Elle Fanning has built a long and impressive career, starting with a role as a younger version of her sister Dakota Fanning’s character in I Am Sam. She’s known for playing a variety of memorable roles, and now one of her lesser-known films is gaining popularity on streaming services.
According to FlixPatrol, the 2014 movie Maleficent is gaining popularity on Disney+, currently ranking as the tenth most-watched film. While it was a financial success, earning $759.8 million on a budget of $180–263 million, critics had mixed reactions, and many consider it to be one of Elle Fanning’s best, yet overlooked, roles.
What Is Maleficent About?
The film Maleficent reimagines the iconic villain from Sleeping Beauty, starring Angelina Jolie as the titular character. While following the basic story of the animated classic, it tells the tale from Maleficent’s perspective, exploring her history and motivations, and ultimately offering a path to redemption.
Elle Fanning plays Aurora, who is famously cursed by Maleficent to fall into a deep sleep after pricking her finger on a spinning wheel on her sixteenth birthday. But the film Maleficent offers a fresh perspective, exploring the reasons behind the characters’ actions and even revealing Maleficent’s remorse as she develops a connection with Aurora.
Maleficent Was Not a Hit with Critics
Although the movie was successful at the box office, critics had mixed reactions. It currently has a 54% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In a review for New York Magazine/Vulture, Bilge Ebiri highlighted Angelina Jolie’s strong performance, stating she brought genuine emotion to the role of Maleficent, but felt the movie itself didn’t live up to her efforts.
Bill Goodykoontz of the Arizona Republic noted that Angelina Jolie’s performance was so dominant it made the rest of the cast and film feel secondary, as if everyone else was simply observing her. Maricar Estrella highlighted Elle Fanning’s lively portrayal of Aurora, stating it was her energy that truly brought the film to life.
Despite mixed reviews from critics, audiences generally liked the film. It received a 70% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.9 rating from over 424,000 users on IMDb. On Metacritic, viewers gave it a 6.8, while critics gave it a score of 56.
Even though the first Maleficent movie had a mixed reception when it came out, it’s now proving popular with viewers on streaming services. Whether it’s Angelina Jolie’s performance as Maleficent or Elle Fanning’s role as Aurora, the film is ultimately enjoyable and manages to win audiences over.
Maleficent is available to stream on Disney+.
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2026-05-09 00:41