Maleficent
2014, Action/Adventure, 1h 38m
276 Reviews 100,000+ RatingsWhat to know
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. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
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.
Cast & Crew
Angelina Jolie
Maleficent
Maleficent
Elle Fanning
Aurora
Aurora
Sharlto Copley
King Stefan
King Stefan
Lesley Manville
Flittle
Flittle
Imelda Staunton
Knotgrass
Knotgrass
Juno Temple
Thistlewit
Thistlewit
Critic Reviews for Maleficent
Audience Reviews for Maleficent
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Mar 31, 2017I enjoyed Maleficent. It is easy to see how Maleficent would cast that spell on Aurora, and how she might have second thoughts later. Angelina Jolie did a bang up job playing Maleficent.Red L Super Reviewer
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May 02, 2016While it may have Angelina Jolie in the title role doing a fantastic job, everything is weak - from cookie cutter special effects to a unbelievably weak supporting cast, but the biggest offense of Maleficent is the complete misuse of the title character, missing the mark so completely that it's a mystery as to why the script was made in this format.Matthew M Super Reviewer
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Apr 20, 2016A lavishly OTT computer generated universe sacrifices all heart that the story could've had. Jolie can't seem to make up her mind on how to present the character of Maleficent, drifting between a trashy scary drag queen and a brooding mistress of all evil. I think I would've enjoyed it more if they hadn't changed the original story like having Diaval transform into the dragon and her kiss being the one that wakes Aurora - though this is clever, it doesn't make much sense. Also the fairies are too weird and reminiscent of the bobble-headed Red Queen from Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland. The film is so thickly drenched in CGI it becomes almost like a video game and that's disappointing.Harry W Super Reviewer
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Dec 28, 2014Disney bastardizes their animated classic Sleeping Beauty with the updated adaptation Maleficent, which follows the recent trend of de-vilifying fairytale villains. Angelina Jolie stars as a guardian fairy named Maleficent who is betrayed by a former childhood friend, causing her to seek revenge by cursing his first born child to a death-like sleep on her sixteenth birthday. Jolie gives an extraordinary and charismatic performance that makes Maleficent a compelling character. However, the film seems to go out of its way to belittle and malign the humans and the three good fairies. Additionally, Disney cheaps out on the special effects; delivering some really shoddy CGI. But, James Newton Howard's score picks up some of the slack by providing powerful and sweeping themes that heighten the fantasy quality. Maleficent has some good action and puts a few interesting twists on the original story, but overall it's an unnecessary and inferior retelling of Sleeping Beauty.Dann M Super Reviewer
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