Wednesday is the latest Netflix original series to become a huge breakout hit. Indeed, the debut week of the horror comedy, starring Jenna Ortega in the title role, has become the most-watched English language show in Netflix’s history, beating out the fourth season of Stranger Things, which also debuted this year. Many fans of the series may wonder what shows like Wednesday they could watch next. Thankfully we have picked some shows like Wednesday, along with a couple of movies, that you could watch and enjoy before, hopefully, season two of the series debuts. You can sign up for Netflix to watch Wednesday at the link below:
Netflix
Netflix is still the leading premium streaming service, with over 200 million worldwide subscribers. It offers thousands of movies and TV shows to binge watch, including its always growing list of original films and series, including Stranger Things, The Witcher, Bridgerton, and many more.
Shows and movies like Wednesday
The Addams Family (TV series)
If you want to list the shows like Wednesday to watch, this is a must. Based on the macabre New Yorker magazine illustrations by Charles Addams, this sitcom was truly unlike anything on TV at the time of its debut in 1964. The black-and-white Addams Family may have had some quirks, to say the least, but they loved each other, and while the family members were “creepy and kooky”, they harbored no malice toward anyone. Lisa Loring was the first actor to play Wednesday Addams, and she was portrayed as a sweet girl who loved her spiders and her headless doll. She wasn’t the dark-humored incarnation we would see in later versions of this franchise, but her performance still worked. You can watch both seasons of this sadly short-lived sitcom on Amazon Freevee for free.
The Addams Family/Addams Family Values (movie series)
There have been a ton of different adaptations of The Addams Family over the decades, ranging from a kids’ animated series to a Broadway musical and, most recently, two CGI animated films (The Addams Family and The Addams Family 2, both of which are currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video). However, the best adaptations of the franchise are the two live-action feature films, both of which were directed by Barry Sonnenfeld.
The first movie, released in 1991, didn’t have the best plot (the family’s lawyer was trying to steal their hidden money). However, it did have a ton of great performances from folks like the late Raul Julia as Gomez Addams, Angelica Huston as Morticia, and Christopher Lloyd as uncle Fester. It also introduced us to Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams, who many film critics said at the time was born to play the role. Ricci turned Wednesday into a darker but funnier character as she sarcastically slammed the normal humans she had to deal with. You can watch the movie now on Netflix.
The second movie, Addams Family Values, was released in 1993 and was actually darker and funnier than the original. Ricci, who would later appear on Wednesday’s first season in a small but important role, is back as Wednesday, as she and her brother Pugsley are sent to summer camp. Once again, her dark and sarcastic humor would be used to great effect here. Even better, the main storyline, about a woman who marries Fester just so she can kill him to claim his inheritance money, is much better than the original, thanks to a great performance by Joan Cusack as the serial killing bride. You can also watch this sequel on Netflix.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (TV series)
If they ever encountered each other, Wednesday Addams might think Buffy Summers was a normal teenage girl, obsessed with her clothes, her hair, and boys. However, that might change if Wednesday saw what Buffy was really like: A chosen slayer of vampires and evil supernatural monsters. Both Wednesday and Buffy have to deal with supernatural threats in their series, but Buffy tries to fit into normal life and hide her slayer skills from most people, while Wednesday tries her best to truly be herself. Buffy The Vampire Slayer is still one of the best TV shows ever made, and worthy addition to our list of shows like Wednesday. You can watch it now for free on The Roku Channel.
Edward Scissorhands (Movie)
The first four episodes of Wednesday were directed by Tim Burton, in his first TV series directing effort. Burton started out as an animator before becoming a live-action director known for his dark style in Movies like Beetlejuice, Batman, and Batman Returns. However, he really started embracing his more original and unique style with this. Johnny Depp plays the title character, a mechanical man with scissors for fingers, because his creator died before he could give him real hands. Like Wednesday, Edward is an outcast but tries his best to fit in with his skills with his scissor fingers. This movie is ultimately a dark love story, with some great performances by Depp, Winona Ryder, and others. You can watch it now on Disney Plus, which also has a number of Burton’s other films, including The Nightmare Before Christmas, Alice in Wonderland, and more.
Smallville (TV series)
The series Wednesday was co-developed by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. Both men also co-developed another TV series over 20 years ago about a teenage outcast that’s based on another popular franchise. Smallville gives us a new look at a young Clark Kent, who is still discovering who he really is after his foster parents found him as a baby in a wrecked alien spaceship. The ten seasons of the show let us look at how Clark grew up, learned more about his powers, and eventually become the person most folks know as Superman. You can stream all ten seasons now on Hulu.
His Dark Materials (TV series)
On our list of shows like Wednesday, this one might be the darkest and most serious. Based on the novels by Philip Pullman, this series is set on an alternative Earth, where people are born with souls that appear outside their bodies in the form of intelligent animals. The series focuses on the orphan teenager Lyra (Dafne Keen) who is a ward of a college in this world’s version of England. This series slowly reveals that not everything is what it first appears to be. Lyra discovers there is a multiverse of Earths to explore, but the ruling members of this Earth want to keep the existence of these Earths away from the public. You can watch the first two seasons now on HBO Max, and a third season is due in December 2022.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (TV series)
Our final series on our list of shows like Wednesday is perhaps the closest to the new show in terms of its concept. Based on the Archie Comics character, Sabrina is a half-human and half-witch who, on her 16th birthday, is forced to fully take on her witch side. We would like to think that Sabrina and Wednesday would become fast friends, as both characters are being asked to become someone else by outside forces. Plus, of course, all the supernatural stuff these two teens must handle. You can watch both seasons of this show on Netflix.
That’s our list of the shows and movies like Wednesday to check out after you finish binge-watching the series.
