The Witch (2016)
Kernel Score: 77% · 7,532 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Drama
Released: 2016-02-19
Runtime: 92 minutes
Is The Witch worth watching?
Depends on your taste. A slow, chilling folk-horror about a Puritan family in the 1630s. The atmosphere and period detail are excellent, but it's quiet, grim and light on jump scares.
Watch it if you
- like slow-burn, atmospheric horror
- enjoy period settings
- want ambiguity about what's real
Skip it if you
- want jump scares and action
- dislike old-style dialogue
Best for: Dark, quiet night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Witch
- Stream: Prime Video
- Free with ads: Plex
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
In 1630, a farmer relocates his family to a remote plot of land on the edge of a forest where strange, unsettling things happen. With suspicion and paranoia mounting, each family member's faith, loyalty and love are tested in shocking ways.
The Witch parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that The Witch is an R-rated horror film with witchcraft, possession, and disturbing imagery.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — The film contains disturbing horror imagery involving possession, black magic, and a family's paranoia and unraveling.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Some — The story includes an older-woman-seduces-younger-guy dynamic tied to dark supernatural themes.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Witch
If you liked The Witch, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Lighthouse (2019) — 86%: Same director, claustrophobic and strange.
- The Northman (2022) — 79%: Same director, brutal Viking revenge epic.
- Rosemary's Baby (1968) — 88%: Slow-building terror about a family and a hidden evil.
- The Others (2001) — 84%: Atmospheric haunting built on dread.
- When Evil Lurks (2023) — 78%: Rural horror with a nasty tone.
- Weapons (2025) — 83%: Modern mystery horror with a creeping dread.
Director
Cast
- Anya Taylor-Joy as Thomasin
- Ralph Ineson as William
- Kate Dickie as Katherine
- Harvey Scrimshaw as Caleb
- Ellie Grainger as Mercy
- Lucas Dawson as Jonas
- Julian Richings as Governor
- Bathsheba Garnett as The Witch
- Sarah Stephens as The Witch, Young
- Daniel Malik as Black Phillip (voice)
The Witch FAQ
Is The Witch worth watching?
Depends on your taste. A slow, chilling folk-horror about a Puritan family in the 1630s. The atmosphere and period detail are excellent, but it's quiet, grim and light on jump scares.
Where can I watch The Witch?
In the US you can stream The Witch on Prime Video, watch it free with ads on Plex and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Witch OK for kids?
The Witch is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that The Witch is an R-rated horror film with witchcraft, possession, and disturbing imagery.
What movies are like The Witch?
If you liked The Witch, try The Lighthouse, The Northman, Rosemary's Baby and The Others.