Race to Witch Mountain

Race to Witch Mountain has built a real following in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Dwayne Johnson leads a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. Put it on tonight on Disney Plus and see for yourself.

Race to Witch Mountain arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry Race to Witch Mountain through its more ambitious moments. A taxi driver gets more than he bargained for when he picks up two teen runaways. Not only does the pair possess supernatural powers, but they're also trying desperately to escape people who have made them their targets. The human element stays intact thanks to Dwayne Johnson and AnnaSophia Robb, who anchor every scene. It hit screens in 2009. Race to Witch Mountain resists the temptation to explain everything, trusting the audience to sit with ambiguity. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Race to Witch Mountain is satisfying on multiple levels — something to watch and something to think about after. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Dwayne Johnson grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Once you are in, you will want to talk about it.