Skip to main content

Saturday Night Live didn’t appear to be the type of television series that would spawn a major motion picture when it debuted in 1975. But, as the show evolved, many of its most legendary sketches became the basis of several hit movies. As the show celebrates its 50th anniversary on NBC, just how many movies were spinoffs of SNL sketchess?

How many movies were spun off of ‘SNL’ sketches?

Eleven films were spun off of SNL sketches throughout the series’ six decades. Some were wildly popular while others, not so much.

The first film spinoff from SNL was 1980’s The Blues Brothers. Starring John Belushi and Dan Akroyd, the movie tells the story of Elwood and Jake Blues. Ironically, the Blues Brothers weren’t sketch characters, but musical performers.

It took a dozen years before another SNL spinoff film hit theaters. Wayne’s World detailed the chronicles of slackers Wayne and Garth, played by Mike Myers and Dana Carvey, and debuted in theaters in 1992.

The wildly popular Conehead family debuted on SNL in 1977, but didn’t get the big screen treatment until Coneheads in 1993.

That same year, Wayne’s World 2 debuted, followed by Julia Sweeney’s It’s Pat in 1994 and Stuart Saves His Family in 1995 starring Al Franken. In 1998, Blues Brothers 2000 and A Night at the Roxbury premiered.

Molly Shannon headed Superstar in 1999 and Tim Meadows started as radio host Leon Phelps in 2000’s The Ladies Man. Rounding out films spun-off of SNL is 2010’s MacGruber starring Will Forte.

Which ‘SNL’ film made the most money?

According to Box Office Mojo, the SNL spinoff that made the most money overall was Wayne’s World. Since the film was released in 1992, it has cumulatively grossed $121,697,323. Coming in second was The Blues Brothers, with a recorded gross of $57,229,890.

Third place belongs to Wayne’s World 2, at $48,197,805. Superstar ranks fourth at $30,636,478 and in fifth place is A Night at the Roxbury with a gross of $30,331,165.

‘SNL’ alums are some of the top-grossing actors in the film industry

Related

From Abbey Road to Studio 8H: The First Member of The Beatles to Perform on ‘SNL’

While many of the film spinoffs from SNL are spotty when it comes to big box office grosses, many of the show’s graduates went on to become bonafide movie stars.

Robert Downey Jr. only appeared on SNL for one season, beginning in 1984. Downey’s career hit a rough patch when substance abuse and legal troubles made him uninsurable by movie studios. But thanks to securing the role of Iron Man and leading the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Downey’s movies have grossed over $14 billion (per The Numbers).

Next is Eddie Murphy. The four-year SNL veteran’s movie career has banked $6.75 billion worldwide. Adam Sandler comes in third, grossing just over $5 billion in 40-plus movies.

Saturday Night Live airs Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

Best in Entertainment