Maleficent

Maleficent is a 2014 American 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 retelling of Walt Disney's 1959 animated film Sleeping Beauty, which itself an adaptation of Charles Perrault's 1697 fairy tale of the same title, and portrays the story from the perspective of the eponymous antagonist. Angelina Jolie stars as the title character, with Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, and Lesley Manville in supporting roles. 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. Plot