The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar

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1:05

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar

PG

2023

39m

Comedy

Adventure

Short

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

98 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar: A rich man learns about a guru who can see without using his eyes. He sets out to master the skill in order to cheat at gambling. Extremely faithfully adapted from Roald Dahl’s long short story.

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Critics Consensus

With The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, Wes Anderson returns to the world of Roald Dahl -- and proves his distinctive style is a comfortable fit for one of the author's sweetest stories.

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Audience Says

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar proves Wes Anderson still has what it takes to adapt Roald Dahl, although the concept might be unsatisfying for some.

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Sophie Gilbert

The Atlantic

It’s thrilling to be distracted by really good storytelling. But it’s more thrilling to be provoked, or even altered by it.

Oct 16, 2023

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Christy Lemire

Breakfast All Day

I think this is the just the right bite-size amount of Wes Anderson... I kind of feel like shorts are an excellent use of his his style [and] his voice.

Oct 14, 2023

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Ty Burr

Ty Burr's Watch List (Substack)

Anderson seems to have perfected the art of simultaneously showing and telling – a tinkertoy approach to cinema that can pall over the length of a feature but plays with delightful brio in a short.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 13, 2023

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Sarah Ward

Concrete Playground

Watch all four at once and you've got a new Anderson-directed, Dahl-inspired feature-length anthology, plus pure, quintessential, gorgeous and thoughtful Anderson gold.

Oct 16, 2025

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Cody Allen

Geek Vibes Nation

In a mere 39-minute journey, this cinematic gem delved into human potential, the allure of change, and the boundless magic inherent in a benevolent heart.

Rated: 8/10

Jul 25, 2025

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Zach Youngs

InSession Film

The stories themselves are fascinating...

Rated: B

Jul 3, 2024

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Movie F.

Loved this movie! Short and funny. Great writing and acting.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/26/25

Full Review

Aluna U

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, adapted from Roald Dahl’s 1977 short story, presents a simple yet layered narrative in a theatrical and visually striking way. Delivered like a grand stage play, the film blends storytelling and performance, offering multiple character perspectives through rich narration and stylized set designs. Though its fast pacing may challenge non-native English speakers, the film remains engaging, with well-developed characters and a compelling internal conflict at its core. Stunning visuals, sharp transitions, and dynamic acting make this a must-watch for fans of unique cinematic storytelling. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com) and (English version : uwiepuspita.com)

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/30/25

Full Review

Brendan M

I love Roald Dahl's stories and I detest Wes Anderson's films. But this is a rare exception. Very well realised and superbly cast. An interesting story brought to life perfectly. You can't escape the Anderson contrivance, but this aside it was very entertaining. Would recommend.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/27/25

Full Review

Guilherme M

Such an amazing way to tell a story, emotional, raw and creative. Didn't disapoint me. Oscar deserved. Once more i said.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/27/25

Full Review

Michael B.

MUST SEE! Wes Anderson's Oscar-winning short film "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar" is an adaptation of the Roald Dahl story. It follows a wealthy man who, after reading a doctor's report about an Indian guru with the ability to see without his eyes, sets out to master the skill in order to cheat at gambling, only to find a new, more meaningful purpose for his newfound power.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/23/25

Full Review

Tashfin A

A very cool and quirky take on storytelling with some great actors, and it’s interesting how short it was too, it weirdly felt like the perfect length, and the storytelling was very interesting as well like a story within a story within a story

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/13/25

Full Review

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Henry Sugar

Ralph Fiennes

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The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar: A rich man learns about a guru who can see without using his eyes. He sets out to master the skill in order to cheat at gambling. Extremely faithfully adapted from Roald Dahl’s long short story.

Director: Wes Anderson
Producer: Wes Anderson, Jeremy Dawson, Steven Rales
Screenwriter: Wes Anderson
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: American Empirical Pictures, Netflix Studios, Netflix
Rating: PG (Smoking)
Genre: Comedy, Adventure, Short
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 20, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 27, 2023
Runtime: 39m

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