The Witches

Saving the world from witches is a tall order for a boy they've turned into a mouse!

1990 • 91 min • Fantasy · Family · Horror

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Synopsis

While staying at a hotel in England with his grandmother, Helga, a young boy named Luke inadvertently spies on a convention of witches. The Grand High Witch reveals a plan to turn all children into mice via a magical formula. When they discover the eavesdropper, the witches test the formula on him. Now, with the help of Helga and hotel manager Mr Stringer, Luke the mouse must fight back against the witches.

Our family guide

Best from age 8

Movie Knight Score

1390 reviews

100 Reviewers · 1 · 51%
69 Audience · 1389 · 49%

An orphaned boy on holiday with his grandmother stumbles upon a convention of real witches plotting to turn all children into mice. After he is transformed, he and his grandmother must fight back to stop their wicked plan.

Violence & peril: 3/10
Language: 1/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 1/10
Romance & sensuality: 0/10
Scary moments: 7/10

Heads up

Witches are genuinely frightening and grotesque
Children are transformed into mice
Some suspenseful and intense moments

What it models well

The power of family bonds
Bravery in the face of evil
Resourcefulness and cleverness

Talk about it after

How heroes come in all shapes and sizes
The importance of trusting your instincts
That appearances can be deceiving

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Witches. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

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Top billed cast

Director: Nicolas Roeg • Crew: Allan Scott

Trailers & clips

Reviewer notes

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
Young "Luke" (an enthusiastic Jasen Fisher) lives with his grandmother "Helga" (May Zetterling) after being mysteriously orphaned. His grandmother has made him worldly wise to the ways of witches, and so he is alert to the antics of "Eva" (Angelica Huston) when he and his ever-hungry new friend "Bruno" (Charlie Potter) meet in a seaside hotel.…
CinemaSerf, TMDB Community