i watched this in school and me and my class liked it. Although i don't like as much as i used to. This movie is more for kids than adults and teens.
The Witches
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Some kids will love it, some may find disturbing.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 8–9
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Witches was written by Nell Minow
Parents need to know that this story has a genuinely twisted flavor that some children will love and others will find disturbing. Luke is exceptionally brave and enjoys being a mouse (in the movie, he is changed back, but in the book, he stays a mouse). Children may be upset not only by the witches, but also by the death (offscreen) of Luke's parents and his seeming indifference to it.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the notion of witches. Are you fascinated or disturbed by the idea of these strange women with magical powers? Why do you think most witches are portrayed as evil?
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More on The Witches
What’s the Story?
Luke hears about witches from his grandmother (Mai Zetterling). She says they have to wear gloves to hide their claw-like hands and shoes that fit their square feet without toes, and that they are bald and scratch under their wigs. They have a purple gleam in their eyes. They are evil and they steal children, who are never seen again. Luke's parents are killed, and his grandmother takes him to England. When she is diagnosed with mild diabetes, the doctor advises a vacation, so they go to Cornwall. As it happens, a convention of all the witches in England is staying in the same hotel, posing as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Their leader is slinky, black-clad Eva Ernst (Anjelica Huston). Luke overhears her telling the witches to wipe out all the children in England by turning them into mice, and he watches as she demonstrates by giving a potion to a greedy child named Bruno, transforming him into a mouse. The witches find Luke, and after a chase, capture him and turn him into a mouse. With the help of his grandmother, he steals some of the potion, and puts it into the soup to be served to the witches, who are all turned to mice, except for Eva's assistant. Luke manages to get Eva's trunkful of money, along with her notebook listing the addresses of all the witches in America, and he and his grandmother plan to go after them.
Is It Any Good?
Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros., Director: Nicolas Roeg
Run time: 91 minutes
Theatrical release: 1/1/1990
MPAA Rating: PG
Run time: 91 minutes
Theatrical release: 1/1/1990
MPAA Rating: PG
Our Members Say
See all 6 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Not bad AT ALL!
Well, it has some really interesting effects, like the special costumes they put on.
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I rate this title iffy for age 6 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
ewwwwwwwwww
i liked the book better this is too disturbing for kids 5 or possily 6 and under ok this wasnt scary AT ALL but for little kids yes
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
you should think twice before going with a toddler
The best movie ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
Um.. Wow.
I found this movie extreamly disapointing. I'm not a big details person when it comes to movies adapted from books, But this was too much. I've read this book many times when I was younger and the ending was what hit me the most. WARNING! SPOILER! In the end of the book, It's touching how Luke says that he doesn't care that he'll die in 9 years, because he wouldn't want to live longer than his grandmother, And so they would die together. In the movie, on the other hand, when it's almost over, all of the sudden some random witch they added in JUST for this part, comes in and changes Luke back into a boy, gives him Mary and William back, and gives him his glasses back. Alright. Number one, that was a horrible way to change the ending. And number two, HE DOESN'T EVEN WEAR GLASSES! Haha, Well, Good luck with watching it.
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