Let's be real: The Witches has been giving kids nightmares since 1990, and it's not because they're weak—it's because Anjelica Huston peeling off her face is objectively terrifying. This is Roald Dahl at his darkest, and while it has imaginative world-building and a surprisingly mature ending about acceptance, it's also genuinely scary in ways that feel unintentional for a 'family' film.
The practical effects were groundbreaking for 1990 but look pretty dated now, and the pacing is slower than what modern kids expect. That said, if you've got a tween who loves spooky stuff and can handle real scares (not just jump scares), this is a cult classic worth experiencing. Just don't show it to your sensitive 6-year-old and expect them to sleep that night.
The WISE score reflects both its creative strengths and its significant scary content, plus a watchability penalty for being genuinely hard for 2025 kids to engage with. It's a 'proceed with caution' recommendation—know your kid's tolerance for nightmare fuel before pressing play.






