The School for Good and Evil

Sophie ( Sophia Anne Caruso ) has always dreamed of becoming a radiant princess. When she found out that there was a separate school where good and bad fairy tale characters were taught, she was immediately hooked. Unfortunately, not only she but also her best friend Agatha ( Sofia Wylie ) is kidnapped there, although she doesn’t feel the slightest need to go to this school. And as if that weren’t complicated enough, Sophie ends up being placed at school with the bad guys led by Lady Leonora Lesso ( Charlize Theron ), while Agatha ends up with Prof. Clarissa Dovey ( Kerry Washington ), who leads the good guys. It is clear to both of them that the headmaster (Laurence Fishburne ) must have made a terrible mistake. But until that is clarified, it is time to continue…

It’s been more than ten years since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, one of the most successful film series of all time, came to an end. The eight parts, which were created between 2001 and 2011, brought in a total of 7.7 billion US dollars. It is clear that the studios still get shiny eyes at the thought of the windfall. Likewise, here and their attempts are made to build on these successes. The most well-known attempt is of course Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which started as a spin-off but later turned into a prequel of sorts. In addition, there are numerous series on streaming services, which deal with magically gifted young people or also play at special schools.

Nevertheless, the Netflix film The School for Good and Evil, which has been planned for many years, is a particularly brazen bow to the blockbuster. A remote boarding school is all about magic, where the students are divided into different houses at the beginning, which is very reminiscent of the original. However, it is not a pure copy. A bigger difference is that the protagonists are significantly older here, which has an impact on some of the themes dealt with. For example, love plays a role here from the start, while in Hogwarts it comes later. The coming-of-age elements, when it comes to determining one’s own life and self-discovery, are more pronounced as a result.

• The School for Good and Evil