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Dark Shadows adaptations: films & series
Every version of Dark Shadows — the films & series, compared across media.
Dark Shadows began as an American gothic soap opera airing weekdays on ABC from 1966 to 1971. That world — a crumbling family dynasty, a monster out of time, and a manor haunted by its own past — has since been revisited on film. Whether you encounter it as a daily serial or a comedy-fantasy feature, the through-line holds: a decayed aristocracy, the supernatural, and a house that refuses to let the past die.
Dark Shadows films
Dark Shadows series
Frequently asked
Is the 2012 Dark Shadows movie based on a TV show?
Yes. The 2012 film draws on the world of the original Dark Shadows television series, which aired on ABC from 1966 to 1971.
How many versions of Dark Shadows are there?
Two are represented here: the original Dark Shadows gothic soap opera (1966–1971) and the 2012 Dark Shadows film, a comedy-fantasy that revisits the same premise.
Which Dark Shadows should I start with?
The 1966 Dark Shadows TV series is where the story originated, running nearly five years on ABC. The 2012 film offers a self-contained, lighter take on the same world.