Genie

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2:12

Genie

PG

2023

1h 32m

Holiday

Comedy

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

31%

Tomatometer

29 Reviews

61%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

After millennia of being summoned to grant wishes of gold doubloons and hot babes for greedy men, Flora is accidentally called to service by Bernard Bottle (Emmy nominee Paapa Essiedu; I May Destroy You), whose life is unraveling around him. Bernard's been so busy working that he has lost sight of his marriage to his wife Julie (Tony nominee Denée Benton; The Gilded Age) and the childhood of his young daughter, Eve (Jordyn Mcintosh; Emancipation). When Bernard misses Eve's birthday 12 days before Christmas because of work, Julie decides it's time for a trial separation. And then Bernard's tyrannical boss (Tony winner Alan Cumming; The Good Wife) fires him. Alone in his New York City apartment, a despondent Bernard dusts off a jewelry box he finds in their home and unintentionally releases the one entity who just might be able to help him get his family back. Maybe. Possibly. It's a longshot, frankly. But in the process, Flora and Bernard will discover that love, and an unexpected friendship, can unleash a special holiday magic all its own.

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Critics Consensus

Melissa McCarthy is as hard-working as ever, but her efforts aren't enough to raise Genie past the realm of blandly predictable holiday fare.

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Bland, predictable and seemingly chucked together with minimal effort at the last minute from the most basic ingredients.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 4, 2023

Full Review

Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

A film-maker whose movies pivot around acts of altruism has reached into the archives, gussied up a dead dog and flung it into the faces of viewers with something approaching contempt. So no, alas, not a Christmas classic.

Rated: 1/5

Dec 1, 2023

Full Review

Robbie Collin

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Genie is a sugar-only zone. But then, it is Christmas. Or near enough.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 1, 2023

Full Review

Steven Warner

In Review Online

...there isn’t all that much to Genie, save for a lot of McCarthy mugging and some tired platitudes about how actions speak louder than wishes (or some such nonsense).

Dec 25, 2023

Full Review

Matt Neal

ABC Radio (Australia)

It's not bad enough to make you wish for your time back, but you won't be adding it to your list of favourite Christmas movies any time soon.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 21, 2023

Full Review

Louisa Moore

Screen Zealots

Those looking for some Christmas charm that’s not too challenging could do a whole lot worse than this.

Dec 12, 2023

Full Review

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Ziz D

I watched it with my family, and I have to say I am not impressed. It is very underwhelming, and I feel like they just failed at attempting humor for most parts. The music in the beginning doesn't match the theme, and the wife acts as if her husband is just her acquaintance. Overall, I think they could do much better.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

04/05/25

Full Review

Robson C

Bernard vivia dividido entre o trabalho e família. A situação chegou a tal ponto que a sua esposa decide passar as festas de fim do ano com a sua filha na casa da sua mãe e dá um tempo no relacionamento. Depois disso, ele é demitido. Infeliz, ao limpar uma antiga caixa de joias, aca liberando uma gênia, Flora, que passa o ajudar a reconquistar a sua família. O filme é um pretexto para Melissa McCarthy brilhar e ela esbanja todo o seu talento, descobrindo as maravilhas da vida moderna e desenvolvendo uma paixonite por Tom Cruise. Ela desenvolve uma química muito boa com o seu parceiro de cena, Paapa Essiedu. O elenco está muito bem, porém o filme patina. Primeiro, porque não sabe se assume como uma comédia romântica ou uma comédia normal. Os efeitos visuais são fracos. A cena do voo no tapeta voador é risível. Toda a sequência envolvendo a Mona Lisa é lamentável. E o pior é que o roteiro é de Richard Curtis, que já escreveu Simplesmente Amor, Quatro Casamentos e um Funeral e Yesterday. Definitivamente é um dos seus piores trabalhos. Pena, pois poderia ter se tornado uma diversão bem melhor.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/22/24

Full Review

Ginnie N

Melissa Mccarthy cracks me up I laughed out loud at her characters antics. cute movie dont get to hung up on other reviews its an easy fun watch

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/05/24

Full Review

matthias s

**Genie** – ★★★☆☆ Alright, this was way better than I thought it’d be. Sure, the plot’s as cliché as Christmas movies get, but that’s kinda the point, right? It’s festive, funny, and just oozes holiday vibes. Melissa McCarthy is her usual self – yeah, she’s a bit of a one-trick pony, but she cracks me up every single time, so no complaints there. Richard Curtis knows how to write a feel-good script, and this one’s no exception. Paapa Essiedu and McCarthy make such a fun duo – their chemistry is honestly what sells this. Oh, and Marc Maron popping up? Always a treat. It’s charming, super heartwarming, and just the right amount of silly. Perfect for a cozy night in with some hot cocoa. Not groundbreaking, but definitely decent, and it left me smiling – which is all I really ask from a Christmas movie.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/03/24

Full Review

Claire M

Not bad the plot definitely could have been better. The ending was good. I think if you need a new Christmas movie this is a good watch and i really appreciate that they don’t awkwardly try to hide thats she’s a genie. I’ve always hated when movies try to hide the genie instead of just telling people. But this movie did not do that and it made me happy.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/02/24

Full Review

Jeff S

Quite literally, you’ll find better plots from either a cut rate AI engine, or a fourth grade writing assignment given on the last day before break… 30 minutes in, I had to wonder if the writers of this “tour de force” thought they really screwed the pooch at any time, or why nobody had the stones to put their foot down and say, “enough!” and walk the hell away.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/01/24

Full Review

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Sam Boyd

Director

Melissa McCarthy

Flora

Paapa Essiedu

Bernard Bottle

Denée Benton

Julie Bottle

Marc Maron

Lenny

Jordyn McIntosh

Eve Bottle

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Genie: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

After millennia of being summoned to grant wishes of gold doubloons and hot babes for greedy men, Flora is accidentally called to service by Bernard Bottle (Emmy nominee Paapa Essiedu; I May Destroy You), whose life is unraveling around him. Bernard's been so busy working that he has lost sight of his marriage to his wife Julie (Tony nominee Denée Benton; The Gilded Age) and the childhood of his young daughter, Eve (Jordyn Mcintosh; Emancipation). When Bernard misses Eve's birthday 12 days before Christmas because of work, Julie decides it's time for a trial separation. And then Bernard's tyrannical boss (Tony winner Alan Cumming; The Good Wife) fires him. Alone in his New York City apartment, a despondent Bernard dusts off a jewelry box he finds in their home and unintentionally releases the one entity who just might be able to help him get his family back. Maybe. Possibly. It's a longshot, frankly. But in the process, Flora and Bernard will discover that love, and an unexpected friendship, can unleash a special holiday magic all its own.

Director: Sam Boyd
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Riva Marker, Richard Curtis
Screenwriter: Richard Curtis
Distributor: Peacock
Production Co: Working Title, Universal Pictures
Rating: PG (Suggestive References|Some Language)
Genre: Holiday, Comedy, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 22, 2023
Runtime: 1h 32m

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