Top 10 Movies Based on Roald Dahl’s Books (According to Rotten Tomatoes)

Children’s author Roald Dahl may be compared as the British Dr. Seuss, only with creepier and darker stories. But his works resonated with children.

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Children’s author Roald Dahl may be compared as the British Dr. Seuss, only with creepier and darker stories. But his works fully resonated with children everywhere because they did not shy away from struggles that any child could face, and didn’t the moralities that each need to learn. Thus, his works are always adapted on the small and big screen. And Netflix is even capitalizing on his works.

In honor of that, especially in light of recent news of Ralph Fiennes in talks to play a popular antagonist, here are the 10 best Roald Dahl adaptations, from theatrical films to TV specials.

10 The BFG (1989) (65%)

Animated by Cosgrove Hall Films and aired on ITV, The BFG is based on the story of a girl named Sophie who encounters a humble giant whom she named the BFG (Big Friendly Giant). Comedian David Jason voiced the titular giant with charm and lightness in his tone. And even back in that time, the animation looks seamless and wondrous. From the company behind the animation of Danger Mouse and Count Duckula, they did efficiently to depict the distinct worlds of the humans and the giants.

Even if it is lackluster on its execution and memorability, The BFG is charming.

9 The BFG (2016) (75%)

Nearly fifty years after its first adaptation, The BFG received another feature-length treatment, this time as a live-action adaptation with Walt Disney Pictures and Steven Spielberg behind its creation. And the results really show on its final product.

Mark Rylance plays the titular giant in a motion-picture performance that had him seamlessly transform as the big-eared giant. While the level of Spielbergian whimsy and signature Dahl eccentricity does not match to the level it requires, 2016’s The BFG successfully brought crowd-pleasing performances, visual flair, another good John Williams score, and wondrous sequences. Too bad that its box-office performance nearly hurt it.

8 36 Hours (76% Audience Score)

Aside from children’s stories, Roald Dahl also wrote adult novels and short stories. Among them is the POW-centered story “Beware of the Dog”, which is adapted into a suspense film with James Garner, Eva Marie Saint and Rod Taylor. The story is about an American POW who is interrogated by Germans by convincing him that World War 2 is over and letting him share information about the Allies’ strategies.

36 Hours is a tension-filled thriller that takes its time with the rigidity of the situation of war intelligence. Check out this underrated gem.

7 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (83%)

While one adaptation existed, the Dahl estate (most especially Dahl himself) was not satisfied with Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Thus, another adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory came to life by Tim Burton. Not necessarily a remake itself, it is another reimagining from the gothic auteur.

Its distinctive difference from the 1971 crowd-pleaser is its faithfulness to the book, down to the songs and character traits. And the production design has been elevated this time around from the original. Though its visual flair had to be contrasted with Johnny Depp’s darker Willy Wonka and some blandness.

6 Revolting Rhymes (85%)

Another TV film that aired on the BBC which got nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, Revolting Rhymes is a computer-animated special that is divided into two parts. One is a mash-up of Snow White and Red Riding Hood where both fairytale heroines had to deal with the Evil Queen and a pack of wolves, respectively. The other is a crossover of Jack and the Beanstalk and Cinderella, wherein Jack pursues Cinderella but contends with a giant.

Dahl’s book is about combining these fairy tales. The result is a fun, whimsical adventure with a star-studded voice cast.

5 Matilda (90%)

Matilda may have been a flop at its time, but it grew to become a cult childhood favorite. This film is based on the beloved 1988 novel about a mischievous but kind-hearted girl who learned she possessed telekinetic powers that she used to handle her ignorant parents and topple her cruel headmistress.

As the titular girl, Mara Wilson plays her effectively with a right balance of deadpan and enthusiasm. And a supporting cast that includes Danny DeVito as the demeaning Mr. Wormwood and Pam Ferris as the fun-to-watch Ms. Trunchbull is fun to watch. Faithful and fun, Matilda levitates more.

4 James and the Giant Peach (91%)

After The Nightmare Before Christmas, producer Tim Burton and director Henry Selick got on board on Disney’s adaptation of James and the Giant Peach. And much like Nightmare, it is a stop-motion effort with Burton’s signature quirks and creepiness that fits well for a Roald Dahl story.

The story is about an orphan named James who entered a whimsical world hidden inside a peach and met eccentric characters like Susan Sarandon’s Miss Spider, Simon Callow’s Mr. Grasshopper and Richard Dreyfus’ Mr. Centipede. The animation advancements worked to the film’s advantage since it meshes live-action and stop-motion to seamless effect. Fantastic.

3 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (91%)

With Charlie and the Chocolate Factory being a literary classic, a film adaptation was inevitable. In comes a 1971 fantasy film that was mildly successful but reviled by critics at the time, and even by Dahl himself (who wrote the screenplay).

Nevertheless, it became a classic with memorable characters, hummable songs (from “The Candy Man” to “Pure Imagination”) and a compelling performance of Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. His own take of Wonka balances out his questionable quirkiness and his sinister secrets. But there is charm with him. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a scrumdiddlyumptious delight.

2 Fantastic Mr. Fox (92%)

While it is fitting for Tim Burton to capture Roald Dahl’s macabre themes, it is surprising for Wes Anderson to capture Dahl’s familial topics and character eccentricities. For that, Fantastic Mr. Fox is a fine stop-motion animated film that balanced out both artist’s styles. The 1970 story is centered on the titular Mr. Fox (George Clooney), who must outwit a trio of cruel farmers to scavenge food.

Like any Anderson film, it is packed with symmetrical shots, character quirks, family conflicts, a choir score, orange-tinted cinematography, and deadpan humor. As a Roald Dahl adaptation, it is innovative and wily.

1 The Witches (97%)

The Witches is prominently based on Roald Dahl’s childhood days being born to Norwegian parents and learning of various Norwegian folklore. This story is about a boy and his grandmother that discovered a coven of witches who thrive on their existence by killing children. It seems fitting for a feature-length film starring Mai Zetterling, Rowan Atkinson and Anjelica Huston as the Grand High Witch.

This 1990 Nicolas Roeg captures the darkness and weirdness of the Dahl story, accompanied by Jim Henson’s puppetry and levied by Huston’s deliciously evil performance. While not the quintessential Dahl adaptation, The Witches is gloriously fun.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/roald-dahl-movies-ranked-rotten-tomatoes/