Roald Dahl's The Witches

What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedRoald Dahl's The Witches

Film · 2020

If you loved Roald Dahl's The Witches, start with The Witches (Nicolas Roeg, 1990) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Roald Dahl's The Witches across media.

What hooked you in Roald Dahl's The Witches was the way childhood innocence confronts hidden, malevolent forces lurking within everyday settings.

Start with the source

The Witches

The source

The Witches

Nicolas Roeg · Film · 1990

Books on the same thread

James and the Giant Peach

James and the Giant Peach

Roald Dahl · Book · 1961

Shares a thread with Roald Dahl's The Witches: Children's Fantasy.

If the imaginative spirit of Roald Dahl's The Witches captured your heart, this story offers a similar sense of childhood wonder and resilience against overwhelming, surreal obstacles.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

J. K. Rowling · Book · 1997

Shares a thread with Roald Dahl's The Witches: Children's Fantasy.

Much like the young hero in Roald Dahl's The Witches, you will appreciate how this journey follows an orphaned child discovering a dangerous, hidden world of magic.

The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz

Lyman Frank Baum · Book · 2009

Shares a thread with Roald Dahl's The Witches: Children's Fantasy.

Those who enjoyed the whimsical yet perilous adventure of Roald Dahl's The Witches will find a kindred spirit in Dorothy's classic struggle against the forces of pure evil.

Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes

Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes

Roald Dahl · Book · 2002

Explores: Fairy Tale Retellings, Dark Humor, Subverted Expectations.

The dark humor and subversive take on classic folklore found here perfectly mirror the mischievous, slightly wicked tone that made Roald Dahl's The Witches so memorable.

Series on the same thread

Bewitched

Bewitched

Sol Saks · Series · 1964

Explores: Secret Identity, Inter-generational Conflict, Concealed Powers.

If you were fascinated by the secret, magical identities revealed in Roald Dahl's The Witches, this show explores the comedic tension of living among humans while hiding supernatural powers.

The Witcher

The Witcher

Lauren Schmidt Hissrich · Series · 2019

Shares a thread with Roald Dahl's The Witches: Dark Fantasy.

The gritty, monster-hunting focus of this series provides a more mature exploration of the same themes of facing dangerous, non-human entities seen in Roald Dahl's The Witches.

IT: Welcome to Derry

IT: Welcome to Derry

Andy Muschietti · Series · 2025

Explores: Childhood Trauma, Ancient Evil, Group of Friends.

The sense of dread experienced by children uncovering a secret, ancient evil in this show echoes the suspenseful atmosphere found throughout Roald Dahl's The Witches.

The Queen's Gambit

The Queen's Gambit

Scott Frank · Series · 2020

Explores: Chess, Addiction, Orphan.

While grounded in reality, this story of an orphan finding her way mirrors the resilience and internal strength displayed by the young protagonist in Roald Dahl's The Witches.

Podcasts on the same thread

Giggly Witches

Giggly Witches

Sadie Olson and Pam Muhart · Podcast

Explores: modern witchcraft, beginner witchcraft, witchcraft for beginners.

If your interest in the magical world of Roald Dahl's The Witches extended to the lore of witchcraft itself, these conversations offer a lighthearted, modern look at magic.

Killer Stories with Harvey Guillén

Killer Stories with Harvey Guillén

Spotify Studios · Podcast · 2026

Explores: dark human nature, criminal psychology, public fascination.

The exploration of dark human nature and terrifying real-world threats provides a grim, investigative counterpart to the fictionalized villains you encountered in Roald Dahl's The Witches.

Keep exploring

Common questions

Is Roald Dahl's The Witches set in the same location as the 1990 movie?

No, the 2020 version of Roald Dahl's The Witches is set in the rural Alabama town of Demopolis during 1967. The 1990 adaptation features a different setting, whereas this version focuses on the boy and his grandmother encountering the Grand High Witch at a seaside resort.

How does the 2020 version of Roald Dahl's The Witches compare to the 1990 film?

Both films are adaptations of the same source material. While the 1990 movie presents its own interpretation of the story, Roald Dahl's The Witches from 2020 updates the setting to 1967 Alabama and follows the boy and his grandmother as they encounter the Grand High Witch at a resort.

What is the premise of Roald Dahl's The Witches?

In Roald Dahl's The Witches, a young orphaned boy moves to Demopolis to live with his grandmother. After they encounter diabolical witches, they travel to a seaside resort, where they accidentally arrive at the same time the Grand High Witch has gathered her followers for a secret meeting.

Should I watch both versions of Roald Dahl's The Witches?

You can watch both versions to see different adaptations of the same story. Roald Dahl's The Witches released in 2020 offers a specific take on the narrative involving the Grand High Witch in 1967 Alabama, while the 1990 movie provides an alternative cinematic perspective on the original source material.

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