A Simple Wish (1997): cast, story & where to watch
1997 · Film · ★ 5.5
Released in 1997, A Simple Wish is a comedy, fantasy, adventure and family film directed by Michael Ritchie, running about 86 minutes. “Anabel made a wish. Murray made a mess.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Murray is a male fairy godmother, and he is trying to help 8-year-old Anabel to fulfil her "simple wish" - that her father Oliver, who is a cab driver, would win the leading role in a Broadway musical. Unfortunately, Murray's magic wand is broken and the fairies convention is threatened by evil witches Claudia and Boots.
Who’s in it. A Simple Wish stars Martin Short as Murray, Kathleen Turner as Claudia, Mara Wilson as Anabel Greening and Robert Pastorelli as Oliver Greening, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.5/10, A Simple Wish has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $8.3M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch A Simple Wish page.
If you liked it. Fans of A Simple Wish tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch A Simple Wish (1997)?
- In US, A Simple Wish is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is A Simple Wish worth watching?
- A Simple Wish holds an audience score of 5.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, fantasy, adventure and family. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in A Simple Wish?
- A Simple Wish stars Martin Short, Kathleen Turner, Mara Wilson, Robert Pastorelli and Deborah Odell.
- When was A Simple Wish released?
- A Simple Wish was released in 1997, with a runtime of about 86 minutes.