The Nutcracker

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The Nutcracker

PG

Released Dec 3, 2010

1h 48m

Holiday

Musical

Fantasy

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32 Reviews

27%

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500+ Ratings

Christmas in Vienna is a dull affair for 9-year-old Mary (Elle Fanning), until her beloved Uncle Albert (Nathan Lane) arrives and gives her a special gift: an enchanted nutcracker. On Christmas night the nutcracker -- named NC -- comes to life and takes Mary to its magical land of sugarplum fairies and talking toys. Mary discovers that the wondrous kingdom faces a dire threat from the evil Rat King, and when the nutcracker is kidnapped, she must rally her new friends to save NC.

Frank Scheck

The Hollywood Reporter

Delivering the cinematic equivalent of a lump of coal in a Christmas stocking, The Nutcracker in 3D is an apparent Scrooge-like attempt by Russian filmmaker Andrei Konchalovsky to forever ruin children's associations with the classic Yuletide ballet.

Dec 6, 2010

Full Review

Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

One of the most misguided children's films ever made.

Rated: 1/4

Dec 3, 2010

Full Review

Dana Stevens

Slate

This non-balletic adaptation by the Russian director Andrei Konchalovsky is something gnarled and stunted and wrong, something that should never have been allowed to see the light of day. How's that for a holiday-ad pullquote?

Nov 29, 2010

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Konchalovsky takes the basic, very basic, storyline and runs amok with it.

Rated: .5/4.0

Sep 18, 2020

Full Review

Brian D. Johnson

Maclean's Magazine

Do not see this movie. Do not take your children to this movie. Do not be tempted by the title, or dancing visions of sugar-plum fairies. Do not put on the 3-D glasses.

Mar 27, 2019

Full Review

Rob Vaux

Mania.com

It's flawless in its flaws, without a single redeeming element to obscure its idealized awfulness.

Rated: F-

Dec 24, 2012

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Claire G

How did this get produced. Offensive parallels with history, terrible songs, questionable characters and story telling, and some nightmare fuel imagery. I can’t believe this exists.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/16/25

Full Review

Nat T

Like a car crash you desperately want to look away from

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/25

Full Review

Denise O

The Nutcracker mixed with Schindler's List and a particularly nasty acid trip I had in the late 80's.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/28/25

Full Review

coleghsiaal m

I would put zero stars if I could, BUT I CANT!!!! Rotten Tomato people, can you make it so I can put zero stars?

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/13/24

Full Review

Nut C

BEST MOVIE EVER, I have gone to nyada for film and this is by far the most impeccable movie ever.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/09/24

Full Review

Rachel R

Grown up with it, old but good

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/05/24

Full Review

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Andrey Konchalovskiy

Director

Elle Fanning

Mary

Nathan Lane

Uncle Albert

John Turturro

Rat King

Frances de la Tour

Rat Queen

Charlie Rowe

NC

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Synopsis

Christmas in Vienna is a dull affair for 9-year-old Mary (Elle Fanning), until her beloved Uncle Albert (Nathan Lane) arrives and gives her a special gift: an enchanted nutcracker. On Christmas night the nutcracker -- named NC -- comes to life and takes Mary to its magical land of sugarplum fairies and talking toys. Mary discovers that the wondrous kingdom faces a dire threat from the evil Rat King, and when the nutcracker is kidnapped, she must rally her new friends to save NC.

Director: Andrey Konchalovskiy
Producer: Andrey Konchalovskiy, Paul Lowin
Screenwriter: Andrey Konchalovskiy, Chris Solimine
Distributor: Freestyle Releasing
Production Co: Nutcracker Holdings, HCC Media Group
Rating: PG (Brief Smoking|Action|Scary Images|Thematic Material)
Genre: Holiday, Musical, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 3, 2010, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 2, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $190.6K
Runtime: 1h 48m
Sound Mix: Dolby