The Witches
Saving the world from witches is a tall order for a boy they've turned into a mouse!
1990 | 91m | English
Popularity: 8 (history)
| Director: | Nicolas Roeg |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Allan Scott, Roald Dahl |
| Staring: |
| A young boy named Luke and his grandmother go on vacation only to discover their hotel is hosting an international witch convention, where the Grand High Witch is unveiling her master plan to turn all children into mice. Will Luke fall victim to the witches' plot before he can stop them? | |
| Release Date: | May 25, 1990 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Nicolas Roeg |
| Writer: | Allan Scott, Roald Dahl |
| Genres: | Family, Fantasy, Horror |
| Keywords | hotel, witch, based on novel or book, grandparent grandchild relationship, tree house, mouse, transformation, based on children's book, seaside |
| Production Companies | Lorimar Film Entertainment, Jim Henson Productions |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $15,400,000
Budget: $11,000,000 |
| Updates |
Updated: Oct 08, 2025 Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Jasen Fisher | Luke Eveshim |
| Mai Zetterling | Helga Eveshim |
| Anjelica Huston | Miss Eva Ernst |
| Charlie Potter | Bruno Jenkins |
| Rowan Atkinson | Mr Stringer |
| Bill Paterson | Mr Jenkins |
| Brenda Blethyn | Mrs Jenkins |
| Jane Horrocks | Miss Irvine |
| Nora Connolly | Beatrice |
| Rose English | Dora |
| Jenny Runacre | Elsie |
| Angelique Rockas | Henrietta |
| Rosamund Greenwood | Janice |
| Sukie Smith | Marlene |
| Emma Relph | Millie |
| Annabel Brooks | Nicola |
| Vincent Marzello | Luke's Father |
| Darcy Flynn | Luke's Mother |
| Ola Otnes | Erica's Father |
| Merete Armand | Erica's Mother |
| Elsie Eide | Erica |
| Jim Carter | Head Chef |
| Roberta Taylor | Witch Chef |
| Anne Tirard | Lady #1 |
| Leila Hoffman | Lady #2 |
| Johan Sverre Myhre | Policeman |
| Arvid Ones | Policeman |
| Sverre Røssummoen | Policeman |
| Grete Nordrå | Norwegian Witch |
| Serena Harragin | Doctor |
| Brian Hawksley | Elderly Waiter |
| Debra Gillett | Waitress |
| Anne Lambton | Woman in Black |
| Kristin Steinsland | Child Helga |
| Michael Palin | Witch at Meeting (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Nicolas Roeg | Director |
| Harvey Harrison | Director of Photography |
| Tony Lawson | Editor |
| Dusty Symonds | Line Producer |
| Celestia Fox | Casting |
| Andrew Sanders | Production Design |
| Paul Bradburn | Props |
| Allan Scott | Screenplay |
| Stanley Myers | Original Music Composer |
| Roald Dahl | Novel |
| Marit Allen | Costume Design |
| Callum McDougall | Second Assistant Director |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Mark Shivas | Producer |
| Jim Henson | Executive Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 38 | 60 | 30 |
| 2024 | 5 | 38 | 60 | 26 |
| 2024 | 6 | 32 | 45 | 23 |
| 2024 | 7 | 38 | 77 | 20 |
| 2024 | 8 | 46 | 95 | 22 |
| 2024 | 9 | 28 | 53 | 19 |
| 2024 | 10 | 40 | 72 | 26 |
| 2024 | 11 | 32 | 110 | 18 |
| 2024 | 12 | 21 | 38 | 15 |
| 2025 | 1 | 23 | 35 | 16 |
| 2025 | 2 | 18 | 28 | 4 |
| 2025 | 3 | 8 | 23 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 2025 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 2025 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 2025 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 2025 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 2025 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 4 |
Trending Position
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | 171 | 774 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | 810 | 925 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 871 | 871 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 951 | 951 |
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 "Bru ... no" (Charlie Potter) meet in a seaside hotel. Overhearing her evil grand design as she addresses a convention of hags and crones, both he and his friend are turned into white mice - but can he get back to his grandmother and warn her before all the children in the world are gone? It's quite a quickly paced and fun adventure this, with plenty of escapades as the boys/mice have to steal the potion and thwart the witches. Jim Henson has provided some suitably grizzly effects and the supporting cast - especially the rather supercilious Bill Paterson as the father of "Bruno" help keep the film flow effortlessly for ninety minutes before an ending that might put you off pea soup for quite a long a while. It has dated a little, but is still an enjoyable piece of family cinema that I did quite enjoy.