Charlie's Angels is an American media franchise created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts and owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, which began with the original television series of the same name in 1976. The franchise follows the adventures of the Angels, a team of women working for the Townsend Agency, a private secret agent agency, under the leadership of Charlie Townsend, their unseen boss.
The original television series enjoyed huge popularity with audiences and was a top ten hit in the Nielsen ratings for its first two seasons. Following its cancellation in 1981, the series continues to have a 1970s American cult and pop culture following through syndication and DVD releases. A great variety of merchandise was produced based on the show, including dolls, a toy line, board games, beauty products, several sets of trading cards and a comic book series by Dynamite Entertainment.
In the early 2000s, a film series was launched with Charlie's Angels (2000) and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003). Taking place after the events of the original series, the films are a continuation of the story with later generations of Angels. The films received mixed reviews from critics and grossed a total of $596 million against a combined budget of $261 million.
The franchise was rebooted in 2011, with a television series of the same name, which was canceled after seven episodes. Following the cancellation, a third film was produced which restored the original timeline of the franchise.
Television Series Season Episodes First released Last released Showrunner(s) Network(s) Charlie's Angels (1976) 5 115 September 22, 1976 June 24, 1981 Ivan Goff & Ben Roberts ABC Charlie's Angels (2011) 1 8 September 22, 2011 November 10, 2011 Miles Millar & Alfred Gough
Charlie's Angels (1976–1981)
Sabrina Duncan, Jill Munroe, and Kelly Garrett have graduated from the police academy in Los Angeles, California. Despite proving their capability during training, all three have subsequently been assigned to be a meter maid, office worker, and crossing guard, respectively. Dissatisfied with these jobs, they are recruited to work for the Charles Townsend Agency as private investigators. Their boss, Charlie Townsend, nicknames them "Angels". Subsequent Angels are Kris Munroe, Tiffany Welles, and Julie Rogers.
Charlie is never viewed full-face. Charlie gives the Angels and his associate John Bosley their assignments via a speakerphone; he never met them face-to-face.
Charlie's Angels (2011)
Kate Prince, a former Miami cop; Eve French, a former street racer; and Abby Simpson, a former thief; are recruited to work for the Townsend Agency in Miami as private investigators. Aided by John Bosley, a former hacker, they fight crime under the leadership of Charlie Townsend, their unseen boss.
The series served as a reboot of the franchise and was cancelled after only one season with seven episodes.
Upcoming television series On May 9, 2024, a new television series oriented towards tweens and set in Brazil was announced to be in the works at Sony Pictures Television Kids and Floresta with Suzana Pires attached to write.
Crossover Note: The table below only accounts for full crossover events, single guest appearances are not included.
With other series Crossover between Episode Type Actors crossing over Date airedSeries A Series B Charlie's Angels (1976) Vegas "Angels in Vegas" (Parts 1 & 2) (Charlie's Angels 3.01 & 3.02) Guest appearance Appearing in Series A: Robert Urich September 13, 1978 When violent and suspicious deaths strike his closest friends, a casino boss hires the Angels to go undercover at the Tropicana Casino in Las Vegas. The Angels must discover the culprit behind the series of mysterious murders before it's too late. The character Dan Tanna (played by Robert Urich) from the detective series Vegas appeared in the episode "Angels in Vegas" a week before the Vegas season one debut. The crossover was simply used to reintroduce the Dan Tanna character and to promote Vegas as an ongoing series. Charlie's Angels (1976) The Love Boat "Love Boat Angels" (Parts 1 & 2) (Charlie's Angels 4.01 & 4.02) Guest appearance Appearing in Series A: Gavin MacLeod, Bernie Kopell, Fred Grandy, Ted Lange & Lauren Tewes September 12, 1979 Tiffany Welles joins the Townsend Agency after Sabrina Duncan has quit to get married and start a family. Charlie tells his girls to take a cruise on the Pacific Princess to catch art thief Paul Hollister. Kris offers to get close to their target, but soon begins to feel an attraction to him. The characters of the series The Love Boat are guest starred in a two-hour season premiere of season 4. It is also the debut appearance of Shelley Hack as Tiffany Welles.
Films Launched in 2000, the Charlie's Angels film series is a continuation of the original television series story.
Film U.S. release date Director(s) Screenwriter(s) Story by Producer(s) Charlie's Angels (2000) McG Ryan Rowe, Ed Solomon & John August Nancy Juvonen, Drew Barrymore & Leonard Goldberg Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle John August, Cormac & Marianne Wibberley John August Charlie's Angels (2019) Elizabeth Banks David Auburn & Evan Spiliotopoulos Doug Belgrad, Max Handelman, Elizabeth Banks & Elizabeth Cantillon
Charlie's Angels (2000)
Natalie Cook, Dylan Sanders and Alex Munday are the second generation of "Angels", a crime-fighting trio who are the masters of disguise, espionage and martial arts. Charlie assigns them to find Eric Knox, a software genius who created a revolutionary voice-recognition system and heads his own company, Knox Enterprises. Knox is believed to have been kidnapped by Roger Corwin, who runs a communications-satellite company called Redstar. The "Angels", aided by Bosley, set out to bring down the bad guys.
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
Natalie, Dylan and Alex, together with Bosley's adoptive brother Jimmy Bosley, are sent to recover H.A.L.O. titanium rings stolen from the United States Department of Justice which can display the people listed in the witness protection program. During this adventure, they will cross paths with former Angel Madison Lee.
Charlie's Angels (2019)
The Townsend agency has expanded internationally with multiple teams of Angels guided by multiple Bosleys, a rank named after John. The European division of the agency is informed that Elena Houghlin, an engineer, wants to expose her superiors for covering up a discovery about how an energy conservation device that she helped invent, named Calisto, has the potential to trigger fatal seizures when used. A new team of Angels are called into action to protect the world from Calisto.
Future In February 2026, it was announced that a new reboot was in the works, with the screenplay being done by Pete Chiarelli.
Short film Ru's Angels (2019) A three minute short action comedy film titled Ru's Angels, follows three drag queens Alaska, Peppermint and Nina West from RuPaul's Drag Race, who are about to stop a wig snatcher played by Katya. The short film also stars RuPaul as Bos-Slay and the cast of the 2019 Charlie's Angels film.
Web series Series Season Episodes First released Last released Showrunner(s) Network(s) Charlie's Angels: Animated Adventures 1 6 Stephanie Savage AnimatedAngels.com
Charlie's Angels: Animated Adventures (2003) Charlie's Angels: Animated Adventures is an animated prequel web series consisting of six episodes. The series follows the Angels on a mission to find U.S. Marshal Ray Carter. Carter was kidnapped, and taken to and incarcerated in Mongolia, leading to the events of Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle.
Cast and crew Principal cast
An indicates an appearance through archival footage or audio. A indicates a cameo appearance. A indicates the actor appeared as their character through a photographic still. A indicates an uncredited appearance. A indicates the actor or actress lent only their voice for their film character. A indicates the actor portrayed the role of a younger version of the character. A dark gray cell indicates the character was not in the film. Characters Original television series Film series Web series Video game Reboot television series Charlie's Angels Charlie's Angels Charlie's Angels:Full Throttle Charlie's Angels Charlie's Angels:Animated Adventures Charlie's Angels Charlie's Angels 1976–1981 2000 2003 2019 2003 2003 2011 The Angels Sabrina Duncan Kate Jackson Jill Munroe Farrah Fawcett Kelly Garrett Jaclyn Smith Kris Munroe Cheryl Ladd Tiffany Welles Shelley Hack Julie Rogers Tanya Roberts Natalie Cook Cameron Diaz rowspan="3" Cameron Diaz Dylan Sanders Drew Barrymore Drew Barrymore Alexandra "Alex" Munday Lucy Liu Lucy Liu Sabina Wilson Kristen Stewart Elena Houghlin Naomi Scott Jane Kano Ella Balinska Ingrid Hannah Hoekstra Angels Hailee Steinfeld Lili Reinhart Aly Raisman Chloe Kim Huda Kattan Fight Instructor Ronda Rousey Driving Instructor Danica Patrick Bomb Instructor Laverne Cox Kate Prince Annie Ilonzeh Abigail "Abby" Simpson Rachael Taylor Eve French Minka Kelly Gloria Martinez Nadine Velazquez Townsend Agency Charles "Charlie" Townsend John Forsythe Robert Clotworthy John Forsythe Allan Wenger Victor Garber John Bosley David Doyle Bill Murray Patrick Stewart Ramon Rodriguez Jimmy Bosley Bernie Mac Thomas M. Pollard Rebekah "Bosley" Elizabeth Banks Edgar "Bosley" Dessange Djimon Hounsou The Saint Luis Gerardo Méndez New York Bosley Michael Strahan Other cast and characters Thin Man / Anthony Crispin Glover Crispin Glover Jason Gibbons Matt LeBlanc Peter Kominsky Luke Wilson Eric Knox Sam Rockwell Roger Corwin Tim Curry Vivian Wood Kelly Lynch Madison Lee Demi Moore Seamus O'Grad Justin Theroux Marshal Ray Carter Robert Patrick Alexander Brok Sam Claflin Langston Noah Centineo Hodak Jonathan Tucker Victor Simpson John Terry Ray Goodson Isaiah Mustafa
Additional crew Film Crew/Detail Composer(s) Cinematographer Editor(s) Executive producer(s) Production companies Distributing companies Running time Charlie's Angels (2000) Edward Shearmur Russell Carpenter Wayne Wahrman Peter Teschner Betty Thomas Jenno Topping Joseph M. Caracciolo Flower Films (II) Columbia Pictures Tall Trees Productions Leonard Goldberg Productions Columbia Pictures 98 minutes Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle Wayne Wahrman Jenno Topping Patrick Crowley Flower Films (II) Columbia Pictures Tall Trees Productions Wonderland Sound and Vision Leonard Goldberg Productions 106 minutes Charlie's Angels (2019) Brian Tyler Bill Pope Mary Jo Markey Alan Baumgarten Nancy Juvonen Matthew Hirsch Drew Barrymore Leonard Goldberg 2.0 Entertainment Columbia Pictures Cantillon Company Perfect World Pictures Brownstone Productions (II) Sony Pictures Releasing 119 minutes
Reception Box office performance Film U.S. release date Box office gross Budget North America Other territories Worldwide Charlie's Angels (2000) November 3, 2000 $125,305,545 $138,800,000 $264,105,545 $93 million Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle June 27, 2003 $100,830,111 $158,345,677 $259,175,788 $120 million Charlie's Angels (2019) November 15, 2019 $17,803,077 $55,476,811 $73,279,888 $48–55 million Total $243,938,733 $352,622,488 $596,561,221 $261–268 million
Critical and public response Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore Charlie's Angels (2000) 68% (146 reviews) 52 (34 reviews) A− Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle 41% (186 reviews) 48 (39 reviews) B+ Charlie's Angels (2019) 52% (224 reviews) 52 (41 reviews) B+
Music
Soundtracks Title U.S. release date Performed by Length Label Charlie's Angels: Music from the Motion Picture (2000) Various Artists 58:22 ColumbiaSony Music Soundtrax Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (Music from the Motion Picture) 49:57 Charlie's Angels: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2019) 36:37 Republic Charlie's Angels: Original Motion Picture Score (2019) Brian Tyler 1:13:56 Sony Classical
Singles