Something Wicked This Way Comes
Something Wicked This Way Comes Review: Story, Cast, Rating & Final Verdict
Last updated: April 10, 2026
Movie Overview: Something Wicked This Way Comes
| Movie | Something Wicked This Way Comes |
| Release Year | 1983 |
| Director | Jack Clayton |
| Genre | Fantasy / Mystery / Thriller |
| Runtime | 95 minutes |
| Language | EN |
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.4/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Fantasy.
Cast & Character Study
The performances in Something Wicked This Way Comes are led by Jason Robards . The supporting cast, including Jonathan Pryce and Diane Ladd , provides the necessary layers to the central narrative.
movieMx Verdict: Is it Worth Your Time?
What Works in the Movie
While Something Wicked This Way Comes does not fully realize its potential, it still contains moments that may appeal to viewers who enjoy Fantasy films.
- Interesting concept or premise
- Some entertaining scenes
- Supporting cast delivers occasional highlights
What Doesn't Work
Despite its strengths, Something Wicked This Way Comes has a few issues that may affect the overall viewing experience, particularly in terms of pacing and narrative consistency.
- Uneven pacing in certain parts of the film
- Some predictable plot developments
- May not appeal to audiences outside the Fantasy fanbase
Story & Plot Summary: Something Wicked This Way Comes
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 1983, Something Wicked This Way Comes is a Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller film directed by Jack Clayton. The narrative transports viewers to imaginative worlds filled with magic, wonder, and epic adventures. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Jason Robards.
Ending Explained: Something Wicked This Way Comes
Something Wicked This Way Comes Ending Explained: Directed by Jack Clayton, Something Wicked This Way Comes wraps up the main storyline while leaving some interpretation to viewers. The ending highlights the core fantasy themes developed throughout the film.
The final twist encourages viewers to reconsider earlier moments in the story, particularly in scenes involving Jason Robards. The interpretation of the ending may vary among viewers.
Key Elements of the Ending
- Narrative Resolution: The story resolves its primary conflict while leaving room for interpretation.
- Character Development: Character motivations become clearer by the final scenes.
- Thematic Message: The ending reinforces the fantasy themes introduced earlier in the film.
The final moments of Something Wicked This Way Comes reflect the creative choices of the filmmakers and align with the tone of the narrative.
Who Should Watch Something Wicked This Way Comes?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Fantasy films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Jason Robards or the director
- Want solid genre entertainment
Box Office Collection: Something Wicked This Way Comes
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $20.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $8.4M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Something Wicked This Way Comes Budget
The estimated production budget for Something Wicked This Way Comes is $20.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Something Wicked This Way Comes
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Where to Watch Something Wicked This Way Comes Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
Disney Plus
History VaultSomething Wicked This Way Comes Parents Guide & Age Rating
1983 AdvisoryWondering about Something Wicked This Way Comes age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Something Wicked This Way Comes is 95 minutes (1h 35m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.4/10, and global performance metrics, Something Wicked This Way Comes is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 1983 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Something Wicked This Way Comes worth watching?
Something Wicked This Way Comes is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Fantasy movies. It has a verified rating of 6.4/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Something Wicked This Way Comes parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Something Wicked This Way Comes identifies it as PG. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Something Wicked This Way Comes?
The total duration of Something Wicked This Way Comes is 95 minutes, which is approximately 1h 35m long.
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Critic Reviews for Something Wicked This Way Comes
By the pricking of my thumbs... Beset by production issues, Disney being horrified by the horror of the piece and etc, Something Wicked This Way Comes proved to be a most divisive picture. Yet it's actually a spooky family friendly horror yarn. Plot sees the Pandemonium Carnival roll into a small American town and mysteriously grant the residents their wishes. Of course it's a "too good to be true" set up, and after two young boys discover the carnival's secrets, they come under threat from the owner, Mr. Dark (Jonathan Pryce deliciously sinister). Directed by Jack Clayton (The Innocents) and photographed by Stephen H. Burum, pic is far darker than what Disney envisaged at the outset. Missing the crux of Bradbury's literary bent, the makers do however put forward a thoughtful and atmospheric story, one that looks and sounds terrific with its ethereal beats. It's a crafty puritan bad dream, where although it's true to say that the allegories and message at the core are driven hard, it still a devilish blend of horror and whimsical wonder. 7/10
It might not be as great as it could've been, but I did enjoy watching 'Something Wicked This Way Comes'. Jonathan Pryce definitely carries events as Mr. Dark, who is a character that suits him very nicely. I'm a fan of Pryce from other films, so it's little surprise that I like him here. Jason Robards is good too, if a little muttered throughout. The child actors, meanwhile, are passable. The premise is filled with intrigue, it doesn't quite deliver on a grand scale and yet I still felt suitably entertained. The film is shot quite neatly, the main town in particular looks pleasant. Good, admittedly mostly thanks to Pryce.
_**Something Slow & Dull This Way Comes**_ In 1932, a mysterious carnival comes to an Illinois town where weird things start happening and people strangely go missing. Jason Robards plays a librarian while Jonathan Pryce is on hand as the shadowy head of the carnival “Something Wicked This Way Comes” (1983) is spooky fantasy written by Ray Bradbury (based on his book). The studio, Disney, wasn’t happy with director Jack Clayton’s original cut and so took it out of his hands and undertook expensive reshoots, reediting and rescoring, plus adding a narration. I was expecting to love this movie since I favor flicks set in carnivals or circuses, like “Water for Elephants” (2011), "Berserk!" (1967), "Circus of Horrors” (1960) and “Funhouse” (1981) — even films like "The Greatest Show on Earth" (1952) and "Roustabout" (1964). Unfortunately, I was let down. Everything is here for a magical picture, but I guess too many cooks spoil the broth. The pace is overly slow and the film never recovers. It doesn’t help that the bulk of it was shot on Disney’s town set in Burbank, which elicits a low-rent vibe. Sure, the concept is great, Mr. Dark is an intriguing character, the Dust Witch is darkly beautiful (Pam Grier) and some of the weird happenings are well done, yet they don’t add up to a compelling story. Even the last act drops the ball with a talky sequence in the library, followed by an equally boring sequence in a mirror maze. The explosive close is impressive, but it’s too little too late. “Needful Things” (1993) wasn’t exactly great, yet it took similar material and made a more entertaining movie. For a superior spooky Disney flick from the early 80s check out the original version of “The Watcher in the Woods” (1980), I’m talking about the version that includes the titular skeletal-insectoid entity at the end (available on Youtube as a “fan edit”). The film runs 1 hour, 35 minutes, and was shot at Disney’s Golden Oak Ranch (the carnival scenes), which is a 20-minute drive north of Hollywood, as well as the Disney back lot in Burbank (the town set), with establishing shots done in Vermont (Morrisville and Waterville). GRADE: C
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.










