The Sandman continues to dominate Netflix as one of the most popular original series currently on the platform. Audiences old and new can’t get enough of Neil Gaiman’s delightfully twisted world of dreams and nightmares. This should be no surprise to longtime fans of Gaiman’s work, as the 61-year-old author has been delighting and haunting readers for decades.
Though fans of the source material were initially skeptical, the Netflix adaptation has proven itself a worthy representation of Gaiman’s comic book. With the series still celebrating its success, there’s no better time to look back at the best of Neil Gaiman’s adaptations, according to IMDb.
How To Talk To Girls At Parties (2017) – 5.7
Stream on HBO Max
Young love, 1970s punk rock, and sexy aliens from another planet are the cornerstone of this Gaiman story. How To Talk To Girls At Parties takes the traditional boy-meets-girl formula and puts it through the grinder to create a trippy dark comedy.
Though it is not the most popular adaptation of Gaiman’s work, the movie still stands out as one of the more unique romantic comedy films ever made. Though the concept might work better as an 18-page short story, the film is still a worthy addition to the Gaiman collection.
Likely Stories (2016) – 6.3
Stream on Shudder
Haunted houses, immortal models, cannibals, and body-altering STDs are all present and accounted for in this four-part anthology series. Each episode adapts a different Gaiman short story into a tale that is both cinematic and strange.
Sometimes the best adaptations come in short half-hour episodes, without having to tweak the source material. The show makes the most of its short runtime by diving straight into the realm of weird and wonderful. Though some episodes are better than others, the series still captures the bizarre dark humor that Gaiman has mastered. For those looking for the next Black Mirror, this is a worthy contender.
MirrorMask (2005) – 6.7
Not Available For Streaming
Based on Gaiman’s short story, MirrorMask follows a young woman as she navigates her way through a fantastical kingdom on a quest to save the world and return home. Unlike his other films, this Gaiman adaptation is widely unknown, as it was released straight-to-video.
While the story may be hard to follow for some viewers, the film stands out as a visual masterpiece as the hero is taken through a trippy land of her own design. The world of MirrorMask offers a world of dreams and imagination that could only be rivaled by the likes of Labyrinth and Alice in Wonderland.
Neverwhere (1996) – 7.2
Not Available For Streaming
Though Gaiman was an avid writer in the 90s, he was not well known in the world of film and television. That changed with the release of Neverwhere, a limited series that followed a Scottish man who discovers a parallel universe under the streets of London where deadly assassins run the city.
As the first screen adaptation of Gaiman’s work, the series showed how the author’s work is a perfect fit for television. Despite the show’s low budget, the series still captures Gaiman’s fantasy vision with its gritty depiction of the parallel world known as “London Below”. Though this was the first television adaptation of Gaiman’s books, it would not be the last.
American Gods (2017-2021) – 7.6
Stream on Starz
It would be twenty years before another Gaiman novel received the television treatment. American Gods tells the story of an ex-convict is hired as a bodyguard for an old Norse god, who is on a warpath against the new gods of the world. Over the course of three seasons, the two face off against gods and creatures from a plethora of mythologies in a battle that will determine the fate of the world.
Though the series faced several production issues during its three-season run, the show stays true to Gaiman’s book while also updating some of its central characters to fit with more modern audiences. The series offers a unique blend of gripping fight scenes with insightful mythology that will delight both action fans and mythology buffs alike.
Stardust (2007) – 7.6
Stream on HBO Max
Before his breakout role in Daredevil, Charlie Cox shined as the lead hero in this fantastical romantic comedy based on Gaiman’s book. Cox goes up against ancient witches, a cohort of ghost brothers, and pirates with flying ships in his quest to rescue a woman who was born from a falling star.
Stardustis a perfect example of Gaiman’s ability to craft an entertaining story for all ages. Similar to The Princess Bride, the film is a great watch for both kids and adults, with a story that feels right out of a fairytale with a dark twist for more mature viewers.
Coraline (2009) – 7.7
Stream on Tubi
The premise for Coraline is deceivingly simple: a young girl moves into a new house and finds a portal to a dream-like world where all her wishes come true. But when said world is run by a demented spider-woman who sews buttons into children’s eyes, Coraline learns to be careful what she wishes for.
Neil Gaiman has no qualms about scaring the life out of children, even when he writes a story specifically for children. In addition to being one of Gaiman’s better adaptations, Coraline stands out as one of the creepiest animated movies ever. The film is just as dark as the book, which makes it a perfect watch for those who think animated movies are ‘just for kids.’
The Sandman (2021) – 7.8
Stream on Netflix
Leave it to Netflix to produce a worthy adaptation of The Sandman. After being trapped on Earth for over 100 years, Morpheus returns to the realm of Dreaming to restore his kingdom to its former glory.
After being trapped in development-hell for over twenty years, fans of the comic book finally have the worthy adaptation they’ve been clamoring for. Seeing how the show is currently one of the most popular original series on Netflix, it is only a matter of time before the series is renewed for a second season.
Good Omens (2019) – 8.0
Stream on Prime Video
Good Omens is easily the most enjoyable depiction of a world-ending crisis. When an angel and demon team up to prevent the pre-teen antichrist from destroying the world, it will take a miracle for them to succeed.
Having co-authored the book with the late Terry Pratchett, Gaiman oversaw the production of Good Omens to make sure the show did right by his good friend. With Gaiman’s fingerprints all over the show, it’s no surprise the series is regarded as one of his best adaptations. Now that a second season is on the way, there’s no better time to catch up on (or re-watch) the first six episodes.
Lucifer (2016-2021) – 8.1
Stream on Netflix
Lucifer is a show whose fans have rallied for its success since the beginning. The series follows the titular devil turned police informant as he solves crime and defends the world against the supernatural forces of evil.
Fans of this fantasy police drama might be surprised to know the titular character originated from another work of Neil Gaiman’s. Lucifer Morningstar is one of the main antagonists of The Sandman, and even appears in the Netflix series. Though the character is played by a different actor, it is fun for fans of both series to see this delightfully devilish character on screen.
