Every Terry Pratchett Fantasy Adaptation Ranked, Worst To Best

Terry Pratchett is one of the most cherished and recognizable authors of all time. He influenced countless readers with his extensive body of work, including the incredibly popular Discworld series of 41 fantasy novels, the highly praised novel Good Omens (co-written with Neil Gaiman), and a wide range of other projects. From children’s books and short stories to even contributing dialogue for video game mods, Pratchett’s creativity seemed limitless.

Terry Pratchett wrote a lot of books, especially fantasy, and many have been turned into movies and TV shows. But not all adaptations are good! Some, like the recent Good Omens series, have been a hit with fans, while others have left viewers disappointed. Here’s our ranking of the adaptations of Pratchett’s fantasy novels and series. We’re only including adaptations that are clearly within the fantasy genre; others have been excluded.

Honorable Mention: Troll Bridge

I was really impressed by the fan film, Troll Bridge. Snowgum Films created it in 2019, and it’s based on a Discworld short story by Terry Pratchett. This story, originally published in After The King: Stories in Honour of J.R.R. Tolkien, is one of the few set in the Discworld universe. It follows Cohen the Barbarian, an aging adventurer who decides it’s time to finally do something he never managed: defeat a troll in a fight. Of course, things don’t go quite as expected! Instead of a battle, Cohen and the troll end up chatting about the past, and it turns out trolls have changed a lot over the years too.

Troll Bridge is a wonderfully made film and a clear tribute to Terry Pratchett’s writing. We’re only listing it as an honorable mention because it was created by fans, not a major production company. However, that shouldn’t discourage you from watching it! Pratchett himself gave it his blessing before he passed away, and his estate approved it after it was finished. Since its release, the film has even won awards at several festivals – it’s a fantastic adaptation and a joy to watch. You can find it on YouTube, and we highly recommend checking it out.

8) The Watch

The Watch is widely considered the weakest adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels. The show itself seemed to acknowledge its deviations, with each episode described as “inspired by” rather than a direct adaptation of Pratchett’s work. Essentially, while The Watch borrows names and concepts from the Ankh-Morpork City Watch books, it significantly alters them, often applying them to entirely new or different characters. It’s difficult to accurately describe the show as a faithful adaptation because it primarily uses elements from Discworld rather than adapting it.

Adding to the challenge, the TV adaptation of The Watch needed to stay true to the established Discworld novels and their world. Though initially planned as a series of standalone weekly cases, it became something more akin to a fast-paced, edgy thriller – but it didn’t succeed. The show deviated too much from Terry Pratchett’s original work, upsetting both fans and his family, and critics weren’t impressed either. It felt disjointed and ultimately, wasn’t very engaging.

7) Wyrd Sisters and Soul Music

In 1997, Cosgrove Hall created animated versions of two Terry Pratchett novels for Channel 4: Wyrd Sisters and Soul Music. Both adaptations are similar in quality, which is why they share a ranking here. Neither is a poor adaptation of the source material. Wyrd Sisters, a story about witches getting involved in political issues through taxes, is arguably the slightly weaker of the two. Soul Music, which features Death taking a vacation, his granddaughter temporarily replacing him with no memory of who he is, and a song that could end the world, boasts a particularly exciting chase sequence.

The biggest problem with both animated versions is the poor quality of the animation and the mismatched timing of the voice acting. This makes them feel poorly made and detracts from what are otherwise smart and funny stories. At least the animation in Soul Music has a slightly better style.

6) Johnny and the Dead

Let’s clarify something first: while two of Terry Pratchett’s Johnny Maxwell books have been adapted, we’re focusing on Johnny and the Dead because it’s the only true fantasy story in the trilogy. The other two, Johnny and the Bomb and Only You Can Save Mankind, lean more towards science fiction. Johnny and the Dead, originally released in four parts in 1995 on UK’s ITV, centers around Johnny Maxwell, a boy who can see ghosts. He becomes friends with them, and they’re understandably upset when a company buys their cemetery with plans to build an office building. Naturally, Johnny tries to help his ghostly friends.

Even though the series felt a bit slow at times across its four episodes, it was a faithful and well-made adaptation of the original novel. The acting was a standout feature – Brian Blessed, known from Flash Gordon, was particularly excellent as the ghost of William Stickler. With a larger budget and a slightly faster pace, this short series could have been even more impressive.

5) The Color of Magic

Terry Pratchett’s first Discworld novel, The Color of Magic, is often compared to the movie Blazing Saddles – a description Pratchett himself used. The story follows Rincewind, a hilariously inept wizard, who becomes the guide for Twoflower, Discworld’s first tourist. Their journey is filled with both magic and mishaps. The book is very funny, but the 2008 television adaptation for Sky 1, while having some appeal, is just average.

The TV adaptation of The Color of Magic struggles because it cuts or combines characters, scenes, and storylines to fit the runtime. Even with these changes, the story feels disjointed and lacks a clear, overarching plot. The pacing is also uneven, making it occasionally difficult to follow. While not terrible, it’s simply not as well-executed as other adaptations of Terry Pratchett’s work.

4) Hogfather

As a critic, I’ve always considered Hogfather to be Discworld’s take on a Christmas special, and this adaptation – the 20th novel in the series – definitely leans into that feeling if you want it to. Originally airing as a two-part TV event in the UK and US around the holidays in 2006 and 2007, the story centers around Hogwatch, Discworld’s version of Christmas, and the Hogfather himself, who delivers toys and… sausages. When the Hogfather mysteriously vanishes, it’s up to Death – yes, the Death – and his assistant Albert to keep the holiday from falling apart. Meanwhile, Death’s granddaughter, Susan, is trying to figure out what happened, all while dodging a seriously creepy assassin named Mr. Teatime, who’s out to kill the very spirit of the season – and I mean that literally.

This adaptation of Hogfather is delightful, and it’s placed around the middle of the list simply because the adaptations that follow are exceptionally well-done. The special stays quite true to the original book, but those unfamiliar with Terry Pratchett’s Discworld might find some appearances by other characters a little confusing. It also stars Michelle Dockery as Susan Sto Helit – a fun treat considering she later became known for her role in Downton Abbey.

3) Truckers

First aired in 1992, Truckers is a 13-episode stop-motion series based on the first book in Terry Pratchett’s The Nome Trilogy. The story follows Masklin, a Nome, and his people as they’re forced to leave their home and find refuge in a human department store called The Store, which is scheduled for demolition. Once inside, they discover that other Nomes already live there, and believe The Store is the entire world – the outside world is just a myth. With the store’s destruction looming, Masklin must devise a plan to escape with his people and the store Nomes before it’s too late.

The TV show Truckers was the first-ever screen adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s work, and it’s considered a very successful one. It stays true to the original novel, features excellent voice acting, and although the stop-motion animation might seem a little old-fashioned now, it was remarkably well done for its time.

2) Going Postal

Moist von Lipwig, a notorious swindler, faces execution after years of criminal activity. But instead of death, he’s offered a deal: take charge of the failing postal service or face a far worse fate. He chooses the post office, though it’s no easy job. Reviving the service means fighting against powerful competitors, widespread greed, and corruption – a challenge that might surprisingly turn this con artist into a hero. It’s a quirky and compelling story idea, and it translates well into a great narrative.

Released in 2010, Going Postal was the third TV adaptation based on Terry Pratchett’s novels (and became available on DVD in the US in 2011). Many consider it the strongest of the adaptations so far. It features a great cast, including Richard Coyle – known to some as Father Faustus Blackwood from The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina – and Claire Foy, who starred in The Crown. The story is also a good entry point for people new to Pratchett’s work, making it a nearly perfect adaptation. However, one other adaptation edges it out as the very best.

1) Good Omens

Based on Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s 1990 novel, Good Omens premiered in 2019 and ran for two seasons on Amazon Prime Video and BBC Two. It’s widely considered the most successful adaptation of Pratchett’s work and has reached a broad audience. The show centers around the fastidious angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and the rebellious demon Crowley (David Tennant). After becoming fond of life on Earth, they reluctantly team up to locate the missing Antichrist – who was accidentally switched with an ordinary baby – and prevent the coming of Armageddon.

The TV series Good Omens is a wonderful and incredibly faithful adaptation of the original novel. The acting is fantastic, perfectly capturing the book’s unique blend of humor and heart. Many consider it not only the best adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s work, but one of the best book-to-screen adaptations ever made. It’s exceptionally well-done and raises the bar for any future adaptations of Pratchett’s novels.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/list/10-best-sci-fi-movie-villains-of-the-1980s-including-one-with-almost-no-screen-time/embed/#

2025-12-09 23:16