How Many Movies Came from ‘SNL’?

Saturday Night Live didn’t appear to be the type of television series that would spawn a major motion picture when it debuted in 1974. But, as the show evolved, many of its most legendary skits became the basis of several hit movies. As the show celebrates its 50th anniversary on NBC, just how many movies were spinoffs of SNL skits?

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

A dozen films were spun off of SNL skits throughout the series five decades. Some were wildly popular while others, not so much.

The first film spinoff from SNL was 1980s 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 skit characters, but musical performers on the series.

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 Meyers and Dana Carvey, and debuted in theaters in 1992.

It took until 1993 for the wildly popular Coneheads family to get their big screen treatment. The characters, which debuted on SNL in 1977, got the feature film treatment sixteen years after their initial introduction.

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, but only the latter recouped its initial investment.

Molly Shannon headed Superstar in 1999 and Tim Meadows followed with The Ladies Man with Tim Meadows as radio host Leon Phelps. Rounding out films spun-off of SNL is MacGruber in 2010, and Saturday Night in 2024.

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

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. Here are the top five SNL alums that became box office magnates.

At the top spot is Eddie Murphy. He was only on SNL for four seasons but has since enjoyed a forty-plus-year career in the entertainment industry. His films have grossed over $6B worldwide.

Second is Dan Aykroyd, whose movies earned a combined $4.4B. He frequently paired up with other SNL stars including John Belushi, Bill Murray, and Eddie Murphy for top-grossing films such as The Blues Brothers, Ghostbusters, and Trading Places.

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.

Mel Gibson famously paid a liability insurance bond so Downey could star in 2003’s The Singing Detective. By 2008 he was the lead in Marvel’s Iron Man. His films have earned more than $3B combined and culminated in a 2024 Oscar win for Oppenheimer.

Saturday Night Live airs Saturdays at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC.

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