Roald Dahl's The Witches – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Roald Dahl's The Witches

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2020

35%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Anne Hathaway chews scenery as a child-hating witch in this widely-panned remake that nobody asked for.

50%

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Roald Dahl's The Witches

movie

PG, 2020

35%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Anne Hathaway chews scenery as a child-hating witch in this widely-panned remake that nobody asked for.

50%

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the thing: Roald Dahl's The Witches is a genuinely great story. But this 2020 version? It's a mess.

With a 32% audience score and 5.4 on IMDb, this isn't just critics being snobby—regular people really disliked it. The CGI feels overdone, Anne Hathaway's performance is polarizing (some say camp, others say unwatchable), and it lacks the dark charm that made the 1990 Anjelica Huston version a classic.

The scary parts are genuinely scary—maybe too scary for the intended audience—but not in a fun way. It's more unsettling than thrilling. And the parts that should be exciting or heartwarming fall flat.

If your kid loves Dahl and wants to see The Witches, do them a favor: skip this and watch the 1990 version instead. It's creepy, clever, and actually good. This 2020 remake is basically homework—something you endure rather than enjoy.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media suggests 10+, which feels right given the scary imagery and dark themes. Younger kids who handle spooky stuff well might be okay at 8-9, but honestly, why subject them to this when the 1990 version exists?

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The film features a young orphan dealing with trauma, witches who despise children and want to eliminate them, and body horror transformations. While there's a loving grandma relationship, the overall tone is dark and mean-spirited rather than emotionally healthy. The witches' hatred of children is visceral and disturbing, not playfully spooky.

Imaginative

Roald Dahl's premise is inherently creative—witches disguised as glamorous women, magical transformations, a child-sized adventure. The 1960s Alabama setting adds visual interest. However, this 2020 adaptation received criticism for lacking the charm and inventiveness of the 1990 version, feeling more like a CGI-heavy spectacle than truly imaginative storytelling.

Safe

Multiple safety concerns: scary witch transformations with body horror elements (revealing clawed hands, bald heads, wide mouths), children being turned into mice, witches plotting to poison children, and an orphan dealing with parental death. Common Sense Media rates it for age 10+. The Grand High Witch's appearance is genuinely frightening, and the film has been criticized for potentially frightening imagery that goes beyond 'fun scary' into disturbing territory.

Enriching

Offers themes about bravery, family bonds, and outsmarting evil, plus the grandmother-grandson relationship models intergenerational love. However, the poor critical reception (50% RT critics, 32% audience, 5.4 IMDb) suggests the execution fails to deliver meaningful takeaways. The film doesn't add depth to Dahl's story and reportedly lacks the wit and heart that would make it truly enriching.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Roald Dahl's story still has clever bones—kids outwitting evil witches through bravery and smarts
The grandmother-grandson relationship shows genuine warmth and protection
Anne Hathaway commits fully to the Grand High Witch role (for better or worse)
Might work for kids who love creepy stories and haven't seen the superior 1990 version

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What to Watch For

Legitimately scary witch transformations with body horror—kids turning into mice, witches revealing grotesque features
Dark themes about orphanhood, death, and adults who literally want to exterminate children
The 32% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes isn't a typo—this is genuinely not good
Controversy over the Grand High Witch's appearance and disability representation concerns

Conversation Starters

"That was pretty scary—what part freaked you out the most?"
"Why do you think the witches hate children so much? What makes someone turn mean like that?"
"The grandma was pretty awesome, huh? What would you do if you got turned into a mouse?"
"Should we watch the 1990 version to compare? I hear it's way better."

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