Alan Alda’s 1981 romantic comedy-drama “The Four Seasons” and Tina Fey’s 2025 Netflix adaptation share a name but diverge sharply at key story beats — particularly Nick’s fate. The original earned Golden Globe acclaim and $50M at the box office yet remains difficult to stream, while the new series expands the premise into a darker meditation on friendship and loss.

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Release Year: 1981 · Director: Alan Alda · Runtime: 107 minutes · Stars: Alan Alda, Carol Burnett, Len Cariou · New Netflix Series: May 1, 2025

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Whether the 1981 film has any confirmed streaming deal beyond vague availability references
  • Exact regional availability patterns across platforms
3Timeline signal
  • 1981 theatrical release → 1984 CBS series → May 1, 2025 Netflix series debut
4What’s next
  • The 1981 film remains hard to find on streaming; Apple TV rental may be the clearest purchase path

Six verified facts anchor the comparison between the 1981 film and the new series.

Attribute 1981 Film 2025 Netflix Series
Director / Lead Alan Alda (wrote, directed, starred) Tina Fey (stars, produces, adapts)
Runtime / Episodes 107 minutes 8 half-hour episodes (~240 minutes)
Release date 1981 May 1, 2025
Budget / Production cost $6.5 million Not publicly disclosed
Box office / Viewership $50,427,646 domestic Not yet measured
Rotten Tomatoes score 68% (19 reviews) Not yet rated

The pattern is clear: Alda built a compact, ensemble comedy in 107 minutes, while Fey transforms the same structural skeleton into a sprawling character study that runs nearly two-and-a-half hours across eight episodes.

Is the original Four Seasons movie on Netflix?

The original 1981 film directed by Alan Alda is not currently available to stream on Netflix. What has appeared on Netflix is an entirely separate eight-episode series created and starring Tina Fey, which premiered May 1, 2025 (MovieWeb). The naming coincidence is deliberate — Fey has described her series as a modern homage to the 1981 classic (TODAY) — but it is not a remake of the film.

“Tina Fey’s new show The Four Seasons has more than a little in common with its inspiration, the 1981 film.”

— TV Insider

Availability details

Search results occasionally surface references to the film appearing on Netflix around May 2025, but these are almost certainly misidentifications of the new Tina Fey series. The 1981 film’s availability is limited to purchase or rental through digital storefronts rather than any subscription streaming service (MovieWeb).

Release date on Netflix

The new Netflix series debuted May 1, 2025 (MovieWeb). The structure allocates two episodes to each season, following the same quarterly vacation premise that made the 1981 film distinctive. Tina Fey plays Kate, Steve Carell plays Nick, Will Forte plays Jack, Colman Domingo plays Danny, and Kerri Kenney plays Anne (MovieWeb).

Where can I watch the original Four Seasons movie?

Finding the 1981 film requires stepping outside of subscription services — at least for now.

Streaming platforms

The original film is not listed on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, or HBO Max as of this writing (MovieWeb). Apple TV offers rental or purchase options that represent the most reliable digital access point for viewers who want to see the film without hunting for a physical disc.

Purchase and rental options

Digital storefronts including Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play typically carry the film for rental at standard pricing. Physical media remains a viable alternative if digital availability shifts or pricing becomes prohibitive. Availability through these channels may vary by region.

Is Netflix Four Seasons a remake of the movie?

No. The Netflix series is a reimagining, not a remake. It shares the same premise, character names, settings, and core plot points with the 1981 film, but it expands them across eight episodes and takes the story in new directions (TV Insider). The structural expansion allows for deeper character exploration that the 107-minute film simply could not accommodate.

“It’s under Tina Fey’s homage to the 1981 classic with a modern sensibility.”

— Morgan Chesky, NBC’s TODAY

Original vs adaptations

The 1981 film earned Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor (Alan Alda), Best Actress (Carol Burnett), and won for Best Screenplay (TV Insider). It grossed $50,427,646 domestically, ranking ninth among all films released in 1981 (Wikipedia). Those accolades belong to the original, not to the series.

TV series confusion

A 1984 CBS series based on the film also existed, produced by Alan Alda and starring Jack Weston and Tony Roberts (Wikipedia). That series aired briefly and has little connection to the 2025 Netflix project. Viewers searching for “Four Seasons Netflix” should understand that the 2025 entry stands on its own as a contemporary adaptation.

Is The Four Seasons movie worth watching?

For viewers who enjoy character-driven comedies with adult themes, the 1981 film holds up as a witty study of friendship under strain. The Rotten Tomatoes score of 68% reflects respectable but not exceptional critical consensus (Wikipedia).

Critical reception

Contemporary reviews noted the film’s clever dialogue and the strength of its ensemble cast, particularly the chemistry between Alan Alda and Carol Burnett (Wikipedia). The plot — three middle-class New York couples navigating marriage crises during seasonal vacations — feels both specific to its era and broadly relatable. Kate, played by Carol Burnett in the film, is a Fortune magazine editor who organizes the quarterly trips; her character anchors the social dynamics of the group (Wikipedia).

Viewer opinions

The film has faded into relative obscurity since its theatrical run, but fans of 1980s romantic comedies often rediscover it through word-of-mouth recommendations or streaming finds (MovieWeb). The Netflix series has brought renewed attention to the source material, with viewers curious to compare the two versions.

Was there a remake of The Four Seasons movie?

No confirmed remake exists. The only substantial adaptation is the 2025 Netflix series (TV Insider). This series functions as an expansion rather than a faithful retread — it keeps the character names and setting but develops the storylines in ways the film did not.

Remake rumors

No credible reports have indicated plans to remake the film itself. The Netflix series is best understood as a spiritual successor that shares a title and premise rather than an official remake requiring rights or creative approval from Alan Alda (TV Insider).

Related projects

The 1984 CBS series represents the closest thing to a prior adaptation, though it was a short-lived television continuation rather than a direct remake (Wikipedia). The new Netflix series, with its eight-episode structure and modern cast, bears no resemblance to that 1980s television effort.

Upsides

  • Strong ensemble cast anchored by Alan Alda and Carol Burnett
  • Clever screenplay that earned a Golden Globe win
  • Solid box office performance for its era ($50M+ gross)
  • Relatable premise about friendship and marriage stress

Downsides

  • Not currently on Netflix or major subscription services
  • Limited streaming availability outside Apple TV
  • Roughly 44 years old — humor and social norms reflect 1981
  • Rotten Tomatoes score of 68% suggests uneven critical consensus

Character differences: Film vs Netflix series

The Netflix series makes several deliberate departures from the source material that reshape the emotional impact of the story.

Nick’s fate

The most significant change occurs in episode 7 of the Netflix series, where Nick dies in a car accident (ELLE). In the 1981 film, Nick survives the narrative — his death in the series represents a bold tonal shift that transforms the finale from a character study into a meditation on loss. The Netflix series finale is set at Nick’s funeral (ELLE). Anne, who in the film quietly fades from the narrative after her divorce, gets substantially more screen time in the series version, including a romantic subplot and an emotional arc that the film never explored (MovieWeb).

Character depth

Because the series runs roughly 240 minutes compared to the film’s 107 minutes, the Netflix adaptation has room to develop each couple with nuance that the original structure could not support (MovieWeb). Danny’s anxieties and Jack’s moralism receive additional context, while Anne’s passive observer role in the film becomes an active, emotionally turbulent storyline in the series (MovieWeb).

The catch

The Netflix series diverges from the 1981 film at key story beats, so viewers expecting the same ending will find Nick’s death in episode 7 shocking rather than familiar.

The implication

The Netflix series benefits from four decades of television writing refinement and a cast that brings contemporary comedic sensibilities to the material that Alda crafted in 1981.

Production background: Two eras of filmmaking

The 1981 film was a $6.5 million production that Alan Alda wrote, directed, and starred in — a rare triple threat that reflected his standing as a television star from M*A*S*H (Wikipedia). His casting of Carol Burnett as his co-star ensured mainstream appeal, and the Golden Globe win for Best Screenplay validated the film’s writing (TV Insider).

The 2025 Netflix series represents a different production philosophy entirely. Tina Fey brought in Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield to co-adapt, giving the series a collaborative writing identity rather than a single auteur’s vision (Wikipedia). The ensemble includes Steve Carell and Will Forte, comedic actors whose improvisational backgrounds shape the series’ tone in ways that differ markedly from the film’s more scripted approach (MovieWeb).

Three couples drive both versions: Jack and Kate Burroughs, Nick and Anne Callan, and Danny and Claudia Zimmer (Wikipedia). In the film, Jack is a moralistic lawyer, Danny is a dentist with anxiety traits, and Nick is an insurance salesman — occupations that anchor the film’s middle-class portrait (Wikipedia). The Netflix series retains these roles while updating character details for contemporary audiences.

Bottom line: Tina Fey’s Netflix series gives Alan Alda’s 1981 premise a darker turn — Nick’s death reshapes the final act entirely, making the expansion feel like a eulogy as much as an homage.

Related reading: Best Comedy Movies of All Time – Critics Consensus Rankings · Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – Plot Summary, Book vs Movie

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Frequently asked questions

What is the plot of The Four Seasons movie?

The 1981 film follows three middle-class couples from New York who vacation together quarterly — once for each season. The trips strain and ultimately test their marriages as they navigate conflicts around fidelity, mortality, and friendship. The Netflix series follows the same premise across eight episodes instead of one film.

Who stars in The Four Seasons alongside Alan Alda?

The 1981 film stars Alan Alda, Carol Burnett, Len Cariou, Sandy Dennis, Rita Moreno, Jack Weston, and Bess Armstrong. The Netflix series features Tina Fey (Kate), Steve Carell (Nick), Will Forte (Jack), Colman Domingo (Danny), and Kerri Kenney (Anne).

What genre is The Four Seasons movie?

The 1981 film is classified as a romantic comedy-drama. It blends lighthearted ensemble comedy with more serious examinations of relationship strain and mortality — tones that the Netflix series explores at greater length across its expanded runtime.

When did The Four Seasons movie release?

The original film was released in 1981, directed and written by Alan Alda. It grossed $50,427,646 domestically and ranked ninth among all films released that year. The Netflix series premiered May 1, 2025.

What do critics say about The Four Seasons?

The film holds a 68% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 19 reviews (Wikipedia). Critics praised the ensemble chemistry and screenplay but noted uneven tonal shifts. The Netflix series has not yet accumulated enough reviews for a Rotten Tomatoes score.

Is there a Four Seasons TV series?

A CBS series based on the film aired in 1984, produced by Alan Alda and starring Jack Weston and Tony Roberts (Wikipedia). It was short-lived. The 2025 Netflix series is an unrelated adaptation created by Tina Fey, not a continuation of the CBS effort.

How long is The Four Seasons movie?

The 1981 film runs 107 minutes. The Netflix series runs approximately 240 minutes across eight half-hour episodes.

Is the 1981 Four Seasons movie available on Netflix?

The 1981 film is not currently on Netflix. The Netflix series is a separate adaptation available on Netflix as of May 1, 2025.