Cinderella (1950)

96% of critics liked it
(28 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(792,577 ratings)

Cinderella was Walt Disney's return to feature-length "story" cartoons after eight years of turning out episodic pastiches like Make Mine Music and Three Caballeros. A few understandable liberties are taken with the original Charles Perrault fairy tale (the wicked stepsisters, for example, do not… More Cinderella was Walt Disney's return to feature-length "story" cartoons after eight years of turning out episodic pastiches like Make Mine Music and Three Caballeros. A few understandable liberties are taken with the original Charles Perrault fairy tale (the wicked stepsisters, for example, do not have their eyes pecked out by crows!) Otherwise, the story remains the same: Cinderella, treated as a slavey by her selfish stepfamily, dreams of going to the Prince's ball. She gets her wish courtesy of her Fairy Godmother, who does the pumpkin-into-coach bit, then delivers the requisite "be home by midnight" warning. Thoroughly enchanting the prince at the ball, our heroine hightails it at midnight, leaving a glass slipper behind. The Disney people do a terrific job building up suspense before the inevitable final romantic clinch. Not as momentous an animated achievement as, say, Snow White or Fantasia, Cinderella is a nonetheless delightful feature, enhanced immeasurably by the introduction of several "funny animal" characters (a Disney tradition that has held fast into the 1990s, as witness Pocahontas), and a host of a sprightly songs, including "Cinderelly," "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes," and -- best of all -- "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr.
Directed By: Hamilton Luske, Wilfred Jackson
Written By: Bill Peet, Ted Sears, Homer Brightman, Ken Anderson, Erdman Penner
Genres: Animation, Kids & Family, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Feb 15, 1950 Wide
On DVD: Oct 4, 2005
Studio: RKO Radio Pictures

Critic Reviews

, TIME Magazine
Cinderella is beguiling proof that Walt Disney still knows his way around fairyland.
Variety Staff, Variety
The musical numbers woven into the fantasy are generally solid, with at least two or three likely hit tunes standing out in the half-dozen songs.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
This 1950 effort shows Disney at the tail end of his best period, when his backgrounds were still luminous with depth and detail and his incidental characters still had range and bite.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Considering the army of craftsmen who work on a Disney cartoon film, it is hard to give individual credits, for the memorable qualities.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
When those little mice bust a gut trying to drag that key up hundreds of stairs in order to free Cinderella, I don't care how many Kubrick pictures you've seen, it's still exciting.
Amber Wilkinson, Eye for Film
It's not all action, and while there's plenty to keep the kids entertained, there are also nice poetic touches of animated artistry that will appeal more to adults.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Sweet fairy tale classic for little princesses.
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
Great animation, but not quite as great as the pre-war standard; deeply problematic gender issues in a reed-thin story; some brilliant characters, a lot of fairly dull ones.
, Empire Magazine
Yes, it's beautiful, and yes, it's classic. But it's also got rather a bland pair of lead characters. That said, it's still enjoyable family entertainment, and shall remain forever so.
Michael Scheinfeld, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Excellent animation, marvelous color, and lovely music make Cinderella a delight all the way around.
, Time Out
As usual, everything is slightly glossy, soppy and hearty, yet not a string is left untwanged.
Douglas Pratt, Movie City News
the validity of Disney's color transfer is ambiguous, although it appears less manipulated than it has on other cartoon features
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...there's no denying the overall effectiveness of this familiar tale.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Of all the Cinderella stories on film, this one has the most villainous stepmother (voiced by Eleanor Audley) and the most charming mice.
Tony Whitt, Now Playing Magazine
Your kids will love it, and they won't be scared (or scarred) by it. You, however, may squirm at the movie's two implied messages...
Rory L. Aronsky, Film Threat
Disney films have lasted for years by those good-natured moments and the superlative animation...

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff "

I really enjoy Disney films and I've seen most of the classic titles in their catalogue. With Cinderella, Disney adapts yet another classic fairy tale. I enjoyed this film when I was younger, but over the years, compared to other Disney flicks, I felt that this one was a little… More
I really enjoy Disney films and I've seen most of the classic titles in their catalogue. With Cinderella, Disney adapts yet another classic fairy tale. I enjoyed this film when I was younger, but over the years, compared to other Disney flicks, I felt that this one was a little tiring. I'm not bashing the film, but I felt that after multiple viewings, this film really didn't stand out among other ground breaking Disney classics such as Snow White, Pinocchio and Fantasia. Disney has made much better films, and I do agree that this one is a definite classic. However it didn't have the same impact on me as so many other Disney films that came before or after it. Other than that, this will surely appeal to families everywhere and it's still a must see film for parents to watch with their kids. Cinderella has stood the test of time and is an enjoyable film to watch even if it's not perfect. If you want the best princess film of all, watch The Princess Bride along with Snow White and Cinderella. Disney has made great films, but for me, there's something missing with this one to really make it stand out among others in Disney's catalogue. The film is good entertainment and is a definite must see, I just think there are better Disney films out there than this. If you're a Disney film fan, pick this one up. Even if it's not the greatest in the classics, it's still worth your time.
Sophie B

A really great film for little girls. Every girl wants to know that when she grows up there will be a handsome prince (or a normal guy) who she will fall in love with and live happily ever after. It IS a fairy tale but that's what Disney is for.
Eric A

Classic Disney!
Brad W

This is the greatest princess film ever told, and I know im a guy, but you have to be crazy not to enjoy this film.
Bethany M

A childhood favourite and a classic!
Sergio G

Another classic. Unfortunatelly the new Spanish translation is TERRIBLE. Legal issue. It's a shame.
Conner R

Cinderella is your basic Disney Princess movie; near perfect. This great characters, dangerously tolerable music, and flawless animation. Like all these fairytale adaptions, this manages to bring the best elements of the core story and present it to us in a way that is both fun and… More
Cinderella is your basic Disney Princess movie; near perfect. This great characters, dangerously tolerable music, and flawless animation. Like all these fairytale adaptions, this manages to bring the best elements of the core story and present it to us in a way that is both fun and highly re-watchable. When you stay away from being trying to be so socially relevant and inappropriately referencing pop culture, it makes your movie all the more digestible and mature in the long run. Now that doesn't work for live action, but it does wonders for animation.
Michael G

Cinderella is full of lush and beautiful animation. Too bad the story isn't as good. Not Disney's best but its not awful.
AJ V

This was never one of my favourite stories as a kid, and I saw this movie when I was older, so I thought it was kind of silly and it didn't impress me much. Of course, it isn't a bad movie, I just don't care for it.
Richard C

C-
erika b

That shows you that you can make things happen.
Film C

Again and Again walt disney have produced fantastic classic that i grew up with and the i so enjoy very much!! A great classic !!
Dead A

I love this fairytale.
Jason O

"Cinderella" is a movie about Cinderella, a girl who's father died and she has no choice but to live with her sickeningly wicked stepmother and her equally hateful stepsisters. Cinderella is nothing but a slave to all three of them, they make her do every chore in the… More
"Cinderella" is a movie about Cinderella, a girl who's father died and she has no choice but to live with her sickeningly wicked stepmother and her equally hateful stepsisters. Cinderella is nothing but a slave to all three of them, they make her do every chore in the house while they do what what they want to. But Cinderella thinks she might have a chance to go to the Ball at the castle where the prince will choose a wife. Cinderella's stepmother tells Cinderella that she can go to the Ball if she does all her chores and if she has something to wear, with IF being the main word. Of course, the stepmother and the two stepsisters will do everything they can to keep Cinderella from having a chance to go to the Ball or have anything else go good for her. But with the help of Cinderella's many animal friends, especially the mice, and her Fairy Godmother, she just might have a chance to go to the Ball and escape from her current, dreadful life. Ever since I was a kid, I've always enjoyed watching "Cinderella." What makes "Cinderella" a great movie are all the entertaining characters that are in the movie. All the characters from the wicked stepmother, to Cinderella, and even the animals are well done and they're all entertaining in their own way. The songs in "Cinderella" are pretty good, but they're not some of the best from the Disney movies in my opinion. But "Cinderella" does have some of the best animation out of any of the classic Disney animated movies, and it has many memorable parts such as when the mice are toying with Lucifer the cat, when the Fairy Godmother helps Cinderella out, and of course, the part that everyone remembers, when Cinderella loses her glass slipper. I recommend anyone who likes classic animated movies to get "Cinderella." NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2001. Yet another surefire Disney classic that's over half a century old but still holds up very well.
Thomas B

animated films. gotta love em
Cherry D

"..Cinderelly, Cinderelly, night and day it's Cinderelly, Make the fire! Fix the breakfast! Wash the dishes! do the moppin'!.." Another Disney classic. Love the mice and the music, watched it enough when I was younger but it's never been one of my… More
"..Cinderelly, Cinderelly, night and day it's Cinderelly, Make the fire! Fix the breakfast! Wash the dishes! do the moppin'!.." Another Disney classic. Love the mice and the music, watched it enough when I was younger but it's never been one of my favourites. <a href="http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/gg239/aphrodite-90/?action=view¤t=cinderella1.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg239/aphrodite-90/cinderella1.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Dean M

This fairy tale of Walt Disney animated movie is delightful. The mice characters are among the studio's best, and the story moves along at a good clip.
Candy R

My fave Disney animation. I love the animation, story and music. My fave scene is with the fairy godmother.
_kelly .

I like the pumpkin and the singing mice. About 15 years after seeing this, I still remember those bits fondly. But the dance with the sappy song is still crap.
Alice S

Classic Disney! Scene where the stepmother stands idly by while the stepsisters rip apart Cinderella's dress gets me every time!