Finding a way to watch The Secret Garden 2020 feels a bit like digging through a literal overgrown garden. It arrived right when the world was shutting down, making its theatrical run almost nonexistent in most territories. Most of us just caught it on VOD or Sky Cinema. Honestly? It got a bit of a bad rap from purists who grew up on the 1993 version. But if you're looking for a visually lush, slightly trippy take on Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic, this version directed by Marc Munden is actually worth your afternoon.
It’s different.
Really different.
Mary Lennox is still the "sour-faced" orphan we know, but Dixie Egerickx plays her with a frantic, imaginative energy that feels more modern. When she’s sent from India to the Yorkshire Moors to live with her uncle Archibald Craven (played by a very brooding Colin Firth), the movie leans hard into the "ghost story" vibes. It’s not just about a garden; it’s about trauma.
The Magical Realism vs. Reality Debate
One of the biggest hurdles for people who want to watch The Secret Garden 2020 is the CGI. The 1993 Agnieszka Holland version relied on practical effects—real flowers blooming, real birds, real dirt. Munden decided to go the opposite way. In this 2020 adaptation, the garden is a sentient, shifting landscape. The plants grow in real-time. The scale is massive.
Some critics, like Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian, felt this took away from the grounded reality of the book. I see it differently. The garden in this film is a manifestation of Mary’s internal state. It’s messy. It’s overwhelming. It’s huge because her grief is huge.
If you're expecting a small, walled-in plot of land with some roses, you’re going to be confused. This garden has giant ferns that look like they belong in the Jurassic period and sweeping vistas that definitely aren't in Yorkshire. It’s basically a fever dream.
Why the 1947 Setting Matters
Most versions of this story are set in the Edwardian era, roughly around 1910. This film moves the timeline to 1947, just after World War II.
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This change isn't just for aesthetics.
By placing Mary in the context of the Partition of India and the aftermath of a global war, her isolation feels more earned. Misselthwaite Manor isn't just a big house; it’s a decaying relic of a world that just ended. You see it in the wallpaper, the peeling paint, and the way Colin Firth carries himself. He’s not just a grieving husband; he’s a man broken by the weight of an era that's disappearing.
Where to Stream and Watch The Secret Garden 2020 Right Now
Depending on where you are sitting, finding this movie is a bit of a moving target.
In the United States, it’s been a staple on Hulu for a while, though streaming rights shift like the wind. You can almost always find it for digital rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. If you are in the UK, it’s a Sky Cinema original, meaning it lives on the Sky Go app or NOW.
If you’re a physical media collector, the Blu-ray is actually the best way to see it. The cinematography by Lol Crawley is stunning. He uses a lot of natural light for the interior scenes, making the house feel oppressive and dark, which contrasts wildly with the saturated, almost neon colors of the garden. On a standard compressed stream, you lose some of that "pop."
The Cast: Firth, Walters, and Newcomers
Colin Firth is Archibald Craven. This is a bit of a "full circle" moment because Firth actually played the adult Colin Craven in the 1987 TV movie version of The Secret Garden. Talk about a meta-casting choice. He brings a quiet, stilted sadness to the role that avoids being a caricature of a "grumpy uncle."
Then there’s Julie Walters as Mrs. Medlock.
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If you’re expecting the stern, cold Medlock from the book, Walters might surprise you. She’s still strict, but there’s a flicker of exhaustion in her. She’s trying to keep a crumbling household together while the master of the house loses his mind.
The kids—Dixie Egerickx (Mary), Edan Hayhurst (Colin), and Amir Wilson (Dickon)—carry the bulk of the emotional weight. Amir Wilson, who many know from His Dark Materials, brings a grounded, earthy quality to Dickon that keeps the movie from floating away into total fantasy. He’s the anchor.
Common Misconceptions About This Version
- Is it a horror movie? No, but it’s moody. The "ghosts" are memories.
- Is it for kids? Yes, but younger children might find the dark hallways and the screaming (Colin has a lot of tantrums) a bit intense.
- Is it faithful to the book? In spirit, yes. In plot details, no. It takes massive liberties with the ending.
The Visual Language of Grief
The film spends a lot of time on Mary’s mother. In the book, the parents are mostly just gone—distant figures who died of cholera. Here, Mary finds letters and dresses. She imagines her mother in the garden.
It turns the "secret" into something more psychological. The garden is where the characters go to process the things they can’t say out loud. When the garden "heals," it’s not just magic; it’s the kids finally learning how to breathe again. This is why the 2020 version feels more like a drama than a simple fairy tale.
The color palette shifts throughout the film. It starts in a sickly, jaundiced yellow in India, moves to a cold, grey-blue in Yorkshire, and finally explodes into greens and golds once they spend time outside. It’s a very intentional visual journey.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Ending
People often complain that the ending of the 2020 movie is "too dramatic." Without spoiling the specifics, there’s a sequence involving a fire that isn't in the original text.
Purists hated this.
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However, from a screenwriting perspective, it provides a "ticking clock." It forces Archibald to confront his past in a literal way. Does it feel a bit "Hollywood"? Sure. But it also provides a climax that a story about three kids sitting in a garden looking at roses sometimes lacks for a modern audience.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Viewing
To really appreciate why you should watch The Secret Garden 2020, you have to stop comparing it to the 1993 film. That movie is a masterpiece of 90s gothic realism. This movie is a 21st-century exploration of magical realism.
- Check your sound settings. The sound design—the whispering wind, the rustle of leaves—is half the experience.
- Watch for the symbolism. Notice how the house gets brighter as the garden gets healthier.
- Pay attention to the dog. The dog is essentially the guide through the narrative, and honestly, he deserves an Oscar.
If you are looking for a cozy, comforting watch, this might be a little "sharper" than you expect. But if you want a movie that looks like a painting and deals with the messy reality of losing your family, it’s a solid pick.
Actionable Steps for Your Movie Night
If you're planning to watch The Secret Garden 2020 this weekend, start by checking your local streaming availability through a service like JustWatch. It will tell you exactly which platform has it for free versus a rental fee in your specific region.
Pair the movie with a read-through of the original 1911 novel if you haven't touched it since childhood. Seeing the 1947 setting of the film against the 1910 setting of the book highlights exactly how much the director was trying to comment on the "death of the old world."
Finally, if you have kids watching with you, use the film's focus on Mary's imagination as a jumping-off point. The movie explicitly ties her "storytelling" to her survival. It’s a great way to talk about how we use art and stories to get through hard times—something we can all relate to after the last few years.
Make sure to watch through the credits. The music by Dario Marianelli is haunting and beautiful, providing the perfect "come down" from the visual feast you just witnessed. It's one of those rare scores that feels like it’s growing out of the ground itself.
Enjoy the journey into Misselthwaite. It's dark, it's strange, and it's surprisingly hopeful.