Rating	PG
Language	Englishwith no subtitles
Genre	Adventure, Fantasy
Director	Ben Gregor
Cast	Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Nonso Anozie, Nicola Coughlan, Jessica Gunning, Jennifer Saunders and Rebecca Ferguson
Synopsis	Based on the beloved The Faraway Tree series of novels for children, THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE follows Polly and Tim and their children Beth, Joe and Fran – a modern family who find themselves forced to relocate to the remote English countryside. Soon after their arrival, with no Wi-Fi or electricity to charge their treasured electronic gadgets, the children must develop an interest in the great outdoors. Exploring the natural world around their new home, the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric residents, including cherished characters Moonface, Silky, Dame Washalot and Saucepan Man. At the top of the tree, they are transported to spectacular and fantastical lands, and, through the joys and challenges of their adventures, the family learn to reconnect and value each other for the first time in years.

REVIEWS

By InCinemas 26 Mar 2026

British charm + magic = recipe for a good time.

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"The magic of childhood is always forgot, but this is a story of one who did not.”

We may be reluctant to accept Andrew Garfield being in his movie dad era but there’s no denying he fits the bill of playing a "fun middle-aged man with genuine childlike wonder” to a T. No one quite delivers the playfullness of a twinkle in the eye as well as he. We’ll even go as far to calling him the spark of the Thompson family!

Based on the Enid Blyton book series of the same name, The Magic Faraway Tree follows the Thompsons – couple Tim and Polly, and their three children Beth, Fran and Joe – as they learn to reconnect with nature and each other after being forced to switch out their modern lives with a remote countryside. While the adults try to figure out next steps and make the best of the situation, the children wander into the woods where they meet the most peculiar characters (Moonface, Silky, Saucepan Man, and Mr. Watzisname) and discover a magical tree that transports them to fantastical lands – a brief distraction from the analog lifestyle they’re suddenly thrown into. The film is directed by Ben Gregor, based on a screenplay from Simon Farnaby. Claire Foy, Delilah Bennett-Cardy, Billie Gadsdon, Phoenix Laroche, Nicola Coughlan, Nonso Anozie, Jessica Gunning, Rebecca Ferguson, and more star alongside Garfield.

Gregor has made it so that his adaptation feels like you’ve really stepped into an Enid Blyton book. The colours, the quaintness, and all the energy we get are exactly as we’d imagine when flipping through her pages in wide-eyed awe! The Simon Farnaby tell of humour-that’s-specifically-catered-to-children-but-is-also-extremely-adult-friendly is also ever-present here. You’ll get some good, hearty chuckles and a lot of smiles out of this one. Trust the guy who wrote Wonka and two Paddington films to bring the same quippy energy for all ages to enjoy.

With that said, it's not all fun and games lest you forget Blyton’s books come with teachable moments and gravitas that is as important as the pleasure you’ve had along the way. For instance, the magical lands we get transported to are every child's dream – filled with goodies, brightness and merriment – but they also come with consequences and lessons to learn.

One of the bigger takeaways we got is the lesson of gratefulness. This takes place in the Land of Birthdays, where all your wishes come true. The younger children make theirs on an innocent whim while the pre-teen rebel’s wish comes from selfishness and malice. They soon regret their wishes because no one truly believes the grass is not greener until they’ve crossed the fence. The plus side of this is the adventurous quest they go on to undo the wish that finds them in the grasp of the villainous Dame Snap (Ferguson).

Like all family-friendly films, everything works out in the Thompson's favour in the end, with a surprising and heartwarming reunion that gives this story an earned full circle moment. The film closes like a warm hug that’ll leave you walking out of the cinema feeling emboldened.

Anyone with a soft spot for the indelible British charm will eat this up like a hearty serving of spaghetti bolognese – a reference you’ll get if you see The Magic Faraway Tree at the cinemas now!
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