Ella Enchanted | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

51% Tomatometer 116 Reviews 57% Audience Score 250,000+ Ratings As a baby, Ella (Anne Hathaway) receives a visit from Lucinda (Vivica A. Fox), her fairy godmother, and is bestowed with a magical talent that requires her to obey anything that she is told to do. This proves to be more of a curse than a blessing, particularly once her mother dies and she is forced to live with the cruel Dame Olga (Joanna Lumley). Eventually, Ella embarks on a journey to find Lucinda and break the spell, accompanied by the handsome Prince Charmont (Hugh Dancy). Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

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Ella Enchanted

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Hathaway is a charming heroine, but the simple storyline gets overwhelmed by silly gimmickry.

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Critics Reviews

View All (116) Critics Reviews
Ella Enchanted | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Nell Minow Common Sense Media Endearing, enduring, with just a few bits of crude humor Rated: 4/5 Dec 24, 2010 Full Review Ella Enchanted | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Empire Magazine Rated: 3/5 Apr 1, 2006 Full Review Ella Enchanted | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Steven D. Greydanus Decent Films Avoids a misstep common among girl-empowerment flicks, which often emasculate the male lead to make the heroine truly heroic… manages to make both leads appealing. Rated: B Sep 16, 2004 Full Review Ella Enchanted | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Steve Warren Southern Voice (Atlanta) The result isn’t consistently enchanting, but it is quite amusing in spite of its unevenness. Rated: 3.5/4 May 7, 2023 Full Review Ella Enchanted | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Eddie Harrison film-authority.com …For kids bored with repeated viewings of Frozen and Tangled, Ella Enchanted is a worthy next step; chunky and easy to watch, it’s got some hidden depths well worth exploring… Rated: 3/5 Oct 13, 2022 Full Review Ella Enchanted | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Anne Hathaway is the cheery spark in this glitzy girl's fantasy story from screenwriters Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith ("Legally Blonde"). Rated: C+ May 4, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews

BJ M Wonderful movie, especially for adolescent girls. Nice story. Anne Hathaway was amazing. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/10/24 Full Review Celeste S It would be misleading to say that this film was released before its time, as its positive messages for children are timeless, but it certainly came out before mainstream audiences could fully embrace its wit and whimsical satire. Instead, it is remembered by many with nostalgic adoration, and perhaps that is the highest award any film can have. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/26/24 Full Review EllaJo r So boring 😴 this could of had so much more something. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/22/24 Full Review Eye C Uf, this was really hard to watch and almost impossible to finish it, by far the worst movie I watched in a long long time, I wish I could unwatching this. Rated 0.5/5 Stars • Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/24 Full Review Jacob B Ella Enchanted has its moments, some nice-looking, if rather obvious, sets and a terrific performance from Anne Hathaway doing a good job bring funny, quirky, charming and selling serious scenes (not to mention some decent pantomiming given how her character does most things against her will) but the corny special effects, not especially immersive world-building, just coming off as a more fantasy-heavy version of The Princess Bride, predictable narrative beats and a climactic solution to our heroine's lifelong dilemma ending up spawning questions among the lines of "you mean to tell me, she never once in her life tried doing that, even out of curiosity?" make this fairytale film forgettable and likely to make you assume that this film was only greenlit because Shrek was a huge success, a pre-existing book be damned. Probably more worthwhile than Princess Diaries 2, however. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/02/24 Full Review katie w Constantly watched this movie when I was younger and it holds up as lighthearted fun. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Ella Enchanted

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

Tommy O'Haver Director Anne Hathaway Ella Hugh Dancy Prince Charmont Cary Elwes Prince Regent Edgar Vivica A. Fox Fairy Lucinda Joanna Lumley Dame Olga
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Ella Enchanted

(L-R) Anne Hathaway, Hugh Dancy. (L-R) Anne Hathaway, Hugh Dancy, Aidan McArdle. Anne Hathaway. Anne Hathaway and Hugh Dancy in Tommy O'Haver's ELLA ENCHANTED. (L-R) Anne Hathaway, Tommy O'Haver (Director). Top to Bottom) Jim Carter, Anne Hathaway, Aidan McArdle. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis As a baby, Ella (Anne Hathaway) receives a visit from Lucinda (Vivica A. Fox), her fairy godmother, and is bestowed with a magical talent that requires her to obey anything that she is told to do. This proves to be more of a curse than a blessing, particularly once her mother dies and she is forced to live with the cruel Dame Olga (Joanna Lumley). Eventually, Ella embarks on a journey to find Lucinda and break the spell, accompanied by the handsome Prince Charmont (Hugh Dancy).

Director
Tommy O'Haver

Producer
Jane Startz

Screenwriter
Karen McCullah, Laurie Craig, Jennifer Heath, Michelle Wolff, Gail Carson Levine

Distributor
Miramax Films

Production Co
Jane Startz Productions, Miramax Films, Blessington Film Productions, Momentum Pictures

Rating
PG

Genre
Kids & Family, Romance, Comedy, Fantasy

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 9, 2004, Wide

Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 17, 2015

Box Office (Gross USA)
$22.9M

Runtime
1h 41m

Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS

Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
Most Popular at Home Now
Ella Enchanted | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

FAQs

Why is Ella Enchanted so good? ›

Because, at the end of the day, Ella's story brings with it a serious message about the importance of one's free will with many other important tid bits along the way. All of which is packaged into a fun story filled with laughter, a bit of silliness and served up in under two hours.

What was Ella Enchanted cursed? ›

When Ella was just a baby, the fairy Lucinda bestowed the gift of obedience on her. The "gift" is in fact a terrible curse, forcing Ella to obey anyone who gives her an order. When Ella is around fourteen, her mother dies. Her cook Mandy reveals herself to be her Fairy godmother.

Is Ella Enchanted good for kids? ›

Parents Need to Know

It is supposed to be humorous when a character gets tipsy and has a drinking problem. There is violence, including fighting, knives, and swordplay, and there are a couple scary scenes where a main character is in peril.

What is the difference between Ella Enchanted and Cinderella? ›

While there are many similarities between Ella and the original Cinderella, there are even more differences, particularly with regards to the protagonists' characteristics and personalities. The original Cinderella is a flat character and is passive while Ella is a complex and well-rounded, more proactive character.

What is the rating of Ella Enchanted? ›

Where was Ella Enchanted made? ›

Filming took place in Ireland at Ardmore Studios and on location in Wicklow during August–December 2002. Locations included Luggala Estate, Killruddery House and Garden, and Kiltegan.

How old was Anne Hathaway in Ella Enchanted? ›

PEOPLE's review at the time said that Hathaway, then 21, "shows again that she has that charming touch when it comes to playing regal characters," adding, "pre-teen girls will likely adore Ella."

Where is Ella Enchanted free? ›

Watch Ella Enchanted on demand for free! - Pluto TV.

What is the message of Ella Enchanted? ›

Ella Enchanted's themes focus on the importance of agency and selflessness in the world. Ella's inability to refuse commands parallels the experiences of young adults, especially young women, who may have little control over their own lives. Her quest to become independent functions as a coming-of-age story.

What happened to Ella's dad in Ella Enchanted? ›

Her father gives her the news that he has married again, to a rich woman called Dame Olga, because they need the money. Dame Olga and her two daughters Hattie and Olive come to live at their house. Almost immediately, Ella's father goes away on a job.

Who is Olive in Ella Enchanted? ›

Ella Enchanted (2004) - Jennifer Higham as Olive - IMDb.

How old is char in Ella Enchanted? ›

Prince Charmont is the son of King Jerrold and Queen Daria, the older brother of Cecilia, and husband of Ella. In the film, he is the only son of the deceased King Florian and nephew of Sir Edgar. He was fifteen at the time of his Coronation.

What is Ella's last name in Ella Enchanted? ›

Ella of Frell | Ella Enchanted Wiki | Fandom.

Is Ella Enchanted funny? ›

Ella Enchanted has its moments, some nice-looking, if rather obvious, sets and a terrific performance from Anne Hathaway doing a good job bring funny, quirky, charming and selling serious scenes (not to mention some decent pantomiming given how her character does most things against her will) but the corny special ...

How old is Ella supposed to be in Ella Enchanted? ›

Throughout the novel, Ella is portrayed as a young woman who ages from about 15 to 18 years old, as she navigates various challenges and adventures in a magical kingdom.

Is Ella Enchanted feminist? ›

Further, Ella Enchanted is a movie adaptation from the novel with the same title by Gail Carson Lavine. It can be said that Ella Enchanted movie and novel try to reconstruct the beliefs of women in patriarchal ideology. In addition, Ella Enchanted raises the issue of equality between men and women in society.

What gift was Ella born with in Ella Enchanted? ›

At her birth, Ella of Frell was the unfortunate recipient of a foolish fairy's gift—the “gift” of obedience. Ella must obey any order, whether it's hopping on one foot for a day and a half, or chopping off her own head!

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