media franchise. But what truly makes the classic toon endearing is the interplay between the likable meddling kids and their talking dog.

Worst Thing: Lack Of True Scares - Yes, the show is mostly meant to be a comedy, but a few true jump scares (fit for younger viewers) would be great.

Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994-1998)

Best Thing: Classic, Yet Modern, Storytelling Sensibilities - This superhero show manages to capture the classic comic-booky sensibilities of Spidey stories but seamlessly combines that with contemporary serialized (‘90s-era) storytelling.

Worst Thing: Peter Parker Couldn’t Throw A Direct Punch At A Living Foe - Peter Parker can kick and punch unfeeling beings and entities all day on Spider-Man: The Animated Series, but flesh and blood beings are typically just hit with web shooters and other projectiles.

Ed, Edd N' Eddy (1999-2009)

Best Thing: The Eds’ Creative Schemes - The titular trio on the Cartoon Network classic are mischief makers but also craft a creek cruise, an elaborate miniature golf course, a roller coaster, a corporate office (with a working elevator) and more enterprises.

Worst Thing: Squiggly-Line Animation Style - As fun as this coming-of-age comedy is, the line-heavy animation can be rough on the eyes at times, especially when it comes to earlier episodes.

Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996)

Best Thing: Intense Battles - Dragon Ball Z contains some of the best hand-to-hand fights ever animated like Gohan and Cell’s skirmish and, of course, Goku and Frieza’s brawl.

Worst Thing: Too Many Filler Episodes - As exciting as the anime is, there are plenty of installments with no major narrative developments, only characters charging up their power levels.

The New Batman Adventures (1997-1999)

Best Thing: “Mad Love” Episode - The New Batman Adventures – one of the Dark Knight’s shorter-lived shows – succeeds in flawlessly adapting Bruce Timm and Paul Dini’s origin story for Harley Quinn.

Worst Thing: The Joker’s DCAU Redesign - Many of the updated character designs are great, but Joker’s beady-eyed look is definitely a head-scratcher.

Doug (1991-1999)

Best Thing: Doug’s Relatable Situations - The predicaments that the eponymous character finds himself in greatly represent the highs and lows of adolescence. 

Worst Thing: Doug’s Overwhelming Anxiety - As easy as it is to identify with Doug, his worrisome nature sometimes becomes a little unbearable – even by preteen standards.

The Jetsons (1962-1987)

Best Thing: Great Early Version Of Retro-Futurism - Just as The Flintstones paints a portrait of the past, The Jetsons shows off an over-the-top but oddly tangible picture of progress, which has shaped our views of the distinct view of the distant future.

Worst Thing: Laugh Track - When it comes to multi-camera sitcoms, laugh tracks can be quite invaluable but, on an animated show like this one, it just feels unnecessary.

Dexter’s Laboratory (1996-2003)

Best Thing: Dexter’s Various Inventions - Dexter isn’t called a boy genius for nothing, as viewers see him create a dream machine, a giant robot for combat, a reverse belt, and much more.

Worst Thing: Dee Dee’s Characterization - The annoying (and sometimes dimwitted) sister archetype is one we know well but, at times, Dexter’s Laboratory’s use of it stunts Dee Dee’s growth as a character.

Tiny Toon Adventures (1990-1992)

Best Thing: Interactions Between The New And OG Characters - Buster Bunny, Babs Bunny, Plucky Duck, Hampton J. Pig, and co. are fun on their own, but it’s really sweet seeing them mix it up with Bugs, Daffy, Porky, Sylvester, and other Looney Tunes veterans.

Worst Thing: Montana Max - It’s obvious that Montana Max is meant to be a counterpart for Yosemite Sam but, unlike Sam, Montana comes off as more of a pure nuisance than a funny foil.

Aladdin (1994-1995)

Best Thing: Worldbuilding - Aladdin does a great job of adding new characters (heroes and villains), locations, and lore to the fictional world established in one of the best Disney Renaissance movies. 

Worst Thing: Recycled Animation Sequences - I understand that a number of animated shows in the ‘80s and ‘90s were on tight budgets, but some of the reused scenes from other entities here look cheap.

Hey Arnold! (1996-2004)

Best Thing: Ensemble-Centric Storytelling - Arnold may headline this sweet series, but the writers share the love by crafting stories around Helga, Gerald, Harold, and other supporting players that provide character development.

Worst Thing: Actor Recastings For Arnold - Each of the three actors (five if you include the pilot and Jungle Movie) who plays Arnold brings their own unique style but, when rewatching the show, the vocal shifts are a bit jarring.

Gargoyles (1994-1997)

Best Thing: Character development - The amount of character growth present throughout Gargoyles is staggering, from the evolution of the main heroes to that of antagonist David Xanatos.

Worst Thing: The third season - Season 3 is very lackluster compared to its predecessors and is disappointing – even if every episode aside from the premiere isn’t considered canon by producer Greg Weisman.

Looney Tunes (1920s-1960s)

Best Thing: Bugs Bunny’s Various Shorts - You’d be hard-pressed to find a Bugs Bunny short that isn’t entertaining on some level, and the classic toon is perfectly voiced by Mel Blanc. 

Worst Thing: The “Censored Eleven” - This now-banned set of cartoons sadly depicts racist stereotypes and unfortunately serves as a stain on the history of this illustrious franchise.

Beast Wars: Transformers (1996-1999)

Best Thing: Animal-Themed Transformers concepts - I mean, if you’re a kid and lover of this franchise, how can you not dig the notion of Transformers like Optimus Primal, Cheetor, and Airazor? (2023’s Rise of the Beasts introduced them on the big screen, much to Beast Wars fans’ intrigue.)

Worst Thing: The CGI - Computer-animated TV shows were a novelty in the ‘90s, and Beast Wars exemplifies how the tech still needed time to develop for a weekly series.

Animaniacs (1993-1998)

Best Thing: Sharp, Meta, and Pop-Culture-Infused Writing - Animaniacs had few equals during its run and, even now, its wit and satirical view of popular culture (including the educational songs) are still top-tier.

Worst Thing: The Mindy And Buttons Segments - The various segments on the show are legendary, but the portions featuring the curious Mindy and her long-suffering dog, Buttons, feel particularly thin and repetitive.

Johnny Bravo (1997-2004)

Best Thing: Adult humor - Thanks to (then-rising) writer Seth MacFarlane and others, Johnny Bravo includes a level of comedy that satiates the young but also widely caters to older viewers in the best way. 

Worst Thing: Animation Style For Seasons 2 and 3 - The show’s look in these two seasons marks an attempt to jazz up the designs from Season 1 but doesn’t quite land. That’s likely why Season 4 transitions back to more familiar looks for the characters and world.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987-1996)

Best Thing: Camaraderie Amongst The Turtles - So much about TMNT works and makes it one of the Saturday morning cartoons that holds up, but the reason many fans arguably keep coming back is because they love the bond between the four reptilian brothers.

Worst Thing: The Interpretation Of Baxter Stockman - The original Mirage Comics establish Dr. Baxter Stockman as a darker and relatively maniacal figure, so it’s disappointing that the ‘80s show makes him into something of a joke.

The Real Ghostbusters (1986-1991)

Best Thing: Terrifying Monsters Added To The Canon - Gozer and Vigo the Carpathian are solid threats in the films, but they don’t hold a candle to the likes of The Bogeyman, Samhain and The Dark Rider of The Real Ghostbusters. 

Worst Thing: Q5 Consulting Firm’s Impact On Season 3 Onwards - ABC enlisted the services of Q5 Corp to make the show (which we don’t talk about much now) more accessible and, in the process, it became duller and sillier.

Kim Possible (2002-2007)

Best Thing: Balance Between Comedy And Adventure - Kim Possible succeeds at offering thrills and laughs, and neither one of them ever drowns out the other in a given episode.

Worst Thing: Ron Stoppable’s Qualifications As A Crimefighter - Ron is an important and beloved part of the impactful Disney Channel show, but his lack of skills in the field begs an explanation as to why he was approved for his crime-fighting gig in the first place.

Garfield And Friends  (1988-1994)

Best Thing: Characterization Of Garfield - There have been many adaptations of Garfield, but few are as perfect as the lazy, snarky, and constantly hungry iteration we see on this show.

Worst Thing: Binky The Clown: While Binky the Clown is meant to be obnoxious, his overly aggressive attitude can make him incredibly annoying.

Rocko’s Modern Life (1993-1996)

Best Thing: Clever And Mature Humor - Those who’ve seen Rocko’s Modern Life, one of the best ‘90s Nick shows, know it’s filled with great adult-level humor that’s riotous (and sometimes raunchy).

Worst Thing: Heffer Wolffe’s Freeloading - In his defense, Heffer is one of the more likable mooches, but his over-indulgent demeanor is a constant burden on Rocko whether the steer is aware of it or not.

Recess (1997-2001)

Best Thing: The Heart – Disney’s Recess wears its heart on its sleeve, and that’s especially necessary when you have episodes like “The Great Can Drive” and “Yes, Mikey, Santa Does Shave.”

Worst Thing: Randall J. Weems - You’ll never find a bigger snitch on a cartoon than Randall, whose weasley tendency for tattling on others undermines the efforts of T.J. Detweiler and co. on various occasions. 

Jonny Quest (1964-1965)

Best Thing: Encapsulates The Adventurous Spirit Of The ‘60s - Hanna-Barbera’s Jonny Quest takes all of the best parts of the greatest action fare of the ‘60s to make a great Saturday morning cartoon. 

Worst Thing: Characterization Of Hadji Singh - As lovable as Hadji is, the franchise’s inaugural series doesn’t flesh him out enough, making Quest’s adopted brother feel like a cliché.

Courage The Cowardly Dog (1999-2002)

Best Thing: Scary Stories - The writers of Courage the Cowardly Dog deserve a lot of credit for giving kids true chills and not pulling punches in the process. (I still think about needing to return the slab.)

Worst Thing: Elements That Were Too Surreal - Abstract art is definitely appreciated, but it can sometimes be confusing, especially if you're one of the show's younger viewers.

SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron (1993-1995)

Best Thing: A Fresh Concept - The idea of two former military men (or “katz”) suiting up as vigilantes and using technology to defend their home may not sound too unorthodox, but it’s truly novel.

Worst Thing: The Two Leads Could Be More Developed - Razor and T-Bone are fun characters but, at times, it feels like their characterizations could be more nuanced in some respects.

The Magic School Bus (1994-1997)

Best Thing: Learning Is Fun - Only a great show could make learning science fun, and Ms. Frizzle’s journeys into space, the human body, and the Mesozoic Era are as insightful as they are enjoyable. 

Worst Thing: Kids Were Always In Mortal Danger - The only downside to all of the aforementioned adventures is that Frizzle’s young class is constantly in serious danger.

Rugrats (1991-2004)

Best Thing: Narrative Structures That Appeal To Different Generations - Rugrats is one of the quintessential daydreaming shows, and the writers employ movie genres, childhood tropes, and more to portray the babies’ adventures. 

Worst Thing: Inattentive Parents - Most probably know this by now but the babies’ parents are incredibly irresponsible when watching them and should be grateful the kids usually return to them unscathed by the end of each episode. 

Popeye The Sailor (1933-1942)

Best Thing: Popeye Gains Strength From Spinach - It’s very on the nose, but few moments in TV are as satisfying as when the sailor opens up a can of spinach, bulks up, and takes down Bluto.

Worst Thing: Olive Oyl’s Lack Of Agency - There are damsels in distress, and then there’s Olive Oyl, who’s just as totally helpless as she is sweet.

The Powerpuff Girls (1998-2005)

Best Thing: Great Rogues’ Gallery - The Powerpuff Girls have one of the best and most diverse rosters of villains ever created, from Mojo Jojo and Princess Morbucks to Sedusa and the Gang Green Gang.

Worst Thing: Binary Personality Traits For The Girls - Yes, the girls are all great and worthy of being loved, but each rarely portrays more than their respective “leader,” “sweetheart” and “hothead” molds. 

Arthur (1996-2022)

Best Thing: Power Of Community - One of the key strengths of PBS Kids’ Arthur is that it emphasizes the importance of being a good neighbor, and just about everyone in Elwood City shows traces of that quality at times. 

Worst Thing: Underutilized Characters - With such a massive ensemble, some characters – like Jenna Morgan or Sue Ellen – don’t get enough time in the sun.

The Yogi Bear Show (1961-1962)

Best Thing: Voice acting – Hanna-Barbera was well known for having quality voice-acting, but the work that Daws Butler (Yogi), and Don Messick (Boo-Boo) do on The Yogi Bear Show is still top-notch.

Worst Thing: Stealing Food - This is very obvious and key to the lead characters, but I mean, they used to steal tasty vittles from people’s picnic baskets!

To be clear, the classic children’s cartoons we’ve discussed are all definitely worth checking out. You should just be aware that each of them has their own share of strengths and weaknesses. 

One of life’s greatest pleasures used to be a bowl (or three) of mascot-emblazoned cereal and a Saturday morning full of cartoons. From Space Ghost to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Eek the Cat and beyond, the weekly ritual was a perfect way to sidestep reality, at least until its extinction in 2014. But for all the memorable favorites, there are so many Saturday morning cartoons that barely anyone talks about anymore.

While we can thankfully relive part of that era by streaming classics like X-Men: The Animated Series with a Disney+ subscription, other GOATs, such as Muppet Babies, will likely never hit streaming. But rather than getting too upset, let’s revisit some of Saturday morning’s less-remembered animated offerings.

Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures

One of the first animated reboots that truly felt like a dynamic reimagining of the source material, CBS’ Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures injected the superhero mouse and the Mouseville community with a heavy dose of satire and pop culture sensibilities, added more dimensions to the familiar tropes of the character’s past. The update and its success can be largely attributed to animation legend Ralph Bakshi, of Fritz the Cat and 1978’s Lord of the Rings fame.

Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling

As if pro wrestling wasn’t already becoming cartoonish enough during the 1980s, CBS teamed with the then-named WWF for the often baffling Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling. I do wish wrestling organizations would attempt another animated series like this, even if this wasn’t the best example, with zero athletes voicing themselves. The show did boast Brad Garrett as the Hulkster, James Avery as Junkyard Dog, and more animated vets as the Superstars. 

Prostars

In the wake of Sports Illustrated for Kids’ popularity came the athlete-focused animated series Prostars, with icons Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretsky, and Bo Jackson as the lead characters. Despite live-action appearances, none of the three voiced their animated counterparts, who faced a slew of bonkers plotlines involving skeezy real estate developers, horse-nappers, mad scientists, pirates, and more. Had it lasted beyond a single season, perhaps we’d be pondering which of today's athletes would front an inevitable reboot.

The Herculoids

Debuting on CBS in 1967, Hanna-Barbera’s sci-fi adventure series The Herculoids only lasted for a single season initially, though Zandor, Tara & Co. were resurrected in shorter form in 1981. The characters were designed by animation and comic book icon Alex Toth, and while barely anyone still talks about the O.G. series, the characters have popped up for comedic effect in Family Guy, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law and Space Jam: The New Legacy. 

Hammerman

In the annals of pop culture curiosities, the existence of ABC’s short-lived cartoon Hammerman and its parachute pants loom large. Created by and starring rapper MC Hammer at the height of his fame, the series focused on a mild-mannered man who could transform into the titular superhero thanks to a pair of magical shoes. MC Hammer himself popped up in live-action on top of voicing the main role, but the show didn’t last for longer than a single season, and it wasn’t long before the rapper’s popularity also imploded.

Underdog

For a Saturday morning cartoon that first arrived in 1964, Underdog did have (four) TV legs thanks to years of Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network repeats, and a theme sampled on Wu-Tang Clan’s debut album. But the superhero canine show’s impact mostly came to a screeching heel after 2007’s lackluster live-action film, though it could easily return to form in the style of DreamWorks’ The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show. 

Tales From The Cryptkeeper

HBO’s live-action Tales from the Crypt horror anthology was popular enough that a Saturday morning cartoon was the abnormal next step. Thus, ABC debuted the Canadian-produced Tales from the Cryptkeeper in 1993, with the titular character’s voice actor John Kassir reprising the role. It’s obviously not as extreme as its premium cable cousin, but still works for kid-friendly frights, at least for those who remember it.

The Wuzzles

On paper, a Disney Animation series about adorable animal hybrid characters seems destined for years of TV seasons and merch campaigns. While The Wuzzles did spark a wave of toys and plushes, its TV longevity was not meant to be, debuting in September 1985 and then promptly shuttering production months later, despite actually being popular. Repeats shifted over to ABC, but no new episodes beyond the initial 13 were ever produced, limiting The Wuzzles’ fuzzy grip on the zeitgeist.

Groovie Ghoulies

One of many attempts to turn fans of Universal’s Classic Monsters into Saturday morning cartoon viewers, Groovie Ghoulies was a huge hit after its 1970 debut, thanks in part to a well-conceived pairing with Archie-familiar Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Despite all the good vibes and genre goodwill, Groovie Ghoulies didn’t go on to land a TGIF sitcom starring Melissa Joan Hart and is far less remembered than it deserves to be.

A Pup Named Scooby-Doo

The Mystery Machine gang fell prey to the “What if characters everyone loves were way younger?” concept with ABC’s A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, whose legacy as a fun spinoff is attributed to the talents of animator Tom Ruegger, who went on to create and produce classics like Tiny Toons Adventures and Batman: The Animated Series. Despite all the wacky villains and musical chases, the steady output of new Scooby-Doo series and straight-to-VOD animated features has muted much of the appreciation for Pup’s 1988-1991 run.

Gravedale High

Having conquered live-action comedy in the 1980s, Rick Moranis went 2D for NBC’s 1990 animated series Gravedale High, created by Child’s Play franchise producer David Kirschner. Moranis plays a teacher at a high school populated by horror movie character types, with all manner of vampires, zombies, mummies, and many more represented. It only ran for a single season, and seemingly went the way of The Invisible Man afterward. 

Snorks

Created largely to replicate The Smurfs’ massive success, Snorks debuted in 1984 with quite a few Smurfs voice actors within its cast, such as Rob Paulsen (Pinky and the Brain) and Michael Bell (G.I. Joe). And while the human-ish sea creatures were enjoyable enough to last for four seasons, their legacy as a Saturday morning cartoon is somewhat negligible.

Wish Kid

Macaulay Culkin could seemingly do no wrong after breakout roles in Uncle Buck and one of the ‘90s best family movies, Home Alone, but the short-lived 1991 toon Wish Kid is his earliest whiff. The premise of a boy with a wish-granting baseball mitt sounded perfect for the era, with Culkin doing his own voicework, but even the latter-year Home Alone sequels inspired way more conversations than this show has.

Camp Candy

John Candy delivered tons of genius comedy performances throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s (even if he wasn’t paid well for some of them), but one project that probably comes up fewer than any other is his Saturday morning toon Camp Candy. Debuting in 1989, the show is exactly like it sounds: Candy heads up a summer camp and attempts to teach kids skills and lessons, with varying degrees of success. What's not to like?

Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventures

Following the surprise success of the excellent (air guitar riff) sci-fi comedy Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, CBS and Hanna Barbera teamed up on a Saturday morning cartoon that retained stars Alex Winter, Keanu Reeves, and George Carlin, as well as the film's silliness. While perhaps not as memorable as the live-action sequels, the ‘toon still deserves to be in the same conversation, although we’re all better off completely forgetting about the non-non-heinous live-action TV spinoff.

Cool McCool

An animated mix of James Bond and Get Smart, NBC’s Cool McCool debuted in the same year as Adam West’s live-action Batman series and was intriguingly also co-developed by the caped crusader’s co-creator Bob Kane. (The show also featured standalone flashback adventures involving McCool’s father, which felt ahead of its time.) Alas, Cool McCool is nowhere near as fondly remembered as its influences, uncool as that may be. 

The Addams Family

The success of the 1991 live-action film bolstered ABC to debut the second animated take of The Addams Family, with John Astin reprising his Gomez role from the O.G. sitcom. The safe-for-kids macabre still made for plenty of fun stories across the two seasons, but its legacy quickly faded following Addams Family Values, while the pair of animated features and Netflix’s Wednesday have only helped to keep the Saturday morning series buried.

Little Rosey

Roseanne Barr may be most notable for creating, then being fired from, her own highly successful sitcom, but lower down on her list of accomplishments is creating a Saturday morning cartoon. The largely forgotten Little Rosey loosely adapted the comedienne’s childhood, though Barr didn’t voice the character during the lone season’s 13 episodes. She later joined then-hubby Tom Arnold in voicing the 1992 special The Rosey and Buddy Show, which was mostly unrelated and aired as a TGIF pilot. 

Rude Dog And The Dweebs

Only TV viewers of a certain age will remember the popularity of Rude Dog as an advertising mascot, which was large enough for CBS and Marvel Productions (yes, that Marvel) to obediently create an animated spinoff about Rude Dog and his multi-hued pals. It didn’t last longer than a single season, but boasted all-stars like Rob Paulsen (Animaniacs), Dave Coulier (Full House), Peter Cullen (Transformers), and Jim Cummings (Winnie the Pooh). 

Teen Wolf

Before Michael J. Fox’s wildly popular werewolf comedy Teen Wolf released its 1987 sequel, Scott Howard and his family faced more supernatural shenanigans in animated form for CBS’ same-named Saturday morning cartoon. It lasted for two seasons, airing right up until Teen Wolf Too’s release. But without Fox in the main role, this series is overshadowed by everything in both eras of the furry franchise. 

The Complete Mental Misadventures Of Ed Grimley

Martin Short’s impossible-to-contain Ed Grimley is one of few characters to jump from SCTV to Saturday Night Live, and was so popular that Short landed his own Saturday morning vehicle in the form of The Complete Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley. Airing for a single season in 1988, the show centered on Ed in a plethora of heightened storylines, with fellow sketch vets Catherine O’Hara and Joe Flaherty co-starring. 

Rubik, The Amazing Cube

It was never a rule that toys inspiring Saturday morning cartoons had to be humans or animals, but the ever-popular Rubik’s Cube remains an inspirational oddity as the source material for ABC’s 1983 effort Rubik, The Amazing Cube. It starred Welcome Back, Kotter’s Horshack actor Ron Palillo voicing the magically powered Rubik’s Cube, who befriends some kids while evading an evil magician. Whether the show helped or hurt toy sales is anyone’s guess.

The Barkleys

The classic sitcom All in the Family’s influence was large and immediate enough that just 18 months after its premiere on CBS, NBC unleashed The Barkleys, an animated comedy about a family of anthropomorphic dogs. Despite being co-created by Looney Tunes legend Friz Freling, Arnie Barkley’s fam just hasn’t stuck around in audiences’ minds the way Archie Bunker's has. 

Super Dave: Daredevil For Hire

Years before the late Bob Einstein’s winning runs on Curb Your Enthusiasm and Arrested Development, he awkwardly struck comedy gold as the disaster-prone daredevil/stuntman Super Dave Osborne, gaining popularity via the sketch series Bizarre and late-night talk show appearances. Einstein eventually fronted his own Saturday morning cartoon show alongside his live-action co-star Art Irizawa as assistant Fuji Hakayito, which only lasted for a single season of 13 episodes, but was a great take on the character nonetheless. 

Milton The Monster

The ‘50s and ‘60s were quite the heyday for creature-mashing crossovers, and ABC’s Milton the Monster remains an underrated entry. The toon centers on a twangy behemoth reminiscent of Universal’s Frankenstein monster, and features other oddities such as a superhero fly, a skull-faced ghoul, a cyclops, a robot, witches, zombies and more. But while Milton’s face may still be familiar enough, the show itself is less so.

Partridge Family 2200 A.D.

The Jetsons’ retrofuturism influence was key to the rather baffling Saturday-set spinoff Partridge Family 2200 A.D., which jettisoned the O.G. sitcom’s musical clan into the year 2200, with several of the sitcom’s child stars returning to voice their characters. Perhaps it’s understandable why no one talks about this show anymore. 

Nightmare Ned

The extremely rare Disney project that essentially stopped existing after it first aired, Nightmare Ned hit ABC’s Saturday morning lineup in April 1997, months ahead of a simultaneously produced PC game. The show’s titular nightmare sequences were lauded for being among Disney's more oddball and macabre Disney animations, even if the show itself fell apart due to creative differences behind the scenes. And it’s somehow never been available for home release.

Laff-A-Lympics

A more well-stocked expansion of Wacky Races, Laff-A-Lympics is essentially Battle of the Network Stars + The Amazing Race, with a smorgasbord of Hanna-Barbera’s most popular toons competing. The meta-ness of the crossover concept remains relatively unique to this day, and I’m honestly surprised that this all-star approach that is so common to live-action reality TV hasn’t been used more for comedic effect via animation, especially after Total Drama’s overall success. 

M.A.S.K.

While G.I. Joe, Transformers, and Masters of the Universe are the most-cited toy lines that sparked beloved animated series, there’s the less-remembered (though still quite popular, relatively speaking) M.A.S.K., short for “Mobile Armored Strike Kommand.” Studios banked hard on the vehicular action series, with a 65-episode first season, followed by a highly altered second season of only ten episodes. The characters were set to be part of Hasbro’s cinematic universe, but they later fell out of contention.

Monchhichis

Many times when animated series are based on already popular toy lines, the series themselves live on in some form of infamy. The same can’t quite be said about the monkey-esque creatures populating the Americanized Monchhichis series from Hanna-Barbera, which was based on the Japanese toon and toys. The single season of Monchhichis gained some popularity through cable re-airings after its initial 1983 run on ABC, but those recognizably chubby cheeks have largely been forgotten since.

Gilligan’s Planet

For all that the shipwrecked members of Gilligan’s Island have remained a beloved piece of TV history, the same can’t quite be said for the 1982 animated spinoff Gilligan’s Planet. The series’ clever-though-ridiculous premise hinged on everyone escaping the island in a Professor-crafted spaceship, leading to them crash-landing on an island-like planet. It featured the majority of the origins cast, save for Tina Louise (Ginger on the original show), but only lasted for 13 episodes. 

The Little Clowns Of Happytown

Lasting for a single season of ABC’s Saturday morning cartoon lineup, from 1987-88, The Little Clowns of Happytown is arguably more familiar for its frightening-without-context ensemble of face-painted characters such as Big Top, Hiccup, and Badum-Bump. Perhaps the most familiar thing about this show of all, though, is that it was developed by The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men’s Chuck Lorre.

When it comes to movie dogs, I'm sure we're all thinking the same thing – how cute they are and how, deep down, we would love to adopt them for our own houses. Or is that just me? I'm not sure, but here I am – begging the world to give me a chance to adopt the sweetest little animals that movies offer. So here are 32 movie dogs I would love to keep in my home – and the cute pictures we all need. 

Marley – Marley And Me 

Maybe Marley from Marley & Me was a little troublemaker, but what dog isn't really? They all have their training stage, and Marley's just happened to last a bit longer. And how can you look at Marley and not want to love him to death? He's adorable – even if he might cause your shoes to be torn up. 

Air Buddy – Air Bud 

Air Buddy from the Air Bud series is my dream dog. Athletic and, what's better, a Golden Retriever-- the type of dog that I've always wanted for years. There were plenty of movies in this franchise, so there are even more puppies and dogs to love, but I have to say the original beats every other. 

Lassie – The Lassie Series

I don't think many other dogs are as iconic as Lassie from the Lassie series. In many movies I've watched, mentioning Lassie or a callout to the famous dog is pretty memorable. And for good reason – Lassie was a good dog, the best one, and was probably one of the most heroic ones out there. 

Pongo And Perdita – 101 Dalmatians 

Pongo and Perdita were what I consider the O.G. dogs of Disney. Because everyone always thinks about how awesome 101 Dalmatians are. But that never would have started if Pongo and Perdita hadn't met in the first place – and tangled up their owners together, so there's that. 

Beethoven – Beethoven 

While I'm sure some of us may think of Beethoven as the composer, I'm talking about the other Beethoven. The movie where a dog, a Saint Bernard, was named Beethoven and was the most intelligent boy in the world. Little me still remembers watching the film on Disney Channel as a kid and wishing Beethoven was my dog. If I ever get a Saint Bernard, that's the first name that comes to mind. 

Scooby-Doo 

As a known fan of all the best Scooby-Doo movies and everything else involving that franchise, you can't get more iconic than Scooby-Doo himself. There's something so nostalgic about watching Scooby and the gang solve mysteries while seeing Scooby and Shaggy bond over the strangest food combinations. I'd rather be their friend and go out and try the best restaurants imaginable than solve mysteries all the time. 

Boss Dog – A Dog's Purpose

I dare you to watch this film and not cry. There are plenty of versions of dogs in A Dog's Purpose, but all are under the name Boss Dog, the type of dog that is reincarnated into different dogs to help humans through various lifetimes, passing from generation to generation. And I'm not crying; you are. I miss my childhood dog now. 

Lady And Tramp – Lady And The Tramp

Lady & the Tramp is one of those Disney movies that is hard to beat because how can you compare a romance to that of Lady & the Tramp? Two people from opposing backgrounds fall in love, a classic love story. And I'll admit I want both of them in my house so I can have all the cute little puppies that they had at the end of the film. 

Frank The Pug – Men In Black

I'll be honest and say that the Men in Black movies were some of my favorites to watch as a kid, mainly because they're some of Will Smith's best films and hilarious in so many ways. But you want to know what was even funnier? Frank the Pug. 

You can't get much better than a talking Pug that sounds like someone straight from Queens. As someone who grew up close to the city, I can confirm this is what they all sound like. There’s even a Men in Black newbie guide that explains how insane New York is. 

Gromit – Wallace And Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit

While Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit isn't my favorite stopmotion film of all time, there are plenty of moments about it that I do love. And one of which is Gromit, the second half of the title, which has some of the funniest moments of the film and makes me want to get my own Gromit to live my life to the absolute hilarious fullest. 

Snoopy – A Boy Named Charlie Brown

I mean, how can you not love Snoopy? While the iconic beagle certainly has had his moments of terror to Charlie Brown, there's a reason why he's become one of the faces of the Peanuts franchise. And every year, without fail, I will always watch the Peanuts holiday specials because my love for Snoopy grows even more. 

Dug – Up 

Dug is a character from Up that I'm pretty sure equals most dogs in today's society – they love their humans, would do anything to protect them, and often get distracted by other animals around them (i.e., squirrels). But Dug is just the sweetest boy, and fans saw that, too. He even got his own Up Disney+ spinoff show that featured several shorts around his and Carl's life after the movie. 

Daisy – John Wick 

You don't mess with John Wick's dog. 

Okay, so this is honestly a sad pick to put on this list. But Daisy was the dog that set off the events of the John Wick movies. And yes, I know, we barely see her. But honestly, after seeing how adorable Daisy is, one can understand why John did what he did. I, too, would become an assassin again just to take out the people who hurt my animals. 

Hooch – Turner & Hooch

Another iconic dog from the old days is Hooch from Turner & Hooch. The dog was the epitome of the best partner in crime to Tom Hanks' Turner, and when these two were on the case, it would be solved so quickly. Hooch was a little crazy, but that makes the movie so much fun, and by the end, he and Turner make a great team. 

Old Yeller – Old Yeller 

Of course, we have to put Old Yeller on the list from Old Yeller. It's probably as old and iconic of a dog as you can get – aside from one other, which we will get into in a bit. But Old Yeller is quite possibly the best dog due to his loyalty, devotion, and anything else you could imagine. I'm sure many people came to love dogs from this movie and Old Yeller. 

Max – How The Grinch Stole Christmas 

Whether you're referring to the animated Max from the How the Grinch Stole Christmas special (which I still believe is the best Christmas special to this day), the 2019 film, or the live-action retelling starring Jim Carrey, Max is the best boy. 

While he certainly doesn't deserve the abuse that the Grinch puts him through in the first half of the story, you can't deny his loyalty and how, even in the end, when the Grinch changes, he sticks by him. 

Peg – Lady And The Tramp

Peg is one of the other dogs from Lady and the Tramp I love because how can you not love her? Not only am I jealous of a dog's hair routine because her fur is fluffy, but Peg has the voice of an angel. And honestly, in the live-action version, her iconic song "He's a Tramp" is sung by Janelle Monáe and is the best part of that Disney live-action. 

Zero – The Nightmare Before Christmas

In one of the best stop motion films ever, The Nightmare Before Christmas features Zero, a ghost dog. Could you technically house him? I mean, if you're looking for a poltergeist, sure. But he's a resident of Halloween Town. Either way, Zero is pretty cute, and there's no denying his sweet partnership with Jack Skellington. 

Sparky – Frankenweenie 

Another stop motion film that I like is Frankenweenie, and in that, we are introduced to Sparky. This dog is unfortunately killed and brought back to life by his owner, Victor Frankenstein. Even as a reanimated corpse, Sparky is the sweetest dog and brings so much energy to a character that is supposed to have passed on. But you can't help but love him. 

Buster – Toy Story Franchise

I remember seeing Buster in later Toy Story movies and thinking how progressive the age was for him. Because, if you recall, Buster was full of energy in the second film, where we see him on screen for the first time. And then, in the third, he's just a tired dog, relaxing every day. But no matter how you look at him, Buster is another cute Pixar animal. 

The Dog – The Artist 

In the Academy Award-winning film The Artist, "The Dog" is a Jack Russell Terrier who steals every scene he is in, no matter what he is doing. The animal even rescued someone from a fire – a literal burning building. How can you not love a dog that is willing to do that? 

Sam – I Am Legend 

Okay, so zombie movies are probably some of my favorite movies. I even rewatched Train to Busan and put myself through that trauma again. But as much as I also like I Am Legend, I don't think I can watch it again because we all know what happens to Sam halfway through. 

Even so, Sam was a good boy, and I would steal him away from this movie so he could live a long life in a world that is not surrounded by bloodthirsty creatures. 

Bolt – Bolt 

Bolt is a movie from the late 2000s Disney when they were trying to get into CGI films a little more, and Bolt was the main star. He was raised as a dog who was thought to have superpowers for a show he was on, but he found out that he was just a regular dog. Even so, Bolt was an adorable animal – and I would adopt him in a heartbeat. 

Toto – The Wizard Of Oz

The Wizard of Oz is quite possibly the most iconic movie of all time, and in that film, we are introduced to Toto, Dorothy's dog. You know that line, "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore"? That was referring to him. And yes, I would die for Toto. You can even watch the movie as part of the best movies on Max to check out and fall in love with Toto all over again. 

Enzo – The Art Of Racing In The Rain 

Am I putting another Golden Retriever on here? Yes, I am, but it's my list, so I get to say who iconic dogs are and look at Enzo. 

The Art of Racing in the Rain was one of Amanda Seyfried's best movies and a significant starring role for Milo Ventimiglia, but no one stole the show quite like Enzo. He's the sweetest boy and was always there for his owner, and the movie's ending will quite literally gut-punch you in the best way.  

Every Dog – Isle Of Dogs

I have watched every Wes Anderson movie, and Isle of Dogs is pretty high up there. But it's not my favorite, although the dogs are super unique. Literally every single dog in this stop motion movie has a new look, without fail. 

Baxter – Anchorman 

You can't get better than Ron Burgundy in comedy; of course, his little dog Baxter is the cutest pup in the world. It's hilarious to watch Burgundy in Anchorman speak to the dog in such a personal way because I'm pretty sure we all have had moments where our dog becomes our therapist. Baxter is the best; no questions about it. 

Bruiser – Legally Blonde

When you have a character as iconic as Elle Woods, you need a just as awesome dog. And Bruiser is that. 

Legally Blonde is one of Reese Witherspoon's best movies, and Bruiser was a great addition that completed how excellent the film is. He was played by a little Chihuahua who was there for Elle through her darkest times at Harvard and stood by her through everything. And in the second film it's revealed that Bruiser is part of the LGBTQ+ community, so he's even more iconic. We can't help but be fans. 

Nana – Peter Pan 

In Peter Pan, Nana is the dog that cares for the Darling children. And yes, I would would love for Nana to take care of me. I wish I could train a dog to bring me my food, but at the same time, I would give that dog so many pets they wouldn't even know how to handle it. So cute. 

Copper – The Fox And The Hound

As a society, we all have a collective group of movies that first made us cry, and for me, that was The Fox and the Hound, and when the titular characters became enemies due to their upbringing. But Copper still let his friendship with Tod ring true at the end, letting him live despite his owner wanting him to take out the Fox. It's all very sweet.

Charlie B. Barkin – All Dogs Go To Heaven 

I can't write this entry without crying, so I'll keep it short. Charlie B. Barkin was a good boy, and yes, I believe that dogs go to heaven when we die because of him in All Dogs Go to Heaven. 

Shadow – Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey 

We have a third Golden Retriever on here, and I stand by Shadow from Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey. He is so loyal to his friends that he has to travel across the country, and how he believes in the world is the kind of encouragement we all need. 

There are so many movie dogs out there that are the absolute sweetest – and now, I feel the need to go to an animal shelter and adopt every single one. This article was a great idea but a bad one, too. Maybe I'll stick to watching these movies. 

When I’m not in a theme park, I spend my time wishing I was in a theme park. While that usually means getting a look at somebody on social media at Disneyland and wishing I was there as well, the feeling isn’t limited to real theme parks. When I see a fictional theme park in a movie or TV series I feel largely the same way. And, perhaps the feeling is worse because that’s a place I’ll never even be able to go.

Sometimes, when a movie needs a theme park or amusement park for the story, they visit someplace real, even Disneyland has played itself in a couple of films. Sometimes a real park becomes a stand-in for something invented. Other times the fictional theme park is entirely invented, and thus has no restraints in its creation, which of course, makes it seem like the greatest theme park ever.

Walley World (National Lampoon's Vacation)

The greatest of all fictional theme parks has to be National Lampoon’s Vacation’s Walley World. It’s the ultimate destination vacation, as the movie is entirely about the attempts to simply get there. Of course, when they do, they discover the park is closed. Imagine getting to Orlando to discover not only closed Disney World attractions but a closed park.

Walley World is very literally inspired by Disneyland. However, Six Flags Magic Mountain was the park used to create Walley World in the original Vacation, and Magic Mountain is an excellent park, especially if you’re a serious roller coaster enthusiast. But, there’s something about the anticipation that builds up in the movie for Walley World that even the real Magic Mountain couldn’t possibly provide. Also, Magic Mountain doesn’t have a ridiculous Moose mascot.

Spooky Island (Scooby-Doo)

If there’s anything that Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights have taught us, it’s that horror and theme parks go great together. Universal is going so far as to build a permanent Horror Nights’ inspired spot in Las Vegas, but wouldn’t it be great if there was an entire, full-sized, theme park dedicated to horror? This is why Spooky Island from the Scooby-Doo movie would be so great to visit.

Entire attractions dedicated to horror themes, and even a Spooky Hotel, would have made Spooky Island a great place for horror fans to go, assuming there wasn’t somebody trying to steal your actual soul while you were on vacation. 

Luna Park (Futurama)

There are several reasons that Futurama’s Luna Park is a theme park we’re desperate to visit. First off, it’s on the freaking moon. Maybe people in the future will find a theme park on the moon so common as to be dull, but we’re with Fry. It’s a theme park… on the moon. How could you not want to go? Also, Whalers on the Moon looks like fun.

Luna Park is also a fantastic park because, for all its futuristic elements, it’s also a total throwback. Luna Park was one of the first American amusement parks, built on Coney Island in the early 1900s. It also, perhaps not coincidently, included a “trip to the Moon” attraction. The symmetry is too good to pass up. 

WonderWorld (Beverly Hills Cop III)

In a lot of ways, the theme park in Beverly Hills Cop III could be just any park. It was primarily shot at Northern California’s Paramount’s (now California’s) Great America, which (though it has seen better days more recently) was a nice enough place at the time. However, the film goes hard to make WonderWorld a true rival to Disneyland, making it a place that would be worth checking out.

WonderWorld has a full cast of original animal mascot characters like Mickey Mouse and his friends, and the park even has its own theme song, which was brilliantly written by Richard and Bob Sherman, the same duo responsible for some of the most popular Disneyland music, like the iconic “It’s a Small World” and the music of the Enchanted Tiki Room. That elevates WonderWorld beyond a simple theme park and into something quite special. 

Pacific Playland (Zombieland)

If I found myself in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, I wouldn’t even need to be told there was a theme park or amusement park free of the undead before I headed there. I honestly can’t think of a place I’d rather spend the end of my days. Even if the rides aren’t actually working it would still be a lot of fun to hang out. 

Pacific Playland is the destination for our band of heroes in Zombieland, and somewhat surprisingly, it actually is the zombie-free haven they believed it would be. They get inside and get to hang out and have some fun while zombies simply look on from outside the fence. Living in a theme park is literally the dream. It's why Disney is now building planned communities. It doesn’t work out in the movie, but now that you’ve seen it, if the zombies do come you know what not to do.

Action Point (Action Point)

Action Point, from the movie of the same name, is a bit of a cheat when it comes to fictional theme parks because, while it was filmed in South Africa, Action Point is based on a very real place, New Jersey’s Action Park, which became infamous for its attractions that were deemed so thrilling that many were legitimately dangerous.

Still, there was a reason that so many flocked to Action Park. There was truly nothing else quite like it, and the fact that the park no longer exists, in reality, makes the fictional version from Action Point that much more enticing. How bad could it be? After all our Action Point review said the movie version was quite good.

Jurassic Park (Jurassic Park/Jurassic World)

Is there a greater movie theme park than Jurassic Park? Yes, when the dinosaurs get loose people get eaten and that’s terrible. But other than that I mean? In Jurassic World, it’s clear that the park has been running for years without incident and that is the park that we need to actually exist. 

The park looks massive, and the attractions are incredible. Oh, and also, it’s full of freaking dinosaurs. Who could possibly pass that up, even if there’s a slight chance you might get eaten?

When theme parks do their job, they make you feel like you've been transported to another place. The same is true of a great movie. So, theme parks in movies, when done well, must have even more magic to make us want to visit them.

Over 20 years after its release, 2002’s Scooby-Doo remains a beloved fantasy-comedy. The big-screen adaptation, which was written by James Gunn and directed by Raja Gosnell, arguably endeared itself to audiences through its playful tone and reverence to its cartoon roots. But one of its biggest highlights, however, is its impeccable cast, which includes Freddie Prinze Jr. as Fred Jones. Though many people love Prinze in the role of Mystery Inc.’s leader, the actor himself apparently has “regret” over doing the movie and its 2004 sequel, Monsters Unleashed. However, while explaining that remorse, he also revealed the moment that he truly came to appreciate the two flicks.

If there’s anything you need to know about Freddie Prinze Jr., it’s that he doesn’t mince words when it comes to his experiences in Hollywood. That includes his time working on Warner Bros.’ big-screen Scooby-Doo duology. The fan-favorite actor was recently asked if he’d consider doing an adult-skewing third movie in the series. Alas, fans may be sad to hear that Prinze isn’t interested, and he attributes that to his dealings with the studio back in the day:

The I Know What You Did Last Summer icon later reasoned that even though decades have passed, some of the same execs are probably still at the studio. And as he also explained during the interview with TooFab, after someone lies to him once, they’re “dead to me.” So it would seem that the leading man has a “fool me once…” sort of mentality when it comes to his business dealings. Though it’s sad to hear that he wouldn’t reconsider playing Fred again, one can definitely understand his feelings on the matter. 

On a more heartwarming note though, Freddie Prinze Jr.’s view of the movies themselves has changed for the better over the years. The 47-year-old actor explained that this is due to his sweet encounters with fans:

There’s definitely a lot of nostalgia wrapped around those Scooby-Doo movies, which have trended on Netflix off and on over the years. In that time, the cast and crew have also shared details about the first film’s original tone, which was more so geared towards adults. James Gunn previously revealed that Velma was gay in his OG script. Daphne actress (and Freddie Prinze Jr.'s loving wife) Sarah Michelle Gellar recently revealed a deleted line directed at Fred’s sexuality. In addition, Gellar recently shared thoughts on a third movie and doesn’t seem to think it’ll happen since WB is mostly focusing on animated Mystery Inc. fare these days.

Though another installment doesn’t seem to be in the cards, the first two are sure to remain in the hearts and minds of fans for years to come. And I’d certainly agree with Freddie Prinze Jr. when he says that he, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Linda Cardellini, Matthew Lillard and co. “did good.”

Those who’d like to revisit Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed can do so by streaming them for free on Tubi.

Sarah Michelle Gellar had some of the most iconic roles of the '90s and early 2000s. From Buffy to Kathryn to Daphne to Helen, she commanded the screen and made you love her or love to hate her. The best Sarah Michelle Gellar movies and TV shows always left an impression. Her characters highlighted their knack for saving the world (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or showed their versatility and ability to embrace a goofy premise (Scooby-Doo). These films and shows, even decades later, remain a major part of our streaming habits.

Who doesn’t love to rewatch the best Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes? Or mourn what Ringer or The Crazy Ones could have been by streaming them? Sarah Michelle Gellar’s career continues to evolve but some of her most beloved and best TV shows and movies have found new audiences through the power of streaming services. 

Therefore, if you already love the Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress or have just discovered her work, here are some of the best Sarah Michelle Gellar movies and TV shows and where to watch them. 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003) 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a series based on a movie of the same name. The show follows Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), a teen girl chosen to fight vampires and other demons. The show ran for seven seasons and had one spin-off series, Angel. 

“In every generation, there is a chosen one. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness. She is the slayer.” You can’t hear that opening and not automatically think of Sarah Michelle Gellar. In a not-so-distant future, there may be a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot that actually happens, but it’s hard to imagine anyone embodying Buffy the way Sarah Michelle Gellar did — even though she didn’t originate the character. 

Buffy and Sarah Michelle Gellar are forever linked in the eyes of many fans. There is no true Buffy without her.

Stream Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Hulu.
Rent/buy Buffy the Vampire Slayer digitally on Amazon.  

Cruel Intentions (1999) 

Cruel Intentions follows two rich step-siblings who make a bet and an indecent proposal. It’s also all about how they use and mistreat other students until one falls in love and has a change of heart. Cruel Intentions stars Ryan Phillippe, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Reese Witherspoon, and Selma Blair. It’s a modern retelling of the novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses.

All My Children fans know that this isn’t Sarah Michelle Gellar’s first bad-girl role but it may be her most well-known. Cruel Intentions proves that she can completely take on any role and nail it.

Stream Cruel Intentions on Paramount+.
Rent/buy Cruel Intentions on Amazon.

The Scooby-Doo Movies (2002, 2004) 

The Scooby-Doo movies are live-action versions of the popular mainly-'70s cartoon series.  Scooby-Doo: The Movie premiered in 2002 and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed premiered in 2004. They star Sarah Michelle Gellar, Linda Cardellini, Freddie Prinze Jr., Matthew Lillard, and a CGI dog as the famous Scooby gang and Scooby himself.

The original animated series is about a dog and humans solving crimes while driving around in a colorful van called The Mystery Machine. It’s a very unserious show. The films embrace this by being playful and silly. Sarah Michelle Gellar plays Daphne and gives one of her goofiest performances. I loved every second of it.

Rent/buy Scooby-Doo: The Movie on Amazon.
Rent/buy Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed on Amazon.

The Grudge (2004) 

Based on the Japanese horror modern classic Ju-on: The Grudge, The Grudge follows Karen Davis (Sarah Michelle Gellar) as she must try to escape vengeful ghosts and a deadly curse before it consumes her and others. 

The Grudge is not the best horror movie of all time but it’s scary and interesting enough to keep you engaged. Also, it’s one of the few Sarah Michelle Gellar horror movies where she makes it at least to the sequel. 

Stream The Grudge on Starz.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) 

I Know What You Did Last Summer follows a group of friends who accidentally kill a man and then cover up the incident. A year later they’re stalked and hunted by a mysterious figure who knows their crime. It stars Jennifer Love Hewitt, Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Ryan Phillippe.

I Know What You Did Last Summer happened during the rise of slasher films in the '90s. It also happened when Sarah Michelle Gellar was in her horror-movie queen era. If you enjoy slasher films, it’s definitely an entertaining entry into the genre. Also, it’s the film that began Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar’s friendship that grew into love and a 20+ year marriage. It’s a must-watch for giving us this iconic celebrity couple.

Stream I Know What You Did Last Summer on Netflix.
Rent/buy I Know What You Did Last Summer on Amazon.

Simply Irresistible (1999) 

Simply Irresistible is an underrated romantic comedy starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sean Patrick Flanery. It’s a romantic comedy that involves some magic and plenty of horny people eating food. Amanda (Sarah Michelle Gellar) develops the magic ability to cook irresistible food. This power brings her and those around her love.

Simply Irresistible is a charming romantic comedy that shows the power of good food and following your heart. Sarah Michelle Gellar should have been a romantic comedy leading lady, but, unfortunately, Simply Irresistible is one of her few entries into that genre. It’s not one of the best romantic comedies of all time but definitely worth a watch just for something different in the romantic comedy world.

Stream Simply Irresistible on Starz.

Ringer (2011-2012) 

Sarah Michelle Gellar plays twins, Bridget Kelly and Siobhan Martin on Ringer. It was a CW crime thriller that involved murder, impersonations, affairs, and many other scandalous things. Though this series was definitely not a Shakespearean-level drama, it had its charms. 

Ringer had a great cast that included Ioan Gruffudd, Nestor Carbonell, Mike Colter, Zoey Deutch, Justin Bruening, and Jason Dohring. It also included guest appearances by Misha Collins, Jonathan Banks, and Amber Benson. The series had an intriguing mystery that ended on a cliffhanger because it happened during a time when the CW did more canceling than renewing (history seems to be repeating itself). Ringer was a show that could have been great with enough time to figure itself out.

Stream Ringer on The CW app.
Buy Ringer on Vudu.

Do Revenge (2022) 

Drea (Camila Mendes) and Eleanor (Maya Hawke) team up and decide to exact revenge on everyone who they deemed has wronged them. The pair instantly bond as they try to ruin lives. Sarah Michelle Gellar plays their school’s headmistress. Do Revenge is a fun black comedy with plenty of teen movie references.

It’s a film that makes you nostalgic for that era and genre of movies, and it makes you appreciate those who made them great, such as Sarah Michelle Gellar. It’s one of Netflix’s best original movies because it highlights the absurdity of late-'90s and early-2000s teen films, while also loving and respecting them. 

Stream Do Revenge on Netflix.

The Crazy Ones (2013-2014) 

David E. Kelley created The Crazy One, a CBS sitcom that followed a father-daughter duo who ran an ad agency in Chicago. It starred Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar. The supporting cast included James Wolk, Amanda Setton, and Hamish Linklater.

The Crazy Ones is a show that was canceled far too soon. It was a fun series that was charismatic, sincere, and entertaining. It was an entertaining show that could have been great if the team behind it was allowed to develop it past one season. The Crazy One joins the club of good shows canceled after a single season.

Buy The Crazy Ones on Amazon.

Wolf Pack (2023 - ) 

Wolf Pack is a Paramount+ original series that follows a group of young werewolves. Though by the creator of Teen Wolf, Jeff Davis, it is not a spin-off show. It’s its own werewolf series. Wolf Pack is based on Edo van Belkom’s book of the same name. 

The series includes an array of young actors, including Armani Jackson, Bella Shepard, Chloe Rose Robertson, and Tyler Lawrence Gray. Rodrigo Santoro and Sarah Michelle Gellar also star. Gellar plays Kristin Ramsey, She’s the Chief LAFD arson investigator. Though we thought there wasn’t enough of her in the first episode, she still has a major role in Wolf Pack.

Stream Wolf Pack on Paramount+. 

Veronika Decides To Die (2009) 

Veronika Decides to Die is based on Paulo Coelho’s book of the same name. Veronika (Sarah Michelle Gellar) attempts to die by suicide. She overdoses on some pills and ends up in a psychiatric hospital. Her attempt to die leaves her with an aneurysm that will kill her in weeks.

Veronika’s time in the hospital allows her to gain a new appreciation for life and living. Veronika Decides to Die is one of Sarah Michelle Gellar’s lesser-known projects, so it may be a good film to watch if you’ve seen all her previous works and looking for something new to stream.

Stream Veronika Decides to Die on Tubi.

The Air I Breathe (2007) 

The Air I Breathe features an ensemble cast that includes Julie Delpy, Brendan Fraser, Andy Garcia, and Sarah Michelle Gellar. The film’s writer and director Jieho Lee based the film's concept on a Chinese proverb that puts life into four categories: happiness, pleasure, sorrow, and love. 

Each of the film’s characters represents one of those emotions. They are also all linked, as these emotions cannot exist without others or in isolation. The Air I Breathe is also a lesser known Sarah Michelle Gellar film, so you should add it to your to-watch list if you haven’t seen it already. 

Stream The Air I Breathe on Tubi.
Rent/buy The Air I Breathe on Amazon.

With her appearances in Do Revenge and Wolf Pack, we hope Sarah Michelle Gellar will start to take on more projects. We can’t wait to see this list grow with other great future Sarah Michelle Gellar projects. 

Among the best Scooby-Doo movies over the years was the 2002 live-action movie starring real-life couple Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. as Daphne and Fred alongside Matthew Lillard’s Fred and Linda Cardelini’s Velma. The movie that was actually written by Guardian of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad’s James Gunn, was originally rated-R, and as Gellar recently shared, had a deleted line that addressed rumors about Fred’s sexuality that fans have often speculated. 

While Sarah Michelle Gellar was promoting her return to her roots in supernatural TV with Wolf Pack, the actress was asked about what could have been on the 2002 comedy. In response, the actress shared that not only did the movie cut a “steamy” kiss between her Daphne and Cardelini’s Velma, but this moment almost happened:  

Over the years, fans have speculated that Fred Jones is actually gay, usually because of his choice of outfit. As Sarah Michelle Gellar shared on Watch What Happens With Andy Cohen, the topic would have come up during a fight between Daphne and Fred. The Buffy actress also said she loved the line so much that it was one of the reasons she wanted to star in the Scooby-Doo movie. However, Warner Bros ended up walking back on the 2002 movie’s more edgy elements and kept Gunn's take on  the Scooby-Doo gang's more fluid sexualities out of it. Check out Gellar’s response on the TV appearance: 

Over a decade ago, Matthew Lillard spoke about this element to the movie on a Reddit Q&A too, sharing that the movie used to be geared to adults a lot more. The Shaggy actor explained that Fred was gay in the movie but when they tested the R-rated cut “parents flipped their lids” and Warner Bros didn’t want to risk the backlash. 

Funny enough, the latest Scooby-Doo entry is a mature animated series called Velma, which has been slammed by critics and viewers for the changes made to the classic cartoon, which includes the series exploring a love story between Daphne and Velma. Surely, audiences in 2002 would have had a problem with an R-rated cut of Scooby-Doo as well. 

Even so, it does make one wonder what the original live-action Doo movie could have been like. Sarah Michelle Gellar isn’t pushing for a Scooby-Doo 3, but you can see her in the new teen werewolf series, Wolf Pack, now streaming with a Paramount+ subscription. 

Since debuting in 1969, there have been countless iterations of Scooby-Doo and the gang. Ranking amongst some of the best Scooby movies are the 2002 and 2004 live-action takes on the beloved franchise. One of the film’s stars, Sarah Michelle Gellar, has recently shared her thoughts on whether or not a Scooby-Doo 3 is still possible all these years later.

While promoting her new television series Wolf Pack (available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription), Gellar was interviewed by ET, who asked the actress what it would take to get the live-action Mystery Inc. gang back together again. While the Buffy star doesn’t rule a third Scooby movie out, she, to fans’ possible chagrin, didn’t say yes either. Gellar said:

The actress is, of course, referencing HBO’s controversial adult Scooby-Doo-less reimagining of the property, Velma. The animated series, which was developed by and starring Mindy Kaling as the titular heroine, has been slammed by critics and viewers alike since its premiere. Many viewers have pointed out the “unpleasant” nature of the characters and how it even belongs in the Scooby-Doo universe instead of being an original show. While the series has been slammed, it does have some redeemable aspects, which you can see for yourself in our list of things that aren’t complete garbage. 

Those upset about the NSFW aspect of Velma should know the original script penned by James Gunn was intended to be rated R, and they had to use CGI on unwanted cleavage. Yep. Velma isn’t the first crack at an adult-only version of your favorite lovable talking dog. The negative response Velma has received could make the desire for a sequel to the James Gunn-penned live-action film franchise more appealing to the powers that be. Never say never! 

While a Mystery Gang reunion isn’t entirely on the schedule of new movie releases, fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (our ranking of every season) were treated to a mini-reunion on the red carpet between Gellar and her longtime Buffy costar, James Marsters. The actress also answered questions about whether she’ll re-team with her husband, Freddie Prince Jr., for Wolf Pack--which would be a small Scooby-Doo reunion in its own right. She said:

There you have it, Scooby fans. It’s not a yes or a no to a possible third film starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr., Matthew Lillard, and Linda Cardellini as our beloved team. So, this lifelong fan chooses to stay optimistic about the prospects of a third movie in the franchise. 

Sarah Michelle Gellar can be seen next on the 2023 television schedule in her Paramount+ supernatural series Wolf Pack, based on the Edo Van Belkom book series.  

Mild spoilers below for the early episodes of Velma. 

Almost as if it was the result of a masked villain’s terror-fueled antics, HBO Max’s latest meddling foray into adult animation, the Scooby-Doo-less prequel Velma, has been subject to some wildly negative critical reviews, viewer reactions, social media commentary, and other forms of brutal lambasting. And not even the same ignorance-based criticisms (at least entirely) that came out when it was revealed Velma’s central character would be an Indian teen voiced by Mindy Kaling, but rather some astute and fairly on-point judgment calls. Almost offensively too self-aware? Yep. Too grossly horny to balance out its sex positivity? Yep. Boasting an overeagerness to treat Scooby-Doo history as snarkily as possible? For the most part. But it’s not necessarily the avoid-at-all-costs trainwreck that it’s being perceived as.

Even in today’s plague of pop culture oversaturation, it’s pretty hard for any piece of entertainment to get released that is inarguably 100% absent of value, and the same goes for Velma. As such, here are five things that are still worth highlighting and celebrating about the NSFW series.  

The Entire Cast's Voice-Acting Skills

For all the complaints aimed at Velma’s content and characters, far fewer are criticisms aimed directly at the performances of the star-studded cast. The core Mystery Inc. characters are voiced with aplomb by the aforementioned Mindy Kaling as Velma; It’s Always Sunny’s Glenn Howerton as the infantile Fred; Veep vet Sam Richardson as the race-swapped proto-Shaggy, Norville; and Crazy Rich Asians’ Constance Wu as Daphne. Beyond those talents, Velma boasts a wide variety of talented co-stars in Nicole Byer (Nailed It), stand-up comedians Fortune Feimster and Russell Peters, Melissa Fumero (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Sarayu Blue (Never Have I Ever), Yvonne Orji (Insecure), Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws), Jane Lynch (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and Office Space co-stars Stephen Root and Gary Cole. That’s not even an exhaustive list, either, as Scooby-Doo’s voice himself Frank Welker is also in the mix.

Velma's Horror-Tinged Animation Looks Pretty Awesome

I don't so much dig the concept of Velma sporadically hallucinating whenever mystery-solving is addressed — not only for being similar to Wednesday, since I don't really like her "vision" power either. But those hallucinations are admittedly where Velma's animation is at its best, and it achieves a semblance of the legitimately creepy visuals occasionally conjured up by Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? and the many different spinoffs over the years. But even outside of those segments, Velma has quite a few macabre and vivid moments that would serve as excellent posters for a horror fan's walls. 

The Jokes That AREN'T Overly Meta Or About Sex And Drugs Are Funny

All the fan goodwill that accompanied Velma's first LGBTQ+ storyline in the 2022 feature Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo! has largely been lost within Velma's sloppy sheets, but most of the time when the show opts for situational humor, or jokes born out of complete randomness, it can indeed inspire audible snorts and chortles. I really don't need Norville's character development being split between lackluster weed references and lusting over Velma, but I could spend all day listening to Sam Richardson generally musing about whatever weirdness is happening. This show is also a veritable buffet for anyone who particularly enjoys self-deprecating humor, though I’ll admit that it does get a bit too needlessly hateful with these beloved characters. 

Daphne's Moms Are The Best

Even though I already put a spotlight on the voice cast at large, it's worth doubling down to celebrate Jane Lynch and Wanda Sykes for voicing arguably Velma's best characters, Donna and Linda. The pair serve as Daphne's moms, as well as bumbling police officers, and they fit squarely into the sillier side of things, where just pronouncing a word a certain way can spark giggles. Perhaps my appreciation is tied also to the fact that, at least for the first batch of episodes, Donna and Linda's relationship to each other and to Daphne isn't endlessly mined for trite lesbian jokes and mixed race gags that would have seemed inevitable based on a lot of the other humor.

Velma's Aesthetic Callbacks To Scooby-Doo Lore

As indicated above, Velma can often be its own worst enemy when referencing well-established Scooby-Doo elements and lore, as it wields the heaviest of tools to hammer things home. Which inevitably adds more enjoyment to the fan service-y details that don't scream at viewers to acknowledge them. Such as posters and other imagery of classic villains and monster costumes. (Those specific details, as seen above, also warrant an interesting thought experiment about what those images are actually depicting within this universe.) Other bits, such as the screennames above, serve as references to Scrappy-Doo, obviously, but also to Scooby-Doo co-creator Joe Ruby (who also served as the name sake for the titular Great Dane's sister Ruby), and to The Hex Girls rock band that first appeared in Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost before later showing up in various other projects. References like those are a lot more fun to think about when viewers aren't being bludgeoned with them.

So while you won't find me going to bat in saying Velma was absolutely worth everyone's efforts, I also don't think the seemingly endless hatred pointed in its direction is warranted, either. As it goes with most shows, those who don't like it don't need to watch it, with the comfort of assuming HBO Max might have blindly cancelled it anyway.

Velma streams new episodes each Thursday for everyone with HBO Max subscriptions, with two episodes dropping each week. Head to our 2023 TV premiere schedule to see what new and returning shows are dropping that hopefully won’t turn the Internet into an upside-down dumpster fire.

SPOILERS are ahead for the first two episodes of Velma, now streaming with an HBO Max subscription. Tread lightly if you don’t want the early mysteries of the series revealed. 

Scooby-Doo has been a mainstay on television ever since CBS premiered its first series back in 1969 with the same ingredients in place: a group of four teenagers, a Great Dane named Scooby-Doo and their trusty The Mystery Machine solving supernatural mysteries. Over more than fifty years, the Scooby-Doo franchise has remained one of the most popular TV cartoon series of all time and found many iterations, from the live-action Scooby-Doo movies, to numerous animated films and TV shows. The latest from the property, HBO Max’s Velma, from producer and star Mindy Kaling, is looking to be the most controversial yet due to the many ways it updates the classic Scooby-Doo gang. 

When the series starring an Indian Velma premiered last week, critics and audiences alike slammed the show for changing the identities of many of the characters. The reaction isn’t surprising given Velma totally recontextualizes them for a contemporary and adult audience. Having tuned into Velma after being a longtime fan of the franchise, I totally see why many will stop in their tracks of all the changes here. But, rather than moving Velma right to the doghouse, I want to talk through how exactly the series is seeking to revise the classic Scooby-Doo gang. 

Mindy Kaling’s South Asian Velma Has Depth And Mystery

When executive producer and the new voice of Velma, Mindy Kaling, previously spoke to the decision to change the Scooby-Doo character’s race, The Office star shared that they felt that the character was “not necessarily tied to her whiteness.” Additionally, Kaling felt she could personally identify so much with Velma, so they decided to make her Indian like her for the series. Velma feels like a completely new version of the character, who doesn’t hold the same innocent “jinkies!” just-lost-her-glasses at all times presentation of previous iterations, though does embody her to essence to a degree. Rather, it seems the writers were going for a more realistic depiction of who a Velma would be in 2023, with a new backstory and all. 

Although Kaling’s Velma doesn't have the same sweet charm of the original character for sure, she does have an increasingly interesting backstory as the show unfolds that we've not seen from the teen detective before. As we learn early in the show, she’s been long haunted by her mother leaving her and her father when she was a child and how it’s connected with her love for solving mysteries. At the moment, she’s too traumatized by her abandonment issues to go into mystery mode, but as the season presents a tantalizing one for her to dig into, it looks like she’ll have to face her fears and embrace her character’s destiny. 

Velma Is A Super Raunchy Adult Animation Series 

Another difference between Velma and the Scooby-Doo we know is through the fact that it is no longer an all-ages affair. The property has been rated G for decades, except for the R-rated James Gunn movie that never came to be, but this HBO Max series imagines it as a purely adult animation property that very much is walking right past its family-friendly roots in fun and cheeky ways. And yes, that’s the slippery slope for Velma since casual audiences clicking on the series might assume it's adhering to its typical branding, along with the assumption that animation is typically for kids. 

Though, the case I’ll make here is this is for the curious who don’t mind seeing the book thrown out to see these characters conceptualized in entirely different ways. What if Scooby-Doo had debuted today without its half a century of nostalgia for an adult audience? To determine whether that is your cup of tea, the question you have to ask yourself is if you can laugh at these characters in this reimagining or are they too precious to you to be desanitized?  

The Series Reimagines How The Scooby-Doo Gang Came Together 

Noticeably absent from Velma is Scooby-Doo himself, but as it’s made apparent in the intro episodes for the HBO Max series, it will explore how Velma, Daphne, Shaggy and Fred come together and perhaps become a mystery-solving team. We’ve seen prequel type stories for the Scooby-Doo gang before, but this one uses its modern and adult spin to craft how the four unlikely crew become entangled together through this lens. 

The first season revolves around a string of brutal killings at their high school where popular girls are found dead with their brains removed from their bodies. Velma becomes the first suspect of the case before Fred gets accused and prosecuted for it early in the season. Through the prosecution, Velma characterizes Fred as a privileged teen who can’t do anything himself whereas Shaggy is a Black man who is super into snacks and secretly in love with Velma, but not at all the stoner he is famously thought of to be. It certainly feels like Velma knows the history that comes with each character and is playing with our expectations to shock and play for laughs along with coming up with a bigger central story as to how the gang comes together. Oh, and as for Daphne… 

Jinkies, We Might Get Velma And Daphne’s Love Story 

In Velma, Velma and Daphne are childhood friends who have grown apart as they grew up due to them fitting into different social circles in high school. Whereas Velma is an outcast, Daphne is a popular girl, which makes perfect sense. Played by Constance Wu, Velma establishes Daphne as Asian American who secretly sells drugs to other students to raise money to find her biological parents. This is when things click between Velma and Daphne again. Between Velma’s own abandonment issues regarding her mother and Daphne’s own obsession about her family secrets, a flirtation forms. 

Velma has long been a lesbian icon among fans and recently got a queer storyline in a recent animated Scooby-Doo movie for the first time. And those fans have particularly often shipped Velma with Daphne. Two episodes in, Velma looks to be very much leading toward telling a love story between the two Scooby-Doo characters not unlike the raunchy animated Harley Quinn series has done for Harley and Poison Ivy. 

There you have it! That’s the scoop on how Velma updates the classic franchise. While I agree with some early criticism of it definitely not honoring the spirit of the source material, color me curious regarding how its twisted humor will continue to rethink the classic franchise just cause, including by having a more inclusive cast of characters. We can always go back to good ‘ole Scooby-Doo when we want to and here's hoping the characters how we know and love them continue to exist in new forms as well.

In two feature-length Scooby-Doo movies, the mega-smart Velma Dinkley of Mystery Inc. had an implied romance with a male waiter in the 2002 film and started a relationship with Seth Green’s character, Patrick Wisely, in the 2004 sequel. Almost two decades later, a new animated Scooby-Doo movie is reaching out to a new generation, and the rumors of Velma being gay have now been officially confirmed to be true. Scooby-Doo alum Linda Cardellini has now shared her reaction to the news of her former character coming out as a lesbian.

In the new animated movie Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo!, Velma develops a crush on Coco, a high-end Halloween costume designer. Linda Cardellini, who portrayed our favorite brainiac detective in the two aforementioned live-action movies, spoke to Entertainment Weekly promoting the third and final season of Dead to Me, and she shared her feelings about one of her beloved characters being a lesbian in the new animated film. Said the actor,

Velma has been considered an LGBTQ+ icon for years. According to Comic Book Resources, Velma was theorized as gay for years as she never showed any romantic interest in any of the series’ characters. This led to people assuming that Velma had no interest in boys, but preferred girls instead. In fact, some theories propose that the clever sleuth joined Mystery Inc. to get near Daphne, who she may have possibly had a crush on. While I personally think that a woman who doesn’t express interest in boys should not automatically have an assumption of liking girls, it would make sense in this case, as Daphne and Fred ended up together in the movies. So, why not give Velma a real love interest too?

Scooby-Doo was Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn’s first big Hollywood screenplay to get produced. In his original version of the script, Velma was actually written as “explicitly gay”, but the studio kept “watering it down” where Velma’s sexuality went from ambiguous to gone only to finally have a boyfriend in the sequel. A way edgier version of the script even considered a steamy kiss between her and Daphne.

You didn’t see too many LGBTQ+ characters in early 2000s films that were out and proud. Movies are starting to get braver today and including more same-sex couples (Lightyear, the Pixar movie from this past summer, notably includes a lesbian relationship and features the characters kissing). When a young audience watches animated movies and TV shows today, those of all sexualities will be happy to know they’re being represented.

The Velma character has been going through many changes for this generation. Not only is she gay in Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo!, but they’ll be a change to Velma’s race in the Scooby-Doo spinoff Velma. Played by The Office’s Mindy Kaling, the comedic actress felt that it would make sense for the role to be Indian if she would be voicing her. While this casting choice was not without backlash, Kaling stood by the decision to change Velma's race as she said animation gives creators the power to do anything they want. 

Scooby-Doo alum Linda Cardellini gave her blessing for Velma Dinkley’s lesbian representation. In the EW interview, she adds that she would love to reprise the role again if only she weren’t “too old” to play her now. We’ll always have the memories of when Cardellini wasn’t afraid to “get jinky” with playing the glasses-losing, “brains” of the Scooby-gang. 

You can watch Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo! on your HBO Max subscription and Linda Cardellini’s live-action Scooby-Doo movies on your Netflix subscription.  

Velma Dinkley has really been popping as of late. Her position as an LGBTQ+ icon was finally cemented in a recently released Scooby-Doo movie, and the character is set to be the center of the HBO Max spinoff series Velma, which stars Mindy Kaling in the lead role. The show will change things up a bit, as the titular sleuth has been race bent -- a creative decision drew backlash that Kaling has since addressed it. Now, the Never Have I Ever creator has shed some light on her decision to alter the character's race for the production.

Everyone’s favorite bespectacled know-it-all has been white since the franchise began in the 1960s. But the adult-animated series will portray the character as South Asian, which mirrors Mindy Kaling’s own racial background. The Office alum addressed the change while at New York Comic-Con and explained to EW that there were a lot of discussions regarding Velma's race. She said:

The success of productions like Into the Spider-Verse have definitely opened the door for different takes on classic characters. And those revamped heroes, like Miles Morales’ Spider-Man, have become very popular. In short, this version of Velma is just one of multiple iterations of the braniac, like the one from Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo! The decision to change her ethnic background should make things fresh though, based on the show's first trailer, her personality will definitely stay intact.

And Ms. Dinkley isn’t the only one who's going to look different in the animated series. Sam Richardson, Constance Wu, and Glenn Howerton will join Mindy Kaling on the adult-themed Scooby-Doo series. Richardson will play an African-American version of resident goofball Norville "Shaggy" Rogers, while Wu takes on the fashion-savvy Daphne, who will be portrayed as Asian. Howerton, meanwhile will play Mystery Inc. leader Fred, who will still be white.

The adult-animated series will cover Velma’s life before she and the gang became teenage supersleuths and will do so with a humorous and complicated spin. All in all, it'll be exciting to see what Mindy Kaling has planned for this new interpretation of the beloved heroine and her friends.

Velma’s 10-episode first season will premiere in 2023, so make sure you have an HBO Max subscription by then if you want to check it out. Those in need of something to watch right now can check out CinemaBlend’s 2022 TV schedule. And if you specifically have a passion for the iconic Hanna-Barbera-birthed franchise, watch the first two live-action Scooby-Doo films using a Netflix subscription.

Scooby-Doo movies have been a staple franchise, especially during Halloween season, for their mystery-solving of spooky occurences. Among the group of friends, Velma Dinkley has long been a favorite for the LGBTQ+ community, as many fans have dubbed her a lesbian icon. James Gunn even wrote the character as queer in an ‘edgier’ version of the live-action Scooby-Doo movies that was switched up, and Mystery Incorporated supervising producer Tony Cervone confirmed she was back in 2020. But Velma finally actually gets to be canonically gay in the latest Scooby-Doo movie. 

Warner Bros. just released the latest movie in the franchise, Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo!, on Digital, and it features multiple scenes of Velma finally having a queer storyline. Check out the scene alongside a fan’s excited reaction on Twitter: 

In the new movie, Velma gets an obvious crush on a costume designer named Coco Diablo, so much so her glasses fog up. And this isn't not the only scene where Velma's interest in Coco is made known either. Pretty much whenever she’s around her, Velma is all heart eyes.

The character has been around for over 50 years, but seen numerous origins and versions on screen. While there’s been some previous hinting, Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo! outright makes it clear and that feels particularly rare for a mainstream queer character – especially in animation as well. Here’s another reaction: 

So that’s why she’s always looking for her glasses, huh? For many years, LGBTQ+ fans have also shipped Velma and Daphne together. Another way Velma has aligned with the gay community is when Hayley Kiyoko, who is nicknamed “Lesbian Jesus” by her fans, was cast as Velma in multiple TV live-action movies. Following the news, the musician and actress shared her thoughts too: 

It’s great to see another 2022 movie release represent the queer community! Following James Gunn’s Scooby-Doo movie, which was initially rated R and had parents “outraged,” never making it to screen with Velma as a queer character intact, the latest Scoob! movie was recently canceled by Warner Bros.Though we don’t know the whole reason as to why, it was reportedly nearly complete. 

Coming up next for the teen detective, Mindy Kaling is set to head a Velma HBO Max spinoff series, which will be an adult comedy animated series. Kaling will voice the role alongside being an executive producer on the series. Velma is an iconic part of the Scooby-Doo franchise and clearly a favorite, so it’s exciting to see her finally be realized in a way many creatives behind the character have envisioned.

Today, James Gunn is the guy known for creating slightly off-beat, and surprisingly emotional, comic book movies like The Suicide Squad and The Guardians of the Galaxy, before that, he was the guy who wrote a pair of off beat live-action Scooby-Doo movies, and he clearly has a complicated relationship with those films. 

The two live-action Scooby-Doo films written by James Gunn have become sort of cult classics over the years, not in the least because they were written by Gunn, who has since become a much bigger name. We know that the first movie especially was never the film that filmmakers quite wanted to make, and maybe that’s why Gunn is giving the movies a hard time on Twitter following the announcement they’re coming to Netflix in October.

The Original Plan For The Live-Action Scooby-Doo 

The original live-action Scooby-Doo was, for the most part, a movie geared toward a family audience that would have been enjoying any of the multitude of versions of the cartoon that inspired it. There was a bit of innuendo thrown in, but from what we have learned in the years since, the movie was originally planned to be something quite different. The original Scooby-Doo was shooting for a PG-13 rating, being a film designed for fans who had grown up with the cartoon, but who had very clearly grown up.

As Gunn specifies in a response to this original post, the PG-13 movie literally never happened. Scooby-Doo originally got an R-rating, and following the cuts and changes that were made from that, the film ended up as a PG movie.

Changes included reducing the amount of cleavage on screen via CGI and removing explicit references to Velma being gay. There were apparently Scooby-Doo test audiences that took issue with the idea of taking the property, that had a general audience, and making a movie that was not for that general audience.

In the end, it all worked out, at least in some way. The first Scooby-Doo was successful enough that it earned a sequel, though Gunn’s plan for a third movie would never see the light of day, after the second film, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, didn't do quite as well at the box office. Gunn has said the money he made from the film was significant, allowing him to buy a house, and that's certainly worthwhile.

The movies were also James Gunn’s first big studio projects, after cutting his teeth on movies for Troma. A direct line can be drawn between these films and the place in Hollywood that he is in today. There would likely be no Guardians of the Galaxy, at least not James Gunn’s version of them, without the kids from Mystery Inc. These movies are important to him, even if they didn’t quite turn out as he planned. 

Throughout his career, Matthew Lillard has appeared in slashers, romantic comedies, a cult classic about a group of hackers, and small independent films featuring characters that made a little punk teenager in Louisiana feel like he wasn’t alone in the world. The Scream star has also given commanding performances on multiple great television shows that display not only his talent, but versatility with a variety of characters.

With his appearance in one of the best horror movies of the year, not to mention a guest spot on one of the most popular shows on the 2022 TV schedule, now seems like a great time to take a look back at some of the great Matthew Lillard movies and shows from over the years.

Scream (1996)

The quiet town of Woodsboro, California, finds itself at the center of a media frenzy when a masked killer, known simply as Ghostface, goes on a rampage and begins claiming multiple victims in shocking displays of horror. When no one else can solve the case, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), Dewey Riley (David Arquette), and Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) team up to stop the slasher in his tracks.

The original Scream cast is a who’s who of standout ‘90s stars, including Matthew Lillard, who portrayed Stu Macher, a.k.a. one of the two killers behind the iconic mask. One of the most over-the-top characters of the bunch, Stu also proves to be one of the most menacing, especially during the big reveal when he uses the voice-changer to reveal himself to Sidney.

Stream Scream on Starz.
Rent/Buy Scream on Amazon.

Hackers (1995)

Years after being banned from the internet because he crashed more than 1,500 computer systems and almost brought the New York Stock Exchange to its knees, teenage hacker Dade Murphy (Jonny Lee Miller), a.k.a. Zero Cool, a.k.a. Crash Override, is back to his old games. But in addition to catching the eye of the authorities and a shady corporation, Dade earns the respect of a group of thrill-seeking hackers.

If you like Matthew Lillard when he’s flying a thousand miles a minute, then you’ll love his performance as Emmanuel Goldstein, a.k.a. Cereal Killer in Hackers. Whether he’s hacking away at the system, rollerblading away from FBI agents, or sticking it to the man, Cereal Killer is fun-loving and fun to watch. I mean, check out his hair, his glasses, his everything!

Stream Hackers on Tubi.
Rent/Buy Hackers on Amazon.

SLC Punk! (1999)

For Stevo (Matthew Lillard) and Bob (Michael Goorjian), life is about rebelling, drinking, partying, and beating the crap out of Nazis and rednecks while still trying to survive their day-to-day lives in Salt Lake City in the mid-1980s. But when Stevo’s dad (Christopher McDonald) signs him up for Harvard Law School behind his back, the young punk’s worldview is given a spin.

Let me get this out of the way, SLC Punk! is my favorite Matthew Lillard movie, and there’s no changing my mind. What really makes this movie so great, besides the great soundtrack and messages about life, love, and “selling out,” is the range Lillard shows, especially in the film’s second half where it goes from a comedy to an incredibly moving drama. There’s also one heartbreaking scene near the end that is probably the best display of his acting ability.

Stream SLC Punk! on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy SLC Punk! on Amazon.

Bosch (2016 - 2017)

Los Angeles Police Department homicide detective Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) is about as hard-nosed as a guy can be in his line of work. Despite being abrasive, having a broken moral compass, and showing little to no respect to those around him, he still gets the job done time and time again, even if it takes everything from him.

On top of featuring outstanding performances from lead actors like Welliver, Amy Aquino, and The Wire cast standouts Jamie Hector and Lance Reddick, Bosch also featured a number of great guest stars, including Matthew Lillard. Appearing on several episodes throughout the show’s seven-season run, Lillard took on the role of FBI agent Luke Goshen, who is so deep into an undercover operation it’s like he’s playing two completely different characters from the time you first meet him and then see him later on. Brilliant.

Stream Bosch on Amazon.

She's All That (1999)

Zack Siler (Freddie Prinze Jr.) is the most popular guy at school, but his reputation is in need of a good fix after his equally popular girlfriend dumps him for a reality TV star just weeks before senior prom. Upon taking a bet from his friends, Zack agrees to turn tormented artist and outcast Laney Boggs (Rachael Leigh Cook) into prom queen.

Matthew Lillard’s portrayal of Brock Hudson in She’s All That is honestly one of the things that makes the 1999 teen romantic comedy so much fun. And, like, we’re supposed to hate Brock because he stole Zack’s girlfriend at spring break, but it’s impossible not to like him. He’s in his own world and subscribes to his own rules. Sure, he’s crude, dim-witted, and a social butterfly, but he’s oh, so much fun.

Stream She’s All That on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy She’s All That on Amazon.

Scooby-Doo: The Movie (2002)

Two years after bitter in-fighting forced Mystery, Inc. to shut its doors, Fred Jones (Freddie Prinze Jr.), Daphne Blake (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Velma Dinkley (Linda Cardellini), Shaggy Rogers (Matthew Lillard), and Scooby-Doo (Neil Fanning) join forces once more upon being summoned to a dangerous island where their biggest mystery awaits.

Scooby-Doo: The Movie, which was written by James Gunn of all people, is both a love letter to the original animated series and a new spin on the property. It feels like the actors were born to play these roles, especially Matthew Lillard and his take on Shaggy. It should come as no surprise that Lillard has voiced the character countless times since the film’s release and is second only to the late Casey Kasem when it comes to playing the character the most.

Stream Scooby-Doo: The Movie on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Scooby-Doo: The Movie on Amazon.

The Descendants (2011)

Just before Matt King (George Clooney) is supposed to make a decision on a lucrative land deal that would make his family some of the richest people in Hawaii, his wife is involved in a devastating boating accident that has left her in a coma from which there is no return. If those two crises weren’t enough, Matt also learns his wife was not only not happy in their marriage, she was also cheating on him.

Matthew Lillard shows up in The Descendants as Brian Speer, the successful real estate agent with whom Matt’s wife is having an affair, and he absolutely kills it. There’s a scene when Matt finally catches up with Brian and confronts him about the affair that is just so perfect. While Clooney’s character has nothing to lose at this point, it’s the opposite for Lillard’s. His body language speaks louder than words.

Stream The Descendants on Hulu.
Rent/Buy The Descendants on Amazon.

Good Girls (2018 - 2021)

Sisters Beth Boland (Christina Hendricks) and Annie Marks (Mae Whitman), and their friend Ruby Hill (Retta), team up to make some quick cash in a time of need: they plan on robbing a local grocery store. Although the heist was a success and they’re able to get the money they need, the trio soon finds themselves out of their league in the underground crime world.

Matthew Lillard’s portrayal of Beth’s husband, Dean Boland, could go down as one of the most despicable characters to ever show up in a crime comedy on NBC if you just think about all the misfortune he brings to his family. However, Lillard’s charm makes the character so much fun. Sure, he’s objectively a terrible person, but we can’t all be perfect.

Stream Good Girls on Netflix.
Buy Good Girls on Amazon.

Serial Mom (1994)

After running over her son’s teacher, housewife Beverly Sutphin (Kathleen Turner), one of the worst horror movie moms, realizes she has a bloodlust that is something fierce and becomes the most sadistic and notorious serial killer her suburban town has ever seen.

John Waters’ 1994 dark comedy, Serial Mom, is an outrageously good time, and everyone in the cast plays their parts perfectly. Just look at Matthew Lillard’s take on Chip Sutphin, Beverly’s teenage, horror-obsessed son, who sticks by his mom’s side through it all, even when he lets the fame get to his head. Sure, he’s a little sociopathic, but it must run in the family.

Rent/Buy Serial Mom on Amazon.

Twin Peaks: The Return (2017)

Twin Peaks: The Return, which serves as the third season of David Lynch’s landmark TV supernatural crime drama, follows several characters from the mysterious town of Twin Peaks, Washington, after the case of Laura Palmer’s murder is reopened.

The series doesn’t just take place in the quiet and eerie mountain town from the first two seasons and includes multiple characters in various locations and dimensions. This includes William Hastings (Matthew Lillard), a high school principal in South Dakota who becomes the prime suspect in a vicious double-murder. Although he doesn’t appear on the show all that much, Lillard’s character’s arc is worth a watch.

Stream Twin Peaks: The Return on Showtime.
Buy Twin Peaks: The Return on Amazon.

Well, this should have you more than covered if you want to take a journey through Matthew Lillard’s career. But if you want to check out even more of his portrayal of Shaggy Rogers, check out this list of the best Scooby-Doo movies and how to watch them.

Fall is here, my dudes. You know what that means - Halloween.

While I am older and my tastes in scary movies have evolved with age, something I still love to do around this time is watch Halloween movies that are good for all ages. I’m talking about the kid-friendly films that both children and their parents can find joy in, from Hocus Pocus to The Addams Family. Here are some spooky Halloween movies you can stream with your family right now.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

Director: Kenny Ortega

Starring: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Omri Katz, Thora Birch

What It’s About: Hocus Pocus follows a trio of comedic witches, who are inadvertently resurrected by a teenager in Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween night. Now, the witches want to take the souls of all the children in the town to gain as much power as possible, so it’s up to the teenagers and their friends to try and stop them.

Why It’s A Great Family Halloween Movie: I don’t know whether it’s the brilliant comedic timing of Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, or the amount of quotable moments, or even the heartwarming story, but the film has found its way into the hearts of many people. There was even a sequel in 2022 that you can watch as well.

• Stream Hocus Pocus on Disney+.
• Stream Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+
• Rent/Buy Hocus Pocus on Amazon.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Director: Henry Selick

Starring: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara

What It’s About: In The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jack Skellington is the King of Halloween Town and grows tired of the same old routine that they do each year for the occasion. But, when he accidentally stumbles into Christmas Town, he decides that it’s his town’s turn to give Christmas a try, creating mayhem for the monsters who live in it.

Why It’s A Great Family Halloween Movie: The film itself leans more towards the spooky side. The characters that are featured in Halloween Town are iconic spooky characters, like witches, ghosts, clowns, Frankenstein - things you would see for the season. It’s a ton of fun.

• Stream The Nightmare Before Christmas on Disney+.
• Rent/Buy The Nightmare Before Christmas on Amazon.

Coraline (2009)

Director: Henry Selick

Starring: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders

What It’s About: Released in 2009 and directed by Henry Selick, it follows the story of a young girl named Coraline who discovers that in her new house, there’s this magical door that leads to an alternate world, one that feels like an absolute dream. But as she starts to discover more, Coraline finds out that this world is anything but a paradise.

Why It’s A Great Family Halloween Movie: From the smooth stop-motion animation to the voice acting and the creeptacular story, this is the perfect film for those who want to introduce their children to scarier films but don’t want them shaking in their boots for too long.

• Stream Coraline on Tubi.
• Rent/Buy Coraline on Amazon.

Halloweentown Series (1998 - 2006)

Director: Duwayne Dunham, Mary Lambert, Mark A.Z. Dippé, David Jackson

Starring: Debbie Reynolds, Kimberly J. Brown, Sara Paxton, Joey Zimmerman

What It’s About: In the Halloweentown film series, we follow the legend of the Cromwell family, a group of witches that spans generations, mainly following the story and training of one of the newest witches to the group, Marnie Cromwell.

Why It’s A Great Family Halloween Movie: The four films in the series are filled with plenty of Halloween fun, from the actual inclusion of Halloweentown that is so expertly themed you’ll want to visit this fantasy village yourself, to the corny villains, the funny spells, and even the wonderful, loving performance of Debbie Reynolds as Aggie Cromwell.

• Stream the Halloweentown series on Disney+
• Rent/Buy the Halloweentown series on Amazon.

The Addams Family (1991)

Director: Barry Sonnenfeld

Starring: Angelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci

What It’s About: This classic adaptation stars Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia as Morticia and Gomez Addams, the parents of the said Addams family, a group of bizarre, macabre individuals who are quite creepy – but love each other all the same.

Why It’s A Great Family Halloween Movie: There is literally no better time than the present to watch some of the older Addams Family adaptations, especially the film from 1991. Wednesday on Netflix was one of the biggest shows ever and took forever to get dethroned, and now there’s even more of an incentive to check out this film before Halloween to get into a creepy mood.

• Stream The Addams Family on Paramount Plus.
• Rent/Buy The Addams Family on Amazon.

Monster House (2006)

Director: Gil Kenan

Starring: Steve Buscemi, Nick Cannon, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kevin James, Catherine O’Hara, Fed Willard, Mitchell Musso

What It’s About: Three kids decide to investigate a house that is somehow sentient and causing terror around their neighborhood on Halloween.

Why It’s A Great Family Halloween Movie: Monster House is one of those Halloween movies that you forget about years later but you love it each time you watch it. The motion-capture animation can be a little off-putting, but that makes it perfect for Halloween, and the story is plenty spooky for both kids and adults alike.

• Stream Monster House on FreeVee (via Amazon Prime).
• Rent/Buy Monster House on Amazon.

Corpse Bride (2009)

Director: Mike Johnson, Tim Burton

Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson

What It’s About: A groom practicing his vows accidentally marries a corpse in the ground, and has to find a way out to get back to his future wife.

Why It’s A Great Family Halloween Movie: Corpse Bride is a stop-motion film that sticks with you ages after you watch it because it’s actually surprisingly very sweet. It has plenty of themes about life and death and love, but for Halloween, there are plenty of creepy, kooky creatures here that will get you in the spirit – as well as the stop-motion animation.

• Stream Corpse Bride on Max.
• Rent/Buy Corpse Bride on Amazon.

The Haunted Mansion (2003)

Director: Rob Minkoff

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Terence Stamp, Wallace Shawn, Marsha Thomason, Jennifer Tilly

What It’s About: Based on the theme park ride of the same name, The Haunted Mansion follows a realtor who ends up getting him and his family trapped in a haunted mansion, with the ghosts of the past looking to keep his wife all for themselves.

Why It’s A Great Family Halloween Movie: This movie is funny and perfect for kids. I can think of no one better to deliver perfect one-liners for both kids and adults than Eddie Murphy, one of the comedic greats. And, I do believe that this film is probably one of the best movies for you to watch if you want to laugh more than you want to be scared. There was another adaptation of the theme park ride in 2023, simply called Haunted Mansion, and it’s a fun time, but I prefer this.

• Stream The Haunted Mansion on Disney+.
• Rent/Buy The Haunted Mansion on Amazon.

Goosebumps (2015)

Director: Rob Letterman

Starring: Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush, Amy Ryan

What It’s About: The Goosebumps live-action film follows a fictionalized version of R.L. Stine, the author of the Goosebumps books, and how he teams up with his daughter and their neighbor in order to save their town from the creatures in his books when they are suddenly unleashed, creating a mess wherever they go.

Why It’s A Great Family Halloween Movie: These books are frequently the test-run into horror for many younger kids, because it’s a balancing act of actual scary writing and some comedic moments to break the tension. And, the movie is pretty much the same. Jack Black is great comedic relief, while some of the monsters are decently scary.

• Stream Goosebumps on Amazon Prime.
• Rent/Buy Goosebumps on Amazon.

Beetlejuice (1988)

Director: Tim Burton

Starring: Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Winona Ryder, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O’Hara, Michael Keaton

What It’s About: Beetlejuice is a classic 1980s comedy directed by Tim Burton, which tells the story of a couple who are trapped in their home after they die. They decide to contact someone from the dead – known as Beetlejuice, a “bio-exorcist” – to make sure their house stays empty when new people move in.

Why It’s A Great Family Halloween Movie: There’s a lot I could say about this movie, but what hasn’t already been said? It’s hilarious, and was hugely successful. It even had a Broadway musical, and now there’s even a sequel out with a huge musical moment. It’s the perfect family film for Halloween-spooky time.

• Stream Beetlejuice on Max.
• Rent/Buy Beetlejuice on Amazon.

Don’t say his name three times!

Casper (1995)

Director: Brad Silberling

Starring: Malachi Pearson, Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman, Cathy Moriarty, Eric Idle

What It’s About: A teenage girl befriends a friendly ghost. The only issue is that her father, a paranormal therapist, has been hired to get the ghost out of the mansion he is haunting.

Why It’s A Great Family Halloween Movie: I mean, how can Casper not be on this list? The epitome of a friendly Halloween movie, this is a film that will not only make your kids smile but you as well, and make you want to bake Halloween cookies while loving how sweet Casper is.

• Stream Casper on Peacock.
• Rent/Buy Casper on Amazon.

Hubie Halloween (2020)

Director: Steve Brill

Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Julie Bowen, Ray Liotta, Rob Schneider

What It’s About: A Halloween-loving delicatessen is put to the ultimate spooky challenge when his home, Salem, Massachusetts, falls victim to a kidnapper, but of course, hilarities ensue.

Why It’s A Great Family Halloween Movie: Hubie Halloween is possibly the perfect Halloween film for families. The parents will love the Adam Sandler jokes and his hilarious delivery while the kids will enjoy the Halloween spookiness and slapstick comedy. It’s a win-win.

• Stream Hubie Halloween on Netflix.

Honorable Mention: It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Director: Bill Melendez

Starring: Peter Robins, Chris Shea, Sally Dryer, Kathy Steinberg

What It’s About: The children of the Peanuts world celebrate Halloween, while Linus stays in a pumpkin patch to meet the mythical Great Pumpkin.

Why It’s A Great Family Halloween Movie: Okay, it’s not technically a movie, but It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown will always bring happiness into my life this time of year. Linus’ constant belief that the Great Pumpkin is real, mixed with the spookiness of the scenery, and of course, the classic Charlie Brown line, “I got a rock,” will make me grin and chuckle every time I watch it.

• Stream It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on Apple TV+.

While I could spend my time watching some of the best horror movies out there, sometimes I need a break from the jumpscares and gory nonsense and have to return to some of my favorite Halloween films that I used to watch as a kid. Hopefully, there are now some great choices for you to pick from if you’re craving that, too.

My childhood was filled with so many amazing cartoons, from hilarious Spongebob Squarepants episodes to Codename: Kids Next Door. But, one staple that I always watched in my house was Scooby-Doo, a classic mystery dating back to the 1960s, something that both me and my parents could enjoy.

From Scooby-Doo, there came tons of animated films, and live-action ones as well, further expanding the series. Today, I’m going to tell you the best Scooby-Doo movies to watch streaming right now, from some of the oldest ones out there to some newer movies.

Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo 2 (2002, 2004)

The live-action version of Scooby-Doo follows the Mystery Incorporated gang, who reunite after a two-year disbandment, to investigate a mystery at a popular horror-themed tropical resort, where strange happenings have been occurring.

Look, I’ll be honest - there aren’t that many live-action versions of Scooby-Doo for a reason. It’s hard to really capture the style and mysteries of the series properly through a live-action lens, but I do think that the original live-action Scooby-Doo has its moments where it shines. I love the Scooby-Doo cast, especially Matthew Lillard’s Shaggy, but I also have to give praise to everyone else - Linda Cardellini, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Freddie Prince Jr., all of them really rocked it. Plus, I actually like the humor. Maybe I have low taste, but come on - Shaggy’s love interest’s name was Mary Jane? Shaggy always gets the munchies? That’s hilarious to me.

The second one isn’t as funny as the first, but I still think the cast was fun and it had plenty of enjoyable moments, and anyone could enjoy it if they’re a fan of Scooby-Doo.

Rent/Buy Scooby-Doo on Amazon.
Rent/Buy Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed on Amazon.

Scooby-Doo And The Cyber Chase (2001)

In this animated film, Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase follows the gang when they visit a friend working at a university where a mysterious virus has broken free from the confines of its video game and wreaked havoc on the campus. But, when they are chasing down the monster, they suddenly become part of the game too.

I love Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase for one simple reason - the very idea of getting beamed into a video game is freaking cool. I mean, we have all these awesome video game movies but no one ever talks about how awesome the idea of being in a game is. The gang has to fight through several levels against this virus to somehow come out on top, with interesting levels and different monsters, all capped off with a throwback to their original outfits at the end of the game - it’s so much fun.

Stream Scooby Doo and the Cyber Chase on Boomerang.

Scooby-Doo And The Reluctant Werewolf (1988)

In this animated TV film, Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf follows Shaggy, Scooby, and Scrappy-Doo as Shaggy is turned into a werewolf. It’s up to Scooby, Scrappy, and Shaggy’s girlfriend to win a road-racing contest featuring classic monsters, such as Frankenstein and Dracula.

This is the oldest Scooby-Doo film on this list, and you can definitely tell from watching it. The regular gang that you'd see isn’t here, and there are a lot of elements that most Scooby-Doo movies don’t use that often (like Shaggy having a girlfriend, the inclusion of Scrappy-Doo, etc.). But, Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf has a lot of charm to it, mainly because it’s old and it’s always enjoyable to watch a film that focuses on Shaggy and Scooby.

Stream Scooby Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf on Boomerang through Amazon.

Scooby Doo! Legend Of The Phantosaur (2011) 

In Scooby Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur, Shaggy actually discovers that he has a disorder that makes him overreact to things with fear, causing Mystery Inc. to break up, but he is given the chance to change this when he is hypnotized by a professor. However, even if Shaggy finds a way to overcome his fear, there is far more behind this doctor than anyone thought there was. 

Every time I’ve seen Scooby Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur, I can’t help but laugh. While it’s a very original idea, this movie is really where that meme of Shaggy using all his “power” continued. It was in the live-action movies, but also continued in this where Shaggy can literally beat people up. His character in this movie makes it so much fun to watch, and it really is one of the underappreciated movies in the franchise. 

Stream Scooby Doo! and the Legend of the Phantosaur on HBO Max. 

Scooby-Doo On Zombie Island (1998)

In Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, the gang, who had separated before from exhaustion of always just discovering crooks under masks, goes to New Orleans together to an island, only to discover that there are actual supernatural monsters - which turn people into zombies.

Many fans of the series often credit this as a new era for Scooby-Doo films, because it’s one of the few that actually include "real" supernatural creatures instead of just someone behind a mask trying to cause trouble. What I really like about Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is that it’s a lot darker than other Scooby-Doo films, and features plenty of zombie designs alongside a really fun story. Look, I’m the girl who loved The Walking Dead and its emotional finale -- how could I not love Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island? It’s the perfect spooky fest.

Stream Scooby Doo on Zombie Island on Boomerang.

Trick Or Treat Scooby Doo! (2022)

In this Halloween fun-filled Scooby Doo movie, Trick or Treat Scooby Doo! follows the gang when they travel to a ski resort to uncover a villain, only to find out that it has a connection to every other villain that they have faced – a Halloween costume designer named Coco Diablo, which turns their world upside down. 

This is one of the newest films out there, and honestly, I really enjoyed it. I think it’s a great film for people specifically that grew up on the show because there are some references to past movies or episodes with other villains, but it’s also just a fun story all-together. Plus, it also gives some great LGBTQ+ representation involving Velma – and I think it’s done really well. Just don’t check out the 2023 Velma show – stick to this version of Velma. Please. 

Stream Trick or Treat Scooby Doo! on HBO Max.

Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King (2008)

In Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King, Scoob and Shaggy have to go into the underground, ruled by the Goblin King, in order to stop a mortal named The Amazing Krudsky, who wants powers and is threatening their friends, Fred, Daphne, and Velma.

While this film doesn’t feature the gang as a whole that much, I like it for two reasons. One, it’s another Scooby-Doo film that features actual monsters instead of criminals, and two, it takes place during Halloween, my favorite time of year. A lot of Scooby-Doo movies don’t actually take place during the spookiest season, so that added aesthetic to the already-creepy yet fun series that is Scooby-Doo makes this such an enjoyable film to watch. Plus, it features Tim Curry - how can you not like him?

Stream Scooby Doo! and the Goblin King on Boomerang.

Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare (2010)

Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare follows the gang as they travel to Camp Little Mouse, Fred’s old summer camp, to serve as camp counselors. But, when they arrive and see that the camp is empty except for the head counselor and the Forest Ranger due to a camp legend becoming real, it’s up to them to figure out how to stop it.

I know, this sounds an awful lot like the Friday the 13th franchise but without the blood and gore. To be honest, Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare offers that same thrill of a crazy person running around scaring people without it becoming a horror film. The mystery is fun to follow along and see who might be the person causing trouble, and the camp atmosphere makes it even better. Who knows - you might get attacked by the Woodsman next.

Stream Scooby Doo! Camp Scare on Boomerang.

Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby Doo! Meets Courage The Cowardly Dog (2021) 

My childhood has come together. In Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog, the gang finds themselves in the middle of Nowhere when both Courage and Scooby are driven to dance away from their families due to a strange sound they hear, and there, they end up solving the mystery of a lifetime – with the most courageous, cowardly dog. 

This movie is literally everything and more. While Courage the Cowardly Dog had plenty of nightmare fuel that truly showed dark scenes for a children’s show, it was one I watched a lot of, and so was Scooby Doo. Seeing these two come together for one movie, just to see them all together on the same screen, is something I will never take for granted, and I really love. 

Stream Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog on HBO Max.

Scooby-Doo! And The Monster Of Mexico (2003)

In Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico, the gang decides to travel to Mexico when Fred’s pen-pal, Alejo Otero, invites him to visit him and his family there. After he sends the invitation, a big, long-haired monster begins to terrify the man’s town, called “El Chupacabra.” Now, the gang needs to find out who’s behind this mess, and take down the monster.

As a young, Hispanic girl, I loved this film for the setting and the amazing food that I was jealous that Shaggy and Scooby got to eat. As an adult, I can appreciate Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico for its twists, mystery, and everything else involved. Plus, I also love that the film ends with El Dia de los Muertos, otherwise known as The Day of the Dead, and all the traditions that it follows.

It may be a kid’s film, but the movie actually teaches a lot about Mexican culture and how beautiful it is, from its urban legends to the celebrations - and the delicious food.

Stream Scooby Doo! and the Monster of Mexico on Boomerang.

Scooby-Doo! And The Legend Of The Vampire (2003)

In Scooby-Doo! and the Legend of the Vampire, the gang have arrived in Australia for a vacation, deciding to attend a music festival at Vampire Rock. Soon, when performers are attacked by a supposed vampire and are kidnapped, it causes many to fear coming to the music festival. Now, the gang must band together to discover who is behind the kidnappings, and if the vampire is real.

Scooby-Doo! and the Legend of the Vampire is not like the other films that came before it. It’s certainly a lot lighter in tone, and even the visuals and the setting seem to follow that trend. But, it’s still an enjoyable mystery with some awesome costumes for the animated characters, and the music is ear-worm worthy.

Stream Scooby Doo! and the Legend of the Vampire on Boomerang.

Scooby-Doo! And The Witch's Ghost (1999)

In this animated film, Scooby-Doo! and the Witch’s Ghost follows the gang as they travel up to Massachusetts to visit the hometown of a famous mystery author. When they arrive, however, they find that the townspeople have been terrorized by the local ghost, a young woman named Sarah Ravencroft who was falsely accused of witchcraft back in the 1600s. Now, it’s up to them to figure out what is happening and how to stop the ghost from terrorizing the folks there.

Hands down, this is my favorite Scooby-Doo film. Not only does it match the aesthetic of Scooby-Doo perfectly, with this small town during the fall, and plenty of spooky moments, but it again features supernatural creatures that are not only creepy, but actually life-threatening in a lot of situations. Plus, Tim Curry again is featured in this one, and he is fantastic. His character is one of the best in this film.

I won’t give away much if you haven’t seen it, but since October is coming up soon, this is definitely the film to watch to get excited for the spooky season.

Stream Scooby Doo! and the Witch’s Ghost on Boomerang.

I could spend my time watch the best movies on Netflix or the best movies on Amazon Prime, but honestly, I would rather watch a talking dog and all his buddies solve mysteries more. Now, if only I could find a way to somehow make real-life Scooby Snacks and actually make them edible, I’d be set for life. 

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

Scooby-Doo and Mystery Inc. have been solving cases for decades now and, during many of their adventures, the group has crossed paths with some interesting people. But I don’t think anything could’ve prepared them (or fans) for their latest crossover, which brings Scooby face to face with fellow beloved canine Courage the Cowardly Dog. As you would expect, the two dogs are going to get into some serious shenanigans in the upcoming movie Straight Outta Nowhere. And this is especially clear in an exclusive clip from the film, which shows the two dodging giant insects in an attempt to rescue their respective owners.

Aside from being dogs, the biggest thing that Scooby-Doo and Courage the Cowardly Dog have in common is that they’re easily scared. They do, however, always manage to step up when it counts, proving that they’re both true heroes at heart. In our exclusive clip, the pair are put to the test when they must keep a comet from an army of cicadas while trying to locate and free the young sleuths and the sweet Muriel Bagge. Check out the madcap scene for yourself down below:

Scooby-Doo and Courage certainly have their work cut out for them, as do their human allies. Still, if you’ve seen even half of their past adventures, then you likely know that both the Scooby gang and the Bagge family have experienced much worse in the past.

Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog sees Scooby and the gang make their way to Nowhere, Kansas, where they discover a strange otherworldly-looking object. While there, they eventually become acquainted with Courage, Muriel and Eustace Bagg. Of course, creepy stuff happens in Nowhere, so it’s no surprise when the cicada monster and her hive buzz their way into the story. This then causes the two groups to team up and get to the bottom of the creepy case.

The direct-to-video movie is exciting for a few reasons, but the biggest is that it marks the return of the beloved Courage the Cowardly Dog franchise. The classic Cartoon Network show ran for four seasons before wrapping up its run in 2002. The show would make a comeback through a CGI special in 2016 but, with Straight Outta Nowhere, the characters are returning to their traditionally animated roots. I think I speak for many fans when I say it’s good to have the Bagge family back in action. You can stream the original show on HBO Max, which you can sign up for using this link.

Of the kooky crossovers the Scooby-Doo franchise has hosted over the years, this Courage mash-up is one that makes a lot of sense. The supernatural nature of the properties makes them a solid fit, and it’ll be interesting to see how the sensibilities of both series are incorporated into the movie.

The new film is sure to get animation fans nostalgic and hopeful not only for more Scooby-Doo crossovers but more from the world of Courage the Cowardly Dog. It’s hard to say if this is the last we see of the small dog but, if anything, the movie should be a nice salute to his show and a fitting tribute to late Muriel voice actress Thea White.

Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog will be released to DVD and Digital by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on September 14.

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

Among the most influential names in physical comedy (from Charlie Chaplin to Chris Farley), Rowan Atkinson easily deserves a place on that list. The British writer, actor, and producer earned it the moment he made his debut as Mr. Bean - a character he created in the late 1980s with filmmaker Richard Curtis, who would later cast his longtime writing partner in films of his own, such as 2003's Love Actually. That is just one of the many Rowan Atkinson movies and TV shows that are a must for any fan of this iconic and (by today’s standards) somewhat underrated talent, starting with another one of he and Curtis’ greatest achievements.

Blackadder (Hulu)

The bumbling schemes of the self-centered, sniveling Duke of Edinburgh (Rowan Atkinson) and his descendants are the focus of this long-running collection of miniseries.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Rowan Atkinson: Originally a Shakespearean satire from creator Richard Curtis, Blackadder evolved into an entire franchise of hilarious tales of revisionist history (and even a rewrite of A Christmas Carol) all with star and co-writer Rowan Atkinson in common.

Stream Blackadder on Hulu.

Rent Blackadder on Amazon.

The Thin Blue Line (Amazon Rental)

An uptight British inspector struggles to maintain order at the police station he is in charge of, in spite of the bumbling members of his staff.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Rowan Atkinson: One of the writers of Blackadder, Ben Elton, would go on to create The Thin Blue Line (not to be confused with the Errol Morris documentary) - a send up of crime TV shows that ran for two season in the mid-1990s and stars Rowan Atkinson in the lead as, surprisingly, one of the more competent characters of the cast.

Rent The Thin Blue Line on Amazon.

Hot Shots! Part Deux (Amazon Rental)

A former U.S. Air Force pilot (Charlie Sheen) must take on a series of increasingly absurd action movie cliches in order to retrieve a rescue team that was sent in to locate a rescue team that was sent to find a group of soldiers held captive in Iraq.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Rowan Atkinson: Speaking of send-ups, one of the most unapologetically consistently insane parody movies of all time is 1993’s Hot Shots! Part Deux, the sequel to the 1991 hit from one of the directors of Airplane!, which stars Rowan Atkinson as a POW Charlie Sheen’s character is sent in to rescue.

Rent Hot Shots! Part Deux on Amazon.

Four Weddings And A Funeral (Amazon Prime, Showtime, Pluto TV)

A young, British bachelor (Hugh Grant) attends several social occasions over a short period of time, becoming more convinced of his feeling toward an American woman (Andie McDowell) each time.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Rowan Atkinson: Imagine what would happen if Mr. Bean became a wedding officiant and you would essentially have Rowan Atkinson’s scene-stealing performance in Four Weddings and Funeral - the classic 1994 romantic comedy which earned Atkinson’s frequent collaborator, Richard Curtis, an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Stream Four Weddings And A Funeral on Amazon Prime.

Stream Four Weddings And A Funeral on Showtime.

Stream Four Weddings And A Funeral on Pluto TV.

Rent Four Weddings And A Funeral on Amazon.

Love Actually (Netflix, IMDb TV)

A washed up pop star (Bill Nighy), a pair of stand-ins for a pornographic film (Martin Freeman and Joanna Page), the Prime Minister (Hugh Grant), and many others each have unique and disastrous experiences with love during Christmastime in London.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Rowan Atkinson: Writer and director Richard Curtis cast his friend Rowan Atkinson in another scene-stealing role as a persnickety jeweler in Love Actually, which is also one of the best romantic comedy movies ever made, in my opinion.

Stream Love Actually on Netflix.

Stream Love Actually on IMDb TV.

Rent Love Actually on Amazon.

Rat Race (HBO Max)

A disgraced former NFL referee (Cuba Gooding Jr.), a woman (Whoopi Goldberg) meeting her long-lost daughter for the first time, a family man (Jon Lovitz) who can barely afford to take his family on vacation, and other strangers try to be the first to reach a $2 million prize hidden in New Mexico.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Rowan Atkinson: Imagine if Mr. Bean was a narcoleptic, Italian Las Vegas tourist and you would essentially have his fittingly zany character in Rat Race - an unofficial modern update of It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, from another one of the Airplane! directors, Jerry Zucker.

Stream Rat Race on HBO Max.

Rent/buy Rat Race on Amazon.

The Lion King (Disney+)

A lion (Matthew Broderick) returns to his home in the African Pride Lands to reclaim the throne from his corrupt uncle after learning the truth behind his father’s death.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Rowan Atkinson: Rowan Atkinson lends his voice to one of the most acclaimed Disney animated movies, 1994’s The Lion King, as comic relief: Zazu, the red-billed hornbill who serves as Mufasa’s royal advisor.

Stream The Lion King on Disney+.

Buy The Lion King on Amazon.

The Witches (Amazon Rental)

While on a holiday with his grandmother, a young boy discovers that their hotel is the site for a gathering of evil witches whose leader (Anjelica Huston) turns him into a mouse after they catch him spying.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Rowan Atkinson: Imagine if Mr. Bean was an uptight hotel manager and you would essentially have Rowan Atkinson’s role in 1990’s The Witches as Mr. Stringer, whom Stanley Tucci would play for the HBO Max exclusive update of the Road Dahl novel in 2020.

Rent The Witches on Amazon.

Scooby-Doo (HBO Max)

Years after Mystery Inc. disbanded so its members could go their separate ways, Fred (Freddie Prinze Jr.), Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Velma (Linda Cardellini), Shaggy (Matthew Lillard), and Scooby are brought together to investigate strange behavior happening on Spooky Island.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Rowan Atkinson: Again, if Mr. Bean were the eccentric owner of a horror-themed amusement park on a tropical getaway destination, you would, essentially, have Atkinson's role as Emile Mondavarious (or so he claims to be) in 2002’s live action Scooby-Doo movie - yet another spooky, but relatively family-friendly adventure based on a beloved property.

Stream Scooby-Doo on HBO Max.

Rent Scooby-Doo on Amazon.

The Johnny English Movies

A fatal attack at a funeral for a late spy allows a wannabe MI6 agent (Rowan Atkinson) the chance to finally live his dream by stopping a ruthless French entrepreneur (John Malkovich) from usurping the British throne, protecting the Chinese Premier from international assassins, and coming out of retirement to hunt down an elusive hacker - all while making a series of disastrous mistakes along the way.

Why they are worth checking out if you like Rowan Atkinson: In this case, if Mr. Bean were James Bond you'd (more than just essentially) have Rowan Atkinson’s role as the title character of this trilogy of spy movie send-ups that begins with 2003’s Johnny English, is reborn with 2011’s Johnny English Reborn, and strikes again with Johnny English Strikes Again in 2018, with some of the comedian’s most fun work all the way through.

Stream Johnny English on Hulu.

Rent Johnny English on Amazon.

Stream Johnny English Reborn on HBO Max.

Rent Johnny English Reborn on Amazon.

Rent Johnny English Strikes Again on Amazon.

Never Say Never Again (Amazon Rental)

An aging 007 is reinstated and tasked with hunting down his old nemesis, Ernst Blofeld, before he causes a disaster with stolen nuclear warheads.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Rowan Atkinson: What is fascinatingly coincidental about Rowan Atkinson’s role as a bumbling sorta Bond in the Johnny English movies is that he appears alongside the late Sean Connery in 1983’s Never Say Never Again - which is technically a James Bond movie - as an incompetent representative of the British Embassy with a ridiculous name (Nigel Small-Fawcett) years before he became a household name.

Rent Never Say Never Again on Amazon.

Mr. Bean Movies And TV Shows

Aided by his own dim wit and his only friend (a stuffed bear named Teddy), an immature adult loner (Rowan Atkinson) struggles to achieve simple, day-to-day tasks while living in London, when hired to bring a valuable painting to a Los Angeles, on a trip to France, and wherever else he ends up.

Why they are worth checking out if you like Rowan Atkinson: What did make Rowan Atkinson a household name was playing the brilliantly funny, internationally recognized title “hero” of the original Mr. Bean TV show from 1990 to 1995, which led to appearances as the goofy man-child in numerous specials, advertisements, two movies (the simply titled Bean in 1995 and 2007’s Mr. Bean’s Holiday), and an animated series in 2002 for which Atkinson also returned to voice the character.

Stream Mr. Bean on Amazon Prime.

Stream Mr. Bean on Hulu.

Stream Mr. Bean on Pluto TV.

Stream Mr. Bean on Tubi.

Buy Mr. Bean on Amazon.

Rent Bean on Amazon.

Rent Mr. Bean’s Holiday on Amazon.

Stream Mr. Bean: The Animated Series, Season 3 on Amazon Prime.

Stream Mr. Bean: The Animated Series on Tubi.

Buy Mr. Bean: The Animated Series on Amazon.

Apparently, Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis are preparing to bring Mr. Bean back again for a new series that would feature a grumpier, elder version of the character called Old Bean. This could officially be the last that we see of the character because, according to The Sun, the responsibility and effort required to play him has driven Atkinson to “look forward to the end of it.” Luckily, the countless and consistently hilarious moments we have had with Atkinson as the character are already worth a lifetime.

The Scooby-Doo franchise has been around for years and has existed in both animated and live-action forms. But after multiple iterations of Mystery Inc. over the years, the latest one is getting some fans quite worked up, and the backlash was aimed at Mindy Kaling, who will be voicing Velma Dinkley on the new spinoff. Now, the actress is opening up about her feelings about the recent response to her casting.

HBO Max's new Scooby-Doo spinoff will change things up a bit by putting Velma Dinkley in the lead and depicting her as a young, South Asian woman. Twitter was not very happy, considering that the character has mostly been predominantly been caucasian in the former iterations we've seen throughout the years. In the midst of the backlash, Mindy Kaling, while on Late Night with Seth Meyers, shared some keen thoughts on the situation:

Since Scooby-Doo has been around for a long time, it has certainly amassed a number of hardcore fans, young and old, so it’s not surprising that many of them would have strong reactions to the news that Velma is receiving this change in the new show. Mindy Kaling may not understand why people can't see Velma in that new light, but it does seem like she’s taking the backlash in stride.

It's also great that she's allowing this situation to fuel her, as she crafts her take on the character with thought and care while maintaining what we know about Velma Dinkley's personality. And it goes without saying that she'll also make the character her own and positively reflect South Asian culture in the process.

With Mindy Kaling involved, this new Velma could potentially become a fan-favorite character. The writer, actor and producer does have a strong track record after all. It's also worth mentioning that there have been multiple instances in which a person of color was cast in a traditionally white role and the project was well received. Brandy's turn as Cinderella in the 1997 live-action remake of the fairytale is a prime example and, today, many people view it as a classic. And do we even need to mention what's been done with Marvel's Nick Fury over the last few decades?

While a release date or additional casting has yet to be announced for the HBO Max spinoff, which will be more adult-oriented, it'll be interesting to see just what Kaling brings to the iconic character. Hopefully, we'll all be saying, "Jinkies!" with delight when we finally see her animated character on screen.

As a network that has never really been a consistent contender up against the Big Four, The CW’s reputation speaks for itself when it comes to crafting series and franchises that amass dedicated fandoms, from the Arrowverse to the Riverdale-verse to the All American-verse. And while big shows on other networks have taken pretty massive ratings and viewership tumbles with each year that passes, The CW’s shows still tend to hit the same audience benchmarks that they have for years. And it’s been a pretty interesting month for the network, thanks to an assortment of announcements regarding schedule changes, pilot decisions and new projects.

After everything that’s come out so far, I wanted to take a step back and voice a few questions and potential concerns about some of The CW’s biggest headlines of late. And it’s hard to think of a better place to kick things off than with the much-hyped (for better or worse) live-action adaptation of The Powerpuff Girls.

What The Actual Eff Is Happening With The Powerpuff Girls Show?

If The CW’s Powerpuff Girls pilot – glamorously titled Powerpuff – hadn’t landed a killer trio of stars in Chloe Bennet, Dove Cameron and Yana Perrault, I might have given up on it long before the network revealed it would be retooling its initial plans, which coincided with a leaked version of the pilot’s script making the internet groan collectively with its masterclass in un-self-aware satire. The show still stands a chance of doing something non-catastrophic if co-writers Diablo Cody and Heather Regnier reveal themselves to be O.G. creator Craig McCracken in disguise, but barring that impossible scenario, fans may want to proceed with much caution.

Will The Flash And Riverdale’s Season-Opening “Events” Be Related?

While it makes thematic sense for “Crisis on Infinite Earths” to have been the last big Arrowverse crossover, knowing that COVID-19 is responsible makes it far less poetic. Thus, it was quite interesting when The CW revealed The Flash would be kicking off Season 8 this fall with a five-episode event, and that certain CW-verse characters would be involved. Is it just timely, then, that Riverdale will kick off Season 6 with its own five-episode event, and that the phrase “CWverse” was used instead of “Arrowverse” when The CW boss Mark Pedowitz talked about it? Dare we hope to see Barry Allen thwarting a disaster at Riverdale High?

Why Is Supergirl’s Midseason Premiere All The Way In August?

While we’re on the subject of Arrowverse shows – it’s a theme – Supergirl won’t return from its final season hiatus until Tuesday, August 24, a full three and a half months after the midseason finale aired. I get that The CW has a lot of licensed content joining its schedule during the 2021 Summer TV season, from Wellington Paranormal to more seasons of Coroner and Dead Pixels, but doesn’t it seem weird/rude to make fans wait patiently for new episodes for that long during the final season? I could maybe understand if Supergirl’s return was being paired with Stargirl's Season 2 premiere, but nope.

Will The All American Franchise Continue To Expand?

All American is the perfect example of the kind of CW series that flies under a lot of people’s radars simply by not having caped crusaders or being a high-profile reboot. And its popularity, grown in part by the drama’s presence on Netflix, was certainly a deciding factor for the network’s execs to give a thumbs up to the spinoff All American: Homecoming. The new show will focus on Geffri Maya’s tennis-loving Simone and the top-notch baseball player Damon, as portrayed by Legacies’ Peyton Alex Smith. The shift in sports is the smart and easy way to bring another chapter of the franchise to life, but considering the overall hook is being immersed in the Black College scene, I wonder if the All American creative team will expand the universe in ways that aren’t so sports-centric but still play into the title.

How Amazing Is Beebo Saves Christmas Going To Be?

I will admit I wasn’t 100% on board with the big blue god Beebo when he first appeared on Legends of Tomorrow, which is idiotic on my part, since giant otherworldly randomness is everything to me. The adoration grew, however, and now I’m all the more eager to experience the upcoming one-hour special Beebo Saves Christmas. It’s unlike anything else that’s come out of the Arrowverse so far, and even though there have been other animated projects such as Constantine and The Ray, I think it’s safe to say a Beebo Christmas special is going to be 100% unique. I cannot wait to see what kinds of excellence comes from it, especially since we already know former Legends of Tomorrow star Victor Garber will be returning to the franchise as the narrator.

Are The Waltons Going To Be All Brooding And Sassy Now?

As weird as it is to think The CW announced a project even more unpredictable than Beebo Saves Christmas, the network caused a lot of double-takes in revealing the upcoming throwback special The Waltons’ Homecoming, which will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the original Christmas special that kicked off the Waltons’ TV run in the 1970s. Yes, it’s set in the 1930s, so it’s clearly going to be a relatively rare example of The CW taking on historical fiction, but it’s during the Depression, so does that mean we should expect Logan Shroyer’s 17-year-old John Boy to be a moody Riverdale-esque freakshow? I mean, probably not, because The Waltons was the epitome of classic American TV schmaltz, and O.G. John Boy actor Richard Thomas is making a return as the special’s narrator. But it IS The CW, so I’m not saying good night to those expectations just yet.

Will Ava DuVernay’s Naomi Feature Superman And Young Justice?

More great things are no doubt on the way from Selma and When They See Us filmmaker Ava DuVernay, who teamed with Arrow writer Jill Blankenship to develop a TV adaptation for Naomi, the still relatively new DC superhero that is set to be played by up-and-coming actress Kaci Walfall. At this point, the comic character Naomi has been the center of a six-issue standalone series, and followed that up with a handful of appearances in Action Comics and Young Justice, which leads me to wonder just how many other DC heroes will be utilized within the new project that The CW only recently granted with a series order. Of course, there are probably already tons of creative changes that will stretch her origin story out across a whole TV season, but maybe that just means we’ll see more characters that the Arrowverse hasn’t touched yet. (Dare we hope for The Flash’s Bart “Impulse” Allen to star in Naomi after being introduced?)

How Does One Make Legends Of The Hidden Temple More Suitable For Grown-Ups?

While I can’t totally knock the idea that playing into TV viewers’ nostalgia zones is a smart way to develop reboots, I’m a little confused by The CW going all-in on a reimagined “adult” version of Nickelodeon’s Legends of the Hidden Temple. I get that it means the challenges will be bigger and harder and probably on the scale of something like Netflix’s Floor Is Lava, but the kid-friendly nature of the original is what made this quasi-Indiana Jones vibe work. Will it not defeat some sort of purpose by having grown-ass people listening to Olmec and cheering on “Green Monkeys” and “Purple Parrots?” If anything, I hope the aged-up nature of Legends of the Hidden Temple’s reboot means the adult contestants can physically maim those dreaded Temple Guards when they show up.

Will Black Lightning’s Painkiller Spinoff Find A New Home At HBO Max?

I suppose this isn’t necessarily a question meant directly for CW execs, but I do wonder if part of the motivation for passing on the Painkiller pilot was because WB and DC execs felt it might work better on the superhero-friendly streaming platform HBO Max instead of on linear TV. It’s not even confirmed at this point that the offshoot is even in the running to be shopped around, but a lot of fans out there would love to see the Black Lightning character get a second shot on the small screen. And if it happened to be at a place that allowed for bigger budgets and even better looking special effects, so be it.

Can Someone Make Sure The Scooby-Doo Reunion Special Is Legitimately Great?

I’ll cop to being a pretty big fan of Scooby-Doo in many of the brand’s various incarnations across all media – Team Scooby Doobies in Laff-A-Lympics all day – so I was instantly interested as soon as The CW announced its cheeky-sounding The Scooby-Doo Reunion Special, which will feature Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and the titular Great Dane talking about their most memorable mysteries from the last 52 years. At least that’s how it starts, because of course the Warner Bros. studio lot they’re visiting has a monsteriffic mystery of its own to deal with. Interestingly, The CW’s announcement didn’t reveal who will be writing the new special, so my biggest question here is: can they find a writer on the meticulously meta level of Community and Rick and Morty’s Dan Harmon to continue Scooby-Doo’s long history of self-aware horror comedy?

I guess I could technically come up with a bunch of other questions for The CW about Stargirl, Kung Fu, Walker and why the network is attempting to make Saturday night primetime a thing, but there’s only so much time in a day whenever you don’t have super-speed, or a ship that travels through time, etc. So now I’ll just try and form my own super-patience while waiting for all of the above to be answered in some shape or form.

Look, I grew up watching the Powerpuff Girls. One of my first Halloween costumes was dressing up as Blossom back when I was a 5-year-old kid. However, when I first discovered the news of a new live-action series, I was less than interested – at first. Then I saw the premise, and the cast that they decided to go with, and I was like, “Alright, maybe I am on board.” With the number of shows already on the 2021 TV schedule, it’s nice to see a change of pace in regard to reboots.

I feel like with how saturated the genre of live-action has been lately, many folks don’t think about how some animated stories might work as live-action. Or, in the Powerpuff Girls case, they could be turned into a different concept from the original, and become a new phenomenon entirely. I always like to say that my generation – as well as the one before me – grew up on the best cartoons, and that’s why some of them could most certainly become live-action TV shows.

Codename: Kids Next Door

Codename: Kids Next Door was like a fever dream for me for a while. I remembered watching it when I was young and the episodes only just came back to me, but that doesn’t mean the show wasn’t great. Codename: Kids Next Door is all about a group of fifth-graders who operate out of a high-tech treehouse, fighting adult and teen villains alike under the global operation called “Kids Next Door.”

Honestly, this was the first show that came to mind when I thought of this list. I always thought of Codename: Kids Next Door as sort of the cartoon version of Spy Kids, with a lot of the missions these kids went on being so action-packed that they would fit the narrative of a live-action show. I mean, could you imagine the action scenes? It would be fantastic.

Gravity Falls

Man, Gravity Falls was lowkey after my time of consuming cartoons, premiering in 2012, but I’ve been informed of its greatness by many people. Gravity Falls follows the adventures of Dipper and Mabel Pines, two siblings who are sent to spend the summer with their uncle in Gravity Falls, where the paranormal and supernatural run wild.

Let me tell you, Gravity Falls would be perfect for a live-action interpretation, because not only are the characters super relatable and interesting, the story itself would make for an excellent mystery-drama if they wanted to upgrade to a more mature audience as they are for Powerpuff Girls. The history of Gravity Falls itself, and the lore that follows, is enough to carry its own series.

Samurai Jack

I always remembered Samurai Jack as being the show that followed Powerpuff Girls back in the day, and I always ended up watching it because it was so cool and badass. Samurai Jack follows a young prince from a feudal Japanese kingdom, whose father was given a magical katana from three gods, which he could and had used to defeat and imprison his arch-enemy, the shape-shifting demon Aku.

There’s so much more to the story, however, as Samurai Jack really does tell a complete action-based story, with plenty of lore and amazing animation. I could so see this story moving into live-action – maybe even as something that got picked up on HBO and modernized, if they wanted to make it more mature. It’s such an interesting concept. I know that there was recently a video game adaption, and a revival of the cartoon in 2017, but man, the live-action scenes on this type of show would be crazy. Definitely one of the best options out there.

Dexter’s Laboratory

To be honest, I always thought this show was entertaining, but scary at times. Does anyone remember the episode “Chicken Scratch”? God, I get shivers just thinking about it. Either way, Dexter’s Laboratory is about a boy named Dexter who is a genius and has a hidden laboratory under his bedroom, which, of course, no one in his household knows about.

Let’s not talk about how unrealistic it is (I mean, would no one notice the electric bills being way too high?), but discuss how fantastical some of these episodes are. I am always down for someone who is absolutely brilliant but has a sarcastic personality as Dexter did – I mean, look at Tony Stark from the MCU and how popular Iron Man became because of that. There could be so much included in a Dexter live-action series, especially with the types of daily adventures he could have. Plus, I can already see the cast list in my mind.

Monster High

I remember when Monster High was only a book series. Then the books ended up getting so popular they received their own TV show and multiple animated specials. Monster High is exactly what you would expect it to be – it’s about a group of teenage monsters who are related to famous monsters – such as Dracula, Frankenstein, etc., - going to high school together.

This series blew up when it became a TV show, and I think it would be a better fit as a series, than as a movie – but it would have to be done right. I feel like Monster High would be brilliant as a Disney Channel show, where we could see the Monster High kids grow up and do normal teenage things with the twist of them being monsters. Disney has already put out hit movies like Halloweentown, Twitches, and Zombies where mythical creatures are the main focus – why not make a series out of it?

Adventure Time

This hit show came out just as I was becoming a tween, and I still enjoy it to this day. Adventure Time is about two characters, Finn the Human and his sidekick, Jake the Dog, going on adventures together to take down enemies, both big and small.

Adventure Time became a runaway hit with both kids and adults alike, so much so that it ran for eight years with 274 episodes. With how popular this show was I was surprised that there hasn’t been a live-action adaptation already planned, but I could only imagine what they could do if they did end up going that route. Not only does Adventure Time have brilliant storylines with plenty of adventure, but there are also several characters who tackle real-life issues, such as depression, anxiety, love, and loss. It would be great if they brought that over to the live-action scene.

Steven Universe

Another show that came a little bit after my time, but was still beloved by many all the same, Steven Universe became a popular animated show with many ages, from little children all the way up to full-fledged adults. Steven Universe is about the Crystal Gems, who live in a temple near the beach and protect humanity from monsters and other threats. They take the forms of female humanoids so they can fit in better with the world.

While the premise sounds a bit crazy, I promise you that it’s worth the time to watch. The story itself is filled with plenty of emotions, and the themes which are explored, like love, family, and the importance of having good relationships with others, is something that would be great to see kids deal with in live-action with this storyline. Plus the superhero aspect of the Crystal Gems would be fun.

Scooby-Doo

I mean, you know it, you love it, it’s been around since the '60s... Scooby-Doo is all about the iconic gang of problem solvers, with their pal, Scooby-Doo, riding around in the Mystery Machine. While there have been two live-action movies, I could see Scooby-Doo doing the same with a series.

Why? Because I feel like Scooby-Doo could be darker, and not just in a funny-dark kind of way like the movies (which was done kind of poorly). Besides the obvious mysteries that would be fun to follow, the characters themselves could have developed backstories and more personality than in the cartoon. We’ve got shows like Supernatural and Twin Peaks with mystery and horror combined – why not do that with Scooby-Doo?

I’m usually not one for live-action reboots, but I truly do think any of these might work. However, until one of those is announced, I’ll stick to just rewatching the animated shows.

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

In 2005, Wedding Crashers became one of the biggest R-rated comedies of all time, solidifying Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson as guys who can be funny and financial successful. However, even more memorably so, it made a star out of Isla Fisher in the eyes of audiences who, previously, wouldn't have recognized the actress… unless they mistook her for Amy Adams, that is.

For those who have successfully made that distinction, the 45-year-old redhead (whose first name is pronounced “eye-lah,” if you needed help with that, too) is also known for the Australian soap opera Home and Away, which many celebrities from Down Under can claim as one of their first gigs. Isla Fisher would grow more popular in the States for lead roles in subsequent comedies such as Hot Rod and Confessions of a Shopaholic or dramas like Now You See Me and Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby, in which she plays Myrtle Wilson, in 2013. Furthermore, some people are still surprised when they learn that Sacha Baron Cohen, the man behind Borat, is the love of her life and father to her three children.

Of course, you likely already knew about her marriage to the controversial comedian if you are truly a fan of the witty, multi-talented bombshell. Not to mention, you have probably already seen the following 11 movies and one TV show from her filmography that are currently available to stream. If not, I suggest you reconsider your fandom and get ready for the ultimate Isla Fisher binge, starting with the role that, arguably, sees her at her funniest.

Wedding Crashers (Hulu, HBO Max)

A pair of divorced lawyers (Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn) with a penchant for posing as wedding guests to pick up women experience a sudden disconnect in their womanizing dynamic when one of them falls in love.

Why It's A Good Option for Isla Fisher Fans: Owen Wilson as John Beckwith is the one who falls in love, and with Rachel McAdams' character, while Vince Vaughn's Jeremy Grey reluctantly finds himself in a relationship with her uproariously overbearing sister, played brilliantly by Isla Fisher, in Wedding Crashers - a comedy with just the right amounts of raunch and romance.

Stream Wedding Crashers on Hulu or on HBO Max.

Nocturnal Animals (Netflix)

An art gallery owner (Amy Adams) receives from her ex-husband (Jake Gyllenhaal) an unpublished copy of his scandalous, violent novel, in which she begins to notice parallels to their turbulent relationship.

Why It's A Good Option for Isla Fisher Fans: I jokingly mentioned earlier how Isla Fisher is often mistaken for Amy Adams, which director Tom Ford seemingly decided to use to his advantage by casting the Australian actress as Adams' fictional doppelgänger in the story within a story of Nocturnal Animals, the fashion designer's Academy Award-nominated 2016 adaptation of author Austin Wright's crime thriller.

Stream Nocturnal Animals on Netflix.

Scooby-Doo (HBO Max)

Years after parting ways, the members of Mystery Inc. are unexpectedly thrown back together to investigate the strange behavior from guests of a remote island resort.

Why It's A Good Option for Isla Fisher Fans: You would have never mistaken Isla Fisher for Amy Adams in 2002's live action Scooby-Doo movie (written by James Gunn), in which she went blonde to play a love interest to Matthew Lillard's Shaggy, who is fittingly named "Mary Jane."

Stream Scooby-Doo on HBO Max.

Rango (Netflix)

A chameleon (Johnny Depp) who typically uses his talent of "blending in" for his own selfish purposes, instead becomes a hero to a small desert town dry on water and law enforcement when he accepts the role of sheriff.

Why It's A Good Option for Isla Fisher Fans: Scooby-Doo was only one of the first films (barely) made for children starring Isla Fisher as the main character's love interest, as she also has her role as the voice of an Iguana named Beans in Gore Verbinski's 2011 western-style adventure Rango, which would go on to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

Stream Rango on Netflix.

The Beach Bum (Hulu)

A Floridian poet with a free-wheeling, hedonistic world view attempts to finally achieve his goal to write "the great American novel" in order to keep his share of his wife's estate, if not for his habits with alcohol, drugs, and other increasingly alarming vices getting in the way.

Why It's A Good Option for Isla Fisher Fans: If you ever found Isla Fisher's marriage to Sacha Baron Cohen to be a fascinating pairing, just wait until you see her as Minnie, the wife of Matthew McConaughey's Moondog (yes, that is the name of the Oscar-winning actor's character), in The Beach Bum - a thoroughly chaotic stoner comedy with a truly amazing, star-studded cast that could only come from the mind of writer and director Harmony Korine.

Stream The Beach Bum on Hulu.

Definitely, Maybe (Peacock)

A 30-something political consultant going through a divorce (Ryan Reynolds) tries to keep his story vague and child-friendly when his 10-year-old daughter (Abigail Breslin) asks to hear about the most significant relationships of his past, in the events leading up him meeting her mother.

Why It's A Good Option for Isla Fisher Fans: You may find yourself rooting for Isla Fisher's April to be the one who becomes Ryan Reynolds' bride (despite the marriage's bitter fate) in 2008's Definitely, Maybe, a charming romantic comedy that actually challenges you with the question of who the male lead will end up with.

Stream Definitely, Maybe on Peacock.

London (Amazon Prime, Tubi, PlutoTV)

A heartbroken cocaine addict (Chris Evans) and a drug dealer he recently met (Jason Statham) crash a get-together for his ex-girlfriend (Jessica Biel), where he makes a problematic attempt to win her over.

Why It's A Good Option for Isla Fisher Fans: Three years before playing a love interest to Ryan Reynolds in a rom-com, Isla Fisher played the host of a fateful going away for the unrequited love interest of another Marvel movie actor (Evans) in London, which has short bursts of rom-com action along with its depictions of post break-up depression, reactionary violence, and graphic substance abuse.

Stream London on Amazon Prime or Tubi or PlutoTV.

Rise Of The Guardians (HBO Max)

A group of iconic figures from fantasy legend - such as Jack Frost (Chris Pine), the Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman), and Santa Claus (Alec Baldwin) - must join forces to defeat an evil spirit (Jude Law) who threatens to ruin the innocence of children all over the world.

Why It's A Good Option for Isla Fisher Fans: While its title may sound like a prequel to a Marvel movie, Rise of the Guardians is not even a comic book adaptation, but a fun, animated adventure powered by imagination with an impressive who's who of voice talents, including Isla Fisher as The Tooth Fairy.

Stream Rise of the Guardians on HBO Max.

The Lookout (Paramount+, PlutoTV)

A former star athlete who now suffers from debilitating memory problems after a car accident attempts to achieve normalcy with a custodial position at a bank, but instead gets roped into a heist.

Why It's A Good Option for Isla Fisher Fans: Say, speaking of that cheeky Guardians of the Galaxy reference I just made, Joseph Gordon-Levitt's amnesia-stricken character is actually named Chris Pratt in The Lookout, which also sees Isla Fisher perfectly cast in the dangerous femme fatale role of this acclaimed 2007 Neo-noir thriller.

Stream The Lookout on Paramount+ and Pluto TV.

Horton Hears A Who! (Disney+)

An elephant (Jim Carrey) struggles to keep a speck of dust he finds resting on a plant safe from his fellow jungle creatures when he discovers an entire community of microscopic organisms live on top of it.

Why It's A Good Option for Isla Fisher Fans: Inspired by the classic Dr. Seuss book, Horton Hears a Who! is yet another fun animated film with Isla Fisher playing a hero of sorts as the voice of a seemingly absent-minded university scientist who assists the Mayor Who-ville (Steve Carell) in attempting to avoid catastrophe.

Stream Horton Hears a Who! on Disney+.

Godmothered (Disney+)

A woman (Isla Fisher) whose wish for help was ignored when she was a child finally sees it answered by a bumbling aspiring fairy godmother (Jillian Bell), who tracks her down in the hope of proving she has what it takes for the job.

Why It's A Good Option for Isla Fisher Fans: Isla Fisher's most recent foray into family-friendly entertainment is playing the late recipient of some much-needed magic in the 2020 Disney+ exclusive comedy Godmothered, which offers a funny little twist on the wish-granting moral support role found in many classic fairy tales.

Stream Godmothered on Disney+.

Arrested Development (Netflix)

When his father (Jeffrey Tambor) is put in jail, California lawyer Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) attempts to keep his once-wealthy family of eccentric, selfish, and corrupt characters afloat without losing his sanity.

Why It's A Good Option for Isla Fisher Fans: Another famous redhead whom Isla Fisher has also been confused with is Bryce Dallas Howard, whose father is Ron Howard, which is what makes her role on Netflix's revival of Arrested Development in Seasons 4 and 5 as the filmmaker's illegitimate daughter, Rebel Alley, especially hilarious.

Stream Arrested Development on Netflix.

Something I would really love to see is a movie starring Isla Fisher, Amy Adams, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Jessica Chastain as the same character. It would all be an elaborate experiment to see how often the audience takes notice when each actress replaces the last one. Hell, I'll take just a viral video of it, if that makes it easier, but I believe Fisher and the rest certainly have the sense of humor and, undoubtedly, the talent necessary to pull that off.

Ken Spears, a Hanna-Barbera alum known best for co-creating the character of Scooby-Doo has died. According to his family, the veteran writer and producer passed away from complications related to Lewy body dementia. He was 82.

Ken Spears’ son, Kevin, confirmed the news of his father’s passing to Variety. In a statement, he honored his father, citing his loyalty and commitment to his family and making note of his impact on the Scooby-Doo franchise:

Unfortunately, Ken Spears’ passing isn’t the first loss the Scooby-Doo family has suffered this year. Just a few months ago, Spears’ Scooby-Doo collaborator, Joe Ruby, passed away at the age of 87.

Spears grew up in Los Angeles and eventually became friends with the son of animation icon William Hanna. It was this connection that landed him a job as a sound editor at Hanna-Barbera in 1959. During his time as an editor, he met and befriended Joe Ruby, and the two eventually forged a firm writing relationship. The two would go onto write various animated and live-action TV specials for Hanna-Barbera and other companies.

In 1969, Spears and Ruby would cement themselves in pop culture history when they created Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! The show would prove to be a hit for Hanna-Barbera and CBS and would lead the animation studio to take a similar teenage-centric approach with some of the shows that followed like Josie and the Pussycats, Speed Buggy and The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show.

During their years working together, Ken Spears and Joe Ruby would create other beloved characters like Dynomutt, Dog Wonder and Jabberjaw. The two would eventually set up their own studio – Ruby-Spears Productions – which would serve as a direct competitor to Hanna-Barbera. The company would produce notable shows, including Alvin and the Chipmunks, Fangface and Thundarr the Barbarian, all of which would fit perfectly into Saturday morning cartoon slots.

Of course, the Scooby-Doo franchise would become an entertainment empire that spans TV shows, movies, comic books and more. The most recent entry in the line of TV shows is Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?, while the series has consistently cranked out direct-to-video movies for over a decade. And just this year, the franchise saw another theatrical entry with Scoob. The characters have even shown up in some pretty unexpected TV shows.

Ken Spears is survived by sons, Kevin and Chris, their wives, his five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. As a lifelong fan of Scooby-Doo, I’m saddened to hear of the loss of Ken Spears but incredibly grateful for the work he’s contributed. I think I speak for many when I say that the work he and Joe Ruby did will live on for years to come.

We here at CinemaBlend extend our thoughts to the family and friends of Ken Spears during this time.

In the more than half century since premiering back in the late 1960s, Scooby-Doo grew from a relatively small cartoon series to a beloved franchise spanning multiple shows, movies, and even video games. Now, sadly, Scooby-Doo creator Joe Ruby has died. He was 87-years-old at the time of his passing.

Joe Ruby passed away due to natural causes at 87, according to Variety, in Westlake Village, California. As well as creating the series with partner Ken Spears, Ruby wrote and supervised for Scooby-Doo. Ruby and Spears wrote the first five episodes of the franchise and proceeded to supervise and edit the rest of the first season, which debuted in 1969. The original series ran from 1969-1976.

Scooby-Doo, officially titled Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! in its early days, debuted as an animated mystery series that delivered comedy with the adventures of Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and of course Scooby-Doo himself. The show was created in part due to reactions to more violent cartoons at the time, including Space Ghost. As anybody who has ever caught a Scooby-Doo episode can attest, the bad guys that the Mystery Gang faced may have scared Scooby and Shaggy, but they were hardly terrifying and violent!

Scooby-Doo stands as one of the most iconic Hanna-Barbera cartoons, and arguably the most successful considering its many iterations. An animated mystery film called Scoob! premiered earlier in 2020, and a Scooby-Doo animated series has been on the air on one network or another almost constantly since 1969. Joe Ruby's success with co-creating Scooby-Doo led him to create more Hanna-Barbera series, including Dynomutt and Jabberjaw.

The success of Scooby-Doo also led Joe Ruby to oversee the Saturday morning cartoon lineup at CBS, where the the first two seasons aired before moving to CBS. Ruby and partner Ken Spears moved with Scooby-Doo to ABC and eventually set up their own studio in 1977. Later in his career, Ruby served as executive producer on animated versions of more adult projects, including Rambo and Police Academy: The Animated Series.

Joe Ruby is survived by his wife, Carole, of 63 years, as well as four children and ten grandchildren. Grandson Benjamin Ruby credited his grandfather's creativity and work ethic, revealing that the Scooby-Doo co-creator "never stopped writing and creating, even as he aged."

Although Joe Ruby worked on many projects on top of Scooby-Doo, the success of that franchise guarantees that his legacy will live on. No fewer than 14 animated Scooby-Doo series have hit the airwaves to date, most of which ran for more than one season. Many animated movies have been produced, for television and direct-to-video release.

Two live-action Scooby-Doo movies released in theaters, along with some live-action TV and direct-to-video movies. Throw in projects like Supernatural's Scooby-Doo episode, and the characters Joe Ruby created can be found throughout media. His legacy in television and film will last for as long as there are people who treasure the Mystery Gang, and that should be for a very long time. Our thoughts here at CinemaBlend are with Ruby's family, friends, and loved ones in this difficult time.

Scooby-Doo is one of those stories that has become so much a part of popular culture that it has been endlessly reinterpreted in a relatively short period of time. The characters were born in an animated series in the 1960s and since then we've seen multiple animated reboots, a live-action movie, and a new animated film. These have all kept the core elements more or less the same, but James Gunn, who wrote the 2002 live-action film and its sequel, recently confirmed he wanted to make one significant change in his movie, Velma was going to be gay.

The idea of the character of Velma Dinkley being gay is one of those fan theories that has taken hold over the years along with the concept of Shaggy being a stoner and Fred and Daphne hooking up off-screen. These ideas were never specifically stated in the slapstick cartoon for kids, but there was anecdotal evidence that seemed to support them, and there's little evidence to discount the ideas entirely. James Gunn recently stated on Twitter that in his original script for the live-action movie, Velma's sexuality was going to go from subtext to actual text.

James Gunn has spoken before about the ways that his Scooby-Doo movie went through multiple iterations in pre-production. He's mentioned that one version of the script included a kiss between Velma, played in the film by Linda Cardinelli, and Daphne, played by Sarah Michelle Geller. While it's at least theoretically possible that the kiss could exist in the story without outright claiming the characters were gay, it seems that in Velma's case that was exactly the situation.

While Gunn has expressed some frustration at the way the movie was changed, he's also clearly been very happy with the way the movie has been embraced by fans over the years. If anything the live-action Scooby-Doo films are as popular or more popular now than they were when they were new. If the films had gotten more restricted ratings, as they would have under the original script, that might not be the case. Still, the edgier version of Scooby-Doo is such an interesting idea that it's not hard to want to see see what it would have looked like.

James Gunn's comments follow on those of Tony Cervone, producer of the 2010-2013 Scooby series Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated who, in an Instagram post, confirmed that, in that version of the animated series at least, Velma was also totally gay, and if you didn't pick up on that, you weren't paying attention.

Perhaps there will be other chances for different takes on the material in the future. We just got another Scooby-Doo movie with Scoob! so clearly the franchise is still popular. Anything is possible given enough time.

With the Scooby-Doo franchise having been around for over 50 years, it becomes increasingly difficult for each new iteration of the Mystery Inc gang to stand out. Nevertheless, Scoob! certainly distinguishes itself by incorporating characters from other Hanna-Barbera properties, but as Zac Efron, the voice of Fred Jones, sees it, the movie also does justice to the overall Scooby-Doo mythology by showing how these crime-solving teens and their talking dog became a family.

Here’s what Zac Efron had to say about how Scoob! chronicles Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and Scoob-Doo coming together as adolescents:

Zac Efron delivered the above comments while speaking with jwebtv about Scoob!, adding that one of the things that attracted him to the project was director Tony Cervone, who clearly cared for the material. So while Efron grew up as a Scooby-Doo fan, he recognized that Cervone’s passion was leagues beyond him, making it incredibly fortunate that he was the one helming this take on the Scooby-Doo mythology that pulled from all kinds of corners.

Of course, Scoob! doesn’t mark the first time we’ve ever seen Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and Scooby together as kids; we all remember A Pup Named Scooby-Doo and the flashbacks from Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, right? Still, every person has a first Scoob-Doo project they watch, and if there are kids (and perhaps even some adults) out there who are being introduced to these characters through Scoob!, here they get an origin story and massive crossover mixed in with the usual mystery-uncovering antics.

Along with Zac Efron as Fred Jones, Scoob!’s Mystery Inc lineup includes Frank Welker reprising Scooby-Doo, Will Forte as Shaggy Rogers, Amanda Seyfried as Daphne Blake and Gina Rodriguez as Velma Dinkley. But that’s just the tip of the Hanna-Barbera iceberg, as the movie also features Mark Wahlberg as Blue Falcon, Jason Isaacs as Dick Dastardly, Kiersey Clemons as Dee Dee Sykes, Ken Jeong as Dynomutt, Tracy Morgan as Captain Caveman.

Originally intended to be a theatrical release, Scoob! is now available to rent or purchase on VOD, and don’t forget to read CinemaBlend’s review of the movie. You can also keep track of what movies are still set to hit the big screen later this year with our 2020 release schedule.