
Angelina Jolie has starred in many projects, and one of them became a streaming hit during the past weekend. Since her career began in 1982, the award-winning actress has appeared in many films, including those aimed at younger audiences, such as the Kung Fu Panda franchise. And recently, one of them became a massive box-office hit and received recognition at the Academy Awards.
In 2014, Jolie starred in Maleficent, a live-action dark fantasy film based on the 1959 Disney animated feature, Sleeping Beauty, which originated from one of Charles Perrault’s fairy tales. Jolie plays the evil fairyMaleficent, the creature who placed the sleeping curse on Princess Aurora (Elle Fanning) as a baby, and who can only be awakened by true love’s kiss. Unlike the animated feature and the original story, the film follows Maleficent’s point of view, how she became the evil sorceress, and how she befriends Aurora before the day the princess pricks her finger.
Over the weekend, Maleficent continued its reign on Disney+ streaming charts, recently ranking #10 on Disney+’s Top 10 Movies in the United States, below Thumbelina. However, Saturday was the last day Maleficent reigned in the Top 10 as it left the streaming charts by Sunday. Since its release, Maleficent has become a massive hit, grossing over $759.8 million worldwide, and was recognized at the Academy Awards, receiving a nomination for “Best Costume Design.” Its success led to the release of the 2019 sequel, titled Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, which, unfortunately, didn’t match the box office performance of its predecessor but was highly praised by audiences, earning a 90% score.
Is ‘Maleficent’ Worth Watching?
Maleficent received mixed reviews from critics, earning a 54% score on the Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes, but it was well received by audiences, earning a 70% score on the Popcornmeter. Additionally, it received a 3.3-star rating on Letterboxd. According to critics, Jolie’s performance as the Sleeping Beauty villain was praised, as it helped save this film during its release, but some believed that her talent could have been used more effectively. Some also argued that the movie was a letdown, didn’t live up to Jolie’s star power, and that the story could have been better. However, audiences claimed that Maleficent is one of Disney’s “best live action movies of all time” and that it made the Sleeping Beauty story make sense. It was also praised for reimagining a classic fairy tale, but wished it delved deeper into Maleficent’s evil nature, making her a complex character rather than “making her relatable.”
Maleficent is available to stream on Disney+. Follow Collider for more updates.