Mary and The Witch's Flower

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Mary and The Witch's Flower

PG

2018

1h 43m

Adventure

Fantasy

Anime

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89%

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91 Reviews

70%

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1,000+ Ratings

Young Mary follows a mysterious cat into the nearby forest and discovers an old broomstick and the strange Fly-by-Night flower, a rare plant that blossoms once every seven years. Together, the flower and the broomstick whisk Mary above the clouds, and far away to Endor College -- a school of magic run by headmistress Madam Mumblechook and the brilliant Doctor Dee. But there are terrible things happening at the school, and when Mary tells a lie, she must risk her life to try and set things right.

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Critics Consensus

Mary and the Witch's Flower honors its creator's Studio Ghibli roots with a gentle, beautifully animated story whose simplicity is rounded out by its entrancing visuals.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

May 11, 2018

4/5

Gorgeously detailed pastel interiors, watercolour landscapes and imaginative grotesquery make for suitably magical spectacle. As transporting as any witch's broomstick.

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

May 7, 2018

4/5

It may lack the originality of the best Miyazaki films, but with its heart-swelling score and exquisitely realised worlds, this is a must for Ghibli fans.

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Robbie Collin

Daily Telegraph (UK)

May 5, 2018

5/5

This art-form has long been thought to have reached its twilight years, but Yonebayashi's film brims over with the bounce and spark of childhood.

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Caroline Cao

Vague Visages

Dec 14, 2023

While it doesn’t pop with philosophical resonance like Ghibli pictures, it has enough fairy dust in its sleeves to keep you transfixed and rooting for the heroine.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Apr 14, 2023

[Director Hiromasa] Yonebayashi was an animator for Hayao Miyazaki at Studio Ghibli and he honors the master’s work with his sweet, playful film (adapted from a children’s novel by British author Mary Stewart) and his young heroine.

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Charlotte Harrison

Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies

Jan 5, 2021

A really charming coming-of-age fantasy story that will linger with you long after watching.

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Robert P

@Superbad Oct 4, 2026

This is a 3.5 star Movie!

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Mickey B.

@Mickerdoo Feb 19, 2026

A nice story and setting for an anime. Was a little distracted in Harry Potter comparisons (even though book predates).

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gautam k

@RT77720452 Jul 27, 2025

absolutely rubbish, copy of ghibli studio, disgrace

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Paul S

@PManRager Jun 20, 2025

This movie was so much fun to watch! The animation was beautiful, and the story was compelling and imaginative. I definitely recommend it!

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Kyle C

@kylekc May 13, 2025

It’s thoroughly cute and charming, but it lacks the depth and beauty to be a worthy successor of Studio Ghibli. I do really appreciate the aesthetic in this film; the weird little hybrid animals, the creepy smiling robots, and the strangely endearing broomstick provide a unique vibe. I also love the way magic is portrayed here; it’s not friendly and contained like Harry Potter or something. It’s chaotic, primeval, maybe even a bit Eldritch, and that’s pretty cool. But a unique aesthetic isn’t enough to make up for shallow stories and characters, and there are so many incredible actual Studio Ghibli films that it’s hard to justify going out of your way to watch this one.

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Arky.H G

@RT45635655 Apr 26, 2025

🪻✨ A visually beautiful film reminiscent of countless Studio Ghibli works. It has elements reminiscent of Harry Potter and other dark elements reminiscent of anime like Made in Abyss 🖤. The only flaw, though, is that after the second act, the story falls into many clichés, so even veteran audiences of the genre might be very disappointed. But it's not bad either. Sometimes we forget about the simpler, more harmless films of the 70s and 80s. Not everything has to be a masterpiece. Sometimes you can find beauty in simplicity...🧹 I give it a 4 Star Rating of Simple but Good. Nice.⭐⭐⭐⭐. Ok.

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Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Director

Ruby Barnhill

Mary

Louis Ashbourne Serkis

Peter

Kate Winslet

Madam Mumblechook

Jim Broadbent

Doctor Dee

Lynda Baron

Great-Aunt Charlotte

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Synopsis

Young Mary follows a mysterious cat into the nearby forest and discovers an old broomstick and the strange Fly-by-Night flower, a rare plant that blossoms once every seven years. Together, the flower and the broomstick whisk Mary above the clouds, and far away to Endor College -- a school of magic run by headmistress Madam Mumblechook and the brilliant Doctor Dee. But there are terrible things happening at the school, and when Mary tells a lie, she must risk her life to try and set things right.

Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Producer: Geoffrey Wexler, Yoshiaki Nishimura
Screenwriter: Riko Sakaguchi, Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Distributor: GKIDS
Production Co: Sapporo Television Broadcasting Company, Toho Company, The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nippon Television Network, Dentsu, Lawson Entertainment, Kadokawa Contents Gate Co., Ltd., Chukyo TV, Kadokawa, Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation, Hiroshima Telecasting, Amuse, Shizuoka Daiichi Television, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Fukuoka Broadcasting System, Walt Disney Company, Studio Ponoc, Miyagi Television Broadcasting, D.N. Dream Partners
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Some Action)
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 19, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 13, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.0M
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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