Television series

Big Bad Beetleborgs

Name: Big Bad Beetleborgs
Genre: Action, Adventure, Children
Released: 1996
Cast: Wesley Barker, Herbie Baez, Shannon Taylor, Brittany Konarzewski, Billy Forester

Superhero
Fantasy
Relentless

Big Bad Beetleborgs is a gonzo late-90s action show where three kids gain superpowers and fight comic-book villains—except those villains accidentally escaped into reality alongside the heroes. It's anarchic, overstuffed with practical effects and silly monsters, genuinely weird rather than safe. For kids who liked their adventure shows weird and their comedy unhinged.

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you want a loose, goofy Saturday-morning romp where cheap monster costumes, comic-book bravado and a haunted-house sitcom setup matter more than polish.

Skip it if you find lo-fi suit fights with visible seams and recycled action hard to forgive, since its charm depends heavily on goodwill toward the costumes.

What it asks of you: It asks for short episodes at a time and a tolerance for broad, breathless energy, with little demand for patience or subtle character work.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie1995

The spiritual DNA is identical: teenagers gain powers, monsters attack weekly, there's a team base and color-coded suits. But MMPR is tighter, more confident, and genuinely iconic. Start here if you want the formula perfected.

But It's a phenomenon that can feel dated if you didn't grow up with it. The first season especially has pacing issues and effects that show their age.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie poster

Masked Rider1995

Another Saban production from the same era, equally unhinged and packed with monster-of-the-week chaos. It has the same spirit of controlled mayhem and earnest weirdness that makes Beetleborgs special.

But It's obscure for a reason—the show is genuinely scattered, and the plot barely coheres. Not everyone's patience extends that far.

V.R. Troopers1994

Saban again, same era, same formula: kids, powers, weekly monsters, earnest heart. The VR gimmick and design sensibility set it apart from Power Rangers while keeping the same appeal.

But The virtual reality concept doesn't hold up, and the effects are rougher. It feels more dated than its contemporary shows.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Big Bad Beetleborgs

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

The Phantom Empire1935

Beetleborgs is basically a serial structure repackaged for 90s kids. The Phantom Empire is the ancestor—same episodic chaos, same earnest weirdness, minus the color and modern special effects.

A 1930s serial that pioneered many of the elements Beetleborgs uses: kids on adventure, hidden villain lairs, weekly cliffhangers, practical stunts, a tone that bounces between serious and silly. It's what all of this descended from, and it's wild.

But It's in black and white, silent for stretches, and moves like a 1930s serial. Patience required. The villains are not menacing by modern standards.

Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie1997

If you want the Power Rangers aesthetic in movie form with a similar tone and scale, this is the closest equivalent. Same director-for-hire mentality, same earnest weirdness.

But It's a Power Rangers movie, which means it's not trying to be good in the traditional sense. Some find that liberating; others find it exhausting.

Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation1997

Live-action TMNT adaptation from the same era, same production DNA, same willingness to be weird. If you loved that specific 90s Saban/Renaissance era action-kids aesthetic, this scratches the itch.

But It's widely considered the worst TMNT iteration. The live-action suit work is awkward, and the additions don't feel earned.

Ultraman1966

An Australian-Japanese co-production that predates Beetleborgs but shares DNA: a hero, a team, weekly monsters, practical effects. A spiritual ancestor of the whole era.

But It's slower and more serious-toned. The humor is gentler, and there's less chaos. Some find that meditative; others find it slow.

Digimon: Digital Monsters1999

Both shows asked 'what if kids got powers and had to fight monsters?' but answered from completely different continents. Digimon's emotional sincerity vs. Beetleborgs' anarchic camp are two valid responses to the same premise.

Aired in the same window as Beetleborgs and shares its DNA: kids, powers, monsters, team dynamics, a tone that oscillates between earnest and absurd. But it's anime, so the effects work differently and the emotional beats land harder. Revolutionary in its era, still holds up.

But Digimon's pacing can feel glacial, especially early episodes. The animation quality varies, and some viewers find the dub jarring.