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The “Witch Mountain” film series holds a special place in the hearts of Generation X, who fondly remember watching these films in theaters, on VHS, or during Disney Channel reruns. Now, this nostalgic experience is available to a new audience on Disney+, featuring both the original “Escape to Witch Mountain” and its sequel, “Return from Witch Mountain.”
“Escape to Witch Mountain” introduces viewers to siblings Tia and Tony Malone, portrayed by Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann, respectively. These orphaned twins possess mysterious psychic abilities but remain unaware of their true parentage. The plot thickens when attorney Lucas Deranian, played by Donald Pleasence, arrives at their orphanage under the guise of being their uncle, while actually scheming with his boss, Aristotle Bolt, played by Ray Milland. As the twins discover Bolt’s true intentions, they flee with only Tia’s cat Winkie, and along the way, they encounter Jason O’Day, an embittered widower portrayed by Eddie Albert, who becomes crucial to their journey of self-discovery.
The story continues in the sequel, “Return to Witch Mountain,” where Tia and Tony find themselves ensnared in human intrigue as Letha Wedge, played by Bette Davis, seeks to exploit their powers for her own advantage. The franchise expanded with two made-for-TV movies: the 1982 sequel “Beyond Witch Mountain” and a 1995 remake. Eventually, Disney decided to reimagine the series with a contemporary theatrical release, bringing in a surprising new star to the beloved saga.
The movie was followed by a sequel, “Return to Witch Mountain,” in which Tia and Tony become further entangled in the world of human machinations when Letha Wedge (Bette Davis) tries to use their powers for her own desires. Two made-for-TV movies followed — the 1982 sequel “Beyond Witch Mountain” and a 1995 remake — before Disney gave the film a modern theatrical do-over featuring an unexpected star.
Disney tried to revive Witch Mountain as a franchise with … The Rock?
Disney
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson may not be who comes to mind when you think of the “Witch Mountain” series, but long before “Moana,” Disney attached him to the 2009 reboot, “Race to Witch Mountain.” In the film, Johnson plays Jack Bruno, a cab driver who finds himself in for a wild ride when he’s forced to take a fare from twin aliens Seth (Alexander Ludwig) and Sara (AnnaSophia Robb), whose spacecraft crashed and are now on the run from the government. Just as in the original, the twins are telekinetic and communicate via a mental link.
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.
