Countdown to Halloween: The Beloved 1991 Movie “The Addams Family” and Its 1993 Sequel “Addams Family Values”

For this year’s spooky season, let’s pay a visit to the weird, kooky family - The Addams Family!

In the 1991 movie “The Addams Family,” when a man claiming to be Fester, the missing brother of Gomez Addams, arrives at the Addams’ house, the family is thrilled, However, Morticia begins to suspect the man is a fraud, since he can’t recall most details of Fester’s life.

With the help of lawyer Tully Alford, Fester manages to get the Addams clan evicted from their home. Gomez realizes the two men are conspiring to swindle the Addams fortune and he must challenge Fester.

The 1991 “Addams Family” movie is a well-regarded, darkly comedic adaptation of the original cartoon that’s still just really entertaining. I have seen both of these movies many times over the years and both of these movies are still very funny. The 1991 movie also has the most perfect casting (especially for Raul Julia as Gomez and Anjelica Huston as Morticia). While some of the plot can be a little generic, the satirical humor, memorable one-liners and humorous take on the unconventional Addams family makes this a rewatchable classic.

One of the most memorable moments of this movie is Christopher Lloyd’s portrayal of Fester/Gordon. His casting, just like Raul Julia, Huston and the scene-stealing Christina Ricci, is pitch perfect. The Fester/Gordon storyline is one of the major highlights of this movie, and slight spoiler alert, his con artist character Gordon was Fester all along after Fester suffered from amnesia while being at the Bermuda Triangle.

Over the years, the movie’s reputation has grown, and it’s now widely regarded as a Halloween classic and a defining version of The Addams Family. This 1991 movie and its sequel are considered classics by fans who grew up with them and appreciate the blend of horror and comedy.

MPA: Rated PG-13   (runtime 99 minutes)

In the 1993 sequel “Addams Family Values,” this time around, Gomez and Morticia are

celebrating the arrival of a baby boy. But siblings Wednesday and Pugsley are none too happy about the new addition.

When nanny Debbie Jelinsky appears to keep the kids in line, her presence leads to an unexpected treacherous twist.

Just like the 1991 movie, its 1993 sequel “Addams Family Values” delivers more of the sharp, twisted humor that can be very humorous and, of course, more stand out performances from the talented cast. One thing I’m surprised about is that the sequel didn’t perform at the box office as well as the first movie.

“Addams Family Values” also features several moments that can really make you laugh, such as when Uncle Fester is trying to woo Debbie Jelinsky (the new nanny), which doesn’t quite work out well. It’s also humorous seeing Wednesday and Pugsley at a normal summer camp, where we see these two characters interact with normal children. Their antics at camp leads to a very memorable play about Thanksgiving that the other kids at camp will probably never forget.

Honestly, all of the scenes that feature both Wednesday and Pugsley together absolutely steals the show in this sequel!

“Addams Family Values” is generally regarded as a cult classic and some viewers have stated that its a superior sequel to the 1991 movie, despite underperforming in theaters. Over time, critical re-evaluation and a passionate fanbase have praised its darkly subversive humor and stand-out performance.

MPA: Rated PG-13 for macabre humor  (runtime 94 minutes)

• After the movie premiered children would frequently recognize Raul Julia as Gomez Addams out in public, which according to him, always brought a smile to his face. Julia stated that Gomez Addams was by far his favorite role, and his family said this recognition was especially meaningful to him in the final months of his life because he loved performing for children and making them happy whenever the opportunity presented itself.

• According to Anjelica Huston, Christina Ricci came up with Wednesday's sleeping position (with her arms folded across her chest) herself.

• The exterior of the Addams' house was built for $100,000.

• Originally, the "Mamushka" scene was supposed to be longer, with a full song describing brotherly love, and both Gomez and Fester naming other famous brothers. Test screenings however revealed that audiences felt the song brought the movie to a standstill. The film shows an edited version with only Gomez and Fester dancing, with Gomez throwing knives at Fester. The full song can be found on the motion picture soundtrack and the extended scene can be viewed on the 2021 Blu-Ray of The Addams Family with 'More Mamushka.'

• To make Anjelica Huston's eyes look slanted like the original Morticia, the make-up artists had to attach strings with spirit gum to the outside corners of her eyes and anchor the strings on her head.

• On The Addams Family (1964), the Addamses had a pet lion named Kitty. Though Kitty doesn't appear in this movie, Gomez can be heard cracking a whip and saying, "Down, Kitty!" as a roar is heard when he goes to the vault early on.

• In The Addams Family (1964), Uncle Fester was Morticia's mother's uncle, and his surname is unknown. (It is occasionally implied that he only has one name.) In this movie and most subsequent interpretations of the same character, he is Gomez' brother, Fester Addams.

• The idea for the film came during a car ride. Scott Rudin, head of production at 20th Century Fox, was riding in a van with other company executives one day after a movie screening. "Everyone was there (studio chiefs) Barry Diller, Leonard Goldberg, and (marketing chief) Tom Sherak, when Tom's kid started singing The Addams Family (1964) theme," Rudin told the Los Angeles Times. "And suddenly everyone in the van was singing the theme, letter perfect, note for note." The next day, Rudin proposed to Diller and Goldberg that they make an Addams Family movie, and they went for it.

• Uncle Fester powering a light bulb with his mouth is a reference to the original series, where he did the same thing.

• Tim Burton was originally set to direct. He had worked with screenwriters Caroline Thompson and Larry Wilson individually. Thompson on Edward Scissorhands (1990)" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)," and Wilson on "Beetlejuice (1988)."

• Final film of Raul Julia released before he tragically died on October 24, 1994 at the age of 54. Street Fighter (1994) was released two months posthumously.

• The baby's name, Pubert, was the name originally suggested (and rejected) for Pugsley by Charles Addams when he was asked by the producers of The Addams Family (1964) to name the hitherto unnamed characters in his cartoons.

• During the scene when Morticia gives birth, this was in fact filmed with Anjelica Huston standing against a wall, not lying down. This was done so that her hair and make up stayed perfectly in place.

• Wednesday and Pugsley's old-fashioned swimsuits are Victorian styles, circa the late 1800s to early 1900s. In fact, throughout the film numerous references and styles from the Victorian era are seen in the Addams household. The modest black clothes, the towering house, and the decor are all from the Victorian and Edwardian era. The family has very few modern items or fixtures in the household (we do however see Debbie watching television).

• The notion of the Addams Family children going to camp may be based on the August 30, 1947 installment of Charles Addams's single panel cartoons in The New Yorker. It depicts the kids' return home from camp - in small pet-carriers by express delivery.

• Included among the American Film Institute's 2000 list of the 500 movies nominated for the Top 100 Funniest American Movies.

• When Fester announces his engagement, Morticia comments that the ring worn by Debbie is the same one worn by Fester's mother when she was buried. Debbie slyly whips out a shovel, adding a literal component to her character's "golddigger" status.