Charlie’s Angels’ glamorous yet dangerous missions took over television in the 1970s. The three undercover female private investigators, juggling complicated cases as they worked to find out the truth, kept fans hooked, while their sisterhood and loyalty won viewers’ hearts. It is no surprise, then, that the show went on to run for five successful seasons.

Decades later, a new trio, Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu, stepped into the roles of Charlie’s Angels for a 2000 film, followed by a sequel in 2003. Then, in 2019, Elizabeth Banks directed a reboot starring Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska. However, the film failed to connect with audiences as strongly as its predecessors.

And original Charlie’s Angels star Jaclyn Smith, who made a cameo in the 2019 film, believes there was one crucial reason it did not work out.

Jaclyn Smith, during her conversation with Marc Malkin, had immense praise for Elizabeth Banks as a filmmaker. However, she pointed to the concept of the 2019 film Charlie’s Angels as one of the reasons it did not work out. She explained that the movie was quite different from the original show’s concept, and fans may not have been impressed by such a huge change.

“They want the original idea. But this had several Bosleys. The girls didn’t get along. Our whole essence was, we were a sisterhood, a fellowship,” she said.

Smith further added, “We had each other. It was loyalty before romance. We used our s** appeal to help us, and yet it still had a strong feminist backbone. I think it changed women’s roles on television.”

The 2019 movie could not pull in the crowds, grossing $73.3 million worldwide against its reported $48–55 million budget. However, the 2000 film Charlie’s Angels was a massive box office success, grossing $264.1 million worldwide. Its sequel, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, also performed well at the box office, earning more than $250 million.

During the conversation with Malkin, Smith felt that Drew Barrymore extended the concept of the original show and evolved it in a brilliant way. While the 2019 movie could not find the same success, the love for the Angels certainly did not disappear. That became evident when the original Charlie’s Angels stars Jaclyn Smith, Kate Jackson, and Cheryl Ladd reunited at the Emmys to celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary. Moreover, a new Charlie's Angels movie is also reportedly in the works.

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The trio’s reunion and the show’s 50th-anniversary celebration certainly call for a celebration among fans, too. And what better way to honor the occasion than by rewatching all the shows and movies? 

All five seasons of Charlie’s Angels are available to watch on Tubi TV, The CW, and The Roku Channel. The series is also available for purchase on Amazon Prime Video. Farrah Fawcett, who starred as one of the investigators in the first season, was replaced by Cheryl Ladd in the second season. As for the films, both the 2000 Charlie’s Angels and its sequel, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, are available to rent on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.

Although the 2019 Charlie’s Angels movie moved away from the original film’s concept, its story and the cast’s performances make it worth a watch. The film is available to stream on Hulu and FuboTV. A marathon of Charlie’s Angels shows and movies is certainly a fitting way to celebrate the iconic franchise on its 50th anniversary.

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What do you think about Jaclyn Smith's opinion on the 2019 Charlie’s Angels movie? Let us know in the comments.