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IMDbPro

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

  • 20182018
  • PGPG
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
33K
YOUR RATING
Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Richard E. Grant, Eugenio Derbez, Keira Knightley, Mackenzie Foy, Misty Copeland, and Jayden Fowora-Knight in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
All Clara (Mackenzie Foy) wants is a key -- a one-of-a-kind key that will unlock a box that holds a priceless gift. A golden thread, presented to her at godfather Drosselmeyer's (Morgan Freeman) annual holiday party, leads her to the coveted key -- which promptly disappears into a strange and mysterious parallel world.
Play trailer2:03
11 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Adventure
  • Family
  • Fantasy
A young girl is transported into a magical world of gingerbread soldiers and an army of mice.A young girl is transported into a magical world of gingerbread soldiers and an army of mice.A young girl is transported into a magical world of gingerbread soldiers and an army of mice.
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
33K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Lasse Hallström
    • Joe Johnston
  • Writers
    • Ashleigh Powell(screen story and screenplay by)
    • E.T.A. Hoffmann(suggested by the short story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" written by)
    • Marius Petipa(suggested by the "Nutcracker Ballet" by)
  • Stars
    • Mackenzie Foy
    • Keira Knightley
    • Morgan Freeman
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Lasse Hallström
    • Joe Johnston
  • Writers
    • Ashleigh Powell(screen story and screenplay by)
    • E.T.A. Hoffmann(suggested by the short story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" written by)
    • Marius Petipa(suggested by the "Nutcracker Ballet" by)
  • Stars
    • Mackenzie Foy
    • Keira Knightley
    • Morgan Freeman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 474User reviews
    • 175Critic reviews
    • 39Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 8 nominations

    Videos11

    Final Trailer
    Trailer 2:03
    Final Trailer
    Trailer #2
    Trailer 1:31
    Trailer #2
    Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 1:43
    Teaser Trailer
    Mackenzie Foy
    Interview 3:44
    Mackenzie Foy
    Keira Knightley
    Interview 2:59
    Keira Knightley
    The Trailer Trailer for the Week of Oct. 22, 2018
    Video 0:44
    The Trailer Trailer for the Week of Oct. 22, 2018
    What Mackenzie Foy Watches on and off the Set
    Video 1:45
    What Mackenzie Foy Watches on and off the Set
    Mackenzie Foy Has Some Big Plans for Keira Knightley and Robert Pattinson
    Video 2:03
    Mackenzie Foy Has Some Big Plans for Keira Knightley and Robert Pattinson
    Mackenzie Foy of 'The Nutcracker and the Four Realms' Is Up for Any Stunt
    Video 2:55
    Mackenzie Foy of 'The Nutcracker and the Four Realms' Is Up for Any Stunt
    The Trailer Trailer for the Week of September 3, 2018
    Video 0:45
    The Trailer Trailer for the Week of September 3, 2018
    The Trailer Trailer for the Week of August 13, 2018
    Video 0:55
    The Trailer Trailer for the Week of August 13, 2018

    Photos112

    Mackenzie Foy and Jayden Fowora-Knight in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
    Keira Knightley and Mackenzie Foy in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
    Misty Copeland in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
    Helen Mirren in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
    Mackenzie Foy and Jayden Fowora-Knight in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
    Richard E. Grant, Eugenio Derbez, Keira Knightley, and Mackenzie Foy in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
    Keira Knightley and Mackenzie Foy in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
    Mackenzie Foy in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
    Keira Knightley and Mackenzie Foy at an event for The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
    The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
    The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
    The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mackenzie Foy
    Mackenzie Foy
    • Claraas Clara
    Keira Knightley
    Keira Knightley
    • Sugar Plumas Sugar Plum
    Morgan Freeman
    Morgan Freeman
    • Drosselmeyeras Drosselmeyer
    Helen Mirren
    Helen Mirren
    • Mother Gingeras Mother Ginger
    Tom Sweet
    Tom Sweet
    • Fritzas Fritz
    Meera Syal
    Meera Syal
    • Cookas Cook
    Ellie Bamber
    Ellie Bamber
    • Louiseas Louise
    Matthew Macfadyen
    Matthew Macfadyen
    • Mr. Stahlbaumas Mr. Stahlbaum
    Nick Mohammed
    Nick Mohammed
    • Short Butleras Short Butler
    Charles Streeter
    Charles Streeter
    • Tall Butleras Tall Butler
    Jayden Fowora-Knight
    Jayden Fowora-Knight
    • Phillipas Phillip
    Prince
    • Jingles the Horseas Jingles the Horse
    Omid Djalili
    Omid Djalili
    • Cavalieras Cavalier
    Jack Whitehall
    Jack Whitehall
    • Harlequinas Harlequin
    Eugenio Derbez
    Eugenio Derbez
    • Hawthorneas Hawthorne
    Richard E. Grant
    Richard E. Grant
    • Shiveras Shiver
    Gustavo Dudamel
    Gustavo Dudamel
    • Conductoras Conductor
    Misty Copeland
    Misty Copeland
    • Ballerina Princessas Ballerina Princess
    • Directors
      • Lasse Hallström
      • Joe Johnston
    • Writers
      • Ashleigh Powell(screen story and screenplay by) (screenplay by)
      • E.T.A. Hoffmann(suggested by the short story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" written by)
      • Marius Petipa(suggested by the "Nutcracker Ballet" by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Marie was name of the heroine of E.T.A. Hoffmann's original Nutcracker tale. She was renamed Clara in Alexandre Dumas' adaptation, on which the ballet was based. This movie's heroine is Clara, daughter of Marie.
    • Goofs
      Hawthorne queries what Christmas is, suggesting that the holiday doesn't exist within the four realms, yet within the four realms conifers are explicitly referred to as "Christmas trees" twice.
    • Quotes

      Drosselmeyer: [from teaser trailer] It's Christmas Eve. A time of mystery, expectations, who knows what might happen?

    • Crazy credits
      The Disney logo plays an alternative orchestral version of "When You Wish Upon A Star", arranged by James Newton Howard and conducted by Gustavo Dudamel featuring solo pianist Lang Lang. When the logo is complete, Drosselmeyer's owl flies past the castle and into the opening shot of the movie.
    • Connections
      Featured in Hollywood Express: Episode #14.34 (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      The Nutcracker Suite
      Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

      Produced by James Newton Howard

      Conducted by Gustavo Dudamel

      Featured Piano Soloist - [Láng Lang]

      Lang Lang appears courtesy of Universal Music Limited (Hong Kong)

    User reviews474

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    not your parents' nutcracker
    Greetings again from the darkness. Missing: Tchaikovsky and Ballet. OK, not missing entirely, and it seems all we do is beg for creativity and new approaches in movies, so let's give this one fair treatment. It's not the traditional "Nutcracker" holiday fare you've come to expect on stage, on TV, in the mall, at schools, and just about everywhere. Instead, it's a version wrung from both the 1816 original short story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" by E.T.A. Hoffman and the 1892 ballet by Marius Petipa with music from Tchaikovsky, yet also something quite different. Still, different doesn't always mean better ... sometimes it just means different.

    We are treated to a beautiful extended opening shot as an owl swoops through old London. This acts as preparation for the abundance of stunning visuals headed our way throughout. Budding star Mackenzie Foy (INTERSTELLAR, 2014) plays Clara Stahlbaum, a young girl distraught that it's her first Christmas without her beloved mother Marie, who recently passed away. Clara's quietly grieving father (Matthew Macfadyen) delivers the presents Marie left for each of the three kids. Mechanically inclined Clara's gift is an ornate egg that requires a specialty key to unlock the hidden message Clara believes her mother has left.

    A lavish Christmas party at her Godfather's (Oscar winner Morgan Freeman) mansion leads Clara to a parallel universe where her mother Marie was Queen of the four realms. This is a fantastical land that reminds (maybe a bit too much) of Tim Burton's ALICE IN WONDERLAND and the classic THE WIZARD OF OZ. Clara buddies up with a live Nutcracker soldier Phillip (newcomer Jayden Fowora-Knight), who quickly becomes her trusted bodyguard. Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers, Land of Sweets, and the blighted Fourth Realm run by a cast-out Mother Ginger (Oscar winner Helen Mirren) make up this world. Keira Knightley stars as the Sugar Plum Fairy, and her devilishly fun performance is responsible for most of the energy, humor and entertainment outside of the visual effects. The two time Oscar nominee seems to relish the voice, the costumes and the chance to play a quirky character.

    Disney touches like the animal sidekicks are noted: Phillip's loyal steed, and the pesky little mouse that flashes more personality than anyone in the film outside of Sugar Plum. Most of the comedic secondary characters (including Richard E Grant and Eugenio Derbez) fall flat with very little do in a screenplay from Ashleigh Powell that gives the impression of multiple hands in the pie. Adding to the disjointed feel and lack of cohesion in the story flow is the fact that two very different directors worked on the project. Lasse Hallstrom (CHOCOLAT) handled principal photography and then Joe Johnston (CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER) spent a month on re-shoots with attention to visual effects. The contrasts between these two directors is quite clear in the finished project despite the cinematographer of Oscar winner Linus Sandgren (LA LA LAND).

    The mishmash of styles and tone prevents us from ever really connecting with characters or being drawn in by the story, but beyond that, there are some really terrific visuals and special effects. I especially liked the look of the enhanced tin soldiers and the work of two time Oscar winning costume designer Jenny Beavan. Of course, this is a familiar story and many viewers bring certain expectations into the theatre with them. The iconic Tchaikovsky music is played early and throughout the film, though mostly in teases and in blends with new music from James Newton Howard. We do get a glimpse of Maestro Gustavo Dudamel conducting the orchestra, and for those expecting ballet, the fabulous Misty Copeland performs a couple of times, though it's likely not enough for those hoping for more of a ballet production. The end result is an impressive visual experience that will likely still disappoint those looking for another holiday watching tradition.
    helpful•37
    34
    • ferguson-6
    • Nov 2, 2018

    FAQ1

    • Where is the titled Nutcracker from the original story in the movie?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 2, 2018 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Instagram
      • Official Site
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Kẹp Hạt Dẻ và Bốn Vương Quốc
    • Filming locations
      • South Kensington, London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Walt Disney Pictures
      • Canadian Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC)
      • Entertainment One
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $120,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $54,858,851
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $20,352,491
      • Nov 4, 2018
    • Gross worldwide
      • $173,961,069
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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    Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Richard E. Grant, Eugenio Derbez, Keira Knightley, Mackenzie Foy, Misty Copeland, and Jayden Fowora-Knight in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
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