The best Roald Dahl film adaptations
The top 3 according to 2,402 votes from people: Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) · Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) · The Witches (1990). (Updated May 28, 2023.)
Stop-motion foxes, a chocolate factory and a convention of witches: the films based on Roald Dahl that come out on top in Looper's Rotten Tomatoes ranking and The A.V. Club's list.
Top 11
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1
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Wes Anderson. Stop-motion, with George Clooney as the fox.
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2
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Mel Stuart. Gene Wilder's Wonka and the golden tickets.
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3
The Witches (1990)
Nicolas Roeg. Anjelica Huston as the Grand High Witch.
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4
Matilda (1996)
Danny DeVito. A gifted girl against Miss Trunchbull.
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5
James and the Giant Peach (1996)
Henry Selick. Live action and stop-motion inside a giant peach.
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6
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Tim Burton. Johnny Depp's take on Wonka.
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7
The BFG (2016)
Steven Spielberg. Mark Rylance as the Big Friendly Giant.
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8
The BFG (1989)
Brian Cosgrove. The animated version by Cosgrove Hall.
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9
Danny, the Champion of the World (1989)
Gavin Millar. Jeremy Irons and his son Samuel as father and son.
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10
Esio Trot (2015)
Dearbhla Walsh. Judi Dench, Dustin Hoffman and a tortoise.
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11
36 Hours (1964)
George Seaton. A wartime thriller from a Dahl short story.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (10)
The 1990 Witches traumatised an entire generation and I mean that as a compliment. Anjelica Huston pulling her face off, no thanks
lol same, I couldn't look at women in gloves for a year
James and the Giant Peach scared me more than the witches tbh. That rhino!!
Didn't know 36 Hours was based on Dahl. Adding it to my watchlist
Fantastic Mr. Fox at the top is the correct answer and I will not be taking questions
Gene Wilder > Johnny Depp, not even close
Matilda being this low is criminal. Danny DeVito made the perfect version, Miss Trunchbull is terrifying
Where's Wonka with Timothée Chalamet? Honestly it was better than I expected
It's not really an adaptation of a Dahl book though, it's a prequel they made up
Danny the Champion of the World is such an underrated gem. Jeremy Irons and his actual son, it's so sweet