These Are the Modern Era ‘SNL’ Sketches Fans Want Made into Movies

It’s been 15 years since the last Saturday Night Live sketch has been turned into a feature film. That sketch/movie was MacGruber from writers Will Forte, John Solomon, and Jorma Taccone. Before that, there was a 10-year gap after The Ladies Man. During the 1990s, however, there was an SNL movie nearly every year. And prior to the 1992 movie Wayne’s World, the first SNL movie, The Blues Brothers was released in 1980. 

So, it’s not the first time it’s been a more than decade between movies based on sketches. But it’s the longest period of time to pass since the last SNL movie — and there’s only been one since 2000. This isn’t too surprising, as we’ve seen an overall decline in the production of comedy films in recent decades. That doesn’t mean, though, that the understanding of a struggling film industry equates to fans of the show no longer hoping to see SNL sketches turned into theatrical experiences. 

Here are some of the requests from fans on Reddit:

• “An SNL spoof of There Will Be Blood starring Adam Driver would absolutely rule.”
• “Debbie Downer sets out on an uplifting and transformative journey to find a cure for Feline AIDS.”
• “Stefon and a team of gays in the style of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy set in the 2000s. They take Debbie Downer from nottie to hottie, and learn a few things along the way.”
• “I’d really like to see Vanessa and Cecily's former porn stars fleshed out as loveable dipshits that stumble through some ridiculous premise that they are accidentally pulled into. Maybe it’s some sort of crime situation, or even just some brand partnership deal that takes them to exotic locations where things go awry.”
• “I would love to see Kate and Ryan Gosling going through a full-length alien abduction comedy. They keep crossing paths while having VERY different experiences.”
• “I want a ‘what’s up with that’ movie. Starts off with the show threatening to fire him because he keeps going too long and over budget, he promises to change, then in the middle I want like a 25-minute long ‘what up with that sketch’ just keep getting bigger and crazier. He gets fired. The second half of the movie is him moving on or starting a new show or something.”

I think Lorne Michaels is too busy fantasizing about casting the entire Kill Tony cabal to back any major motion pictures at this late stage in his career. But man, would I love to sit down with some popcorn and watch a feature-length alien abduction sketch in a room full of people who are also clinging on to what they found funny in high school. 

And do I think Bill Hader would ever agree to work on an SNL-related set ever again? No. The man (fairly) refused to attend the SNL50 celebrations. But would a film about an aging Stefon living in a rapidly changing New York City be a balm for my weary heart? Possibly. Just think, Stefon trying to go to one of his infamous clubs, only to find it’s been replaced by a pilates studio and a horde of West Village college sophomores wearing matching workout sets and carting around $15 matchas. I could watch 85 minutes of that!

Just please, don’t give me a 90-minute “Domingo” sketch. If I want to watch a musical about cheating on your husband, I’ll watch Chicago.