Maleficent

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1:31

Maleficent

PG

2014

1h 38m

Fantasy

Adventure

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

54%

Tomatometer

273 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

As a beautiful young woman of pure heart, Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) has an idyllic life in a forest kingdom. When an invading army threatens the land, Maleficent rises up to become its fiercest protector. However, a terrible betrayal hardens her heart and twists her into a creature bent on revenge. She engages in an epic battle with the invading king's successor, then curses his newborn daughter, Aurora -- realizing only later that the child holds the key to peace in the kingdom.

Critics Consensus

Angelina Jolie's magnetic performance outshines Maleficent's dazzling special effects; unfortunately, the movie around them fails to justify all that impressive effort.

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Suzette Smith

Bitch Media

01/21/2021

As the sum of all its parts, Maleficent is a downright fun film.

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Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

12/14/2018

B-

Angelina Jolie is good in the film, and I do think kids will dig this movie.

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Philippa Hawker

The Age (Australia)

12/14/2018

3/5

It's a splendid-looking film. The effects are striking throughout, whether they are dramatic battle confrontations between humans and the forces of the natural world, or small moments of delicate detail.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

10/09/2022

It is a righteous revenge film, but with a feminist twist and a redemptive journey.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

08/15/2022

1/4

By the end, one cannot help but wish that Disney had left Maleficent a fascinating villain instead of a dull protagonist.

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Robert Sims

Lights Camera Austin

01/22/2022

This isn't Sleeping Beauty as seen through the eyes of the wickedest of Disney villains. Instead, it's a Mouse House live-action revisionist fairy tale that inexplicably transforms the malevolent Maleficent into a misunderstood anti-hero.

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Martin P

@Fullboat150 Apr 30

The best Disney live movie of all time and one of the best movies of all time. A gift to every type of person on this planet.

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Ruth M

@RT36231862 Apr 24

What a fantastic waste of CGI on making the Mistress Of Evil into a goodie. Literally What The Hell is wrong with people? I can sympathise with Cruella, because she is a human but not Maleficent because she is SO CLEARLY A DEMON. Just teach us to be kind to one another and animals like Auroras friends. Not demons. So why didn't Disney include Auroras animal friends, instead? They could've just simply remade Disneys Sleeping Beauty, and tchaikovsky's soundtrack into today's world. Why.. If I was director I would have suggested Aurora grows up in the glen cottage raised by the fairies but as she comes of age and her 16th birthday approaches, the curse gives her strange dreams which she doesn't tell them about. always finding that same mysterious spinning wheel, maybe even working on it, but in one of those dreams she meets Philip which explains the song Once Upon A Dream. In her long sleep, she has nightmares of maleficent tormenting her, but she and Philip defeat her in different ways.

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Rosie D.

@Rosieeeee Apr 12

Finally, a version of Sleeping Beauty that actually makes sense! Top-tier adaptation! Move away from the 'Prince Charming' trope and let Aurora and her true fairy godmother find their happy ending together. 😊 This is officially my headcanon now.

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Elias R.

@EliasReed25 Mar 17

The idea of this needing to exist is questionable, but this is an interesting reimagining of the old beloved Disney version of the story, giving a new perspective to the audience, and giving interesting character development to the beloved Disney villain, while questionable, is rather entertaining. Especially with a brilliant choice of casting (such as Angelina Jolie as Maleficent) and decent effects.

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kaylee k

@Kaylee387 Feb 4

Absolutely incredible. Amazing emotional, heartfelt movie. There was such high action points and it was so badass. It had moments that made me laugh and gasp. It was literally the most. Bestest story ever!

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Mickey B.

@Mickerdoo Jan 16

Dang, king was pretty rooted. No character growth for him. Jolie is striking and seems to fit the fantasy backdrop. Made the wrong enemy.

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Robert Stromberg

Director

Angelina Jolie

Maleficent

Elle Fanning

Aurora

Sharlto Copley

King Stefan

Lesley Manville

Flittle

Imelda Staunton

Knotgrass

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Maleficent: 'Dream' Trailer

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Maleficent: Teaser Trailer 1

1:25

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Synopsis

As a beautiful young woman of pure heart, Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) has an idyllic life in a forest kingdom. When an invading army threatens the land, Maleficent rises up to become its fiercest protector. However, a terrible betrayal hardens her heart and twists her into a creature bent on revenge. She engages in an epic battle with the invading king's successor, then curses his newborn daughter, Aurora -- realizing only later that the child holds the key to peace in the kingdom.

Director: Robert Stromberg
Producer: Joe Roth
Screenwriter: Linda Woolverton
Distributor: Walt Disney
Production Co: Walt Disney Pictures, Roth Films
Rating: PG (Sequences of Fantasy Action|Frightening Images|Sequences of Fantasy Violence)
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 30, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 4, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $241.4M
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos, Datasat
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)