Roald Dahl’s books have captivated the hearts of children and adults for generations. His imaginative stories have inspired many popular films.
You may not even know that some of your favorite movies came from Dahl’s stories. Dahl’s live-action and animated films include the popular Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
These six films are inspired by the characters and plots written by British author Dahl.
Roald Dahl wrote many books that were made into popular movies. (Ronald Dumont/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
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1. “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”
The book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” was published in 1964. The book, in which a chocolatier named Willy Wonka invites children to his mysterious factory, was made into a movie shortly after the book was published.
The first film based on the story, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, was released in 1971 and starred actor and comedian Gene Wilder as the chocolatier.
A second film based on Dahl’s book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, was released in 2005. This time, Golden Globe winner Johnny Depp has joined the role.
Many people debate the topic of who played Wonka best: Gene Wilder (pictured) or Johnny Depp. (Gil Screen Collection)
In 2023, “Wonka” will be released starring American and French actor Timothée Chalamet. The film is inspired by the Wonka character created by Dahl, but tells a unique story unlike any other film or book it is based on. The film acts as a prequel to the original story, diving into the backstory of how Wonka came to be.
Take a look at the three Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movies made since Roald Dahl’s 1964 book
2. “James and the Giant Peach”
The movie “James and the Giant Peach” was released in 1996 and is based on a book written by Dahl in 1961.
The Disney version of this story was directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton and Dennis Di Novi.
This story is about a young orphan who lives with his two terrible aunts. James befriends a new insect friend who lives inside a giant peach and embarks on a new adventure. The film was a success and won the Academy Award for Best Musical Score, Best Musical Score or Best Comedy Score.
3. “Matilda”
The magical story of “Matilda” is about a highly intelligent young girl who discovers that she has the power to make things happen with her mind.
Matilda was published in 1988 and the movie was released in 1996. The cast included Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Mara Wilson, and more.
In 2010, the story was made into a musical, which was performed for the first time in the UK. The show opened on Broadway in 2013. The film adaptation of this musical was released in his 2022 year.
Danny DeVito directed and starred in the 1996 film Matilda. (Getty Images)
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4. “BFG”
In “The BFG,” a young orphan named Sophie is plucked from her bed in the middle of the night by a giant. She only knew that the creature was a human eater, but she soon realized that this giant was different from other giants. This special creature is a friendly giant.
The book was published in 1982, and in 2016, director Steven Spielberg directed a Disney film adaptation titled “The BFG.” Mark Rylance played the Giant and Ruby Barnhill played Sophie.
The BFG stars Mark Rylance as the Giant and Ruby Barnhill as Sophie. (Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
5. “Fantastic Mr. Fox”
Fantastic Mr. Fox was published in 1970 and made into an animated film in 2009.
The film includes a star-studded cast, with George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, and Willem Dafoe all voicing characters in the film.
The picture was nominated for two Oscars. The music written for the film, the original score, and the crowning achievement of this year’s best animated film.
6. “Witches”
The Witches is a 1983 novel by Dahl. Although this dark fantasy story is made for children, young children may be scared of this story. Suitable for late elementary school to early middle school students.
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To date, two movies have been made based on this book. The first one was released in 1990, and the second in 2020.
In the first version, Anjelica Huston played the Grand High Witch. Other actors in the 1990 film include Mai Zetterling, Jacen Fisher, Rowan Atkinson, Bill Patterson, and Brenda Blethyn.
The latest version stars Anne Hathaway as the Grand High Witch. The 2020 film’s cast also includes Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci, and Chris Rock.
