Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- hectic
- sincere
- family movie night
- children’s weekend viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the family fantasy well-intentioned but bland, with weak humor, an underwritten magical lead, and too little emotional or imaginative spark.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Anabel’s simple wish that her father Oliver win a leading Broadway role initiates the magical adventure.
Murray is a male fairy godmother whose broken wand repeatedly undermines his attempts to help Anabel.
Oliver’s desired Broadway role and the film’s theater scenes provide the concrete setting for the wish’s fulfillment.
Anabel’s wish is directed toward improving her cab-driver father’s prospects rather than benefiting herself.
Films like A Simple Wish, and why
The Santa Clause
shared family fantasy premise, child-centered wish fulfillment, and comic magical mishaps
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
shared whimsical family adventure, supernatural helpers, and broad comedic tone
The Indian in the Cupboard
shared child protagonist, magical intervention, and warm wish-driven storytelling
Casper
shared family-friendly fantasy comedy and theatrical, eccentric visual imagination
Movie Details
- Director
- Michael Ritchie
- Release Date
- 1997-07-11
- Runtime
- 89 min
- Rating
- 5.5 / 10 (179)
Cast
- Martin Short
- Kathleen Turner
- Mara Wilson
- Robert Pastorelli
- Deborah Odell
- Francis Capra
- Ruby Dee
- Amanda Plummer
- Teri Garr
- Jonathan Hadary
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is A Simple Wish about?
- A young girl’s wish for her father’s Broadway breakthrough unleashes a chaotic fairy-tale adventure when her assigned godmother’s magic wand breaks.
- What is A Simple Wish like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of A Simple Wish as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is A Simple Wish violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in A Simple Wish.
- What did critics think of A Simple Wish?
- Critics broadly found the family fantasy well-intentioned but bland, with weak humor, an underwritten magical lead, and too little emotional or imaginative spark.
- Which films are like A Simple Wish?
- Films with a similar feel include The Santa Clause, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Indian in the Cupboard, and Casper.
- How long is A Simple Wish?
- A Simple Wish runs 89 minutes.
- Where can I watch A Simple Wish?
- In United States, A Simple Wish is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
