Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Short and sweet adventure about a generous witch.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Room on the Broom
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 24 parent reviews
Parents say this adaptation of a beloved children's book offers a delightful viewing experience for families, especially when the book is read first to minimize any potential scares from the dragon character. Many appreciate its charming animation, engaging characters, and underlying messages of teamwork and acceptance, though some warn that the brief suspense may be intimidating for very sensitive viewers.
- charming animation
- teamwork message
- potential scares
- engaging characters
- enjoyable for families
Summarized with AI
Based on 4 kid reviews
What's the Story?
Based on author Julia Donaldson (of The Gruffalo) and illustrator Alex Scheffler's popular picture book, ROOM ON THE BROOM is the story of a ginger-braided witch (voiced by Gillian Anderson) and her faithful pet cat (Rob Brydon) who fly over the mountains, rivers, and forests without a care in the world ... until the witch loses her hat. When she flies down to look for her hat, she discovers that a dog (Martin Clunes) has found it and would like to join her and the now-suspicious cat on their adventures. This situation repeats itself two more times, until the overloaded broom snaps in two and plunges into a bog. In the bog, a hungry dragon (Timothy Spall) captures the witch, leaving her friends to save her.
Is It Any Good?
Originally a half-hour special on BBC on Christmas Day 2012, this sweet, zippy story is perfect for kids of all ages. Narrated with verve by English comedian/filmmaker Simon Pegg, Room on the Broom faithfully follows the book's plot. With its memorable rhymes and funny plot ("poor witch keeps losing things"), the movie is accessible to both preschoolers and older kids. The stop-action animation is fabulous, and the movie's color palette—like the book's—is vibrant, beautifully highlighting the landscapes the witch flies through with her broom's other passengers.
The witch-eating dragon and the "horrible beast" that emerges from the bog (all of the witch's pets covered in mud and making angry noises) might be a tad too scary for some of the youngest viewers, but, naturally, there's a happy ending.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why the witch keeps saying that there's Room on the Broom, allowing so many animals to join her. Was it wise of her to add such a load? How do the animals interact?
How do the animals learn to work together? What do they accomplish when they show compassion and teamwork?
This movie is an example of stop-action animation. Did you like the style? Why, or why not? What are some other stop-action movies?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : August 6, 2013
- Cast : Gillian Anderson , Simon Pegg , Timothy Spall
- Directors : Jan Lachauer , Max Lang
- Studio : BBC
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Animals , Fantasy ( Dragons , Magic ) , Friendship , Holidays ( Halloween ) , Book Characters
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Teamwork
- Run time : 27 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Academy Award - Other Category Nominee
- Last updated : October 29, 2026
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