Your Favorite Comic Strip Movie Based on the Longest Running Comic Strips
The website Trivia Genius published a list of the 12 longest running Sunday comic strips of all time. The source article https://www.triviagenius.com/the-longest-running-sunday-comic-strips/X078kW15UQAH9iFD While “Calvin and Hobbes, Cathy, Peanuts, Garfield, and Dilbert”, didn’t make the article’s list, they were mentioned in the introduction to the article. (I’ll add “Li’l Abner” and “Andy Capp”.) Several of these comic strips were turned into movies or movie serials and tv series. Staying with movies only. Which of these is your favorite movie based on a comic strip that ran 33 years or longer (using “Dilbert” and “Li’l Abner” as a benchmark)?
If you got a movie based on a comic strip that ran 33 years or longer, and preferably, still running, to replace any on this list that were not on the article’s list, name it here.
Starting with the oldest on the list, and going down…
If you got a movie based on a comic strip that ran 33 years or longer, and preferably, still running, to replace any on this list that were not on the article’s list, name it here.
Starting with the oldest on the list, and going down…
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- DirectorWaltraud EhrhardtStarsAngela FischerRavi KarmalkerLotte Palfi Andor(1897 to 2006, 109 years) also known as “The Captain and the Kids” , “The Shenanigan Kids”, “Knoll og Tott” in (Denmark and Norway), and “Hans and Fritz”, mainly because when the comic’s creator, Rudolph Dirks, had a dispute with his publisher, William Randolph Hearst, he left and created almost identical copy of his own creation and called it “The Captain and The Kids”. Hearst still owned the original copyrights and had others still draw the comic strip at the same time. It was the first comic strip to use talk balloons. Many silent films were made and a 1989 film. But the IMDb doesn’t have pictures of any of them at the time this list was created. I want it to stay this way until the IMDb gets one and it will automatically change.
- DirectorEdward BerndsStarsScotty BeckettJimmy LydonSusan MorrowThe popular Frank O. King comic strip characters go from newspaper page to screen in this 1951 feature film from legendary comedy director Edward Bernds (of Three Stooges and Bowery Boys fame). Scotty Beckett and Jimmy Lydon are Corky and Skeezix, half-brothers who find themselves in the restaurant business until complications and some family conflicts arise.(1918 to present, 104 years) The first comic strip to age its characters.
- DirectorEdward BerndsStarsScotty BeckettJimmy LydonDon BeddoeElwood Martin (Gordon Jones), a brash extrovert with an aversion to work come to live with Walt Wallet (Don Beddoe) and his wife, Phyllis (Madelon Baker). He blunders about their house, and the diner owned by Corky Wallet (Scotty Beckett) and the fix-it shop belonging to Skeezix Wallet (Jimmy Lydon), creating havoc at every stop. Corky and his kid sister, Judy Wallet (Patti Brady) decide the only way to save the Wallet family from bankruptcy and insanity is to persuade the free-loading Elwood to move on. The latter then fakes an injured back.(1918 to present, 104 years) The first comic strip to age its characters.
- DirectorEdward F. ClineStarsBud DuncanEdgar KennedySarah PaddenSnuffy Smith, moonshining hillbilly, grows tired of dodging revenue agents, headed by Cooper, and decides to take the army up on their offer of free clothes, food and $21.00 a month. Once enlisted, he finds that revenue agent Cooper is his sergeant. Don, a hillbilly soldier friend of Snuffy, has invented a range finder, but it is stolen by some fifth columnists and hidden in Snuffy's bag. Snuffy decides he has all the army discipline he cares for and heads back to Smokey Mountain, followed closely by the enemy agents.“Barney Google and Snuffy Smith” (1919 to present, 103 years)
- DirectorRoy MackStarsBud DuncanEdgar KennedyCliff NazarroNazi spies mistake Snuffy Smith's moonshine for a new secret rocket fuel and try to steal the "formula."“Barney Google and Snuffy Smith” (1919 to present, 103 years)
- DirectorJohn HustonStarsAileen QuinnAlbert FinneyCarol BurnettA spunky young orphan is taken in by a rich eccentric, much to the chagrin of the cantankerous woman who runs the orphanage."Little Orphan Annie" (1924 to 2010, 96 years)
- DirectorWill GluckStarsQuvenzhané WallisCameron DiazJamie FoxxA foster kid who lives with her mean foster mom sees her life change when business tycoon and New York City mayoral candidate Will Stacks makes a thinly-veiled campaign move and takes her in."Little Orphan Annie" (1924 to 2010, 96 years)
- DirectorJohn S. RobertsonStarsMitzi GreenBuster PhelpsMay RobsonDaddy Warbucks has to go on a long trip, leaving Annie alone. While wandering the street, Sandy leads Annie to discover Mickey, who is crying. Mickey's grandmother recently died, and he is about to be taken away by Mrs. Berger to the orphanage. He chooses to go with Annie to the shack where she and Daddy Warbucks live. She feeds him leftover pig's feet, cream puff and assorted food, but by the next morning he has a stomach ache. Annie takes him to an orphanage where he will be taken care of, but is herself is taken into custody. While in the orphanage, Annie takes care of Mickey. One day, Mrs. Stewart (a rich dowager) appears, wanting to adopt. The children a paraded before her. Hearing of her contrary nature, Annie makes sure that Mickey catches her attention by saying bad things about him, and by the end of the interview, Mrs. Stewart adopts him. In the orphanage, Annie misses Mickey, and although she's written four letters, Mickey has not responded (because he can't write). Meanwhile, in Mrs. Stewart's home, Mickey is happy, but appears to be angry with Annie, for having said the bad things about him in the adoption process. Annie decides to visit Mickey, and appears by his window just after he's been put to bed since Mrs. Stewart is holding a dinner party. Annie tries to reconcile with Mickey who brings Annie into the house. They pass by the kitchen where Annie takes some cheese dip and Sandy makes off with the main course, a roast beef. The dinner party guests tell about their brushes with supernatural apparitions, although Mrs. Stewart doesn't believe a word of it. Meanwhile, Mickey and Annie find themselves in Mrs. Stewart's bedroom, where Sandy performs tricks for Mickey, and Annie does imitations of Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Groucho Marx (from the film Horse Feathers (1932)) and Mrs. Stewart. The dinner party ends with the guests humorously wondering if the missing roast beef was also a supernatural occurrence. Upon hearing them leave, Mickey quickly gets back into bed, Sandy goes into Mrs. Stewart's closet, and Annie is stuck in her room. While Mrs. Stewart reads, she sees what she think is an apparition (really just Annie trying to escape stealthily). Mrs. Stewart makes her way to her room, but as she's preparing for bed she sees a ghostly figure (Sandy in a sheet) escape from the closet it door. After a bit of rambunctious chasing, Mrs. Stewart confronts Annie asking her what she's doing in the house. Annie is ejected, but Mickey now doesn't want Annie to go. As he tries to call to her from his second floor window, Mickey falls out of the window to everyone's horror. After some doubt, the doctor declares he will survives and will be able to remove a brace by Christmas. It's Christmas, Mickey is now back to health, and Mrs. Stewart has thrown a party for all the orphans from the orphanage, including Annie. Suspecting something odd, Annie walks up to Santa and discovers it's really Daddy Warbucks. The film ends happily for all."Little Orphan Annie" (1924 to 2010, 96 years)
- DirectorBen HolmesStarsAnn GillisRobert KentJune TravisAnnie (Ann Gillis), an orphan, (based on Harold Gray's comic strip but who is at no point in the film called 'Little Orphan Annie), is befriended by a fight manager, 'Pop' Corrigan (J. Farrell MacDonald). She brings him Johnny Adams (Robert Kent), a promising prizefighter. Annie gets the people of the neighborhood to finance his training. But on the night of Johnny's big fight, a gambling syndicate locks him in a gymnasium and it appears the neighborhood folks will lose their investment."Little Orphan Annie" (1924 to 2010, 96 years)
- DirectorRobert AltmanStarsRobin WilliamsShelley DuvallRay WalstonThe adventures of the famous sailor man and his friends in the seaside town of Sweethaven.(1929 to 1994, 65 years)
- DirectorFrank R. StrayerStarsPenny SingletonArthur LakeLarry SimmsDagwood loses his job on the eve of his and Blondie's fifth wedding anniversary.(1930 to present, 92 years) While the characters don’t age, their surroundings updates with times. Also there are so many Blondie movies, it is impossible to add them all. So therefore this one represents all of them.
- DirectorWarren BeattyStarsWarren BeattyMadonnaAl PacinoThe comic strip detective finds his life vastly complicated when Breathless Mahoney makes advances towards him while he is trying to battle Big Boy Caprice's united mob.(1931 to present, 91 years)
- DirectorAlan JamesRay TaylorStarsRalph ByrdKay HughesSmiley BurnetteA master criminal called The Spider puts the famous detective's brother under a hypnotic spell and turns him against Dick.(1931 to present, 91 years) As with “Blondie” there were a ton of these made in the 1930s to 1940s as a b-serials to list here. This is the highest rated one listed and stands for all.
- DirectorHenry HathawayStarsJames MasonJanet LeighRobert WagnerA young Viking prince strives to become a knight in King Arthur's Court and restore his exiled father to his rightful throne.(1937 to present, 85 years) The comic strip never used talk balloon’s. The story was told through captains under the pictures.
- DirectorAnthony HickoxStarsStephen MoyerKatherine HeiglThomas KretschmannThe evil sorceress Morgan le Fey teams up with the Viking Sligon to should steal Arthur's sword Excalibur. The young boy Valiant, who masquerades as Sir Gawain to be near the princess Ilene, has to save the kingdom.(1937 to present, 85 years) The comic strip never used talk balloon’s. The story was told through captains under the pictures.
- DirectorWallace FoxStarsJoan WoodburyKane RichmondErnie AdamsChapter 1 finds Daily Flash newspaper reporter Brenda Starr (Joan Woodbury), and her photographer, Chuck Allen (Syd Saylor), assigned to cover a fire in an old house where they discover the wounded Joe Heller (Wheeler Oakman),a gangster suspected of stealing a quarter-million dollar payroll. The dying Heller tells Brenda that someone took his satchel of stolen money and he gives her a coded message. Kruger (Jack Ingram), the gangster who shot Heller, escapes to his gang's hideout with the bag but discovers it is filled with paper rather than money. The gang, knowing Heller gave Brenda a coded message makes many attempts on her life to get her to reveal where Heller hid the payroll money. But thanks to Chuck and Police Lieutenant Larry Farrel (Kane Richmond), she evades them for thirteen weeks/chapters, until Pesky (William 'Billy' Benedict), a Daily Flash office boy manages to decode the Heller message."Brenda Starr, Reporter" (1940 to 2011, 71 years) This was created and written and drawn by a woman, Dalia Messick, who had to use the name Dale Messick, because her publisher at the time sworn off women cartoonists.
- DirectorRobert Ellis MillerStarsBrooke ShieldsTimothy DaltonTony PeckA comic book artist struggling with his "Brenda Starr" strip decides to draw himself into it when his comic book character is disappointed and leaves the strip."Brenda Starr, Reporter" (1940 to 2011, 71 years) This was created and written and drawn by a woman, Dalia Messick, who had to use the name Dale Messick, because her publisher at the time sworn off women cartoonists.
- DirectorMitch RochonRobert ShellhornMike SvaykoStarsFrank WelkerBob BergenMendi SegalWhen a group of generals from the Pentagon notify General Halftrack that they want to inspect a model of the modern soldier, Beetle Bailey probably wasn't what they had in mind.(1950 to present, 72 years) The only made for TV movie getting on this list. Trivia: Lois Flagston, from the other comic Beetle’s creator, Mort Walker (another army WW2 veteran) created with Dik Browne, “Hi and Lois” (1954 to present, 68 years), Lois Flagston is Beetle Bailey’s sister.
- DirectorNick CastleStarsWalter MatthauMason GambleJoan PlowrightWhen his parents must go out of town on business, Dennis stays with Mr. and Mrs. Wilson. He is driving Mr. Wilson crazy, but he is just trying to be helpful, even to the thief who has arrived in town.(1951 to present, 71 years)
- DirectorSteve MartinoStarsNoah SchnappBill MelendezHadley Belle MillerSnoopy embarks upon his greatest mission as he and his team take to the skies to pursue their archnemesis, while his best pal Charlie Brown begins his own epic quest back home to win the love of his life.(October 2, 1950 to January 3, 2000 (dailies), February 13, 2000 (Sundays), 49 years) New originals ended with Charles M. Schulz’s death. The comics strip’s status is “Concluded, in reruns”. This comic strip established the four panel strip as the standard format of comic strips. Also known as “Wee Pals” and as “Charlie Brown”.
- DirectorPeter HewittStarsBreckin MeyerJennifer Love HewittStephen TobolowskyJon Arbuckle buys a second pet, a dog named Odie. However, Odie is then abducted and it is up to Jon's cat, Garfield, to find and rescue the canine.((Originally started as “Jon”) 1976 to present, 46 years)
- DirectorTim HillStarsBreckin MeyerJennifer Love HewittBilly ConnollyJon and Garfield visit the United Kingdom, where a case of mistaken cat identity finds Garfield ruling over a castle. His reign is soon jeopardized by the nefarious Lord Dargis, who has designs on the estate.((Originally started as “Jon”) 1976 to present, 46 years)
- DirectorSimon WincerStarsBilly ZaneKristy SwansonTreat WilliamsThe Phantom, descendent of a line of African superheroes, travels to New York City to thwart a wealthy criminal genius from obtaining three magic skulls which would give him the secret to ultimate power.(February 17, 1936 to present, almost 87 years). The first action superhero to wear skin tight uniform and the first superhero to have whiteout eyes with no pupils showing while wearing the mask. The odd part is that these standards started in a comic strip and became the standard for many comic book superheroes.
- DirectorAlbert S. RogellStarsJeff YorkMartha O'DriscollMona RayThe goings-on in the rural Southern community of Dogpatch, USA.(1934 to 1977, 43 years)
- DirectorMelvin FrankStarsLeslie ParrishStubby KayePeter PalmerAs Sadie Hawkins Day approaches, Daisy Mae hopes to win the hand of Li'l Abner by catching him in the traditional race.(1934 to 1977, 43 years) Basically the same plot as the other one, but with music, and dancing.