Black Beauty

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Black Beauty

G

Released Jul 29, 1994

1h 25m

Kids & Family

Adventure

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

19 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Like the Anna Sewell novel that inspired it, this film adaptation is told from the perspective of a majestic stallion named Black Beauty (Alan Cumming). As a colt, Black Beauty has a relaxed life in the English countryside, owned by the kindly farmer Grey (Sean Bean). However, later in life, he is forced to work as a taxi horse in London. As an aged horse, Black Beauty finds himself in the care of loving owners again, but only after a series of thrilling hardships and triumphs.

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Jonathan Romney

Guardian

There's so much joyous frisking that it looks like an extended ad for Lloyds Bank.

Mar 2, 2024

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Geoff Brown

The Times (UK)

This is a gloomy film, briefly enlivened by salty acting, but difficult to warm to, unless you are a horse.

Mar 1, 2024

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Variety Staff

Variety

Although already filmed three times in the sound era, Black Beauty has never been put onscreen faithfully or well, a situation partially remedied by this affecting, rather grave rendition of the children's perennial.

Mar 26, 2009

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Philip French

Observer (UK)

It's not exactly on a par with Bresson's Au Hasard Balthazar, but it will have the kids in tears.

Mar 1, 2024

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Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

The film's episodic nature may work against sustained involvement, but it shows us Black Beauty's nomadic existence.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 1, 2022

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Randy White

Common Sense Media

A harrowing and Beauty-ful version of the book.

Rated: 5/5

Jan 2, 2011

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Cosmic Soul S

Honestly one of the best horse films out there, I've watched the various TV series, read the book(s). This remains one of my favorite adaptations to this day.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/14/25

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Audience Member

Featuring humor, action & enough heart to entertain all ages admitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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Audience Member

Best horse movie ever!! Not only do they follow true horsemanship but it is wonderfully well written with emotional scenes through the whole movie! A great depiction of a horses life through multiple owners.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/27/20

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steve d

Nothing new brought to the story.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

I loved the movie, there's no bad things.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

based on the book by Anna Sewell it's another horse movie but actually told from the perspective of the animal its inner voice is by Alan Cumming but the other recognizable talents include Sean Bean and David Thewlis; taking place in the 1870's in rural England as Beauty grows up from a young colt into a fine stallion going from place to place and owner to owner there are ups and downs but eventually he finds peace and happyness with some new owners it's almost along the lines of 'Horse Whisperer' and 'Black Stallion' but rarely do we get a film about what the horse itself goes through we don't get to choose the people in our lives, it's all about chance, its good people that make good places, people aren't thoughtless just to horses they're also cruel to each other for this horse life isn't easy when you're forced to be fancy and be proper and prance around like a sideshow attraction and at any point they can be broken Wonderful movie about seeing through the eyes of a horse. Alan Cumming does an amazing job narrating. The music is sweeping and the animals are very majestic. Sad at times but for a horse or person it's all worth it finding the beauty in life.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Caroline Thompson

Director

Sean Bean

Farmer Grey

David Thewlis

Jerry Barker

Jim Carter

John Manly

Peter Davison

Squire Gordon

Alun Armstrong

Reuben Smith

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Synopsis

Like the Anna Sewell novel that inspired it, this film adaptation is told from the perspective of a majestic stallion named Black Beauty (Alan Cumming). As a colt, Black Beauty has a relaxed life in the English countryside, owned by the kindly farmer Grey (Sean Bean). However, later in life, he is forced to work as a taxi horse in London. As an aged horse, Black Beauty finds himself in the care of loving owners again, but only after a series of thrilling hardships and triumphs.

Director: Caroline Thompson
Producer: Peter Macgregor-Scott, Robert Shapiro
Screenwriter: Caroline Thompson
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Brothers
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Adventure, Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 29, 1994, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.2M
Runtime: 1h 25m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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