All 4 Flowers in the Attic Movies in Order
In 2014, Lifetime started producing the Flowers in the Attic series of movies based on the best-selling novels from writer V.C. Andrews that started in 1979 with the book of the same name.
The movie series was quite popular and successful, so now, in 2022, Lifetime decided to dwell further into Andrews’ Dollanganger Saga. Flowers in the Attic: The Origin is a prequel story to the movies and was produced as a mini-series instead of the movie format. Without further ado, here’s the complete list of the Flowers in the Attic movies in order, including the new series.
Flowers In The Attic Movies In Order: At A Glance
There are four Flowers in the Attic movies in total, not counting the 2022 mini-series Flowers in the Attic: The Origin. The first two premiered in 2014, and the other two in 2015. Each movie covers the event of one V.C. Andrews book from the Dollanganger Saga, as follows:
- Flowers in the Attic (2014)
- Petals on the Wind (2014)
- If There Be Thorns (2015)
- Seeds of Yesterday (2015)
The new series is based on a prequel book in the same series named Garden of Shadows. There are three other prequel books in the series, but Garden of Shadows is the only original part of the series, written by V.C. Andrews himself.
The new trilogy was created in 2019 by Andrew Neiderman, who wrote under Adrews’ pen name. That trilogy is only mentioned in a couple of easter eggs but not the focus of the story of The Origin series.
Flowers In The Attic Movies In Order: In Detail
1. Flowers in the Attic (2014)
IMDb Rating: 6.0/10
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Synopsis: “Based on V.C. Andrews’ controversial cult-classic novel, “Flowers in the Attic” tells the story of the Dollanganger kids who, after the unexpected death of their father, are coerced to stay hidden in the attic of their ruthless grandmother.”
I liked the first installment in the series, as it really got me hooked. The acting of certain actors was amazing, like Kiernan Shipka, Heather Graham, and Ellen Bursty, who received a Primetime Emmy nomination for her epic portrayal of the Grandmother.
Watch the trailer here.
2. Petals on the Wind (2014)
IMDb Rating: 6.0/10
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Synopsis: “A decade after Cathy, Christopher, and Carrie escaped from their grandparents’ attic at Foxworth Hall, Petals on the Wind continues to follow the twisted plight of the family as they attempt to put their sordid past behind them but soon discover certain secrets can’t be left behind.
When Cathy finds herself in an abusive relationship with a fellow dancer, Julian, Christopher and Cathy are forced to face the forbidden feelings they developed for one another while coming of age during captivity.
But when tragedy strikes the Dollangangers once again, Cathy returns to Foxworth Hall to confront her grandmother and seek revenge on her mother with a plan to seduce her husband Bart. When Christopher runs to Cathy’s side, the two are determined to start over again – together.”
The sequel has the same rating as the first film, Flowers in the Attic, but I found it even a bit better. The story picks up ten years later, and we already know a lot about the Foxworths – but we’ll learn even more. I would’ve loved to see more of ellen Burstyn in the film, but the plot is enough to keep you guessing and keep you interested.
Watch the trailer here.
3. If There Be Thorns (2015)
IMDb Rating: 5.6/10
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Synopsis: “In the 1980’s Cathy and Cristopher Dollanganger settle down and start a normal family, or at least as normal as their family can be. Following “Petals on the Wind” Cathy and Christopher have been left with Cathy’s two sons from different fathers. Their family life is perfectly happy until their mother Corrin moves in next door in an attempt to patch up their relationship.
But when Cathy’s younger son Bart encounters Corrine, the family’s secrets come out: Bart learns about his great-grandfather Malcolm and that his parents are actually siblings. Bart is never the same again. He has psychopathic outbursts, after which he claims “It wasn’t me, Malcolm did it,” but Malcolm is long dead.”
Apart from the mini-series, If There Be Thorns was my favorite film of The Dollanganger Saga. The secrets come back to bite – everybody, and the pace of the film was hit just right. I really think Heather Graham made the right choice to return for her role of Corrine, as there were rumors she’d be replaced by Goldie Hawn for If There Be Thorns.
Watch the trailer here.
4. Seeds of Yesterday (2015)
IMDb Rating: 5.6/10
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Synopsis: “The Sheffield family deals with home truths as their middle child inherits the Foxworth mansion with the family’s ghosts ever-looming. The curse lives on, and more tragedies are in store.”
I generally liked the series, but if I had to pick my least favorite adaptation, it would be the fourth movie, Seeds of Yesterday. There’s too much going on to be cramped in one movie, so I felt like some avenues weren’t explored enough. Still, it was a nice closing of the series, surely worth a watch.
Watch the trailer here.
5. Flowers in the Attic: The Origin (2022-)
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Genre: Drama
Synopsis: “A prequel to 2014’s Flowers in the Attic and its sequel, Petals on the Wind, The Origin begins in 1920 with a younger Olivia Winfield (played by The Girlfriend Experience’s Jemima Rooper) working in her father’s office and looking forward to the freedom to vote soon.
The series explores Olivia Winfield’s twisted backstory and the complex reasons that led her to lock her grandchildren in an attic.”
The prequel series was highly anticipated and made a bit differently from the initial series. This one is a four-episode mini-series, and instead of covering one book in each episode, they separated one book across four episodes.
That gave the writers much more space to flesh out the plot and the character, which is why many consider the new series the best Lifetime adaptation of Edwards’ novels.
Watch the trailer here.