--- title: "Roald Dahl's The Witches" year: 2020 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/roald-dahls-the-witches" fi1m_score: 54 critics_score: 56 critics_reviews: 23 published: "2026-09-18T07:21:28.769277+00:00" updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:47.099438+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Roald Dahl's The Witches (2020) Directed by Robert Zemeckis · 1h 44m · MPA PG · Comedy, Fantasy, Family, Horror **Fi1m score: 54** · Critics 56 from 23 reviews *In a sentence:* Anne Hathaway’s mouth opens to her ears and nothing else in the film dares to > Robert Zemeckis’s version of Dahl’s book has a Grand High Witch who is fun whenever she is on screen and a film around her that is too clean and too soft to frighten anyone. Octavia Spencer is the reason to stay. ## Synopsis Alabama, the 1960s. A boy (Jahzir Bruno) loses his parents in a car crash and is sent to live with his Grandma (Octavia Spencer), who coaxes him out of his grief with music and a pet mouse. Then a woman in a shop offers him a sweet from a gloved hand, and Grandma explains what witches are: bald under their wigs, clawed under their gloves, and set on ridding the world of children. The two of them leave town for a grand seaside hotel run by the fussy Mr. Stringer (Stanley Tucci), where the Grand High Witch (Anne Hathaway) has booked the ballroom for a gathering of her own. The boy takes his mouse into that ballroom to hide. ## Review Robert Zemeckis, writing with Kenya Barris and Guillermo del Toro, has taken Roald Dahl’s book out of Norway and the English seaside and put it down in Alabama in the 1960s. The bones are the same: a boy, a grandmother, a hotel full of witches and a plan involving mice. The film runs 104 minutes, carries a PG and is bright, busy and well meant. What it has lost is the thing Dahl had, which is that he enjoyed frightening children and did not apologise for it. Anne Hathaway is the reason most people will switch it on, and for stretches she earns it. Her Grand High Witch speaks in an accent from no country, wears Joanna Johnston’s long gloves and purple gowns as if they were armour, and treats the other witches present as staff. In the ballroom, when the wigs come off and her mouth splits open to her ears, we jumped. It was the one time the film properly frightened us, and it is a good jolt, because for a second the pretty woman is gone and something else is standing there. Then she starts shouting again, and the film decides she is a joke, and the fear leaks out. Octavia Spencer holds the rest of it together. Her Grandma is warm, quick and unsentimental, and she talks to the boy as if he were a person and not a plot point. Jahzir Bruno, as the boy, is a real child on screen rather than a performing one, and their scenes at home are the film’s best. Moving the story to the segregated South gives Grandma’s wariness of the smiling white women in the hotel lobby a weight the book never had, and the film notices this once, in a line or two, and then puts it down. Stanley Tucci fusses through the hotel as Mr. Stringer and is fine. The trouble is the pictures. Don Burgess lights Gary Freeman’s hotel high and clean, all chandeliers and wide staircases, so that every room looks like a wedding venue and nothing has a shadow to hide in. The mice, when they arrive, are digital, round-eyed and smooth, and from that moment the film is a cartoon about mice. You cannot fear for something that looks like it came free with a cereal box. Nicolas Roeg’s 1990 film had rubber and latex and it was horrible; this has pixels and it is pleasant. Somewhere in the second half we realised we were smiling at the mice the way you smile at a screensaver, and that nothing on screen was in any danger at all. Chris Rock narrates as the boy grown up, and mostly tells us what we have just watched. Alan Silvestri’s score arrives before every scare and after every joke, in case we missed either. Jeremiah O’Driscoll and Ryan Chan cut the set pieces briskly, and a sequence in the hotel kitchen is the one stretch where the film uses the mice’s size for suspense rather than cuteness. Kristin Chenoweth voices Daisy and gets the best of the small talk. Zemeckis has mixed cartoons and live actors before, in [*Who Framed Roger Rabbit*](https://film.one/film/who-framed-roger-rabbit) (1988), and he has built whole films out of digital children in *The Polar Express* (2004). This is closer to the second. The ending is truer to Dahl’s book than the 1990 film’s was, and we will say no more about it than that. Most critics are split down the middle on this one, and we understand why: it is hard to dislike and hard to remember. A child under ten on a wet afternoon will have a good time and may want the light left on. An adult who grew up with the book will spend the evening missing its smell. *Fi1m score 54, published 18 September 2026.* ## What the critics say The reviews split almost evenly into positive, mixed and negative, and the disagreement is real rather than lukewarm. Where critics agree is on the cast. Anne Hathaway’s Grand High Witch is described repeatedly as flamboyant, camp and fully committed, and for most reviewers she is the reason to watch. Octavia Spencer’s grandmother earns quieter, warmer praise, and several critics approve of the move to 1960s Alabama and the restoration of Dahl’s original ending. The reservations cluster around what Zemeckis has taken out. Many find the digital effects too smooth to be properly revolting, and miss the prosthetic grotesquerie of Nicolas Roeg’s 1990 film; the words that recur are sanitised, defanged and flat. The spread is wide, from four-star notices at Radio Times and HeyUGuys to failing grades at Collider and The Playlist. Even Hathaway divides: Den of Geek finds her wearying, and RogerEbert.com and Empire disagree outright on whether the film is frightening enough. ### Reviews we read (23) - **Radio Times**, Trevor Johnston (4/5): This is a grandly entertaining CGI-assisted take on the classic tale with strong turns from Octavia Spencer and Stanley Tucci, though it may be too intense for younger viewers and the ending stumbles slightly. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ll4mlt/roald-dahls-the-witches/) - **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman (75/100, inferred): Anne Hathaway gives a flamboyantly fun high-camp evil performance as the Grand High Witch that provides the film with its sick-joke center of gravity. Zemeckis stages the elemental storyline with prankish flair in this baroque cartoon horror remake set in the American South. [Read](https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/the-witches-review-anne-hathaway-robert-zemeckis-roald-dahl-2-1234811850/) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney (70/100, inferred): The remake is mostly captivating, with flamboyant wickedness from Anne Hathaway and warm, humorous work from Octavia Spencer as the grandmother. It delivers sufficient charm, invention, and family-friendly mischief despite some inconsistent energy. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-witches-film-review-4077825/) - **The Times** (70/100, inferred): Anne Hathaway delivers a full-tilt, wild-eyed performance as the Grand High Witch that is mesmerising and a reason to see the film. The review highlights vibrant additions from the writers and the restoration of Dahl’s ending. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/the-witches-review-screen-chewing-anne-hathaway-is-mesmerising-37pj79f9c) - **Total Film** (70/100, inferred): The critic notes Anne Hathaway aims for hammy, funny villainy as the Grand High Witch and has a whale of a time in the role. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-witches-review-hbo-max/) - **Empire**, Nick de Semlyen (60/100, inferred): The critic finds it a mild disappointment that lacks in the frights department despite being kicky and colourful with a strong Anne Hathaway performance as the Grand High Witch. It hits the story beats but feels undercooked overall, though still a fun Halloween treat. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-witches/) - **Little White Lies**, Leila Latif (2/3/2): The critic finds Zemeckis's saccharine, polished retelling of Dahl's story lacks the original's darkness and wit, though the cast (especially Octavia Spencer) appears to be having fun. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-witches) - **RogerEbert.com**, Brian Tallerico (60/100, inferred): The film delivers some of the most unapologetically scary imagery in recent family entertainment and features a standout, scenery-chewing performance from Anne Hathaway as the Grand High Witch. However, the writing is clunky, the plotting thin, and the ending weak. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-witches-movie-review-2020) - **IndieWire**, David Ehrlich (C): Zemeckis delivers a dreadful, soulless adaptation that lacks magic or purpose, feeling like a sentimental misfire rather than a faithful or inspired take on Dahl. The film sanitizes the source material's edge into bland, aimless family content. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/the-witches-review-hbo-max-1234594235/) - **The AV Club**, A.A. Dowd (C): Zemeckis strips the wicked black magic and queasy edge from Dahl's story, replacing it with a softening, coddling filter and sentimental nostalgia. The result is defanged and curiously flat despite some creepy digital effects. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/robert-zemeckis-zaps-all-the-wicked-black-magic-out-of-1845433381) - **Slant Magazine**, Chris Barsanti (2/4): This competent but unnecessary remake casts a weak spell, with slick CGI that lacks the grotesque impact of the prior version and fails to fully embrace ugliness or danger. It benefits from a mostly Black cast but remains a bland streaming filler. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review-robert-zemeckiss-take-on-the-witches-casts-a-weak-spell/) - **Screen Daily** (40/100, inferred): The film is full of spectacle but short on magic, leaning on CGI and action at the expense of wit, sophistication and character; it is surprisingly impersonal compared to the 1990 Roeg version. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/roald-dahls-the-witches-review/5154197.article) - **Vulture** (40/100, inferred): The film is an aimless adaptation without direction or purpose, unable to capture Dahl's macabre-cozy mix, though Hathaway delivers an extra, committed performance full of big choices. It feels flat overall, even with grotesque elements. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-the-witches-starring-anne-hathaway.html) - **The Guardian** (30/100, inferred): The critic finds Robert Zemeckis’s retelling grumpy rather than scary, with comedy that feels frantic and strained. Octavia Spencer’s grandmother provides some easy charm that rescues the film a bit. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/oct/21/the-witches-review-roald-dahl-anne-hathaway-robert-zemeckis) - **The i Paper**, Francesca Steele (30/100, inferred): The critic calls the film slick and dull, a bloodless adaptation that strips away the story's revolting panto-horror through overly believable CGI and a self-confident comical tone. Anne Hathaway's grotesque Grand High Witch performance stands out as the one effective element. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/the-witches-review-halloween-how-to-watch-anne-hathaway-octavia-spencer-733044) - **HeyUGuys**, Richard Phippen (4/5): The critic praises Zemeckis and Hathaway for having great fun with the magical, maniacal tale and calls it a perfect Halloween treat with the right mix of trick. They single out the faithful adaptation of the novel, the relocation to the American South, and the cast's gusto and heart. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-witches-review/) - **Consequence** (B): Zemeckis offers a zippy, fun cautionary tale with a timely 1960s Alabama setting that intensifies the fear in meaningful ways, though pacing jitters and the ending falter. [Read](https://consequence.net/2020/10/film-review-the-witches/) - **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (70/100, inferred): The critic praises Hathaway for swinging for the fences in a frenetic, tech-assisted performance as the Grand High Witch that captures the book's menace, especially in the second half with its mouse transformations. Spencer's grounded turn and the strong production values are highlighted, though the high-decibel approach and potential scariness for young viewers are noted. [Read](https://deadline.com/video/the-witches-review-anne-hathaway-robert-zemeckis-roald-dahl/) - **Den of Geek**, David Crow (3/5): The remake offers more menace and edge than typical family films while staying closer to Dahl’s text with a tighter narrative and clearer emotional stakes for the boy. It falls short of the original’s prosthetic effects and practical magic, relying instead on broad CGI and a wearying performance from Hathaway. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-witches-review-anne-hathaway/) - **The Wrap** (50/100, inferred): The critic finds the remake creepy but ultimately superfluous, neither a disaster nor an improvement on the 1990 Nicolas Roeg version. Hathaway's campy, effects-assisted turn as the Grand High Witch and the resort-set action sequences are singled out for praise amid complaints about extraneous narration and overly faithful elements. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/the-witches-film-review-2020-robert-zemeckis-anne-hathaway-octavia-spencer/) - **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (D): The film is boring and flat, missing every opportunity to be interesting and instead opting for cartoony CGI mice and broad performances that talk down to the audience. [Read](https://collider.com/the-witches-hbo-max-review-anne-hathaway/) - **The Playlist**, Andrew Crump (D): The critic calls the film straight-up childish and pandering to children rather than serving them well, criticizing its juvenile humor and lack of imagination. They single out Hathaway's over-the-top performance and the dodgy digital effects as major flaws compared to the 1990 adaptation. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/witches-robert-zemeckis-anne-hathaway-review-20201021/) - **Polygon**, Karen Han (35/100, inferred): Anne Hathaway’s campy performance can’t save the remake, which is almost boring and fails to cohere into a truly memorable movie despite some scary scenes. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/2020/10/22/21528468/the-witches-review-anne-hathaway-octavia-spencer-stanley-tucci-robert-zemeckis-roald-dahl-hbo-max/) ## Details - **Director:** Robert Zemeckis - **Director:** Robert Zemeckis - **Screenplay:** Robert Zemeckis, Kenya Barris, Guillermo del Toro - **Novel:** Roald Dahl - **Cinematography:** Don Burgess - **Editor:** Jeremiah O'Driscoll, Ryan Chan - **Music:** Alan Silvestri - **Production design:** Gary Freeman - **Costume design:** Joanna Johnston - **Producer:** Jack Rapke, Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro - **Cast:** Anne Hathaway as Grand High Witch; Octavia Spencer as Grandma; Stanley Tucci as Mr. Stringer; Jahzir Bruno as Hero Boy; Chris Rock as Older Hero (voice); Codie-Lei Eastick as Bruno Jenkins; Kristin Chenoweth as Daisy / Mary (voice); Charles Edwards as Mr. Jenkins - **Runtime:** 1h 44m - **Certificate (MPA):** PG - **Release (the US):** 22 October 2020 - **Genres:** Comedy, Fantasy, Family, Horror - **Box office:** $29 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nlhmJF5FNI ## Where to watch in the US - Amazon Prime Video: rent $4.99, uhd - Apple TV: rent $4.99, hd - Apple TV: buy $9.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $12.99, uhd *Checked 2026-09-18.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IN, IT, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *The Witches* (1990): Roeg and Huston did it with latex, and it is still properly horrible - *Coraline* (2009), Fi1m 85: A children’s film that trusts children to be frightened and enjoy it — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/coraline.md) - *Matilda* (1996): Dahl done with real cruelty, real warmth and a headmistress to fear - *Spirited Away* (2001), Fi1m 92: A child, a strange hotel, a witch, and transformations that cost something — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/spirited-away.md) - *ParaNorman* (2012), Fi1m 76: Small-town witches and a lonely boy, with more nerve than budget — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/paranorman.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/roald-dahls-the-witches