Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Powerful queens go to war in intense, dark fantasy sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 33 parent reviews
Based on 54 kid reviews
Kids say the sequel is visually stunning with strong performances but carries a darker tone and more violence than the original, making it more suitable for older children, generally recommended for ages 10 and up. While many appreciate the messages of love and family, several critics found the plot convoluted and disjointed, with some extreme violence detracting from its appeal for younger audiences.
- dark themes
- age-appropriate
- strong performances
- message of family
- visual appeal
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL is the sequel to Disney's popular 2014 Sleeping Beauty retelling, reuniting Angelina Jolie as dark godmother Maleficent and Elle Fanning as the lovely Aurora, queen of the Moors and all its fae/fairy folk. The bond between the two women is tested when Aurora accepts a proposal from her beloved Prince Philip (Harris Dickinson) of neighboring Ulstead. When Philip's mother, Queen Ingrith (Michelle Pfeiffer), demands that Aurora and Maleficent attend a celebratory family engagement dinner at Ulstead castle, Maleficent tries to be cordial -- until Ingrith openly insults her and the Moorfolk. In a moment of chaos, King John (Robert Lindsay) appears to be cursed by Maleficent, so Ingrith declares war on the Moorfolk. Meanwhile, Maleficent flees and is nearly shot down, only to be saved by fellow winged dark fae who've been hiding from humans for generations. Maleficent must decide whether to join her fellow fae to fight or to seek peace with the humans.
Is It Any Good?
Fabulous costumes, vibrant art direction, and the on-screen dueling of two Hollywood queens -- Jolie and Pfeiffer -- save this from being another uneven, unnecessary sequel. Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is even darker and more violent than its predecessor. The manner in which Moorfolk are killed is as chilling as the disturbing moments in Avengers: Infinity War or War of the Worlds. But the brief scenes in the Moors, with its various fae creatures, are still enchanting for younger audiences. The romance, already established, isn't swoon-worthy here, but at least the future in-law troubles drive the paper-thin storyline.
Pfeiffer stands out as Ingrith, who's unwilling to entertain the prospect of peace with Maleficent and the fae. She's at her best as an ice queen mother-in-law with a penchant for war. Jolie is always a treat, but the subplot involving her original people is underwhelming, even with the always wonderful Chiwetel Ejiofor as one of the two dark fae vying for Maleficent's attention (the other, played by Ed Skrein, is a smarmy warmonger). The cast is stronger than the screenplay, so -- given the (spoiler alert) presumed happily ever after ending -- audiences may be left thinking/hoping that this is the last of the Maleficent films, but not the last of Jolie and Pfeiffer working together.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. How much violence can younger kids handle? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
How is the idea of love explored in the movie? Are there are kinds of "true love" other than romance? Which characters have a loving relationship, and which don't?
How does Aurora demonstrate empathy? What other character strengths are depicted in the movie?
Do you think there should be another sequel, or do you feel this particular story is resolved?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 18, 2019
- On DVD or streaming : January 14, 2020
- Cast : Angelina Jolie , Elle Fanning , Michelle Pfeiffer
- Director : Joachim Ronning
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Character Strengths : Empathy , Teamwork
- Run time : 118 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense sequences of fantasy action/violence and brief scary images
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate