'Saturday Night Live' movies, ranked

Technically this was a television film, lasting a little more than a half-hour via Showtime. Based on skits featuring miniature clay character "Mr. Bill," the popular "Saturday Night Live" character is "brought to life" and has a family. Peter Scolari ("Bosom Buddies, "Newhart") stars in the main role and is rather forgettable — along with the rest of the premise, which is why many "SNL" fans don't remember this effort. 

We're getting pretty technical with this one. The film is about a teenager who is dealing with baldness, and one who's likely off many radars. It's based on a character from an "SNL" sketch, courtesy of director T. Sean Shannon, who was an Emmy Award-winning writer on the show. For the hardcore "Saturday Night Live" crowd, it's worth checking out. Otherwise, you're not missing much.  

Julia Sweeney's whiny, obnoxious, androgynous Pat Riley was one of the more popular "SNL" characters of the 1990s. However, it did not translate well on to the big screen, perhaps because Pat is funny and tolerable in small doses — and not over the span of almost 80 minutes. Of all the "SNL" movies based on characters from full-time cast members, "It's Pat" made the least amount of money, with a reported take of just $60,822 — and did not last past the opening weekend.

It's disappointing because we should have expected more from star Al Franken and director Harold Ramis. Struggling self-help pro Stuart Smalley finds his life in disarray and quite convoluted. There is a lot going on in this film, and Franken's Smalley is obviously better when he only needs to be funny. When we bring an aspect of emotion into the mix, it does not quite work. Though, we've seen worse from other "SNL" characters on film. 

Self-confirmed love expert and radio host Leon Phelps (Tim Meadows) got his own movie. While "The Ladies Man" is not as bad as "It's Pat" or "Stuart Saves His Family," it is another case of a popular "SNL" character who failed to make it work on the big screen. The movie has its moments, but those who have seen it probably can't recall any noteworthy comic highlights. 

"Roxbury" made more than $30 million in the United States, and maybe it's not as bad as we thought upon initial release. Will Ferrell, in his first true starring film role, and Chris Kattan are Steve and Doug Butabi, respectively, the L.A. club-scene wannabes who drew plenty of laughs with their choreographed, head-bobbing dance moves on "SNL." While it's easy to bash the movie, there are some endearing moments that make it tolerable. 

Released 18 years after the classic original, most fans of the original film think it's a bit sacrilegious that this movie was even made. The mission was certainly not as good or funny as the first film, and John Goodman and Joe Morton do not really cut it as running mates of Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) — with Jake (John Belushi) gone. If there's a saving grace to the film, it's the above-average, bluesy-rock soundtrack.

Will Forte does not do a bad job when it comes to playing his famed "SNL" "MacGyver" parody in a movie setting. It did not make as much money as some of the more well-known films with an "SNL" origin, but it's certainly not the worst. Perhaps it's because Forte is surrounded by a solid supporting cast in Kristen Wiig, the late Powers Boothe and even Val Kilmer.

Billy Crystal had a number of memorable characters, but surly comedian Buddy Young Jr., and his long cigar, might not be the one who quickly comes to mind. However, it was the character Crystal took to film in his directorial debut. The comedy-drama played well at times with Young's schtick but nothing to seriously write home about. Co-star David Paymer, however, earned an Oscar nominee for Best Supporting Actor. 

Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin took alien characters Beldar and Prymaat Conehead to movie theaters in the early 1990s. They have a teenage daughter, Connie (Michelle Burke), and are just trying to make a pleasant life on earth. Of course they bumble their way through at times, while the misunderstandings and universal gaps draw laughs. The film could have been a lot worse but instead is serviceable to fans of the characters.  

If there was one "Saturday Night Live" character who was made for the big screen, it was Molly Shannon's Mary Katherine Gallagher. The widely unpopular Catholic school girl wants to fit in and has a penchant for smelling her hands after putting them under her armpits. "Superstar" is the fourth-highest domestic-grossing film ($30.6 million) featuring an "SNL" character, and Will Ferrell in a supporting "jock" role added to the fun.

Most "SNL" fans probably don't recall Roberts, a character played by Tim Robbins when he was guest host. The folk-singing businessman turned politician is a right-wing conservative who likes to burn books. While it's a bit of a reach to include "Bob Roberts" on this list, this political mockumentary is well worth the time spent — especially because Robbins' comedy roles remain underrated among his collectively brilliant film catalog. 

Now, the sequel to the smash "Wayne's World" was not as good or as funny or the original. That said, when compared to other movies involving "Saturday Night Live" characters, it's above average. Wayne (Mike Myers) and Garth (Dana Carvey) can still make us laugh, and the concept of "Waynestock" is worth investing some of our time to watch.  

With a domestic gross of almost $122 million, "Wayne's World" has made the most money of any film involving a character, or characters, from "Saturday Night Live" — by far. As we know, the movie spawned a sequel and left Wayne and Garth as two of the most iconic characters in television and film history. Wow, suddenly we're getting a craving for donuts, hockey and listening to "Bohemian Rhapsody" in the car. 

Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) are two of the most iconic characters in film history. The brothers got their start performing on stage on "SNL" and parlayed the bit into one of the funniest movies of all time. As mentioned, there was really no reason for a sequel. simply because you can't mess with this comedic greatness, filled with memorable lines, top-notch cameos (Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin) and superior tunes.