User reviews

Princess eillen just wants a normal life, but unfortunatly for her, her parents are monsters. But not those type of monsters. Actual monsters turned by a curse fueled by their hatred for eachother. But eillien knows theres a way and after her 15 birthday she starts to do what it takes to get them back. We can gloss over her mom being australian and her father being spanish because this is an anination and its beautiful. Kidman and barden are interesting choices it has to be said. Also props for Rachel zegler for not only doing a good voice in this but also for being able to sing which ill say a lot of these films lake. Spellbound is a perfect family movie getting close to christmas. With some catchy songs, lovely animation and overall just nice.

This is a good movie, particularly for families navigating the challenges of divorce. At its core, this film is really about the emotional struggles and complexities that arise in such situations, especially for children. I do wish it had been marketed with this theme in mind, as it's not something we would have chosen as a family if we had known. However, it does provide an opportunity to explore and discuss a child's feelings of anger and confusion when caught between parents. That said, the movie is much heavier than what most viewers are likely expecting. While I enjoy musicals, the songs were unfortunately not very memorable and felt overly long, which detracted from the overall experience.

While the animation and voice acting was great about half way through I got a sinking feeling that the movie was going to try and pivot hard into a topic that was both poorly suited for this vessel and potentially within the last 30 minutes. And of course it did but instead of being a something that could sufficiently be covered for the childhood audience in 30 minutes it was something much harder to adequately cover. Divorce.

I enjoy animated movies that contain some mature themes but this felt poorly done and the messages in the last few songs and scenes were plain awful messaging for an audience under 10.

The worst part of this is the deceptive omission of this movies content, advertised as a kids movie, but ultimately potentially harmful for children to view without parental input.

Really a shame because there is great talent in the cast and production.

Wow, it's funny that I went from watching the best Netflix animated series in Arcane Season 2 to now watching one of their most average and forgettable animated movies in Spellbound (2024). Yeah, I wasn't that big of a fan of this movie, but I didn't hate it.

Positives for Spellbound (2024): The animation in the movie looks fantastic. I thought that Rachel Zegler was decent as the main character and while I have my criticisms toward some of the things that she's said, she was good in the movie. And finally, there are some good musical numbers in the movie.

Negatives for Spellbound (2024): This movie is just very forgettable and I am struggling to remember the plot of this movie. Also, why are Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem and John Lithgow doing here, their characters barely do anything in the movie except show up when the plot needs them the most. And finally, this movie has that generic Netflix atmosphere to it, to where I feel like I seen this type of movie from them too many times.

Overall, Spellbound (2024) is an animated movie that exists on Netflix and that's it. Maybe, some people are going to enjoy more than me, but this movie was just whatever for me.

A sweet film but more so an important topic! There are better animations such as The Wild Robot that also tackles a heavy topic, but I am glad animations like these exist for kids. Give it a chance!

The music is decent and the voice actors are okay, but showing that families do not operate in straight lines or are perfectly constructed, is probably more important for kids to see than an excellent animated production.

Let's celebrate more films like these that are courageous enough to tackle important topics and critique them less harshly. Your kids will enjoy this film and the parents will likely reflect on a few things they could do differently too.

Spellbound may be built on a mix of various ideas from other animated movies however, it also has a fantastic message tucked inside of its fantasy adventure centring on the effects of divorce and how it can threaten to break a family apart. It comes to a satisfyingly mature conclusion and weaves its main message into most of the set pieces along the way which is enough to make up for how clunky the dialogue can be throughout by over-explaining the themes.

Rachel Zegler offers further proof that she can really belt out a tune whilst anchoring the film with an unwavering determination to help her parents. There's a solid amount of fun to be had watching Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem have to relearn human behaviour and John Lithgow is the best part of this. He's fine at first but once he swaps bodies into a much cuter character he becomes the highlight and gets the best musical number.

Vicky Jenson's direction keeps proceedings vibrant and playful, never going too long between musical interludes and despite a run time going towards 2 hours, it's actually nearer to a clean 90 minutes excluding credits. The animation ends up being the middle ground between Disney and straight to dvd with music by Alan Menken that brings some life into the film whenever it's beginning to falter even if all the songs here are forgettable and comfortably some of his weakest.

It would have been nice to know that this movie was mainly about divorce before sitting down with my family to enjoy a nice family movie.

The toddler enjoyed the first song or two, but she had lost interested by the midway point, definitely was not paying attention during the climax.

I say midway, but the pacing of this thing was all over the place, so I'm not really sure how far we were in or how long the movie was.. but at some point it took a turn and went from being a movie about a girl breaking the spell her parents are under (like Spirited Away) and dove straight into a "we need a divorce, but its not your fault" movie.

I didn't see anything about this in the marketing, although to be fair I don't know if I say any marketing besides a quick trailer.

It might not have been so bad if this movie hadn't also been so bad, I chuckled at a few throw away lines/sight gags, but that's about it. The plot was weak, the voice acting could have been better, and the animation felt off to me, but I can't quite describe what exactly. The lips didn't feel like they lined up right?

I watched this movie with my 5-year-old daughter, and it was absolutely fantastic! The songs, composed by the legendary Alan Menken (known for Tangled and Enchanted), are nothing short of magical. The world in which the story unfolds showcases the filmmakers' incredible craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Prepare for an emotional journey-it's a perfect movie to watch while cuddled up together. The scenery is breathtaking, the creatures are beautifully designed, and the story is a heartfelt adventure that unfolds at just the right pace. It kept us captivated the entire time, as the characters face fresh challenges at every turn on their way to achieving their ultimate goal.

As an adult, I enjoyed it just as much as my daughter did. There's plenty of humor for all ages, making it a well-rounded family film. If you loved Frozen, Avatar, or Wish, this movie will surprise you and quickly become a must-watch on your 5-year-old's movie list.

Princess Ellian (Rachel Zegler) of the kingdom of Lumbria is turning 15. For the past year, she has been hiding a secret. Her parents have been turned into monsters.

The animation is perfectly fine. It has an imaginative touch although the Dark Forest of Eternal Darkness is not actually dark. This movie seems intent on a cute singing Broadway show when it should concentrate harder on a fantasy adventure with some darker edges. The story needs to get moving faster, but the songs do delay the progression. The quest needs to go sooner and be more adventurous. As for the reveal, I don't see it as that much of a reveal. I expected that idea from the beginning. The movie is more interested in Broadway than me. That keeps it from taking off.

This animated movie had an awesome plot, but the stupid force singing was overwhelming and this is not in a good way. It like all the words was written first, then an idiot thought, let put these word into music, will sing the words and force a Melodie. All the song was words that was force to music, I even check to see if this animation was made with AI, I mean, who could ever have thought that this was a great idea? This reminded me of the Coca Cola commercial that was made with AI in November 2024, it was the most overwhelming Christmas commercial I ever seen, this was not a compliment and I wasn't the only one that thought that. I don't know why they couldn't have put more effort in the music like "Encanto". All the music in Encanto, was to me uplifting, awesome Melodie's that made the movie worth watching again and again. Even "Wish" animation had good music. Don't get me wrong, the plot and story-line is different, but I guess the person who wrote this story had to put their life experience in it, they couldn't keep a fairy-tale in the fairy-tale land, they had to make it real. The ending was more for teenager and adults, but I feel that it wasn't necessary. On the other hand, graphics and color was over the top, the adventure and obstacle was inventive, but the stupid force music ruined it from the beginning. Every time they started to sing, I was getting more annoying and annoying! If it wasn't for the fact that I wasn't watching this alone, I would of skip over all the force song. Who ever thought that this was a great idea, should be fire! I hat seeing all this great effort by this.

Skydance and its new stage under the Netflix umbrella offer us a tender and daring animation proposal that, although not completely rounded, is a pleasant family pastime with a fairly clear and emotional message for many.

Directed by Vicky Jenson, co-director of Shrek, she is responsible for taking us on this animated fantasy that has quite funny moments that combine perfectly with the sense of drama that the film hides behind it, facing a common story in everyday life, but which is very rarely exploited on the big screen and here they risk it to give us that experience adorned with a fantasy that generates empathy for adults and children about such a common and everyday theme in society.

Certainly, the proposal is well worked and it becomes an adorable pastime that both the youngest and the oldest will be able to enjoy, taking into account that it is a film that is designed for both audiences due to its theme and its message. However, the journey is not entirely convincing, because at times the film gets a bit stuck in wanting to emphasize where the final message takes us and there we lose a bit of emotion added to the fact that not all of its songs are effective unfortunately.

As for animation, Skydance is a studio that always stands out and on this occasion it does so again with a proposal full of colors and creatures that shine on the screen just like its main characters do, with whom you can empathize and have fun in an authentic way. It is a fantasy world and in that the studio does not limit itself to creating, coloring and making all its imagination shine.

Vicky Jenson returns to sign a fun and good animated film for Netflix, although it does not have the same impact as Shrek, it is an adventure that will bring the whole family together in a daring theme, full of messages and moments worth appreciating. A proposal to enjoy in an animation genre where Netflix continues to make the note with its proposals for its platform.

Spellbound, despite its vibrant animation and compelling music, falls short in its narrative approach, normalizing themes that might alienate certain viewers. The portrayal of divorce as a magical challenge to overcome feels overly simplistic and may inadvertently send mixed messages about family dynamics. Additionally, its effort to celebrate diversity through interracial marriage, while well-intentioned, can come across as overly tokenistic rather than organically integrated into the story.

While the film boasts a talented voice cast and an enchanting soundtrack by Alan Menken, the story feels more focused on modern social commentary than timeless storytelling. For those who prefer animated features to focus on escapist fantasy rather than addressing real-world issues, Spellbound might miss the mark.

I have yet to watch Luck. But honestly, now I can see where people are coming from with SkyDance Animation. Spellbound is just nothing but a Disney clone that tries desperately to be one of their musical movies without any effort to be as it's SkyDance's own movie. Although the animation and the score are decent, they cannot make up for the terrible writing that provided an uninspiring story, questionable effects in some cases, stale characters, an unpleasant tone, and a track of bland and forgettable songs. Even if you're a Disney fan, I don't recommend this movie. In fact, why watch this when there's musical movies from Disney that actually tell better stories and have much memorable songs? Or if you're curious about what SkyDance Animation is about when it comes to their movies, then I guess I won't stop you. I just want to state that I do admire some of the things SkyDance Animation is doing like with the animation. But considering that they have former producers that worked for Disney and that they're trying to be like Disney movies, I'm convinced that SkyDance is not fully ready to make animated films yet. I don't think there's enough light to make the movie worthwhile.

Like watching DEI create a movie in the spirit of AI. Not memorable other than Lithgow. Very reminiscent of Disney's wish which is not a compliment. Incredible storyline if you like divorce. Such a shame that they can't steer the storyline to make it interesting - doesn't help that they recruited the D. I. E. Master for the lead role either. Animation itself is of high quality, but it does not outshine the, "muh diversity" that overshadows any production value. If you're into post 2013 Disney, this will probably be right up your alley. If you like entertainment, you're better off imbibing in spirits.

The animation was good, and the voice acting was absolutely perfect. However, I have some issues with the movie.

The story idea was fine at first. The storyline started off strong, but here's the problem: this is supposed to be a children's movie, not one for adults.

The hidden themes in the story are too heavy for kids to grasp or even appropriate for them to know. While they tried to simplify things, the execution felt mismatched-especially after how dramatic and over-the-top the beginning was.

I also disliked the overly direct message at the end. It felt forced and out of place for a children's movie. The trailer set much higher expectations, but the final product was disappointing. The movie seemed more intent on pushing a questionable narrative than delivering a fun, age-appropriate story.

And while I understand it's a musical, the songs didn't enhance the story or give the right emotional vibe-they just felt like filler.

The story had potential, but it needed to be reworked from a child's perspective and should have avoided such a poorly handled ending. It's a shame considering the quality animation, talented cast, and all the hype around the movie.

I really font know when these companies are going to catch on about Zegler and her unequivocal ability to make something worse. The voice acting was off, that's the best i could describe it.. something just did not fit.

Ive always been a fan of John Lithgow, but this movie just seemed to want to add topics that were not needed as part of the original plot.

Quite frankly this movie was right inline with a lot of terrible movie or shows that are released now days. It's as if these studios have no original ideas and find the same group of people to be in these movies, whether live action or animated.

Quite sad for kids now days. They will never have anything close to what "hollywood" once was.

Last thought in case i wasn't clear, I really really dont like these new kid actor/actresses. Zegler has no humility and is so full of herself. It only teaches kids to be the same and they are qualities I cant stand.

Spellbound is rather average but watchable. Kids will love this but adults (like myself) will think this could be better even if it was tolerable. The voice cast is solid, particularly Rachel Zegler, John Lithgow, and Nathan Lane. It has some effective emotional moments and a great and important message for children that could help them get through tough times. It's a shame that everything else surrounding it is unmemorable, banal, and flat. The animation is a mixed bag. At times, it's passable and other times it's substandard and incomplete. The story is overly familiar and the characters are uninteresting. For a musical, the musical numbers are mediocre at best. Sure, the solo songs sung by Zegler are good but the other songs don't leave an impact. There are hints of what this film could've been but in the end, it's a pedestrian and middle-of-the-road product. I want to recommend this for its message but at the same time, there is better stuff out there. Also, this is better than Luck (yes, the same animation company that is behind that movie is behind this movie). I don't know if that's saying a lot, though.

This movie claims to be for kids, but the heavy focus on divorce feels out of place. Sure, kids' movies can tackle serious topics, but this just feels awkward.

The story components and settings are all over the place, like someone asked an AI to come up with a random plot and threw it on screen without bothering to connect anything. There's no real backstory. It's hard to care about the characters or their world.

The music? Completely forgettable. Nothing catchy, funny, or even worth admiring-it's just there.

In the end, it feels like a mediocre "B movie" with a big-budget animation makeover. The visuals might be nice, but the rest of it falls flat. Definitely not worth your time. Not a top 100 kids movie, not even one of the better ones on Netflix let alone anywhere else. Definitely don't plan a family movie night around this.

I think people may misjudge the film due to the way it has been advertised. I decided to watch it expecting it to be terrible, but I think it's a beautiful film.

Trying not to spoil anything, but I think it would be a very nice film to help kids understand divorce a bit better, and how to cope with the emotions that come from it.

I hope that people do give it a shot and don't just judge it straight away like a lot of people seem to be doing.

Animation is a little funky at times, and some parts of the storyline are predictable, but the overall storyline and focus of the film is lovely. Bit of a tear jerker at times if you're sensitive like me hahaha.

The story was new but didn't hold my attention. The starting of the story was not captivating, it started off very randomly.

They could have portrayed the struggles of the girl in a better way. Portraying her struggles through songs was more on happy side, it never showed the pain.

The shock for me (and shocking for the princess as well..lol) was the ending. I really didn't except an animation movie to talk about it. No child would want their family to go through that phase, and this director and production house decided it was a good thing to show kids about it. That is the disappointing thing for me.

But definitely, the overall plot of how darkness entangles a person's life and makes them monster is a great plot. If the plot revolved around the main idea, it would have been a great movie.