Maleficent

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1:31

Maleficent

PG

Released May 30, 2014

1h 38m

Fantasy

Adventure

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

54%

Tomatometer

273 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

As a beautiful young woman of pure heart, Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) has an idyllic life in a forest kingdom. When an invading army threatens the land, Maleficent rises up to become its fiercest protector. However, a terrible betrayal hardens her heart and twists her into a creature bent on revenge. She engages in an epic battle with the invading king's successor, then curses his newborn daughter, Aurora -- realizing only later that the child holds the key to peace in the kingdom.

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Critics Consensus

Angelina Jolie's magnetic performance outshines Maleficent's dazzling special effects; unfortunately, the movie around them fails to justify all that impressive effort.

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Suzette Smith

Bitch Media

As the sum of all its parts, Maleficent is a downright fun film.

Jan 21, 2021

Full Review

Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

Angelina Jolie is good in the film, and I do think kids will dig this movie.

Rated: B-

Dec 14, 2018

Full Review

Philippa Hawker

The Age (Australia)

It's a splendid-looking film. The effects are striking throughout, whether they are dramatic battle confrontations between humans and the forces of the natural world, or small moments of delicate detail.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 14, 2018

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

It is a righteous revenge film, but with a feminist twist and a redemptive journey.

Oct 9, 2022

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

By the end, one cannot help but wish that Disney had left Maleficent a fascinating villain instead of a dull protagonist.

Rated: 1/4

Aug 15, 2022

Full Review

Robert Sims

Lights Camera Austin

This isn't Sleeping Beauty as seen through the eyes of the wickedest of Disney villains. Instead, it's a Mouse House live-action revisionist fairy tale that inexplicably transforms the malevolent Maleficent into a misunderstood anti-hero.

Jan 22, 2022

Full Review

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Berni P

When I first saw the trailer, I was really excited for this movie. Imagine my disappointment, when I saw it. The original Maleficent was - typical for Disney - a one-dimensional villain fighting one-dimensional good people. I hoped that her backstory would flesh her out and make her more relatable. Like why did she become so evil? However, Disney retconned its own work, and simply switched the labels on their still one-dimensional characters. It really seems that Disney is incapable of writing complex, grey or humanely tragic characters - no matter how much money they throw at their movies.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/10/25

Full Review

Brent B

I really enjoy this film even though I want an original story of Maleficent.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/01/25

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ne u

I loved this movie when I was a teenager (and I still do). I liked the second one even better and the third one is finally in the works.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/15/25

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Zach S

Pretty movie. Stayed mostly true to the Disney animated film.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/27/25

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Daniel R

A well made and well written movie all round. A very very enjoyable rewrite of an original story in a new perspective. Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning were perfect choices.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/19/25

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Audience Member

For a movie that has a few awkward designs, I really don't think this movie is bad. I found it to be entertaining.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/14/25

Full Review

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Robert Stromberg

Director

Angelina Jolie

Maleficent

Elle Fanning

Aurora

Sharlto Copley

King Stefan

Lesley Manville

Flittle

Imelda Staunton

Knotgrass

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Maleficent: 'Dream' Trailer

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Maleficent: 'Wings' Trailer

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Maleficent: Teaser Trailer 1

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Synopsis

As a beautiful young woman of pure heart, Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) has an idyllic life in a forest kingdom. When an invading army threatens the land, Maleficent rises up to become its fiercest protector. However, a terrible betrayal hardens her heart and twists her into a creature bent on revenge. She engages in an epic battle with the invading king's successor, then curses his newborn daughter, Aurora -- realizing only later that the child holds the key to peace in the kingdom.

Director: Robert Stromberg
Producer: Joe Roth
Screenwriter: Linda Woolverton
Distributor: Walt Disney
Production Co: Walt Disney Pictures, Roth Films
Rating: PG (Sequences of Fantasy Action|Frightening Images|Sequences of Fantasy Violence)
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 30, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 4, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $241.4M
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos, Datasat
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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