Maleficent (film)

Maleficent is a 2014 American dark fantasy film directed by Robert Stromberg from a screenplay by Linda Woolverton. Co-produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Roth Films, the film is a live-action reimagining of the character Maleficent, played by Angelina Jolie, from Walt Disney's 1959 animated film Sleeping Beauty, itself an adaptation of Charles Perrault's 1697 fairy tale. Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, and Lesley Manville have supporting roles.

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Maleficent
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Robert Stromberg
Screenplay by	Linda Woolverton
Based on	Disney's Sleeping Beauty "Sleeping Beauty" by Charles Perrault
Produced by	Joe Roth
Starring	Angelina Jolie Sharlto Copley Elle Fanning Sam Riley Imelda Staunton Juno Temple Lesley Manville
Narrated by	Janet McTeer
Cinematography	Dean Semler
Edited by	Chris Lebenzon Richard Pearson
Music by	James Newton Howard
Production companies	Walt Disney Pictures Roth Films
Distributed by	Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release dates	May 28, 2014 (2014-05-28) (El Capitan Theatre) May 30, 2014 (2014-05-30) (United States)
Running time	97 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$180–263 million[1]
Box office	$758.5 million[2]

Maleficent came under development in 2003 and was originally conceived as an animated film, before being changed to a live-action feature in 2006, after Disney acquired Pixar. Tim Burton was attached to direct since 2004, but eventually left the project in May 2011 and was replaced by Stromberg in his directorial debut. Jolie signed on to portray the title role in January 2012 and also served as the film's executive producer; the rest of the main cast joined between March and May 2012. Principal photography took place at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England, from June to October 2012.

Maleficent premiered in Los Angeles on May 28, 2014, and was released theatrically in the United States on May 30 by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Jolie’s performance, visual effects and costumes, with criticism aimed at the script and inconsistencies in tone. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $758 million worldwide, and became the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2014, as well as Jolie's highest-grossing film. Amongst Disney's live-action remakes, the film is the seventh-most-expensive and sixth-highest-grossing readaptation to date. It also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design at the 87th Academy Awards. A sequel, titled Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, was released in 2019.