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Action thriller

Cruella (2021): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Cruella (2021) movie poster

Cruella is a 2021 action thriller directed by Craig Gillespie, starring Emma Stone as Estella, Cruella, Emily Beecham and Emma Thompson. It runs 2 hours 14 minutes and earned $233.5 million worldwide on a $200 million budget. It won 1 Oscar, including Costume Design, and 3 awards in all. Critics gave it 75% on Rotten Tomatoes and 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10. Stream it on Disney Plus and fuboTV, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
75%
worldwide gross
$233.5M
Oscar won
1
Cruella (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 14m (134 min)
Director
Craig Gillespie
Genres
Action , Thriller , Comedy , Romance
Original language
English
Budget
$200M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Cruella About?

The premise of Cruella without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

During the punk rock era in 1970s London, a young and ambitious con artist named Estella crosses paths with two resourceful thieves. Her unique sense of style attracts the attention of the mysterious Baroness von Hellman. This encounter sparks a series of events that reveal Estella's darker side and ultimately lead to her transformation into the infamous Cruella, a character known for her outrageous fashion and desire for revenge.

Cruella Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • female villain
  • murder
  • fashion
  • fashion designer
  • younger version of character
  • villainess
  • live action adaptation
  • robbery
  • dog
  • female protagonist
  • prequel
  • theft
+38 more
  • orphan
  • cruella de vil character
  • disney live action remake of animated film
  • england
  • london england
  • 1970s
  • one word title
  • protagonist becomes antagonist
  • dalmatian
  • scene during end credits
  • based on cartoon
  • adoptive mother
  • designer
  • based on adaptation
  • evil woman
  • united kingdom
  • altered version of studio logo
  • great britain
  • violence
  • britain
  • british
  • necklace
  • mother daughter relationship
  • pickpocket
  • vintage clothing store
  • dog whistle
  • kidnapping
  • voice over narration
  • narrated by protagonist
  • genius
  • fired from a job
  • funeral
  • surprise during end credits
  • origin story
  • death of mother
  • based on novel
  • title spoken by character
  • character name in title
Where to watch

Where to Watch Cruella

Stream it on Disney Plus and fuboTV, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Cruella Cast & Characters

Emma Stone leads the cast as Estella, Cruella, with Emily Beecham as Catherine, Maid and Emma Thompson as The Baroness. Directed by Craig Gillespie; 27 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Cruella Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Cruella 75% on Rotten Tomatoes and 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 63/100, strongest in character & emotion (68) and weakest in rewatch factor (55).

63 /100

Cruella Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Cruella delivers a visually engaging experience anchored by strong performances, yet its narrative weight fluctuates. Critics acknowledge the film's stylish production design and fashion-centric art direction, while noting uneven pacing and occasional over‑direction. Acting by Emma Stone and Emma Thompson garners consistent praise, contrasted with criticisms of shallow character arcs. The story offers moments of originality but suffers from uneven cohesion, resulting in a mixed but entertaining package that may appeal to repeat viewings for its style.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 65

    In terms of art and craft, the film excels in costume and production design, delivering a flamboyant, punk‑rock aesthetic praised by several reviewers. However, direction is described as over‑directed and overly stylized, reducing the impact of visual storytelling. The combination of striking fashion elements with inconsistent directing leads to a moderately strong artistic impression.

  • Character & Emotion 68

    When evaluating character and emotion, the lead performances receive notable acclaim, highlighting nuanced portrayals by the two leads. Yet some critics argue the villain’s depth is flattened into a commercialized archetype, limiting emotional resonance. Overall, strong acting balances the perceived superficiality of character development, resulting in a generally positive character assessment.

  • Story & Flow 60

    Regarding story and flow, the plot is praised for its inventive origin premise and occasional engaging twists. Critics, however, point to uneven pacing and a narrative that feels both over‑extended and under‑explored. User feedback mirrors this split, with many enjoying the premise while others desire a tighter, riskier storyline, yielding a mixed but modest story rating.

  • Sensory Experience 65

    The sensory experience benefits from a dynamic soundtrack and bold visual style that reinforce the film’s rebellious tone. Some reviewers find the needle‑drop choices distracting, but overall the sensory package—sound design, music, and striking visuals—contributes positively to audience immersion, resulting in a solid sensory score.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    Rewatch factor is tempered by the film’s strong stylistic appeal and entertaining moments, which invite repeat viewings for fans of the fashion aesthetic. Conversely, narrative inconsistencies and mixed character depth reduce lasting appeal for some viewers. Consequently, the movie offers moderate replay value, appealing chiefly to those drawn to its visual flair.

Plot

Cruella Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Cruella from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Estella, born in 1950s England with a striking dual-colored hair due to a rare condition known as poliosis, finds herself on a journey marked by creativity and tragedy. At just 12 years old, she faces ridicule at school for her unique hair and rebellious spirit. Her mother, Catherine (Emily Beecham), recognizes Estella’s potential and love for fashion, along with her fondness for a stray dog named Buddy. Seeking a fresh start, they relocate to London.

Full summary

The whole story of Cruella, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Cruella Box Office & Budget

Cruella grossed $233.5 million worldwide on a $200 million budget, 1.2 times what it cost. $86.1 million came from the US and Canada and $147.4 million (63%) from the rest of the world.

2021 box office

Worldwide gross

$233.5M

1.2× its budget

US & Canada
$86.1M
International
$147.4M
Budget
$200M
US & Canada 37% Rest of the world 63%
Awards

Cruella Awards & Nominations

Cruella won 1 Oscar, including Costume Design, and 3 awards in all.

3 wins13 nominations6 ceremonies

  • Critics' Choice Awards logo
    Critics' Choice 2022 1 win · 2 nominations
    • Won Best Costume Design
    • Nominated Best Hair and Makeup
  • British Academy Film Awards logo
    BAFTA 2022 1 win · 2 nominations
    • Won Best Costume Design
    • Nominated Best Make Up & Hair
  • Academy Awards (Oscars) logo
    Oscars 2022 1 win · 2 nominations
    • Won Costume Design
    • Nominated Makeup and Hairstyling
  • Saturn Awards logo
    Saturn Awards 2022 5 nominations
    • Nominated Best Actress in a Film – Emma Stone
    • Nominated Best Fantasy Film
    • Nominated Best Film Costume Design
    • Nominated Best Film Production Designer
    • Nominated Best Music in a Film
Show all 6 ceremonies
Videos

Cruella Trailers & Videos

23 videos: 2 trailers, 14 teasers, 3 clips and 4 featurettes.

All 23 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer 2
  • Teaser Sneak Peek
  • Teaser New Look
  • Teaser Origin
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Cruella?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is Estella's unique physical feature?

Cars

Cars in Cruella

71 cars on screen, including the 1963 Jaguar Mk.X and the 1980 Panther DeVille.

All 71 cars
  • 1963 Jaguar Mk.X in Cruella 1963 Jaguar Mk.X Main role
  • 1980 Panther DeVille in Cruella 1980 Panther DeVille Main role
  • 1983 Bedford TK in Cruella 1983 Bedford TK Important role
  • 1966 Commer 1500 Series III in Cruella 1966 Commer 1500 Series III Important role
Details

Cruella Also Known As

24 alternative titles, including “Стервелла” and “库伊拉”.

Also known as
  • Стервелла
  • 库伊拉
  • 时尚恶女:库伊拉
  • 黑白魔女
  • 库伊拉·德维尔
  • Քրուելլա
  • Круела
  • Круэлла
  • 크루엘라
  • Круелла
  • Crudelia
  • קרואלה
+12 more
  • ครูเอลล่า
  • 黑白魔女库伊拉
  • Szörnyella
  • クルエラ
  • 黑白魔后
  • 時尚惡女:庫伊拉
  • Κρουέλα
  • Kruela
  • Злица
  • كورلا
  • کروئلا
  • Kruella, კრუელა

Seen Cruella?

FAQ

Cruella FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and awards of Cruella, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Cruella?

Cruella runs 2 hours 14 minutes (134 minutes).

When was Cruella released?

Cruella was released on May 28, 2021.

Who directed Cruella?

Cruella was directed by Craig Gillespie.

More films by Craig Gillespie

Who is in the cast of Cruella?

Cruella stars Emma Stone as Estella, Cruella, Emily Beecham as Catherine, Maid and Emma Thompson as The Baroness, among 27 credited actors.

Where can I watch Cruella?

In the US, Cruella is streaming on Disney Plus and fuboTV and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Cruella make at the box office?

Cruella grossed $233.5 million worldwide ($86.1 million domestic, $147.4 million international) on a budget of $200 million.

How is Cruella rated?

Cruella has 7.3/10 on IMDb, 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, 59 on Metacritic and 80% on TMDB.

What awards did Cruella win?

Cruella won 3 awards from 13 nominations, including Best Costume Design at the Critics' Choice 2022.

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