Addams Family Values

This article is about the 1993 film. For the 2021 animated film, see The Addams Family 2.

Addams Family Values
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBarry Sonnenfeld
Written byPaul Rudnick
Based onCharacters
by Charles Addams
Produced byScott Rudin
Starring
CinematographyDonald Peterman
Edited by
Music byMarc Shaiman
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • November 19, 1993 (1993-11-19) (United States)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$47 million[1]
Box office$111 million[2]

Addams Family Values is a 1993 American supernatural black comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and written by Paul Rudnick, based on the characters created by Charles Addams. It is the sequel to The Addams Family (1991). The film features almost all the main cast members from the original film, including Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, Carel Struycken, Jimmy Workman, and Christopher Hart. Joan Cusack and Carol Kane joined the cast for this film.

Compared to its predecessor, which retained something of the madcap approach of the 1960s sitcom, Addams Family Values is played more for very dark and macabre laughs.[3] The film revolves around the family's adjustments to the birth of new baby Pubert. Subplots include Uncle Fester marrying the new nanny Debbie Jellinsky, who is a serial killer intending to murder him for his inheritance; and teenagers Wednesday and Pugsley Addams being sent to summer camp.

The film was released by Paramount Pictures on November 19, 1993. In contrast to its predecessor's mixed reception, the film was well received by critics; however, it was not as financially successful, with a box office gross of $111 million against a budget of $47 million. In the decades since its release, the film has become acclaimed for its humor and performances. This would be Julia's final theatrical film released during his lifetime; he would appear posthumously in one more film, Street Fighter (1994). The film was followed by another sequel, Addams Family Reunion.

  1. ^ "AFI Catalog - Addams Family Values". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference worldwide was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Levy, David (December 20, 1993). "Charles Addams Might Grimace at This 'Family'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2010.