Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Cinderella

Play trailer 1:06 Poster for Cinderella PG Released Mar 13, 2015 1h 45m Kids & Family Fantasy Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
84% Tomatometer 257 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
After her father unexpectedly dies, young Ella (Lily James) finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and stepsisters, who reduce her to scullery maid. Despite her circumstances, she refuses to despair. An invitation to a palace ball gives Ella hope that she might reunite with the dashing stranger (Richard Madden) she met in the woods, but her stepmother prevents her from going. Help arrives in the form of a kindly beggar woman who has a magic touch for ordinary things.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Cinderella

Cinderella

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Refreshingly traditional in a revisionist era, Kenneth Branagh's Cinderella proves Disney hasn't lost any of its old-fashioned magic.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (257) Critics Reviews
Jason Bailey Flavorwire It's such a rote recitation of a story we've heard a thousand times that it's hard to imagine why on earth they're telling it to us again. May 28, 2016 Full Review Emily St. James Vox A good story can cover up all manner of sins. But that ball gown is indicative of the film's whole approach - covering a thin, needlessly bloated story with beautiful surfaces. Rated: 2/5 Dec 17, 2015 Full Review Chris Stuckmann ChrisStuckmann.com If the young girl who sat in front of me is to speak for children everywhere, they are going to adore this film. Rated: B Apr 17, 2015 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review There are moments of CGI animal nonsense that seem to exist completely separate from the live-action beauty Branagh has created, and that awkward juxtaposition leaves the entire film feeling uneven, at times admirable, and at others condemnable. Rated: 2/4 Jun 21, 2022 Full Review Cory Woodroof For the Win (USA Today) Cinderella is the rare film on this list that might improve some aspects of the original film, if only because Cate Blanchett’s wicked stepmother is such a scene stealer. Feb 11, 2022 Full Review Therese Lacson Nerdophiles There really is no other word to describe this film other than enchanting. Rated: 4/5 Oct 9, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
Natalie H This movie is a very sweet retelling of the original Cinderella Disney movie but it also adds to the story in a way that feels natural, not like they just added a bunch of filler.I really enjoyed the score of the movie it adds a whimsical yet epic feeling to the film, particularly the score during the chase away from the ball it really elevated the scene. Additionally, the choice to repeat the music from the forest scene in part of the going to the ball sequence helped convey Ella’s excitement to see Kit again. In terms of the acting, I thought it was pretty good. The only exception would be the very godmother wasn't fitting with the rest of the film. She also wasn't really anything like the original fairy godmother but even with that I did like her narration that was done well. Lily James did a great job as Ella. She filled her with so much joy and kindness. She was strong in her resilience and optimism though it would have been nice to see her fight for her freedom at the end instead of passively looking out the window. The decision to introduce herself to the prince as Cinderella at the end was also not really making sense to me in the context of the movie. I understand that's the title, but it was coined as an insult to her but those are really my only gripes with the character. The stepmother's performance was also wonderful. Her voice alone was chilling and cruel and really gave off the essence of a true villain. I appreciate the decision to give Lady Tremaine a bit more of an intro that gives us a little more insight into her character, but also doesn't justify any of her actions. She is still malicious and abusive and they don't try to redeem her., but we do get to see a little bit more maybe why she is the way she is. This adaptation really feels true to the original animation because it maintains the wonderful,beautiful elements of the original, and just adds to it and builds upon it. There are so many little details I really appreciate like the use of florals and butterflies throughout, the fact she has a braid along the back of her head as a child then at the ball she has a crown like braid,and when they reunite Ella and the prince are wearing the same clothes as when they first met. The costumes are also stunning of course Cinderella has the ball gown. It's breathtaking and looks like watercolor. Then also the stepmother has some very dramatic looks that really accentuate her dramatic personality. She also frequently sports veils when she is trying to hide her true nature like when she first meets Cinderella and with the duke. The beginning of the film has very bright and vibrant visuals that really convey the sense of life and the happy childhood that Ella had and often this film looks straight out of a painting in my opinion. The way the ball was shot was very well executed because it feels very intimate like it's kind of just about Ella and the prince. I agree with the majority of the changes that were made for the film, like giving Cinderella more of a backstory really helps endear her to the audience and the message from her mother really guides the whole story. Adding the forest scene and just generally giving them more screen time to connect was a very smart decision and it really pays off because the actors have good chemistry.Cutting most of the mice segments was also a choice that I agree with since in the original film it felt like there was a lot of filler where the mice were just running around doing stuff that kind of took away from the main storyline. It was also sweet to add more of a relationship between the king and the prince. The choice to cut all of the songs I wasn't a huge fan of I think they could've at least kept one instead of the random lullaby. I understand why it isn't a complete musical and I think that's fine none of the songs from Cinderella really stand out. But it would've been nice had one or two been left in or incorporated into the score more. Making the Duke evil isn't a decision I completely agree with. It doesn't feel the most necessary, but it does serve the plot and it doesn't really take away from anything. This is definitely my favorite Disney remake. I think it keeps the essence of the original, but also adds and is an enjoyable film on its own and definitely worth a watch. I would recommend it. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/18/24 Full Review Indigo O Honestly loved this movie even more than the original! I think it is the only Disney live-action remake that not only lives up to the original, but improves it by adding more motivations and backstories to the characters. The prince in this movie is such a good character, whereas in the first movie he was very one-dimensional... I also love the addition and meaning behind the Lavender song. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/31/24 Full Review Aish P As a girl who watched the original as a child i feel like this live action managed to capture the Disney magic... So while some may not like this movie as it isn't the movie type of movie they like If you like the old disney movies, feelgood with lots of magic and beautiful, enchanting cinematography then i would definitely watch it in my opinion its the best live action fairytale movie In my teen girl recommendation its the BEST Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/20/24 Full Review SkyRo P The live-action version of "Cinderella" created by Walt Disney in 2015, starring Lily James as Cinderella and Helena Bonham Carter as the fairy godmother, offered a fresh take on the classic fairy tale. While some viewers found Carter's portrayal of the fairy godmother to be cringe-worthy and eccentric, her unique style as a character actress was appreciated for its creativity and depth. However, the character itself may not have resonated with all audiences due to its unconventional presentation. Overall, the film successfully captured the essence of Cinderella's story and effectively showcased Lily James' portrayal of the iconic character. The narrative delved deeper into Cinderella's background, providing insight into her mother and adding layers to the storyline beyond the typical tragic elements of her parents' deaths. This approach allowed for a more nuanced exploration of the characters and their motivations, moving beyond a simple retelling of the animated classic. While the film was well-received, one notable criticism was directed towards the styling choices, particularly Cinderella's eyebrows. Some viewers found the heavy and dark eyebrows to be distracting and out of place, detracting from the character's overall appearance and iconic status as a Disney princess. This stylistic choice, while unconventional, created a unique visual aspect that may have divided opinions among audiences. In conclusion, the 2015 live-action adaptation of "Cinderella" successfully reimagined the beloved fairy tale with a fresh perspective and nuanced character development. Despite some stylistic choices that garnered mixed reactions, the film effectively brought the timeless story to life while offering a deeper exploration of its characters and themes. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/18/24 Full Review Wyatt E Out of all the Disney live action remakes, this is the best one, and probably will be the only good one. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/15/24 Full Review Lucas E Uns dos melhores live ections da Disney Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/12/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Cinderella

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Penelope 53% 73% Penelope Watchlist Beauty and the Beast 71% 80% Beauty and the Beast Watchlist TRAILER for Beauty and the Beast Ella Enchanted 51% 57% Ella Enchanted Watchlist The Little Mermaid 66% 94% The Little Mermaid Watchlist TRAILER for The Little Mermaid Slumberland 40% 86% Slumberland Watchlist TRAILER for Slumberland Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis After her father unexpectedly dies, young Ella (Lily James) finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and stepsisters, who reduce her to scullery maid. Despite her circumstances, she refuses to despair. An invitation to a palace ball gives Ella hope that she might reunite with the dashing stranger (Richard Madden) she met in the woods, but her stepmother prevents her from going. Help arrives in the form of a kindly beggar woman who has a magic touch for ordinary things.
Director
Kenneth Branagh
Producer
Simon Kinberg, Allison Shearmur, David Barron
Screenwriter
Chris Weitz
Distributor
Walt Disney
Production Co
Allison Shearmur, Kinberg Genre, Beaglepug
Rating
PG (Mild Thematic Elements)
Genre
Kids & Family, Fantasy, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 13, 2015, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 15, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$201.2M
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
Most Popular at Home Now