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The Magic Faraway Tree

Play trailer 2:28 Poster for The Magic Faraway Tree 1h 50m Kids & Family Adventure Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 35 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Verified Ratings
Adapted from Enid Blyton's beloved classic novel The Magic Faraway Tree, the film centers on Polly (Claire Foy), Tim (Andrew Garfield), and their three children -- a modern family forced to relocate to the remote English countryside. As they adapt to their new lives, the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric residents, including treasured characters Moonface (Nonso Anozie), Silky (Nicola Coughlan), Dame Washalot (Jessica Gunning), and Saucepan Man (Dustin Demri-Burns). At the top of the tree, they are transported to spectacular, fantastical lands, and through the joys and challenges of their adventures, the family learns to reconnect and value each other for the first time in years.
The Magic Faraway Tree

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Warm, charming, and quietly uplifting, The Magic Faraway Tree delivers a playful mix of whimsical characters, gentle humor, and a timely message about unplugging, making it an engaging and enjoyable family adventure.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide Observer (UK) Mar 30
If you can get past some rather overegged child-actor performances, it’s an enjoyable enough option for Easter holiday family entertainment. Go to Full Review
Kevin Maher The Times (UK) Mar 30
2/5
Farnaby’s screenplay is deplorable. Go to Full Review
Mark Kermode Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube) Mar 27
I found it surprisingly charming, and entertaining, and kind of uplifting. Go to Full Review
Graeme Tuckett The Post NZ May 5
2.5/5
The sheer volume of Blyton’s writing blinds people to the fact that most of her books were rubbish. And not even a modern retelling with a top-drawer cast can disguise that. Go to Full Review
Natasha Alvar The Fiction Department May 3
4/5
[...] even from the peripheries of the film, Garfield commands every single scene he’s in. On paper, Tim is some kind of manic pixie dream boy, but he makes him so much more. We feel his disappointments, his losses and his triumphs. Go to Full Review
Emma Simmonds The List Apr 29
4/5
Like all the best children’s films, there’s real emotion at its core, as it makes the case for kids to simply be kids: to get off the screens, fire their imaginations and open their hearts. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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claire M @RT01614077 22h Amazing film! I read the books as a child, & the film didn't disappoint, actors were brilliant such a lovely film! See more MB C @MB.Cinema 1d A struggling family moves to the countryside, where the children discover a magical tree leading to imaginative worlds. Each journey brings lessons about identity, connection, and the value of family. The film is visually charming and emotionally sincere, though its episodic structure feels repetitive. Simple characters and predictable arcs are balanced by a heartfelt tone and uplifting message. A sweet, cozy fantasy that favors charm over depth..... See more R T @Costan 4d An uplifting and thoroughly joyous film for all the family. Engaging performances and a visual treat from beginning to end. See more Chino D @RT28604373 4d Great noatalgic enid blyton fantasy film.Enjoyed the film.Has heart.❤️ See more Bryon D. @RT15347691 6d A family movie full of imagination, ditching the cell phones and wifi See more Dave T @RT44436416 May 17 If you loved the books don’t watch this film! See more Read all reviews
The Magic Faraway Tree

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Movie Info

Synopsis Adapted from Enid Blyton's beloved classic novel The Magic Faraway Tree, the film centers on Polly (Claire Foy), Tim (Andrew Garfield), and their three children -- a modern family forced to relocate to the remote English countryside. As they adapt to their new lives, the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric residents, including treasured characters Moonface (Nonso Anozie), Silky (Nicola Coughlan), Dame Washalot (Jessica Gunning), and Saucepan Man (Dustin Demri-Burns). At the top of the tree, they are transported to spectacular, fantastical lands, and through the joys and challenges of their adventures, the family learns to reconnect and value each other for the first time in years.
Director
Ben Gregor
Producer
Pippa Harris, Nicolas Brown, Danny Perkins, Jane Hooks
Screenwriter
Simon Farnaby
Distributor
Vertical
Production Co
Ashland Hill Media Finance, Elysian Film Group
Genre
Kids & Family, Adventure, Fantasy
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 21, 2026, Wide
Runtime
1h 50m