Roald Dahl Film Adaptations Ranked

The 12th of September was Roald Dahl Day, where he is honoured, and his work is celebrated on his birthday each year. He had an extensive career, writing a whole host of novels, short stories, and poems that have been enjoyed by generations of children. His work has sold more than 250 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 58 languages! In fact, Forbes ranked him the top-earning dead celebrity in their 2021 ranking.

Like all great authors, over the years, Dahl’s work has had a number of film adaptations, and I’ve compiled a top five for your reading pleasure.

5) Esio Trot (2015)

This made-for-TV film was broadcast on BBC One as part of their Christmas programming in 2015. It stars Dustin Hoffman asHo a retired bachelor who falls in love with his widowed neighbour, Judi Dench, who keeps a tortoise as a companion after the death of her husband. This might not be the most seen on the list, but it’s a charming tale of love that works nicely for a chilled afternoon viewing.

4) Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Probably the most critically acclaimed film on the list is Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox. A masterful stop-motion animation that marries together Anderson’s distinct style as an auteur as well as the creativity of Dahl’s story, elevating it even further into the ranks than ‘just another kids film’ because this was made for all audiences. It has the stunning animation and humour that works for the children but has so much for an older audience to appreciate as well.

3) Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Switching out names from the book’s title of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the 1971 classic has Willy Wonka as the titular character for a reason. Gene Wilder was incredible in the role, giving Wonka this bubbly, manic energy, welcoming this group of children into the factory. He shows them the whimsical nature of this world filled with edible grass and lickable wallpaper, but he also brings this unpredictable edginess to the role. A dark side that reveals itself in spurts throughout that catches the audience off-guard as much as the infamous boat scene that has traumatised audiences for more than fifty years.

This is a great example of how Roald Dahl balanced the light with the dark in his books, teaching valuable lessons to his young readers by showing consequences to actions and that the world can be amazing but can also be a scary place. The five ‘lucky’ recipients of the golden tickets get invited to the factory as a prize but end up permanently disfigured and traumatised by the end of the story (and in this version; we don’t actually see them leave).

But it isn’t all bad, the Oompa Loompas sing songs to lighten the mood!

2) Matilda (1996)

For the last couple of decades, Matilda has been a childhood staple for many. Move over Eleven, the first favourite telekinetic girl on our screens was Mara Wilson’s Matilda. The Danny DeVito film tells the story of an incredibly intelligent young girl who is mistreated by her family and finds solace in reading. She also has to deal with the horrible principal, Miss Trunchbull, who intimidates and abuses her students and teachers until Matilda and her teacher, Miss Honey, decide to settle the score.

This film features one of the most terrifying villains of all-time in Pam Ferris’ Miss Trunchbull who goes right up with the likes of Michael Myers and Pennywise… and this is a kids’ film! We see her force students to go into a cupboard with broken glass and nails sticking out of it called “the chokey” and swing a girl around by her pigtails and launching her over a fence. This really gives a new sense of fear for those starting at a new school.

Mara Wilson is a delight in her role and has the audience on her side from the very beginning, which makes her acts of revenge against these truly bad grownups feel all the more satisfying.

Now what could possibly beat this classic? I think that number one is truly something special.

1) The Witches (1990)

Can you remember the first time a film scared you? Where something happened that sent chills down your spine and made you lose sleep at night? Well Nicolas Roeg’s The Witches was one of those experiences for me. The story about Erica and the painting cemented itself in my young mind for a long time. This film, although having the charm and imagination of the other adaptations on this list, has its roots firmly in darkness. Adult horror fans likely have this film to thank for introducing them to this type of story with the themes of child abduction and having these supernatural witches.

Anjelica Houston gives a powerhouse performance as the Grand High Witch, playing her with this creepy, unnerving woman in her human form – but when she reveals her true form – she becomes a completely different presence. Her true form is the stuff of nightmares and the transformation scene really sets this film apart. Managing to create a horror story while keeping it accessible to kids is so important and that’s what sets this film apart from the rest.

Even with all these great examples of bringing Dahl’s work to life, his legacy lives on and there are a host of films making their way to our screens in the coming years.

• Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical (November 25 2022)

A film adaptation of the hit West End musical sees Alisha Weir play Matilda and also stars Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull and Lashana Lynch as Miss Honey.

• Wonka (December 15 2023)

Directed by Paul King who brought us the beloved Paddington films, this explores Willy Wonka’s life before opening the famous chocolate factory. Timothée Chalamet takes up the titular role and it is set to feature musical sequences.

• The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

Wes Anderson is back to direct his second Dahl picture; this one will hit Netflix next year and stars Benedict Cumberbatch and a star-studded line-up.

After Netflix acquired the rights to all of Dahl’s work in 2021 for £370 million, there’s a whole load more in the pipeline including a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory series written and directed by Taika Waititi.

After an amazing career, even all these years on from his death, his legacy lives on. Happy Roald Dahl Day!