The Worst Witch (1986 TV Movie) User Reviews (33)

Harry Potter / 1986

[caspian1978 · 8/10 · 28 July 2004]

In my opinion, any film where Tim Curry sings is a delight. Although I am not a fan of a lot of the horror Mr. Curry has created, he is perfect in the Worst Witch. Seeing this for the first time at the age of eight back on the Disney Channel in 1986, I was blown away with the story and the actors in the movie. Balk, only a child at the time was a wonderful actress before she hit the big screens. She would later go on to do the sequel to the Wizard of Oz as Dorothy. A lot of the cast members in this movie went on to do other notable movies including The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. Overall, a perfect Halloween movie for girls and boys. It's funny that Harry Potter has a lot of similar tones and scenes that are equal to the Worst Witch.

Still a great movie almost 20 years later. Check it out!

OK, It is a lot like Harry Potter.

[jwhale9382 · 8/10 · 25 October 2003]

But there are differences. In the Worst Witch, Mildred is more worried about finding herself, and doesn't have the time or interest in to go on adventures and fight dark witches (well...not the powerful ones anyway). I love this movie. I used to be an outcaste so naturally I could relate to Mildred's situations. Fairuza Balk was so cute back then. Why did she have to grow up? :( It's basicly just a movie about a girl trying to find herself. My favorite part is during Mildred's Potion's test. (Cute scene) This movie also features a solo number by Tim Curry. It's his biggest hit since "Sweet Transvestite" from Rocky Horror. So it may not be a great movie, but I like it and that's all that matters.

Great cult classic for Halloween! I wonder if it inspired the book for Harry Potter?

[polbean80 · 8/10 · 18 October 2007]

I think this movie is somewhat of a cult classic for me. My parents had recorded it off of the TV for me when I was little, and it was tradition to watch it every Halloween. I think it's hard for people who are just seeing it for the first time to connect with it. With all the dazzling special effects of today and the better picture quality and all I could see how it could be lacking.

However, I'm on book 4 of the Harry Potter Series and I have to say it reminded me of this movie. I think there are many similarities between them... and not. The one thing Mildred has an instant knack for is flying as does Harry. Snipe is a potions teacher and hates Harry as does Miss Hardbroom to Mildred... I could go on, but this isn't quite the forum for it. But overall I could see how this movie could have been the inspiration for Harry Potter, but not enough to call it plagiarism as some people are.

Oh, and Tim Curry is so HOT in this!

Harry Potter's faerie godmother

[FiendishDramaturgy · 9/10 · 30 January 2005]

While I'm no fan of the TV series, I've always loved this movie. It teaches younger people to keep trying, no matter who says what. It teaches them that perseverance is more important than talent. Work at it, and keep working at it, and eventually, you'll get it right.

Years after, when I was first exposed to Harry Potter, I couldn't help but think, "rip off." There are SO many common points and characters that it seems blatantly obvious. But so many people don't seem to realize that all the key players of this work eventually made it into the HP cast of characters. Their sex may have changed, or the beautifully rich characters here may have been split into two less complex characters in the later work, but they're all there.

Professor Snape and Professor McGonagal are obviously different sides/aspects of Diana Rigg's Hardbroom.

Professor Dumbledore, an obvious male version of Miss Cackle.

Harry is Mildred, and Ronald Weasley is Maud.

Furthermore, Draco Malfoy can be found here, in the form of Ethel Hallow. Hardbroom gives Mildred nothing but a hard time in potions class, Miss Spellbinder (Madam Hooch to the HP fans) is trying to teach the first years how to fly, and they're all getting ready for a visit from Tim Curry's Grand Wizard (the HP's Minister of Magic).

While this group of young witches play terror tag rather than Quittich, and it is an all girl school instead of going co-ed, the obvious comparisons are staggering.

Watch the Worst Witch for the movie, which started the whole visual magic revival.

It rates an 8.8/10 for being ORIGINAL from...

the Fiend :.

FABULOUS!!!!!!!

[carrowsboy · 10/10 · 21 October 2001]

Halloween is my favorite time of year specifically for the reason that HBO annually aired THE WORST WITCH! I have been watching this ever since 1986 & it just gets better each time! Fairuza Balk delivers a fun performance, as does Diana Rigg as the hard-edged Mrs. Hardbroom. But the cake has to go to Charlotte Rae (in a dual role) and the undeniable Tim Curry in a cameo. Charlotte role really shines as the Evil Queen Aggie, who along with her sidekick Delilah want to take back her school that her sister (Rae again) now runs. Not for the tuition money or the prestige, but just so she can bring back her song. BEAT ON IT DELILAH! "Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf. Dropped into the bottomless gulf. Venomous vipers come to us, covered in evil, ooze & puss! So if you're filthy!(FILTHY) Smelly! (SMELLY) Evil, wicked & cruel...you'll feel right at home in my little school. My lil school..Mine Mine MAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMINE! Yeah!" Tim Curry later flies in (literally) as the Grand Dragon & delivers his own effects laden production number of "Anything can happen on Halloween." I don't know which were more unbelievable, the effects or Tim Curry as a sex symbol. Oh well to each his own. Ethel Hallow is ultimate foil & delivers a performance reminiscent of Nellie Olsen from Lil House on the Praire. Be sure to check it out.

Great for youngsters and the adults may like it as well.

[Hermit C-2 · 7/10 · 24 September 1999]

The kids love this movie so much that I finally had to sit down and give it a beginning-to-end look. It's no wonder they love it but the odd adult who sees it will like it, too; a lot if you're disposed toward good children's entertainment, maybe a little less if you're approaching curmudgeonhood. But you'd have to be a real sourpuss to actively dislike it.

Charlotte Rae and Diana Rigg are fun to watch and I imagine they enjoyed these none-too-subtle roles. Rigg is especially wonderful, playing the unlovable mistress of a witch's academy for all it is worth. The young ladies boast several fine actresses as well. Fairuza Balk was an excellent performer at an early age, as anyone who saw 'Gas, Food, Lodging' will know, but my favorite here is Anna Kipling, who plays Ms. Balk's nemesis.

Some parents have religious concerns about showing children anything connected with the supernatural. I would encourage them to try to remember when they were children and think how they would have reacted to a film like this. It's probably the same way your kids will. Have some faith in them and give them a little credit for intelligence. If a parent watches this movie with a child and talks to him or her about their concerns, I don't think there will be any problems.

8 Stars!

[tckld_pnk · 11 August 2003]

I have been watching this movie since I was two years old, and I always loved it. Even now, at 19, I still love it, and I still watch it every Halloween - it's tradition!

I've never read the books, but the movie itself is great without them. Fairuza Balk is great in one of her first (ie: non-psychotic) roles. And Tim Curry is excellent - could we expect any less of him? I also loved Charlotte Rae in this - this movie is the only reason I ever watched The Facts of Life, I always saw her as Miss Cackle.

Anyway, this movie is really great, even if it was only an HBO TV movie. I'd really like to see it come out on DVD, but I doubt it ever will.

This movies made me want to bleach my brain.

[mbnotchures · 1/10 · 27 October 2005]

Oh my holy mind numbing, I am dumber for having watched, 70 min of my life which shall never be returned to me...oh the pain. Still burning in my brain. The soundtrack and visual effects will haunt me the rest of my movie watching days. Sadly the acting was actually entertaining, however, I believe that Tim Curry will wish this movie to hide in a vault and collect a lot of dust. I don't think I can go on for 10 lines to make this count, how many ways can I say, "Please give me a refund!" I must beg you to watch this movie just so that you may revel in the misery that I have succumbed to. If they would just break out into more cheesy songs with fab digital effects I would have been able to gouge my eyes out without complaint, and rip my ears from my head.

I delight in this movie!

[gypsycaine · 9/10 · 10 July 2003]

First, I must admit two things. 1. I am a fan of Tim Curry. 2. I am a reader and I devour everything I get ahold of including the /Worst Witch/ book that this movie was based on. One of those books series of course is Harry Potter, and I think this movie comes off very well in comparison!

In 1986, the idea for this movie was "a wrap" and no one had even conceived (except JK) there was to be a huge following of a boy who attends a school for wizards. This movie is about a batch of girls who attend a witch school. The potions master in the currently internationally famous movie (Alan Rickman, pants!) is a mean, nasty man who dislikes the lead character. The first scene we have with Diana as Miss Hardbroom is a potions scene.

You might note other similarities, trust me. I especially chuckled watching the flight-teacher "surfing" on her broom. Nahhhh. Don't know where Chris Columbus got that idea do we? Smiles.

Despite all the above, I am seeking a copy of this movie for my son and myself. I think it's a cute movie. Just like the (coughsHPcoughs) other movie, there are supernatural elements in WW, but I think today's children can handle them just fine. If not, we'll turn Queen Aggie on them!

If you get a chance, do watch this one. It's a keeper.

**** out of *****

"Classic 80's Children's Fantasy!"

[gwnightscream · 6/10 · 2 November 2013]

Fairuza Balk, Diana Rigg, Charlotte Rae and Tim Curry star in this 1986 fantasy based on the book. This tells of young girl, Mildred Hubble (Balk) who attends an academy for witches. She tries her best to become a good witch, but things go terribly wrong for her and she gets picked on by classmate, Ethel Hallow (Anna Kipling). Rigg (On Her Majesty's Secret Service) plays Miss Hardbroom, a teacher who is a bit tough on Mildred, Rae (The Facts of Life) plays duel roles as the Dean, Miss Cackle and her evil twin sister, Aggie who tries to take over the school and Curry (Legend) plays the grand wizard. I've liked this since I was a kid, It's basically Pre-Harry Potter, Balk & the cast are good in it and it's funny how Balk played a witch 10 years later in "The Craft." I recommend this 80's classic.

The worst Worst Witch

[Cornopean · 2/10 · 30 January 2022]

How this ever got signed off I do not know. The girl actors are actually quite good, except for the lead who is mis-cast and doesn't convince in her haplessness. Her random non-English accent doesn't help or fit.

But the adults seem to be in an entirely different movie, playing most of the roles as high camp, except for the headmistress and a couple of the teachers. Diana Rigg is inconsistent between harsh but fair and nastily biased, and Tim Curry's leering belongs nowhere near a girl's school. Based on this evidence, he can't sing either.

Talking of bad accents, why is the head's sister stereotypically southern American? Is her cheapo-halloween witch costume insufficient distinction from her neat (and English) sibling? And does similarly-American relative Donna have any role other than as a brief Madonna joke? The only threat posed by the coven appears to be through their unpleasant lyrics and poor dress sense.

And oh, the dreadful music. Several turgid songs - but not enough to be a musical feature - interrupt the plot and hold things up. Given that so much of the book is jettisoned, it is a shame these weren't replaced by more of the original plot, which in places is fairly accurately followed. And why the flying scenes merit 80's disco-synth-pop I do not know.

The effects aren't terrible for the time. The green-screen could have been a lot better if the footage behind was better shot, but as-is it contributes towards a general chaotic feel to the production. It's bizarre that while set at halloween, the weather and landscape is clearly a few months later.

The books are well worth a read, the recent TV series plays fast and loose with the plot but is more accurate with the characterisations, and I've yet to see all of the earlier TV series so reserve judgment. But this is a car crash of a movie, with both an accurate retelling of the first book and a campy musical schlock horror trying to get out. Needless to say, neither wins, nor does the viewer.

Has anybody seen my tambourine?

[ThrownMuse · 8/10 · 14 December 2004]

Growing up, I used to watch this kids TV movie every year on Halloween. It features a very young Fairuza Balk ("Return to Oz," "The Craft"), a very flamboyant Tim Curry, and Mrs Garrett from "Facts of Life." But, God,is this awful. I can't believe I didn't notice how terrible it was! The special effects are so bad enough to make anyone laugh through the whole movie. The "bad" witches' costumes are worse than the kind you'd find in a Halloween chain store. But I have fond memories of it so it has a place in my heart. Also, it is nice to see movies that portray witches as normal and good. Not so nice to see pre-teen girls fawning in ecstasy over Tim Curry with a tambourine.

I like it

[lotrgirl2004 · 7/10 · 30 April 2006]

Other than the fact that it has magic and is at a boarding school it's really nothing like Harry Potter. It's an all girls school with an all female staff. There are no creatures other than bats and cats. And also they have a special Halloween celebration. Anyone who compares this movie to Harry Potter knows nothing about either story. It has great musical number that you can't help but sing along with. And I don't recall the use of wands.

I love the character of Mildrid because she represents so many of use who have a hard time getting things right. And of course she goes through being teased by her classmates. The ending was great just because of the looks on everyone's faces.

Sugar, spice and everything nice!

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 10 February 2009]

This adaptation of the much-loved book, is surprisingly good entertainment, that is a little short. The book was one of my favourites when I was little, and I loved the fact they added a couple of touches.

The only other criticism I have is the rather annoying title song. It was beautifully sung by a young Bonnie Langford but the tune got on my sister's nerves, when she herself watched it.

The acting is very good, if a little pantomime. Likewise with the songs, written by the acclaimed Don Black. Fairuza Balk is really cute as Mildred, bringing back memories from return to Oz. Diana Rigg is a suitably frosty Miss Hardbroom, and she is what I would imagine the character. Charlotte Rae and Anna Kipling are also amusing in their turns as Miss Cackle/Agatha and Ethel Hallow. My favourite was Tim Curry as the Grand wizard, he was just amazing, and the Halloween song was actually the main reason why this movie should be watched, because they matched the lyrics exactly.

I have it on VHS. It is a little grainy, but it's because it's second hand. Watch it, and let your children watch it! They'll thank you! 8/10 Bethany Cox

A Masterpiece of Bad Cinema

[lord-of-the-lez · 9/10 · 2 October 2018]

This is one of my favorite Halloween movies. It has terrible special effects, silly moments that only a 4-year-old would find funny, and hokey acting at times...but yet it's become one of my favorite Halloween movies over the years. It just oozes Halloween and never fails to put me in the mood for all things spoopy. It's fun to watch and its bad elements are what make it charming. It also gives me a strange nostalgia for my childhood, even though I didn't grow up in the 80s nor did I grow up watching this movie and that's pretty rare for a movie to give me that feeling.

If you can overlook bad green screen, over-acting, and some moments that make you cringe a little, you will find a kind of magic that makes you long to be a kid again. It's a Halloween treat.

(And yes, Harry Potter was obviously inspired by The Worst Witch books and possibly even this movie because there are way too many similarities for it to just be coincidental and Harry Potter did the magical school concept a lot better, but you have to respect this movie as the highly probable origin for one of the best series of our time).

Comments on this movie

[crazy_boy_697 · 6/10 · 11 August 2005]

I, like the previous comment, have also seen this movie on Halloween and thought it was the best thing ever. It has been years since I have seen it, but there is definitely something to be said about a movie from your youth. It's not bad, not really up to the standards of special effects of today, but for the year it was made (1986) they did a good job. A must watch if you need a laugh. Mildred Hubble is just a fun character and reminds me of Judy Garland (Dorothy) in the Wizard of Oz. My favorite part, from what I can remember about this movie, is when Tim Curry shows up. He is quite a catch and all of the young girls seem to fancy him.

Moonshine?

[annevejb · 29 May 2008]

This links with my other comments, etc, re the four ITV works inspired by Jill Murphy's Worst Witch novels. This feature is the first, followed by the three television series, a 20 year production span.

I note that most IMDb comments for this at May 2008 are from the USA. They tend to be very positive, rating it a lot. Several have read the novels as part of their schoolwork, moving onto the feature from that. Several saw it as kids or saw it because their kids watched it.

*

Me not being from the USA, I saw this because of the 1998 series, I had the first few episodes on DVD and that made me read the novels and watch this.

I found that it was possible to get to like this, but that my initial reaction was to want to run away. Get past that there is a lot of okay here.

I had expected an English Millie in an English school be it a rather special school. It is made by an English broadcaster and includes the highly rated English Diana Rigg. Approach this from that direction then for me there are hurdles to overcome.

Millie portrayed with a strong Irish accent unlike any that I actually came across in England when at school many decades ago. It reminds me of the accent that the City of La girl Brittney Bomann had to use in The Little Unicorn. Balk did some good acting but there was a hurdle that I had to overcome in order to appreciate that.

Agatha and Donna, Miss Cackle's sister and niece, having strong North American accents. The cheap mention of Alabama. I assumed that the GB broadcasters were looking to the USA for backing and paying a price that the USA comments seem to say as okay but the dirth of GB comments to say other. They lost their home audience, who it would have been created for?

The 1998 series starting visually close to the novels, this could partly be due to this 1986 feature? It starts with a power that I do not find in this 1986, but North Americans might disagree.

Maud not being named Moonshine? I did not notice that gem as she is usually called Maud.

*

I now have two different DVDs of this and I mostly prefer the Region 2 disk on the ITV label to my Region 4 version. There again, the Region 4 was an extra included as an extra disk in my set of The New Worst Witch, a very budget price DVD collection. New W W is real nice.

So many things wrong with this film but...

[nlk87 · 3/10 · 19 September 2023]

For some reason I still watch it at least once a decade! Poor production, performances & effects but why do I keep wanting to watch throughout my years..?

Can't really say this is a "B" film from the 80s. More like an "F" movie! Everything is wrong with this movie. & I do mean EVERYTHING! Even as I'm watching it I mock it, laugh, & shake my head & think, wow, seriously! I 1st watched this as a child but even then I knew this movie was awful. I'd like to think I re-watch because I grew up with it (sorta, this movie came out a year before I was born.) & I wonder if I'm the only person who thinks the little girl I think perhaps Ethel's BFF (I couldn't figure out her role name in this movie nor could I guess her real name) looks basically identical to Eleanor Columbus when she played Susan Bones on Harry Potter & the Sorcerers Stone. Except Eleanor has red hair, & the girl she looks like in this film has sandy blonde hair. But if these films weren't 15 yrs apart I'd swear they were the same child!

I loved it!

[jenbug82 · 10/10 · 9 July 2007]

I LOVED this movie when I was little! We taped it off off TV and I probably watched it every day! When Harry Potter hit big, I kept asking people if they remembered The Worst Witch - no one knew what I was talking about... I had no idea that Mildred Hubble was crazy Nancy in the Craft! I was never a fan of the TV series though...This movie was my first memory of Tim Curry - I was maybe a little infatuated. Who knew 20 years later I'd still be infatuated but because of Rocky Horror? Does anyone know where I can find it on DVD? I actually tried to watch my VHS copy after all those crazy Harry Potter books came out and it's a little distorted.

Cult Classic

[gaia_sky · 10/10 · 27 September 2005]

This movie is a classic. It is hilarious. If you love cult movies then this is for you. Watching Tim Curry sing and shake his tambourine is hysterical. I have watched this movie every year and not even on Halloween! It has horrible special effects....which make the movie even funnier. It reminds me of a Harry Potter for it's time. The similarities between Harry Potter and The Worst Witch are uncanny. I think that if you are looking for a family movie along the lines of Harry Potter then this movie is great. It is a good movie for all ages, the young kids think it's cool and the older kids will laugh at the special effects. Fairuza Balk was a great actress even back in 1986.

00 summary

[critic-36 · 10/10 · 28 March 1999]

The Worst Witch is the greatest film of all time. The acting was superb, the plot was brilliant, the cast was (dare I say) genious. Never in my wildest dreams have I ever seen such sights that I saw in The worst Witch. Mrs. Hardbroom, what a fox. And the Grand Wizard's performance is to die for. I recomend this movie to anyone no matter what kind of movies you like, I don't care. If I knew the director, I would give him/her a big sloppy wet kiss on the cheek. The picture was truly magnificent.

Is the date right?

[pagangazarii · 10/10 · 24 May 2011]

This is a great story and very well told and should be told over and over as a lesson to our children. A lesson about how that even though you feel you are awkward, a bit clumsy (only because you are still growing into your body) and perhaps not society's version of pretty you are still special and no one is allowed to judge you. Children can be brutal in their teasing as we now know from stories about bullies. But no amount of bullying can change the fact that you are special and are going to grown into something the bullies will never become. A decent human being. This story goes even further than that and it should be watched for its awesome ending. Tim Curry can take me flying anytime he wants!

As to my question: Is it right?

The DVD may have been released in 1986, but I swear I watched this at home when I was a young teen (14-15)back in 1975! By 1986 I was married, a cancer survivor and had a 3 year old!

Maybe it is senility or something but I remember it so clearly watching this show as a Halloween Special with a friend of mine while we ooh'ed and awe'ed over Tim Curry. Which I still do at 50!

Does anyone remember when they saw the show on air? If it really wasn't on TV until 1986, I need to get my head examined!

This is a great show!!

[jgusw · 10/10 · 5 November 2000]

Man, I love this show. It's my favorite show to watch on Halloween or any holiday. It just has a neat story. It's a little on the "just for girls" side, but it's good for us guys who don't mind watching girl movies. Your kids are going to love this one. Oh, didn't I mention it's for the kids?!

A cherished childhood memory...

[drjekyll · 10/10 · 30 June 1999]

This was a great TV special that was first shown in the mid eighties. It involves a School for Witches run by Miss Cackle (Charlotte Rae, channeling Edna Garrett) and the exploits of the school's worst student Mildred Hubble (Fairuza Balk) and her best friend Maude Warlock. Mildred is generally given a hard time by Miss Hardbroom (Diana Rigg) and the school's best student Ethel Hallow, a boorish bully. The film is low on the special effects, but high on talent (not to mention it has the catchiest theme song!) Tim Curry is fantastic as The Grand Wizard. The film is sometimes shown on HBO during October, and I can recommend it to anyone as a great film for kids and those young at heart.

A misfit witch saves the school from destruction!

[mistofflies · 10/10 · 19 September 1998]

This movie is the cutest halloween movie made. Balk plays the lead, a girl attending the Private shool of witchcraft. She is the worst student there. Her friend (Mode) and principle (Mrs. Cackle) try to help her but she just seems to be no good at it. Her other classmate, such as Ethel hallow (who Mildred later turns into a pig), and teacher Miss. hardbroom give her a rough time. When Ethel makes Mildred ruin the halloween celebration where the grand wizzard, Tim Curry, is the special guest, she runs away. She finds new witches who want to take over the school. Of course the day is saved and the grand wizzard declares Mildred a hero. A great film where all actors give a good show. Balk is superb as the little witch who has a low self estem. A defenate see for all children in October.