A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. She rises to be the land's fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal – an act that begins to turn her heart into stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the invading King's successor and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom – and to Maleficent's true happiness as well.
Acting
Angelina Jolie's cheekbones deserve their own billing.
Costume
Those leather wings are cinema.
Production
Moors look like a screensaver from your witchy phase.
Director
Robert Stromberg
Angelina Jolie
Maleficent
Elle Fanning
Princess Aurora
Imelda Staunton
Knotgrass
Sharlto Copley
Stefan
Lesley Manville
Flittle
Juno Temple
Thistletwit
Sam Riley
Diaval
Brenton Thwaites
Prince Phillip
Kenneth Cranham
King Henry
Sarah Flind
Princess Leila's Handmaiden
Isobelle Molloy
Young Maleficent
Jackson Bews
Teen Stefan
Jamie Sives
Shepherd
Angus Wright
Advisor to King Henry
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Angelina Jolie's daughter Vivienne played young Aurora because other child actors were too terrified of Jolie in full horned costume.
This film kicked off Disney's live-action villain redemption arc trend, directly influencing Cruella and others—whether that's liberation or corporate cynicism depends on your bitterness level.
US
