Movie · 2019 · Family, Fantasy, Adventure · 1h 59m · PG · English
Curator score: 1.6/10 (430.7K ratings)
Go beyond the fairy tale.
Overview
Maleficent and her goddaughter Aurora begin to question the complex family ties that bind them as they are pulled in different directions by impending nuptials, unexpected allies, and dark new forces at play.
Ratings
Curator score: 1.6/10
IMDb: 6.6/10
Letterboxd: 3.04/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 40%
Metacritic: 43
TMDB: 7.3/10
Director
Joachim Rønning
Production
Walt Disney Pictures, Roth Films
Cast
Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Harris Dickinson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sam Riley, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Ed Skrein, Robert Lindsay, David Gyasi, Jenn Murray, Juno Temple, Lesley Manville, Imelda Staunton, Judi Shekoni, MIYAVI, Kae Alexander, Warwick Davis, Emma Maclennan, Aline Mowat, Freddie Wise
Where to watch
Disney Plus
Curator Review
Verdict
A glossy, overstuffed fantasy sequel with strong production design, campy villain energy, and enough spectacle to entertain if you’re in the right mood. The story is messy and often feels like it’s rushing through big emotional beats, but the visuals, costumes, and performances give it a watchable, heightened charm.
Best for
fans of dark fairy-tale spectacle
viewers who enjoy campy family fantasy
people who prioritize visuals and costumes over tight plotting
audiences who liked the first film’s revisionist take
Skip if
you want a coherent or subtle screenplay
you dislike melodramatic fantasy politics
you prefer classic Disney warmth over gothic edge
you’re looking for a fresh or surprising sequel
Overview
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is the kind of sequel that doubles down on the franchise’s most obvious strengths: ornate visuals, theatrical performances, and a tone that swings between storybook wonder and operatic menace. Angelina Jolie remains the center of gravity, and the film knows how to frame her as both icon and threat. Michelle Pfeiffer adds a polished, icy antagonism that gives the movie some of its best scenes.
Worth noting
The problem is that the movie keeps piling on plot, factions, and reversals until the emotional core gets buried. It wants to be a family fantasy, a political parable, and a gothic melodrama all at once, and the result is more noisy than elegant. Still, there’s a certain pleasure in how committed it is to its own excess.
Bottom line
If you’re open to a fairy tale that plays like prestige camp, this can be an enjoyable watch. If you need clean storytelling or genuine surprise, it’s likely to feel like beautiful clutter.
Top Letterboxd reviews
nathan (3★) · 1562 likes
you can identify the gays in your audience by how loudly they gasp at michelle pffiefer’s introductory moment
sam (4★) · 1518 likes
angelina jolie as maleficent with her hair down alone deserves 4 stars. periodt.
rajaadam (1★) · 1407 likes
“YOU WANTED PEACE?? NOW YOU CAN REST IN PEACE” LMAO THIS SENT ME
jen (4★) · 679 likes
game of thrones' the red wedding but it's disney
Georgia Coley (1★) · 670 likes
There’s a scene in this movie where Michelle Pfeiffer locks the entire population of fairies in a chapel, then her servant plays an organ that shoots out toxic gas that turns them all to ash. And that's *not* the weirdest thing that happens.
2010 · Fantasy, Adventure, Action · 1h 49m · PG · Curator 0.8/10 (181.2K ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus
A modern fantasy adventure that leans on spectacle, magical conflict, and broad blockbuster energy.
Topics
dark fantasy, family adventure, fairy-tale revisionism, camp, gothic visuals, costume design, political intrigue, melodrama, blockbuster spectacle, family-friendly fantasy