Cinderella (2021)

Movie · 2021 · Fantasy, Romance, Comedy · 1h 52m · PG · English

Curator score: 0.1/10 (167.8K ratings)

One shoe to rule them all.

Overview

Cinderella, an orphaned girl with an evil stepmother, has big dreams and with the help of her Fabulous Godmother, she perseveres to make them come true.

Ratings

Director

Kay Cannon

Production

Fulwell 73 Productions, Columbia Pictures

Cast

Camila Cabello, Nicholas Galitzine, Idina Menzel, Pierce Brosnan, Minnie Driver, Tallulah Greive, Billy Porter, Maddie Baillio, Charlotte Spencer, James Corden, James Acaster, Romesh Ranganathan, Rob Beckett, Ben Bailey Smith, Luke Latchman, Fra Fee, Jenet Le Lacheur, Mary Higgins, Beverley Knight, Natasha Patel

Where to watch

Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads

Curator Review

Verdict

A glossy but thin remake that swaps fairy-tale charm for modern pop-sheen and broad comedy, without enough wit, chemistry, or emotional lift to justify the update. It has a few catchy moments and a polished look, but the overall reception and audience response point to a misfire rather than a fresh reinvention.

Best for

  • Viewers curious about contemporary jukebox-musical remakes
  • Fans of brightly colored, low-stakes fantasy romances
  • People who want a campy, easy-to-mock watch with friends

Skip if

  • You want a faithful or emotionally rich Cinderella adaptation
  • You are sensitive to clunky comedy and anachronistic pop references
  • You prefer musicals with strong vocal performances and memorable songs

Overview

This version of Cinderella aims for empowerment-by-way-of-pop-spectacle, but the result feels more calculated than magical. The updated setting and self-aware tone promise a playful reinvention, yet the film rarely finds a satisfying balance between satire, romance, and fairy-tale wish fulfillment.

Worth noting

The cast is attractive and the production design is polished, but the movie’s biggest ideas are undercut by uneven performances and jokes that land with a thud. Instead of feeling like a bold new take, it often plays like a high-budget concept that never fully became a movie.

Bottom line

If you enjoy watching a familiar story get remixed into a brightly packaged streaming-era musical, there is some novelty here. For most viewers, though, the charm deficit and tonal awkwardness make it more of a curiosity than a recommendation.

Top Letterboxd reviews

•lily• (1★) · 12671 likes

James corden stars in bad musicals like he’s collecting the infinity stones

lauren (0.5★) · 10282 likes

we’ve finally done it. we’ve finally girlbossed too close to the sun.

ela 😁 · 5019 likes

sorry i’m late for class james corden jumped in front of my car wearing a mouse costume and just started humping the air

sophie (0.5★) · 3240 likes

getting this and "he's all that" within the space of a week? one pandemic at a time please

abbie (2★) · 2303 likes

i think jameela jamil would love this film

Recommended similar titles

Cinderella

1950 · Family, Fantasy, Animation · 1h 14m · G · Curator 6.5/10 (634.9K ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus

The classic animated version delivers the enchantment and musical charm this remake struggles to sustain.

The Princess Bride

1987 · Adventure, Family, Fantasy · 1h 39m · PG · Curator 8.7/10 (1.5M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, Hulu, fuboTV

A beloved fantasy romance that balances sincerity and irony with far more confidence.

Enchanted

2007 · Comedy, Family, Fantasy · 1h 47m · PG · Curator 6.0/10 (832K ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus

A self-aware fairy-tale comedy that understands how to parody and celebrate the genre at once.

A Knight's Tale

2001 · Adventure, Drama, Romance · 2h 13m · PG-13 · Curator 1.8/10 (3.4K ratings)

For viewers who like period fantasy with pop music energy and a knowingly anachronistic tone.

The Princess Diaries

2001 · Comedy, Family, Romance · 1h 55m · G · Curator 1.3/10 (185.2K ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus

A charming makeover fantasy about self-discovery, class, and becoming the person you want to be.

Stardust

2007 · Adventure, Fantasy, Romance · 2h 7m · PG-13 · Curator 5.8/10 (546.1K ratings)

A romantic fantasy adventure with more imagination, humor, and heart than most modern retellings.

Mirror Mirror

2012 · Adventure, Comedy, Family · 1h 46m · PG · Curator 1.5/10 (248.1K ratings) · Where to watch: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential

A colorful fairy-tale reimagining that embraces camp and visual flair more successfully.

Beauty and the Beast

1991 · Romance, Family, Animation · 1h 24m · G · Curator 8.7/10 (1.4M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus

A classic musical romance with stronger songs, richer atmosphere, and enduring enchantment.

The Little Mermaid

1989 · Animation, Family, Fantasy · 1h 23m · G · Curator 7.3/10 (1M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus

A buoyant animated musical fantasy that captures the wish-fulfillment energy this film reaches for.

Cyrano

2021 · Drama, Romance · 2h 2m · PG-13 · Curator 3.4/10 (59.9K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads

A romantic musical with period style and emotional sincerity, but far more disciplined in execution.

West Side Story

2021 · Drama, Romance, Crime · 2h 36m · PG-13 · Curator 6.6/10 (619.2K ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, fuboTV

A contemporary musical remake that shows how to update a classic with visual confidence and dramatic weight.

Mamma Mia!

2008 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 48m · PG-13 · Curator 5.5/10 (2.3M ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads

For viewers who want a big, unapologetic jukebox musical with breezy camp appeal.

Topics

jukebox musical, fairy tale, romance, fantasy, camp, modern retelling, class conflict, family comedy, streaming-era

Open Cinderella (2021) on Curator TV