Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield’s “excellent” British movie debuts with 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating

Families can now enjoy The Magic Faraway Tree in UK and Irish cinemas just in time for the Easter break! Early reviews are fantastic, giving the film a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

This fantasy adventure series, based on the books by Enid Blyton, features Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield as siblings Polly and Tim Thompson. After Polly leaves her job, they both decide to move to the quiet countryside where Tim spent his childhood.

Okay, so my folks decided to move us to this super remote house in the countryside. My sisters, Beth and Fran, and my brother, Joe, were NOT happy – especially because there’s basically no WiFi or cell service! But things started to change when Fran found this amazing tree that could actually transport her to incredible, magical places. Suddenly, the whole moving-to-the-middle-of-nowhere thing didn’t seem so bad.

I’m so excited about The Magic Faraway Tree movie! It’s written by Simon Farnaby, who’s done amazing work on Paddington 2 and Wonka – I loved both of those! And he’s in the movie too, which is cool, alongside a fantastic cast including Nicola Coughlan, Rebecca Ferguson, Nonso Anozie, Jessica Gunning, and Dustin Demri-Burns. I can’t wait to see it!

The first reviews for The Magic Faraway Tree are in, and they’re all good! If you’re still deciding whether to see the movie, we’ve collected some of the early reviews for you below.

What to Read Next

The Independent

Farnaby’s work is consistently clever and funny. He blends the playful humor and slightly odd style he’s known for from shows like The Mighty Boosh and Horrible Histories with a talent for reimagining classic stories.

Guardian

This charming and heartwarming family movie is perfect for Easter, filled with lighthearted fun and delightfully quirky characters.

Time Out

While The Magic Faraway Tree doesn’t quite reach the heights of films like Wonka or Paddington 2, it’s still an enjoyable family movie. It features a great cast, a heartwarming message, and some exciting adventures – perfect for a night where you can disconnect and relax without the need for WiFi.

Empire

The magical creatures in this story sometimes seem a bit silly and over-the-top, but it still manages to be charming and funny, with a genuine warmth that makes it enjoyable.

Fiction Machine

While it’s not quite as brilliant as Paddington 2 (and what really is?), this movie is a fantastic fantasy comedy that’s perfect for families during the school break.

This Is Film

The Magic Faraway Tree is a genuinely delightful book. It’s lighthearted, honest, and refreshingly optimistic – exactly what many people are looking for.

The Magic Faraway Tree is released in UK and Ireland cinemas on 27 March.

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2026-03-25 17:21