Disney's Wednesday Clone Currently Has A Higher RT Score Than Jenna Ortega's Series

Even though Jenna Ortega’s series is one of the biggest hits in Netflix history, Disney’s Wednesday knock-off has somehow managed to outdo the original show’s Rotten Tomatoes critical rating. While the Stranger Things franchise is still Netflix’s biggest hit ever, there are a handful of other shows that are vying for that title now that the sci-fi mystery series is over. Chief among them is the Jenna Ortega vehicle Wednesday.

A unique mix of mystery, fantasy, coming-of-age dramedy, and gothic horror, Wednesday sees director Tim Burton reimagine The Addams Family franchise from the perspective of Ortega’s titular deadpan daughter. While earlier screen versions of The Addams Family typically focused on the unique, unconventional character dynamics between the family members, Wednesday is instead a character study that largely drops the rest of the Addams clan to transplant its title character into a magic school, Nevermore Academy.

There, Wednesday must contend with monster attacks, a shadowy historical conspiracy, and the incompatible personality of her relentlessly upbeat roommate Enid. Throughout season 1, Wednesday learns some uncomfortable truths about her family and herself, while season 2 sees her save Nevermore Academy’s students from peril once more. The astronomical popularity of Wednesday inevitably led to an attempt by Disney to co-opt the show’s basic setup, but the resulting show, Coven Academy, managed to outdo Wednesday’s Rotten Tomatoes critical rating for the time being.

Why Coven Academy's Rotten Tomatoes Score Is High

Set in a magic school populated by teenage witches and warlocks who navigate first crushes and social struggles while also uncovering dark secrets about their school, Coven Academy is a pretty straightforward Wednesday dupe. To be fair to the show, Wednesday shares plenty of similarities with the earlier magic school teen drama Legacies, which was itself a spinoff from the darker, more mature CW shows The Vampire Diaries and The Originals.

However, Coven Academy's similarities to Wednesday clearly haven’t hurt its critical reception, with season 1 of the series boasting a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes as of Wednesday, October 7, 2026. It is worth noting that the series has a limited number of reviews compared to Wednesday, but a flawless 100% ratings remains undeniably impressive. Given that Coven Academy is basically a Disneyfied version of Wednesday, the score is almost a shock.

Variety called Coven Academy “intriguing and heartfelt,” while Decider dubbed the series “fun and interesting.” ScreenRant’s season 1 review said Coven Academy’s teenage friendships were the most compelling part of the show’s story, which could explain why the series outdid Wednesday season 2’s 87% critical rating. For many fans online, season 2’s decision to spread its focus across the Addams Family, which ironically brought it closer to earlier adaptations of the iconic comic, lead to a cluttered, overstuffed outing that lacked cohesion and direction.

Coven Academy Is Closer To Wednesday Than You'd Expect From Disney

Since the unlikely friendship that emerged between Enid and Wednesday was a big part of what made Wednesday season 1 a success, it makes sense that season 2 viewers were annoyed to see the show spreading its focus to the Addams Family instead of revisiting this unique bond. Thus, the fact that Coven Academy doesn’t dismiss its teenage friendships so swiftly in the Disney show’s first outing could create a flattering contrast with Wednesday season 2.

There’s also the matter of the show’s unexpected depth and darkness, which also play a role in Coven Academy’s positive critical rating. The series is not as twee as Disney shows usually are, and avoids the live-action cartoon tone of many sitcoms created by the entertainment giant. With a tone that skews closer to Wednesday than, for example, the Wizards of Waverly Place revival, Coven Academy's success might not be so surprising for viewers who give the series a shot.