Every Terry Pratchett TV Show, Ranked

Published Oct 4, 2026, 12:45 PM EDT

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Few fantasy authors have inspired as many TV adaptations as Terry Pratchett, whose work has spanned across the past three decades, transforming stories into stop-motion animation, traditional cartoons, live-action series, and prestige drama. Bringing everything from Discworld's witches and wizards to the apocalypse-preventing duo of Good Omens to life, Pratchett's catalog has expanded to include adaptations of his most unique novels, all brought to life in different ways. Though the TV adaptations introducing Pratchett to new audiences, it's never been easy capture the true essence of his work on screen. With a specific style, Pratchett's work has its consistent quirks.

Pratchett novels are packed with satire, wordplay, footnotes, and layers of social commentary that often rely as much on the narrator's voice as on the plot itself. As a result, some adaptations have earned praise for capturing the spirit of the source material, while others have divided viewers over changes to characters, tone, or storytelling. While there have been some adaptations that don't necessarily land with audiences, they still make a point as part of the catalog. The Pratchett shows are a fascinating collection that reflect the strengths and challenges of bringing one of fantasy's most distinctive voices to television.

10 The Watch

As one of the most recent adaptations of a Pratchett novel, The Watch was a unique series that never found its footing. Based loosely on Pratchett's City Watch novels, the series followed Sam Vimes (Richard Dormer) and the Ankh-Morpork City Watch as they confronted threats and investigated issues. The BBC America series was said to be inspired by the books instead of directly adapting them, and while that gave the show some creative license, the extensive changes to the material got backlash from Discworld's dedicated fanbase. The series ultimately functioned better as a standalone show than as a true adaptation.

• 

  Ralph Ineson

  Detritus (voice)

• 

  Richard Dormer

  Captain Sam Vimes

• 

  Matt Berry

  Wayne

• 

  Ruth Madeley

  Throat

9 Johnny and the Bomb

Based on the Johnny Maxwell novel, Johnny and the Bomb, the TV adaptation of Pratchett's 1996 novel follows the titular Johnny (George McKay) and his friends after they discover a shopping cart that allows them to travel through time. Released in 2006, Johnny and the Bomb brings the group back to World War II and a bombing raid that affected their town. A more family-friendly adaptation of Pratchett, the series is perfectly watchable, but isn't quite up to par with other adaptations of the author's work. The story's entertaining, but never became a favorite among Discworld fans or general audiences.

• 

  Holliday Grainger

  Rose Bushell

• 

  George MacKay

  Johnny Maxwell

• 

  Samantha Seager

  Carol Maxwell

• 

  Paul Copley

  Sgt. Bourke

8 Johnny and the Dead

An earlier adaptation of a Johnny Maxwell book, this time starring Andrew Falvey, Johnny and the Dead was released in 1995 and sees the titular Johnny learning that he can communicate with the ghosts living in a local cemetery. When developers threaten the graveyard, Johnny teams up with the dead residents to save it. A much smaller-scale production, the four-part miniseries remains charming and faithful to Pratchett's work, and benefits from strong performances. Unlike the larger Discworld productions, it lacks the visual spectacle and expansive fantasy settings that many viewers associate with Pratchett, the series is an underrated Pratchett adaptation.

• Andrew Falvey

  Johnny Maxwell

• Geoffrey Whitehead

  Fletcher

• George Baker

  Alderman

• Paul Child

  Bigmac

7 Wyrd Sisters

An animated adaptation of Pratchett's Discworld novel of the same name, Wyrd Sisters debuted in 1997, ten years after the novel. The series, which famously parodies Shakespeare's Macbeth and Hamlet, follows Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat Garlick as they become entangled in a royal murder, a missing heir, and a kingdom in crisis. Delivering some of Pratchett's sharpest satire, the series is one of the earliest substantial Discworld adaptations and stays remarkably faithful to the novel. In the modern era, the animation has aged considerably, so some viewers find it difficult to connect with today despite being generally great.

• Eleanor Bron

  Uncredited

• 

  Jane Horrocks

  Magrat

• Jimmy Hibbert

  Nanny Ogg

• June Whitfield

  Granny Weatherwax

Question 1 of 3

6 The Colour of Magic

A two-part series that adapts Pratchett's The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic, The Colour of Magic follows the cowardly wizard Rincewind (David Jason) and tourist Twoflower (Sean Astin) as they stumble through one disaster after another across Discworld. With an impressive cast that includes the late Tim Curry and Jeremy Irons, the series was easily one of the most ambitious attempts to bring Discworld's strange landscapes to TV. he adaptation successfully introduces viewers to Discworld's chaotic humor and imagination, but the novels themselves are less polished than Pratchett's later work. As a result, it felt episodic and uneven.

• 

  Death (Discworld)

• David Jason

  Rincewind

• 

  Twoflower

• 

  Trymon

5 Truckers

Adapting the first novel in Pratchett's Nome Trilogy, Truckers is a stop-motion series that debuted in 1992. Pratchett's first major TV show, the series was a surprisingly effective adaptation of the novel's story, bringing Masklin to life. The nomes discover that a department store is scheduled for demolition, and to survive, they must convince other nomes to abandon their long-held beliefs and escape before it is too late. Truckers' storytelling is clear, the voice acting is strong, and the animation was impressive for its era. It lacks the broader popularity of the Discworld adaptations, but stays faithful to the source.

• Debra Gillett

  Grimma (voice)

• Joe McGann

  Masklin (voice)

• Brian Trueman

  Dorcas / Additional Voices (voice)

• Rosalie Williams

  Gran'ma Morkie / Baroness of Delicacy (voice)

4 Soul Music

An animated series that debuted just three years after the novel it's based on, Soul Music introduces "Music With Rocks In" to Discworld, transforming a struggling musician into a sensation while threatening the fabric of reality itself. A Pratchett adaptation that captures many of the novel's strengths, including its affectionate parody of rock music, celebrity culture, and fandom, Soul Music sees Death abandon his duties, forcing his granddaughter Susan to step into an unexpected role. With a confident, ambitious, and fresh story, Soul Music is one of the strongest Discworld adaptations. Despite a dated animation style, the series is great.

• Bernard Wrigley

  Asphalt (voice)

• Death (voice)

• Graham Crowden

  Mustrum Ridcully (voice)

• Andy Hockley

  Imp y Celyn (voice)

3 Hogfather

Set during Discworld's winter holiday season, Hogfather ollows Death as he temporarily takes over the role of the missing Hogfather while Susan investigates a conspiracy that threatens belief itself. One of the most faithful adaptations of Pratchett's mature Discworld work, the story balances comedy, fantasy, horror, and philosophical ideas about myths and human nature. It also features memorable performances from David Jason and Marc Warren, who round out the cast of tremendous performers that bring Hogfather to life. Some viewers find its pacing slow and its visual style less dynamic than later adaptations, but Hogfather is genuinely essential Discworld viewing.

• David Jason

  Albert

• 

  Marc Warren

  Teatime

• 

  Michelle Dockery

  Susan

• David Warner

  Lord Downey

2 Going Postal

2010's Going Postal follows con artist Moist von Lipwig (Richard Coyle), who is spared execution and ordered to revive Ankh-Morpork's failing postal service. What begins as a punishment evolves into a battle against corporate power, technological change, and Moist's own instincts. Capturing what makes late-period Discworld great, Going Postal leans into clever satire, memorable characters, and genuine emotional depth. Moist is one of Pratchett's most popular protagonists, and Richard Coyle's performance is widely praised. Blending humor, romance, and social commentary, Going Postal is one of the easiest Discworld adaptations for newcomers to the series to jump into and fully enjoy.

• 

  Charles Dance

  Lord Vetinari

• Don Warrington

  Priest of Offler

• Nicholas Farrell

  Mr. Pump

• 

  Richard Coyle

  Moist Von Lipwig

1 Good Omens

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The most famous Pratchett adaptation, Good Omens is based on the novel he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman and follows angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and demon Crowley (David Tennant) as they attempt to prevent the apocalypse. The pair's centuries-long friendship becomes the emotional focus of a story filled with biblical satire, fantasy, and comedy. The only Pratchett adaptation that has achieved broad mainstream success, Good Omens is able to preserve the wit, humanity, and eccentricity of the source material while creating its own version of the story on screen. Good Omens is the adaptation that's most successfully brought Pratchett to life.