Anjelica Huston, Anne Lambton, Jane Horrocks

A little boy and his kindly grandmother thwart the efforts of a coven of witches to rid Britain of children by turning them into mice.

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61% liked it

20,284 ratings

PG, 1 hr. 31 min.

Directed by: Nicolas Roeg

Release Date: February 16, 1990

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DVD Release Date: June 22, 1999

Stats: 2,180 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,180)


  • October 29, 2009
    Seeing it once again after more than 15 years without setting eyes on it became one of the most amazing moments in my lifetime: everything I remembered loving was there, only better.

    On an objective side, I discovered this was a much better film than I expected it to be: Anjelic...( read more)a Huston's performance ranks high on iconic and timeless, she's larger than life and commands the whole thing every time she's on screen.

    The make-up is still extraordinary and the whole transformation process (for both kids and witches) and Anjelica Huston's human mask are still timeless and unforgettable but, unfortunately, the visual effects (explosions and ray beams coming out of fingertips) grew old very quickly and feel more dated than the freakin Bible.

    While there was one Roald Dahl book-turned-movie that needed to be remade for the sake of Dahl's legacy (Willy Wonka), this one stands right there with Matilda as a truthful adaptation of one of the greatest voices in children's Literature: a man who never talked down to kids. Including some exact extracts from the original book (you can tell when the narration is word-by-word from a literary text rather than a screenplay), the essence of Dahl's rebellious, intelligent spirit is right there, frame by frame, mouse by mouse.
  • September 29, 2009
    Scared the shit out of me when I was young! My first horror film after Jaws really!
  • January 1, 2008
    So adorable as the mice and the witches are deliciously disgusting Liked the jabs at hotel work and definately a Roald Dahl cassic book too.A little boy and his kindly grandmother thwart the efforts of a coven of witches to rid Britain of children by turning them into mice. Its ...( read more)british too so even better people.
  • October 13, 2007
    Witch-tastic!
  • September 1, 2007
    Brilliant adaptation of the novel.
  • October 31, 2009
    This is a very interesting movie. It is cute.
  • September 21, 2009
    This movie instilled two important things into my life: The constant checking of old ladies shoes to make sure they're pointy, and the obsessive wish to become a hamster so I could have a super lego base tram thing.
  • September 15, 2009
    As a child watching this movie, this was how always envisioned what a real witch looked and acted like. The telling of the tale from the grandmother when she was younger about her bestfriend getting abducted by a witch and stuck into a painting in her families house when she was ...( read more)a child was truly frightening. Then watching her grow old in the painting without anyone ever knowing was great storytelling. I do love this movie even now.
  • September 9, 2009
    One of my favourite films growing up!
  • September 5, 2009
    An enjoyable and slightly creepy family movie from the Roald Dahl novel 'The Witches'. Great storyline and some very memorable scenes (that scene with all the witches taking off their wigs would frighten anyone!). Angelica Huston is perfect as the head witch as well as she has a ...( read more)sense of evil about her :P I always liked it as a kid despite it being slightly terrifying but I like the fact I can still enjoy it today.

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Comments


  • sportboy
    November 8, 2007
    I enjoyed it anyway well if you have not watched it its good its about a witch that comes into the boys garden.and asked him if you want this snake but he didn't take it because he new the lady was a witch and how he new that was because is grandma told him how to spot a witch.
    But then the witch offered him chocolate but he still didn't take it.
    but then he shouted grandma and she ran away with her snake.
    and then one day grandma was with him and when she went somewhere she the which was there and turned the little boy into a little mouse. It was a great movie
  • AGerardWayRomance
    February 9, 2007
    i loved this movie espicially when the boy was turned into a mouse.he was the sort of boy that you would want to slap(imitating little boy) "grandma grandma" omg

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