MALEFICENT
Beautifully made dark fantasy — for discerning adults only.
Should You Watch It?
MALEFICENT is well-made fantasy with good special effects and costumes. It also offers some redemptive material: Maleficent’s anger and desire for revenge soften because of Aurora’s joy and love.
But this is an extremely scary movie for children. The story is morally confusing because Maleficent curses Aurora yet changes, while Aurora’s father becomes increasingly villainous. Dark magic, frightening violence, and the message that mankind is destroying nature make this a poor family choice, even with a PG rating.
If you are a discerning adult interested in a dark reinterpretation of Sleeping Beauty, it is worth seeing with care. For children and young teens, choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESMaleficent is one of the strongest fairies in the forest, with large wings and magical powers. After falling in love with a farm boy named Stefan, she is betrayed when he pursues the throne.
Years later, Stefan is king and has a baby daughter named Aurora. Maleficent places a curse on Aurora, saying she will die at 16 unless she receives a true love’s kiss. Hidden in a distant forest and raised by three silly fairies, Aurora eventually meets Maleficent, whose heart begins to change.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means the film is highly effective as a production, even though its story has problems. The movie is well-made, with good special effects and costumes that support its dark fantasy world.
The main weakness is its plot. Some plot holes remain, and the changing roles of Maleficent and Stefan can confuse viewers about who the real villain and hero are. Still, the craftsmanship is strong enough to make this a worthwhile film for discerning adults who can handle its content.
The Worldview
MALEFICENT presents a strong, slightly mixed pagan worldview. It includes occult use of dark magic, but it also contains light moral and redemptive content as Maleficent softens her anger and desire for revenge because of Aurora’s joy and love.
The film casts Aurora’s father as the villain. It also presents an environmentalist message in which mankind is the problem, destroying the forest and bringing in iron that hurts the fairies. That message distorts a biblical view by treating humanity chiefly as a threat rather than as God’s image-bearers called to care for creation.
At the same time, the movie recognizes that anger and revenge can be changed by love. Scripture likewise calls people away from bitterness and toward kindness: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you” (Ephesians 4:31).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong, slightly mixed pagan worldview with father as the villain and some occult use of dark magic, but some light moral, redemptive content where title character softens her anger and desire for revenge because of younger girl’s joy and love, whom she eventually befriends, plus strong politically correct environmentalist content where mankind is the bad guy; no foul language or profanities; woman slaps another woman, slapstick humor involving three silly women, war scene with soldiers flown into the air and crushed, scary forest animals fight soldiers, wings are cut off from fairy and the after pain is shown, scary dragon spits fire, and other miscellaneous violence; no sex scenes, but two light kissing scenes; upper male nudity but dirt covers character; no alcohol; no smoking; and, strong miscellaneous immorality includes poison used to make woman fall asleep, father is the villain, greed, envy, and revenge.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Maleficent’s anger and desire for revenge change through Aurora’s joy and love. What helps bitterness lose its hold on us?
Ephesians 4:31–32 · Colossians 3:12–13The film presents mankind as the problem destroying the forest. What does Scripture say about humanity’s responsibility toward God’s creation?
Genesis 1:27–28 · Genesis 2:15The story makes the father the villain. What qualities should mark a father’s protection of his family?
Ephesians 6:4 · Colossians 3:21Maleficent uses dark magic and struggles with revenge. Why should Christians reject occult practices and leave vengeance to God?
Deuteronomy 18:10–12 · Romans 12:19The Final Word
MALEFICENT is well-made and visually strong, with a redemptive idea about love overcoming revenge. But its dark magic, frightening violence, morally confusing characters, and environmentalist message make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, our answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For other family options, see.
