One of Saturday Night Lives greatest legacies? Movies that have zero to do with SNL

When it comes to “Saturday Night Live” movies, there are two head honchos: “The Blues Brothers” and “Wayne’s World.” The 1980 crime comedy classic starring John Belushi and Dan Akroyd and the 1992 Midwestern townie adventure with Mike Myers and Dana Carvey are both terrific.To this day.And the flicks have grown far beyond their original sketches.

At this point, they’re better known as films than old “SNL” chestnuts.Then, um, there are the rest: “Coneheads,” “A Night at the Roxbury,” “Superstar,” “The Ladies Man,” “MacGruber.” Critically panned, forgotten by most, appreciated by some.Target bargain bin fare.

Dollar Store detritus.They proved that many sketches are best kept to five minutes — not 105.But setting aside the stinkers, “SNL,” which begins its 50th season this weekend, has had a surprisingly rich cinematic history … only with movies that have nothing to do with “SNL.” Because of gargantuan talent onstage and off, Lorne Michaels’ NBC series has had an outsize effect on film since its very first episodes. Did you know one “SNL” performer has won an acting Oscar, and it happened just last year? That would be Robert Downey Jr.for “Oppenheimer.”Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray and Dan Akroyd have all been nominated at the Academy Awards.Speaking of those latter two powerhouses, “Ghostbusters” certainly wouldn’t exist were it not for “SNL.” Akroyd wrote the script with Harold Ramis originally for John Belushi to star as Peter Venkman.

When Belushi died, he turned to another Not Ready For Primetime Player — his pal Murray.Bill was bustin’ long before “Groundhog Day,” Wes Anderson’s films and “Lost In Translation” further cemented him as a Hollywood great.Another early breakout, Chevy Chase, stayed for just one and half seasons, departing in 1976.Over the next 10 years, he became one of the hottest comedic actors in the world.

“Caddyshack,” “National Lampoon’s Vacation,�...