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The “Witch Mountain” film series holds a special place in the hearts of Generation X, captivating audiences whether they caught it in theaters, on VHS, or through Disney Channel reruns. Today, the nostalgic charm of these films can be experienced anew as both “Escape to Witch Mountain” and its sequel, “Return from Witch Mountain”, are available for streaming on Disney+.
Disney
“Escape to Witch Mountain” introduces us to siblings Tia (played by future “Real Housewife” Kim Richards) and Tony Malone (Ike Eisenmann). These orphaned twins, gifted with psychic abilities, are unaware of their true parentage. The narrative unravels as attorney Lucas Deranian (Donald Pleasence), under the employ of the nefarious Aristotle Bolt (Ray Milland), deceitfully claims to be their uncle. The twins initially play along but soon flee upon discovering Bolt’s malicious intentions, taking only Tia’s cat, Winkie, with them. Their journey leads them to encounter Jason O’Day (Eddie Albert), a grieving widower, who helps them uncover their extraordinary destiny.
The story continued with “Return to Witch Mountain,” where Tia and Tony are drawn further into human conflicts when Letha Wedge (Bette Davis) schemes to exploit their powers for her own ends. The franchise expanded with two made-for-TV movies, the 1982 sequel “Beyond Witch Mountain” and a 1995 remake, before Disney reimagined the series for a modern audience with a surprising lead.
Long before his animated role in “Moana,” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was cast in Disney’s 2009 reboot, “Race to Witch Mountain.” Johnson takes on the role of Jack Bruno, a cab driver who finds himself embroiled in an extraordinary adventure when he assists twin aliens, Seth (Alexander Ludwig) and Sara (AnnaSophia Robb), whose spaceship has crashed. Much like the original, these twins possess telekinetic abilities and communicate telepathically, all while evading government agents.
Although the reboot achieved moderate box office success, grossing over $100 million worldwide, it didn’t fare as well with critics, securing only a 41% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience reception was equally lukewarm, with a 44% Popcornmeter score, leading some to label it among the less successful reboots available on Disney+.
Disney tried to revive Witch Mountain as a franchise with … The Rock?
Disney
As of now, the future of the “Witch Mountain” franchise remains uncertain. A television series led by Bryce Dallas Howard was reportedly declined by Disney+ in 2024. However, fans can still indulge in the enchanting world of “Witch Mountain” with the classic films available on the platform, offering magic and adventure for all ages.
The film was a respectable player for Disney, raking in over $100 million worldwide during its box office run. But critically it lacked, only holding a 41% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes. It hasn’t ginned up as much nostalgic fervor as the original 1975 film either; the reboot sports only a 44% Popcornmeter audience score. Some even name it one of the worst reboots you can stream on Disney+.
While the franchise’s future is up in the air as of this writing, with a Bryce Dallas Howard led television series being rejected by Disney+ in 2024, there’s still plenty of magical goodness for folks of all ages to enjoy on the platform.
