Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Confident female lead stands out in book series adaptation.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Upside-Down Magic
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 23 parent reviews
Parents say the movie significantly deviates from the books, incorporating darker themes and portraying teachers harshly, leading to disappointment in many viewers, especially those who loved the original stories. While some families found messages about accepting differences to be positive, others were concerned about the scary elements that left younger children frightened and anxious, suggesting the film is more appropriate for older kids who can handle such content.
- not like books
- dark themes
- mixed messages
- age appropriateness
- parental disappointment
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 32 kid reviews
Kids say the movie conveys a positive message about embracing differences, but many fans of the book express disappointment over its numerous deviations, such as altered characters, a darker plot, and the introduction of new elements like shadow magic. Overall, while younger viewers may enjoy the film for its humor and relatable themes, older audiences and book readers often find it frustrating and unfaithful to the original story.
- positive messages
- character changes
- dark plot
- not faithful
- younger audience
- mixed reactions
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In UPSIDE-DOWN MAGIC, 13-year-old Nory (Izabela Rose) and her best friend, Reina (Siena Agudong), share a very special talent -- both have magical powers! Reina can conjure and manipulate fire, and Nory can transfigure into animals. Well, she can transfigure into unusual combinations of animals, that is, and Reina can beckon flames when her confidence is high, but no matter. As the BFFs head off to Sage Academy to study magic and further their skills, Nory's excitement helps Reina see past her nerves . . . until things go awry when the students test for placement in their respective schools. Reina earns a spot among the Flares (no surprise there), but Nory finds herself in a class of misfits called UDM -- Upside-Down Magic -- under a mentor who's tasked with teaching them everything BUT magic so as to eradicate their nonconforming and unusual skills. As Nory rallies her new friends to challenge Headmaster Knightslinger's (Vicki Lewis) status quo, Reina battles demons of her own that could spell disaster for the school and everyone in it.
Is It Any Good?
This book adaptation does a solid job bringing these likable characters to the screen, even if the telling falls into the campy now and again. Nory is everything a parent hopes a child will be at 13; she's self-confident, articulate, determined, and totally OK with being a little outside the norm. What "The Sage Way" deems to be wrong, Nory embraces as her own unique style to be celebrated and cultivated. In so doing, she inspires her fellow social outsiders to see past others' notions of them and to like themselves just as they are. Ultimately this proves valuable not just to the UDMs but also to their entire community and affects positive and lasting change in the school.
Upside-Down Magic's structural similarities to the Harry Potter series will be obvious to many, but the story's content caters to a slightly younger audience than most of the Hogwarts-based stories. There are few scares here and plenty of silliness to keep the feel very lighthearted, even in those moments when a dark force threatens. This movie is a fun means of blending screen entertainment with reading lure, and Nory's exceptional character leaves viewers with a positive sense of the value of individuality in a world that demands conformity.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why the school's bias against Nory and the other UDMs exists. Are we often frightened by what is different from us? Why is it important to respect what makes each of us unique? How can our differences prove to be a strength, as they do in Nory's case?
In what ways does Nory challenge authority in a respectful way in Upside-Down Magic? Have you noticed any other characters in books and movies standing up for themselves?
Which characters stand out to you for strengths like integrity and courage? In what ways is Reina brave in this story? Does having courage always mean that a person succeeds at what she is attempting to do? How can courage be seen in defeat as well?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : July 31, 2020
- Cast : Siena Agudong , Izabela Rose , Vicki Lewis
- Director : Joe Nussbaum
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s) , Polynesian/Pacific Islander Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Disney Channel Original Movies
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Book Characters , Fantasy ( Magic )
- Character Strengths : Courage
- Run time : 96 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : December 5, 2025
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