Maleficent

Name: Maleficent
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: May 30, 2014
Duration: 97 min
Rating: 56
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Brenton Thwaites, Elle Fanning, Imelda Staunton, India Eisley

2014

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 44 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 724 Ratings

See All

6.8

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.8	Your Score
6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 724 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Maleficent: Awkward Situation

Now Playing: Maleficent: Awkward Situation

Movie Details & Credits

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | Release Date: May 30, 2014 | PG

Starring: Angelina Jolie, Brenton Thwaites, Elle Fanning, Imelda Staunton, India Eisley, Juno Temple, Kenneth Cranham, Lesley Manville, Miranda Richardson, Peter Capaldi, Sam Riley, Sharlto Copley

Summary: Driven by revenge and a fierce desire to protect the moors over which she presides, Maleficent cruelly places an irrevocable curse upon the human king’s newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Aurora is caught in the middle of the seething conflict between the forest kingdom she has grown to love and the human kingdom that holds herDriven by revenge and a fierce desire to protect the moors over which she presides, Maleficent cruelly places an irrevocable curse upon the human king’s newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Aurora is caught in the middle of the seething conflict between the forest kingdom she has grown to love and the human kingdom that holds her legacy. Maleficent realizes that Aurora may hold the key to peace in the land and is forced to take drastic actions that will change both worlds forever.… Expand

Director: Robert Stromberg

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Romance, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 97 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Lawrence Toppman

May 29, 2014

Yet nothing in their visually stimulating film registers as strongly as Jolie’s enigmatic, ever-changing face. Read full review

Kate Taylor

May 29, 2014

In truth, you just can’t wait until the wicked Jolie returns to the screen. Whether a malevolent twinkle illuminates her beady eye or a heartbreaking tear rolls down her alabaster cheek, she is the film’s power. Read full review

Andrew O'Hehir

May 31, 2014

Whatever its flaws, Maleficent is a family-friendly Disney adventure that offers a relaunched and thoroughly delightful Angelina Jolie. Read full review

Joe Walsh

May 28, 2014

Despite its pitfalls, Maleficent entertains because of Jolie, who holds the wavering threads of Stromberg's spinning wheel together with aplomb. Read full review

Drew McWeeny

May 29, 2014

While I can see how there is a version of this film that might be able to successfully grapple with its central metaphor, I'm not sure Stromberg is the guy to make that movie. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

May 29, 2014

Jolie's performance so overshadows the rest of the cast (and the rest of the movie) that you sometimes feel as if the other characters are, like us, just standing around watching her. This is not, however, the fault of the other actors. It's the fault of screenwriter Linda Woolverton, who doesn't give them much to do that's challenging or interesting. Read full review

Richard Corliss

May 30, 2014

Except for Angelina Jolie, exemplary as the fairy badmother who laid a narcotic curse on an infant princess, this pricey live-action drama is a dismaying botch. Read full review

SEE ALL 44 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

DrChocolate

Jun 28, 2014

Fantastic film in every respect. Great twist on an old story: it's dark without being horrifying, and it's enchanting without being sappy or overly colourful. Good script, great actors, and a phenomenal performance by Jolie. Really reminded me of the old Hallmark Classics. Very entertainingFantastic film in every respect. Great twist on an old story: it's dark without being horrifying, and it's enchanting without being sappy or overly colourful. Good script, great actors, and a phenomenal performance by Jolie. Really reminded me of the old Hallmark Classics. Very entertaining and highly recommended.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Giovana

Jun 19, 2014

The film exceeded expectations in all, the story was very well written and in my opinion this version became greater than the original. The special effects were used well, the acting is mostly perfect in the role of Angelina Jolie, this is definitely one of the best Disney movies. ForgetThe film exceeded expectations in all, the story was very well written and in my opinion this version became greater than the original. The special effects were used well, the acting is mostly perfect in the role of Angelina Jolie, this is definitely one of the best Disney movies. Forget everything you know about Sleeping Beauty and start afresh. This movie teaches you the true backstory of sleeping beauty with lots of twists and awesome effects. Watching it in 3D is perfect.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

samnguyen

May 31, 2014

LOVE IT! I would definitely see it again. To the Top Critics: This is not American Hustle or The Wolf of Wall Street folks..THIS IS DISNEY. Treat it like a Disney movie. --- I thought they did a wonderful job recreating Maleficent! My whole family loved it.

20 of 42 users found this helpful2022

spongeswift

Mar 26, 2017

Maleficent was good... Yes it had some very big flaws but it was still an overall solid film. The story felt fresh and very unpredictable which gave the movie a dark feel even when it wasn't supposed to. Overall Disney fans will love this movie but regular movie goers will take it or leave it.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

kyle20ellis

Sep 9, 2020

This review contains spoilers. I think this film is okay. On the one hand, the performances are great, especially Jolie as Maleficent. The story starts out interesting and has a good first act and the third act is decent.
But the second act is where it fails. There are points in this filmThis review contains spoilers. I think this film is okay. On the one hand, the performances are great, especially Jolie as Maleficent. The story starts out interesting and has a good first act and the third act is decent.
But the second act is where it fails. There are points in this film where Maleficent could be evil, but instead she becomes the actual mother of Aurora because the 3 fairies are so irresponsible, annoying, and carress. So Maleficent is the hero. UGH! There's also suspense for when the fairies move baby Aurora into a new cottage. Maleficent immediately finds them, removing all suspense, and THE BABY IS LEFT OUTSIDE AND NEARLY DIES! WTF!
I hate the fairies in this. They are so irritating, they are so careless, they are awful at raising Aurora, they get into fights, and are useless.

I wish this film kept the first act, but had Maleficent do a bunch of evil things, like burn down the castle, causing Stefan to move (adding suspense to when Maleficent finds his castle after she is taken to his new castle in the third act), kill soldiers who try to attack her, and more.

About the part of Maleficent finding Aurora, I would rewrite it to a soldier sent to bring her back the day before her 16th birthday, and Maleficent finds him about to approach the cottage before she makes Diaval kill him. I think it would've been better.

So Maleficent is an ok film imo. I do find it better if you see how this leads into the sequel. As a standalone film, it needed some improvements, but as a film leading up to an epic sequel, it's better than I make it out to be.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

EpicLadySponge

Feb 3, 2016

Maleficent is Disney's first attempt at a movie that stars a villain to be the main role; --- correct me if I'm wrong --- however, there's almost no attempt to survive this long movie.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Jp117

Dec 11, 2019

Terrible.....................................................................

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

SEE ALL 175 REVIEWS

29	#29 Most Discussed Movie of 2014
46	#46 Most Shared Movie of 2014