Since its publication in 1908, Anne of Green Gables has been adapted into movies, stage plays, and even television shows. These adaptations vary widely in their settings, characters, and similarities to L. M. Montgomery's original novels. This section will give an overview of the major Anne of Green Gables film adaptations, their receptions, and their differences from Montgomery's novels.
The first adaptation of Anne of Green Gables was a black-and-white silent film from 1919, just a decade after the first book of the series was published. This film is considered lost as no copies of it exist today. Montgomery was outraged by this film because she felt it deviated too much from her novel, particularly because it was set in the United States rather than Canada.
The first "talkie" film of Anne of Green Gables was produced in 1934. This film stuck to the novel more than the 1919 film, but it still made changes to characters and plot.
Another film version of Anne of Green Gables was produced in the United States in 1985. This film was shown on popular TV channels such as PBS and The Disney Channel. Three film sequels were released in 1987, 2000, and 2008. The first film in this series stayed relatively close to the plot of the first novel in the Anne of Green Gables series; however, the second, third, and fourth films were only loosely based on Montgomery's novels.
The most recent film adaptation of Anne of Green Gables is a 2016 Canadian television film, L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. The movie was successful in Canada as well as the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Due to its success, two sequels were quickly produced, premiering in February and July of 2017.
