SummaryIn a small American town, a diabolical circus and its demonic proprietor prey on the townsfolk.
Directed By:Jack Clayton
Written By:Ray Bradbury
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Metascore
Generally Favorable
68
User score
Generally Favorable
6.8
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
77% Positive
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
23% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
88
In its descriptions of autumn days, in its heartfelt conversations between a father and a son, in the unabashed romanticism of its evil carnival and even in the perfect rhythm of its title, this is a horror movie with elegance.v
80
It's a reminder of when kids movies were about more than farts and wise-cracking animals, and its visuals retain their power to unsettle and unnerve.
75
After all the free advertising Ray Bradbury had given Walt Disney over the years, the Disney studio finally returned the compliment in 1983 by letting him write his own adaptation of his fantasy novel and giving his script a polished, respectful treatment, including tasteful direction by Jack Clayton.
70
One of the more sophisticated of Disney's early '80s offerings; the direction by Jack Clayton ("The Innocents") is high-style, convulsively screamy. [16 Jun 1993, p.F8]
63
Director Jack Clayton's gloomy adaptation of Ray Bradbury's short story was an odd choice for Disney in its straighter-arrow days, and the film flopped even after several scenes were reshot long after principal photography was completed. Yet this odd horror-Americana mix about a supernatural traveling carnival has a cult, plus two aptly cast antagonist leads in Jason Robards and Jonathan Pryce. [04 Oct 1996]
50
The talents of the wonderful Jonathan Pryce are wasted in this poor adaptation of Ray Bradbury's tale of fantasy and the supernatural.
40
Ultimately, though, it's an uneasy blend of horror and whimsy, with the allegory being hammered a little too hard for comfort. It's also marred by some dreadfully tacky special effects and set designs.
User score
Generally Favorable
50% Positive
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
50% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Oct 5, 2025
6
Well produced (for the time) family friendly horror features a talented cast and a suite of visual effects to tell its story. Its interesting as I feel the foundations of "are you afraid of the dark" in here particularly in part due to the supernatural mood and family friendly vfx and dialogue. Its far from perfect though with many stilted lines of dialogue and lackluster cinematography. The pacing and editing however is impressive.
Production Company:
- Walt Disney Productions
- Bryna Productions
Release Date:Apr 29, 1983
Duration:1 h 35 m
Rating:PG
Tagline:After he fulfills your deepest, lifelong dream...he'll tell you the price you have to pay.
Awards
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 2 Wins & 7 Nominations
Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
Hugo Awards
• 1 Nomination
