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Sleeping Beauty

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Sleeping Beauty

G

Released Jan 29, 1959

1h 15m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

48 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Filled with jealousy, the evil witch Maleficent (Eleanor Audley) curses Princess Aurora (Mary Costa) to die on her 16th birthday. Thanks to Aurora's guardian fairies (Verna Felton, Barbara Jo Allen, Barbara Luddy), she only falls into a deep sleep that can be ended with a kiss from her betrothed, Prince Phillip (Bill Shirley). To prevent Phillip from rescuing Aurora, Maleficent kidnaps and imprisons him. The good fairies are the last hope to free Phillip so that he can awaken Aurora.

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Critics Consensus

This Disney dreamscape contains moments of grandeur, with its lush colors, magical air, one of the most menacing villains in the Disney canon.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Sleeping Beauty is a masterpiece. In my opinion, it’s not just the best animated film to ever come out of Walt Disney Studios, but it is also the finest animated motion picture I’ve ever seen, period.

Rated: 4/4

Feb 22, 2024

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Kate Cameron

New York Daily News

It is a picture that will charm the young and tickle adults, since the old fairy tale has been transferred to the screen by a Disney who kept his tongue in his cheek throughout the film's animation.

Rated: 4/4

Jan 28, 2016

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Noel Murray

The Dissolve

At once modernist and classical, Disney's Sleeping Beauty takes characters who look like paper cutouts from magazine cartoons and sets them against backdrops that look like expensive wallpaper patterns.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 6, 2014

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Carson Timar

ButteredPopcorn

Often wide in scope with lovely shot composition and cinematography, Sleeping Beauty is at times a truly artistic endeavor.

Jan 1, 2024

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Eve Tushnet

Patheos

Maleficent is a ferocious creation...

Jul 23, 2021

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Bob Halliday

Salt Lake Tribune

Sleeping Beauty is romance and pageantry, humor and pathos. It's excitement and conflict, magic and counter-magic. It's fun.

May 12, 2021

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Nicholas B

Sleeping Beauty is a fantastic 4.5-star animated classic that I truly admire. With its breathtaking animation, majestic storytelling, and unforgettable music, it delivers a visually stunning and enchanting experience. Princess Aurora’s tale, combined with the magnificent Maleficent and the iconic "Once Upon a Dream," makes it a timeless Disney masterpiece with a grand, fairy-tale charm.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/26/25

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Gareth D

All these years later and still extremely charming, with a very short sharp run-time. Great characters, fantastic animation and a very traditional fairytale storyline. Love the fairy godmothers.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/20/25

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Phil H

While People who complain about the portrayal of female roles in early Disney movies are within their rights, they may overlook characters such as fairy godmothers , that were very nuanced and well written. Not my favourite Disney movie, but definitely worth a see

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/13/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Sleeping Beauty brings the audience and all people a stunning display of art, magic, charm, and true villainy from Maleficent and it's wonderful and iconic cast of characters.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/29/25

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Bobby B

Thus film is peak silver era. Its high budget shows and the prince actual kniws her before he kisses her nonconsensually. (Its still wrong)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/09/25

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Audience Member

The greatest animated movie of all time!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/08/25

Full Review

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Clyde Geronimi

Director

Mary Costa

Princess Aurora

Bill Shirley

Prince Phillip

Eleanor Audley

Maleficent

Verna Felton

Flora

Barbara Luddy

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Sleeping Beauty: Trailer 2

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Sleeping Beauty: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Filled with jealousy, the evil witch Maleficent (Eleanor Audley) curses Princess Aurora (Mary Costa) to die on her 16th birthday. Thanks to Aurora's guardian fairies (Verna Felton, Barbara Jo Allen, Barbara Luddy), she only falls into a deep sleep that can be ended with a kiss from her betrothed, Prince Phillip (Bill Shirley). To prevent Phillip from rescuing Aurora, Maleficent kidnaps and imprisons him. The good fairies are the last hope to free Phillip so that he can awaken Aurora.

Director: Clyde Geronimi
Producer: Walt Disney
Screenwriter: Charles Perrault, Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Winston Hibler, Bill Peet, Ted Sears, Ralph Wright, Milt Banta
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Walt Disney Pictures
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 29, 1959, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 24, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $11.6M
Runtime: 1h 15m
Sound Mix: Magnetic Stereo 6 Track

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