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The Witches

  • 2020
  • PG
  • 1h 46m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
49K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,182
556
Stanley Tucci, Anne Hathaway, Kristin Chenoweth, Josette Simon, Octavia Spencer, Orla O'Rourke, and Jahzir Bruno in The Witches (2020)
In late 1967, a young orphaned boy (Bruno) goes to live with his Grandma (Spencer) in the rural Alabama town of Demopolis. As the boy and his grandmother encounter some deceptively glamorous but thoroughly diabolical witches, she wisely whisks our young hero away to an opulent seaside resort.  Regrettably, they arrive at precisely the same time that the world's Grand High Witch (Hathaway) has gathered her fellow cronies from around the globe to carry out her nefarious plans.
Play trailer2:13
5 Videos
99+ Photos
Supernatural FantasyAdventureComedyFamilyFantasyHorrorMystery

A young boy and his grandmother have a run-in with a coven of witches and their leader.A young boy and his grandmother have a run-in with a coven of witches and their leader.A young boy and his grandmother have a run-in with a coven of witches and their leader.

  • Director
    • Robert Zemeckis
  • Writers
    • Robert Zemeckis
    • Kenya Barris
    • Guillermo del Toro
  • Stars
    • Anne Hathaway
    • Octavia Spencer
    • Stanley Tucci
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.4/10
    49K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,182
    556
    • Director
      • Robert Zemeckis
    • Writers
      • Robert Zemeckis
      • Kenya Barris
      • Guillermo del Toro
    • Stars
      • Anne Hathaway
      • Octavia Spencer
      • Stanley Tucci
    • 991User reviews
    • 162Critic reviews
    • 47Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 10 nominations total

    Videos5

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:13
    Official Trailer
    The Witches
    Trailer 2:13
    The Witches
    The Witches
    Trailer 2:13
    The Witches
    Shot for Shot: 'The Witches' (2020) vs. 'The Witches' (1990)
    Clip 0:52
    Shot for Shot: 'The Witches' (2020) vs. 'The Witches' (1990)
    The Witches: The Grand High Witch Hatches Her Scheme
    Clip 2:18
    The Witches: The Grand High Witch Hatches Her Scheme
    The Witches: Cast (UK Featurette)
    Featurette 1:01
    The Witches: Cast (UK Featurette)

    Photos185

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    + 177
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    Top cast80

    Edit
    Anne Hathaway
    Anne Hathaway
    • Grand High Witch
    Octavia Spencer
    Octavia Spencer
    • Grandma
    Stanley Tucci
    Stanley Tucci
    • Mr Stringer
    Chris Rock
    Chris Rock
    • Older Hero Mouse
    • (voice)
    Jahzir Bruno
    Jahzir Bruno
    • Hero Boy
    Brian Bovell
    Brian Bovell
    • Reginald
    Joseph Zinyemba
    Joseph Zinyemba
    • Basketball Kid
    Josette Simon
    Josette Simon
    • Zelda
    Jonathan Livingstone
    Jonathan Livingstone
    • Raymond
    Miranda Sarfo Peprah
    Miranda Sarfo Peprah
    • Young Grandma
    Ashanti Prince-Asafo
    • Alice Blue
    Lunga Skosana
    • Grandma's Mother
    Vivienne Acheampong
    Vivienne Acheampong
    • Alice's Mum
    Sobowale Antonio Bamgbose
    • Alice's Dad
    Ken Nwosu
    Ken Nwosu
    • Bellman
    Arnaud Adrian
    • Concierge
    Charles Edwards
    Charles Edwards
    • Mr Jenkins
    Morgana Robinson
    Morgana Robinson
    • Mrs. Jenkins
    • Director
      • Robert Zemeckis
    • Writers
      • Robert Zemeckis
      • Kenya Barris
      • Guillermo del Toro
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews991

    5.448.9K
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    Featured reviews

    3treborquest

    Anne Hathaway is not the only one killing this movie

    The Grand High Witch is killing it. but seriously, she's terrible. From the start on, with the weird Chris Rock voice-over, this remake goes wrong wherever it can wrong. The acting is stiff, the focus is hardly on all the other witches, the CGI is not good. Even the housekeeping cart seems to come from the CGI box. Positive thing: Octavia Spencer is doing her best to be a genuine grandmother, and she succeeds, but that's about it. OK, yes, I am a fan of the 1990 movie. Even though it wasn't as close to the original story, I really can't believe Roald Dahl would recognize his book in this mess. The first movie was gorgeous in it's authenticity. It has folklore, it has an edge, it has a heart. This is Hollywood factory work and seems to want to be much more than it can deliver. It made me miss much more than the purple glow in the witches eyes. It made me want to just throw up like a witch who smells children. I'm not saying you shouldn't watch it. I am sure that an entire generation who never grew up with the original will disagree, but to me, this is like cursing in a church. It's horrible.
    5lewismusgrove88

    Not a bad remake but the original is far superior!

    The remake was okay but much lighter in tone than its predecessor and the cheesy humor was kinda cringeworthy. I would've preferred a much darker spin and more sinister vibe over this comical TV movie offering but oh well. Octavia was really good as always but the cheap CGI did let the movie down. It's also been very clear for a number of years now that Anne's forte are not accents. I mean she sounded comical and even Scottish in certain parts...like girl come on now. It goes without saying that Anjelica Huston's performance was much stronger and scarier in the 1990 version, but overall the cast, sets and writing were okay.
    6WatchAndSmile

    Very good movie to enjoy. Great Remake!

    I enjoyed this movie. Won't win awards, but still a good remake . If you read all the negative reviews they are mostly from those who think one race or color can do abetter job and question the cast. Who cares!! Watch it, smile, enjoy and go on with your lives! Don't rate a movie lower because a character is not of the race in the original or what YOU wanted. The rest reviewers who are asking why the movie was even made? Here's the truth about those nonsense reviews, MOST of them did NOT watch the movie so their reviews are biased and inappropriate. Nothing wrong with remakes and this is a great story to remake. It's a kid's movie, but we see old angry folks sitting behind a keyboard and trashing a good story.

    Is the movie, the best ever 10/10 Well, not really... Is it good? Yes it is! Is the movie better than the original( I watched the original 3 times)? No it is not,but it has a great flare and spins. It a nice refresh and a story you want to experience again. Not to mention the fact, millenials often don't want to see 30-year old movies and they would connect better. So if you are 50, and angry, it is YOU who is a problem. Young teens really enjoyed this one and the actors they like. It's as simple as that so take it easy!! It's a great story and I was delighted to see another angle of it. That is all. It was cool to see how the creators of the 2020 changed it.

    PS. Anne did a great job in the movie. She is a shining star anything she does. Chris was ok in his narration, but I am not sure he was even needed.
    7pretentiousfanboy

    A completely fine family film

    I was surprised to the reaction to this film... It's completely inoffensive and does everything it needs to with the charm of grandma, the malice of the Grand High Witch, etc. I'm getting the feeling that these are reactionary responses to yet another 'bland and unoriginal Hollywood' trend even though this is an adaptation of Roald Dahl's book, just like the 1990 version is.

    It's alright if people don't like this movie I suppose but acting like it's the worst thing to come to screens is an exaggeration to say the least. Kids are most definitely going to enjoy it, it is for them after all, not the adults comparing it to the 1990 adaptation, so I'd say this film was a success in what if wanted to do.
    3Sleepin_Dragon

    Please make these awful remakes stop.

    Oh Dear,

    This should have been good, it needed to be good, sadly it just isn't. It's one of those films where a remake didn't seem to be necessary, but as someone that loved Roald Dahl as a child my interest was peaked.

    It's inconsistent throughout, did they perhaps rush it because of Covid? The special effects look decent in parts, and woeful in others, Anne Hathaway displays personality it's fair to say, but her accent..... If anyone remembers Rentaghost, think Miss Popov, she spans countries from Ireland to Russia, it had me chuckling.

    Once again, please, please try and give us something new and original, stop taking things that have already been made, and making them ten times worse. An extra point for casting the wonderful Josette Simon.

    It made me want to watch Anjelica Huston.

    I paid to download it, that money could have gone on something less awful, like a Donny Osmond cd.

    Naff, 3/10.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The original 1983 novel was largely set in the United Kingdom (with a few scenes in Norway). This movie adaptation is set in the US state of Alabama, but, ironically, was mostly filmed in the United Kingdom (though some exteriors were shot in Alabama and Georgia). Octavia Spencer is originally from Alabama.
    • Goofs
      Near the end at 1 hour 34 min Hero mouse references to Mary as Daisy although he learned earlier in the movie her real name and commented on it that it's pretty.
    • Quotes

      [being cornered by her own cat]

      Grand High Witch: Remember who it was who feeds you... No, don't think about food!

    • Crazy credits
      Roald Dahl's credit is composed of items/people from his stories:
      • R is a jar of dreams from "The BFG"
      • O is a swollen Violet Beauregarde from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"
      • A is a stack of levitating books from "Matilda"
      • L is a fox tail from "Fantastic Mr Fox"
      • D is a giant peach hoisted by seagulls, from "James and the Giant Peach"
      • Dahl is a Wonka chocolate candy bar containing a golden ticket from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"
    • Connections
      Featured in Nostalgia Critic: The Witches (2020)
    • Soundtracks
      Little Drummer Boy
      Written by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone

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    FAQ23

    • How long is The Witches?Powered by Alexa
    • Are any of the original cast going to cameo in the film?
    • Will the film's release date be changed due to the Coronavirus pandemic?
    • Will this film go directly to streaming and skip a theatrical run?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 22, 2020 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Mexico
      • Canada
    • Official site
      • HBO Max (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Las brujas
    • Filming locations
      • Surrey, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • ImageMovers
      • Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $203,571
    • Gross worldwide
      • $29,303,571
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 46 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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