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The Magic Faraway Tree

The Magic Faraway Tree

2026110 minPGMidcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
Director
Ben Gregor
Starring
Billie Gadsdon, Nicola Coughlan, Phoenix Laroche, Nonso Anozie

A modern family relocates to the countryside where the children discover a magical tree with eccentric residents. They're transported to fantastical lands, rekindling their family bond through adventures.

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Magic Faraway Tree?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Magic Faraway Tree to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about The Magic Faraway Tree?

The Magic Faraway Tree earns 4 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Award Winner.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is The Magic Faraway Tree worth watching?

The Magic Faraway Tree's Midcredits score is the 57th percentile of all films, from 47K ratings across 6 sources. 51% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

57th percentile

Better received than 57% of films

65th percentile among Adventure59th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)59th
Approval (how many liked it)54th

64 /100

59th percentile of all films

67th percentile among Adventure60th percentile among 2020s

Critics 59 · Audience 64

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.5 — solid but not unanimous.

51% liked it

54th percentile of all films

61st percentile among Adventure55th percentile among 2020s
51% rated it 7–1049% rated it 1–6

Critics 80% · Audience 81%

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics and audiences approve at similar rates.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 1 wins / 4 noms overall

Reach

How many have seen it

96th percentile

47K ratings across platforms

94th percentile among Adventure97th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 57% in 30 days

Box office

Opening weekend$1.3M
Domestic gross$2.4M
Worldwide gross$35M

78th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the film spends too little time in the magical lands and too much on the real-world family problems.

Fans praised

  • Captures the wonder and imagination of childhood
  • Strong nostalgic appeal for book fans, especially tree and characters
  • Charming performances from Garfield, Foy, and young cast

Detractors panned

  • Too much focus on family drama and tomato farm, not enough magic or lands
  • Script feels rushed, clunky, and strayed far from source material
  • Beth's character is grating and underdeveloped

What stands out

ActingDivisive70

Garfield and Foy praised for warmth; Coughlan a standout; young cast uneven

CinematographyDivisive70

Colorful, pleasant visuals; tree and forest well-realized but lands underwhelm

AtmosphereDivisive55

British countryside charm but magical lands lack depth and immersion

Effects and spectacleDivisive55

CGI serviceable but cheap-looking; lacking immersive wonder

CharactersDivisive45

Silky and Moonface charming but Beth divisive; tree folk feel thin and one-note

Plot and storyDivisive40

Rushed, crammed with subplots; tomato farm overshadows magic

PacingDivisive35

Slow start, rushed magical lands, overlong runtime

OriginalityDivisive35

Modernizing feels derivative; loses Blyton's whimsy and innocence

Preferred by

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 14 points higher than US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 7 points apart

Watch experience

What is The Magic Faraway Tree like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Feel-good: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something warm that leaves you smiling.

It takes its time, has a few laughs and leaves you feeling good. Skip it when you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Patience.

What it feels like

Feel-good.

Moods
WarmJoyful
Heaviest: late
Warm humor
Register
Whimsical · 2% of filmsWarm
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its magic and family drama straight, creating a warm, sincere atmosphere without ironic undercutting.
The rideThe emotional weight peaks in the final act as the family reconnects through their magical adventures.
StructureThe story follows a conventional beginning (family moves to countryside), middle (magical adventures), and end (family reconnects).

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Feeling good.

The answer rests on this: Feel-goodHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayLeaves the viewer with a warm sense of family reconnection and the importance of shared adventures.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Voyage
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4% (this title): Portal fantasy under 1% (this title) · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Voyage and return: Into a strange world and back again, changed. · Portal fantasy: Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).

4% of films fit this archetype

with Rebirth underneath

Why this archetypeChildren discover a magical tree that transports them to fantastical lands; the journey heals their family bond, fitting a portal fantasy where return brings transformation.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5% (this title)
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsFreedom · 5% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe film centres on rekindling the family bond through shared magical adventures, while also exploring escape from modern life's distractions.
StanceThe film celebrates family bonds, affirming their importance through a shared magical journey.

The world

ContemporaryRuralWildernessMagical realism
Orchestral modernForeground music · original score · Isabella Summers
SettingA countryside farm in modern-day England with a magical tree in the woods.
MusicProvides a whimsical and warm score that complements the magical adventure.

Content guide

Is The Magic Faraway Tree okay for kids?

PG

The Magic Faraway Tree is rated PG: “Rated PG for some rude humor, mild action and brief language” (MPAA). As of October 2, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its sexual content at moderate (50/100). It has too few votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 29 other countries
  • UKU
  • CanadaG
  • AustraliaG
  • Germany0
  • IrelandG
  • New ZealandG
  • BrazilL
  • ArgentinaATP
  • AustriaAA
  • Belgium6
  • CLTE
  • CzechiaU
  • Hungary6
  • IDSU
  • IsraelAll
  • LUA
  • LV7+
  • MexicoA
  • Netherlands6
  • PhilippinesG
  • PortugalM/6
  • PRPG
  • ROAP
  • Russia6+
  • SingaporePG
  • SKU
  • South AfricaPG
  • Türkiye6+
  • UA0+
Overall
needs 3 or more scored categories
not ranked
Sex & Nudity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (2 votes)

Overall standing needs at least three scored categories; this title has 1.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does The Magic Faraway Tree have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Magic Faraway Tree?

Cast

Billie Gadsdon
as Fran
Nicola Coughlan
as Silky
Phoenix Laroche
as Joe
Nonso Anozie
as Moonface
Andrew Garfield
as Tim Thompson
Rebecca Ferguson
as Dame Snap
Claire Foy
as Polly Thompson
Jessica Gunning
as Dame Washalot
Dustin Demri-Burns
as Saucepan Man
Jennifer Saunders
as Grandma

Crew

More like this

What are movies like The Magic Faraway Tree?

Movies like The Magic Faraway Tree include Paddington in Peru (2024), Over the Moon (2020) and A Letter to Momo (2011). Of the 12 closest matches, most are magical-realist films, and most are family adventures.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

4 of these 12 share its story type: portal fantasy. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with The Magic Faraway Tree?

3.8K other films share the rarest tag below, follows: child. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.