Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- earnest
- melodramatic
- romantic
- young adult movie night
- romantic movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the modern Beauty and the Beast adaptation poorly written and acted, with an underdeveloped moral premise and little of the source material’s charm.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Beauty and the Beast premise is recast through Buckeston Academy, student status, social media-era bullying, and teenage romance.
Kendra's curse makes Kyle visibly as ugly as his soul, turning his arrogance and bigotry into the central supernatural punishment.
Kyle must become capable of genuine love and earn Lindy's affection within a one-year deadline, rather than relying on wealth or appearance.
Rob hides Kyle in an apartment after the curse, removing him from elite school life and surrounding him with a maid and blind tutor.
Films like Beastly, and why
The Princess and the Frog
modern fairy tale romance centered on a cursed outsider, physical transformation, and lessons about inner beauty
Twilight
young adult romantic fantasy with a supernatural curse, high school setting, and redemptive love story
Ella Enchanted
contemporary reworking of a classic fairy tale using teenage romance, social status, and transformation
Movie Details
- Director
- Daniel Barnz
- Release Date
- 2011-01-21
- Runtime
- 86 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (2898)
Cast
- Alex Pettyfer
- Vanessa Hudgens
- Mary-Kate Olsen
- LisaGay Hamilton
- Neil Patrick Harris
- Dakota Johnson
- Erik Knudsen
- Peter Krause
- David Francis
- Gio Perez
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- YouTube TV
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Beastly about?
- A vain high-school heir transformed by a witch must overcome his cruelty and win genuine love before a supernatural deadline expires.
- What is Beastly like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Beastly as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Beastly violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Beastly as mild.
- What did critics think of Beastly?
- Critics broadly found the modern Beauty and the Beast adaptation poorly written and acted, with an underdeveloped moral premise and little of the source material’s charm.
- Which films are like Beastly?
- Films with a similar feel include The Princess and the Frog, Twilight, and Ella Enchanted.
- How long is Beastly?
- Beastly runs 86 minutes.
- Where can I watch Beastly?
- In United States, Beastly streams on YouTube TV.
