Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
An eccentric inventor and two children embark on a fantastical journey in a magical car that can transform into a boat and fly.
The story
In 1910s rural England, two young children, Jemima and Jeremy, become attached to a discarded champion racecar. They convince their father, an eccentric inventor named Caractacus Potts, to save it from being scrapped. To fund the restoration, Caractacus attempts to sell various inventions, eventually rebuilding the car and naming it 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' after its unique engine sounds. During a picnic with a wealthy woman named Truly Scrumptious, the group discovers the car's magical capabilities. The story then shifts into a fantastical tale where the car transforms into a boat and eventually takes flight, leading the group on an adventure to the land of Vulgaria.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1910s rural England, Caractacus Potts, an eccentric inventor, and his two children, Jemima and Jeremy, find a discarded racecar. After Caractacus rebuilds it and names it 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', they go on a picnic with Truly Scrumptious. The narrative then transitions into a fantasy tale where the car transforms into a boat to escape Baron Bomburst of Vulgaria. During the adventure, the group travels to Vulgaria via a flying car. They encounter a Toymaker who hides them from the Baron's soldiers and the Child Catcher. The children are briefly captured but are rescued during a grand ball where the group disguises themselves as dolls. After defeating the Baron and his regime, the group returns to England. In the final scenes, it is revealed that Truly's father is actually Caractacus' friend, and the two lovers agree to marry as Chitty flies into the sky.
- First release year
- 1968
- Runtime (minutes)
- 145
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ken Hughes
- Writers
- Roald Dahl · screenplay; Ken Hughes · screenplay; Richard Maibaum · Additional dialogue
- Cast and characters
- Dick Van Dyke · Caractacus Potts; Sally Ann Howes · Truly Scrumptious; Lionel Jeffries · Grandpa Potts; Gert Fröbe · Baron Bomburst; Anna Quayle · Jemima; Benny Hill · Child Catcher; James Robertson Justice · Lord Scrumptious; Robert Helpmann · Toymaker; Heather Ripley · Jeremy; Adrian Hall · Valet
- Genres
- musical; fantasy; comedy
- Themes
- imagination; adventure
- Tone and mood
- whimsical; fantasy
- Premise and plot tags
- musical; fantasy; adventure; comedy
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1964 children's novel by Ian Fleming
- Content notes
- child
- Reception
- The film was a critical success and was one of the highest-grossing films in the US for 1969.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 70% · scale: percentage · review count: 30
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Original Song · nomination; Golden Globe Award · Best Original Song · nomination; Golden Globe Award · Best Original Score · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film's title song was nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award.; The original 'hero' car was purchased by Sir Peter Jackson in 2011.; The film's airship was a fully functional flying airship.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…