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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Maleficent

Maleficent is a 2014 American fantasy film that reimagines Disney’s 1959 animated *Sleeping Beauty* from the perspective of the title character.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Maleficent (2014) reimagines Sleeping Beauty from the villain's perspective. Angelina Jolie stars as the fairy whose betrayal leads to a curse on Princess Aurora.

What it is

The film is a live-action fantasy retelling of Disney's 1959 animated *Sleeping Beauty*, centred on Maleficent. It shows her backstory, the betrayal by a former lover, and her decision to curse Princess Aurora, eventually leading to a complex relationship with the princess.

Key details

Robert Stromberg directed the film in his feature debut, with a screenplay by Linda Woolverton. Angelina Jolie plays Maleficent, Elle Fanning is Aurora, and Sharlto Copley portrays Stefan. The supporting cast includes Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, and Lesley Manville.

Why it matters

The film became a notable villain-focused Disney feature and performed well globally, including in Canada. It spawned a sequel, *Maleficent: Mistress of Evil* (2019), extending the reinterpretation of the character beyond the original animated film.

In short

  • Live-action retelling of Sleeping Beauty from Maleficent's view
  • Angelina Jolie plays the title role
  • Directed by Robert Stromberg
  • Sequel followed in 2019
Canadian angle

The film was widely distributed in Canada as part of Disney’s global theatrical release and is familiar to Canadian audiences through cinema exhibition and home media availability.

Quick questions

What is *Maleficent* about?
It is a retelling of *Sleeping Beauty* that follows Maleficent, showing her backstory, betrayal, curse on Aurora, and changing relationship with the princess.
Who plays Maleficent?
Angelina Jolie portrays Maleficent in the 2014 film.
Who directed *Maleficent*?
Robert Stromberg directed the film.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maleficent_(film)
    Supports: 2014 American fantasy film, director, writer, cast, premise, and adaptation basis.
  2. Kiddle — https://kids.kiddle.co/Maleficent_(movie)
    Supports: Simple confirmation of release year, director, cast, and that it retells Sleeping Beauty from Maleficent’s perspective.
  3. SYFY — https://www.syfy.com/31-days-of-halloween/season-2016/blogs/maleficent-5-things-you-need-to-know
    Supports: Film as Disney's first release focused solely on a villain.
  4. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/maleficent
    Supports: Synopsis, release date, runtime, rating, and character-driven retelling.
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/maleficent_2014
    Supports: Synopsis and theatrical release date.
  6. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1587310/
    Supports: Short plot description and identification of the film.
  7. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maleficent
    Supports: Background of the character and sequel mention.
  8. Fandom — https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Maleficent
    Supports: Character background in Disney canon and curse on Aurora.