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Action musical

Descendants: The Rise of Red (2024): Cast, Ratings & Ending

Descendants: The Rise of Red (2024) movie poster

Descendants: The Rise of Red is a 2024 action musical directed by Jennifer Phang, starring Kylie Cantrall as Red, Rita Ora and Brandy Norwood. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes and was made on a reported $85 million budget. IMDb users rate it 4.7/10.

IMDb rating
4.7/10
Echo Score
40
budget
$85M
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Descendants: The Rise of Red (2024) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 31m (91 min)
Director
Jennifer Phang
Original language
English
Budget
$85M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Descendants: The Rise of Red About?

The premise of Descendants: The Rise of Red without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A spirited group journeys through time to change the future. Red, daughter of the Queen of Hearts, and Chloe, Cinderella's daughter, use the White Rabbit's pocket watch to travel back and prevent a disaster threatening Auradon.

Descendants: The Rise of Red Themes & Keywords

· 28 tags
  • sequel
  • fourth part
  • queen of hearts character
  • cinderella character
  • prince charming character
  • magic
  • princess
  • prince
  • color in title
  • character name as title
  • king
  • queen
+16 more
  • female protagonist
  • fairy
  • captain hook character
  • white rabbit
  • white rabbit character
  • power
  • daughter
  • epic adventure
  • epic fantasy
  • teen fantasy
  • teen adventure
  • quest adventure
  • steampunk fantasy
  • time freeze
  • superhero action
  • female pedal pumping
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Cast & crew

Descendants: The Rise of Red Cast & Characters

Kylie Cantrall leads the cast as Red, with Rita Ora as Queen of Hearts and Brandy Norwood as Cinderella. Directed by Jennifer Phang; 20 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Descendants: The Rise of Red

· 16 more
From the director

More from Jennifer Phang

More films directed by Jennifer Phang: Advantageous, Advantageous and Half-Life.

Full filmography
Ratings

Descendants: The Rise of Red Reviews & Ratings

IMDb users rate Descendants: The Rise of Red 4.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 40/100, strongest in sensory experience (55) and weakest in story & flow (30).

40 /100

Descendants: The Rise of Red Echo Score Breakdown

Descendants: The Rise of Red delivers a mixed experience that leans toward disappointment. Critics and users note uneven visual effects, inconsistent production design, and a rushed narrative that undermines the film's potential. While the musical numbers and some cast performances receive occasional praise, the overall execution feels forgettable and lacking the cohesion of earlier installments. Consequently, the movie struggles to maintain lasting appeal for both new viewers and longtime fans.

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

  • Art & Craft 35

    The film’s art and craft receive largely negative feedback. Critics point out disappointing visual effects and a lackluster production design, while users describe the aesthetics as inconsistent and at times fake. Only a few reviewers note occasional strong set pieces, but these are outweighed by overall technical shortcomings. As a result, the artistic execution falls short of audience expectations.

  • Character & Emotion 45

    Character work presents a mixed picture. Some reviewers commend the cast’s chemistry and the actors’ ability to convey emotion, especially in moments that explore familial ties. However, many cite uneven performances and a lack of depth in new characters, with criticism of acting quality and missed opportunities for meaningful development. The net impression is that character strengths are present but not fully realized.

  • Story & Flow 30

    The narrative is widely regarded as a weakness. Multiple critics and users describe the plot as rushed, predictable, and riddled with holes that impede coherence. Points of contention include shallow storytelling, generic conflict resolution, and an overall sense that the film fails to build on its predecessors. Consequently, the story's quality is perceived as significantly below par.

  • Sensory Experience 55

    Sensory elements receive the most positive attention in an otherwise mixed reception. Reviewers frequently highlight catchy songs, engaging dance sequences, and occasional strong musical moments that resonate with younger audiences. Nonetheless, there are comments about awkward lyrics and inconsistent soundtrack choices that temper the praise. Overall, the sensory experience is viewed as a relative strength despite some flaws.

  • Rewatch Factor 35

    Replay value is limited according to both critics and viewers. The film’s uneven pacing, narrative deficiencies, and lack of fresh appeal reduce its desirability for multiple viewings. While a few fans mention watching it again for specific songs or nostalgic reasons, the consensus is that the movie does not encourage repeat engagement. Thus, its rewatch factor remains low.

Plot

Descendants: The Rise of Red Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Descendants: The Rise of Red from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

When Mal, Evie, Jay, and Ben embark on a journey to foster harmony with distant realms, Uma, portrayed by China Anne McClain, takes on the role of principal. In this new leadership position, she extends an invitation to Red, the daughter of the Queen of Hearts, to join Auradon Prep in the next academic year. Surprisingly, Red’s mother agrees, despite her daughter’s struggle to embody the queenly persona her mother desires.

Full summary

The whole story of Descendants: The Rise of Red, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Videos

Descendants: The Rise of Red Trailers & Videos

26 videos: 3 trailers, 2 teasers, 9 clips, 3 featurettes and 9 behind-the-scenes videos.

All 26 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official Disney+ Trailer
  • Trailer Get RED-y for Disney's Descendants: The Rise of Red
  • Teaser Auradon Prep's Newest Principal... UMA! - Teaser
  • Teaser Paint It Red - Teaser
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Descendants: The Rise of Red?

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

Who takes charge of Auradon Prep in the absence of Mal, Evie, Jay, and Ben?

Cars

Cars in Descendants: The Rise of Red

2 cars on screen: the 2024 Can-Am Defender Max and the unknown.

  • 2024 Can-Am Defender Max in Descendants: The Rise of Red 2024 Can-Am Defender Max Important role
  • unknown in Descendants: The Rise of Red unknown Minor role
Details

Descendants: The Rise of Red Also Known As

30 alternative titles, including “The Pocketwatch” and “The Pocketwatch - Descendants Sequel”.

Also known as
  • The Pocketwatch
  • The Pocketwatch - Descendants Sequel
  • Descendants 4
  • Descendants - L’Ascesa Di Red
  • Descendants 4 - The Rise of Red
  • Descendants - The Rise of Red
  • 星光繼承者:公主反叛聯盟
  • Descendants : L’Ascension de Red
  • Descendentes: A Ascensão de Copas
  • Descendientes: el ascenso de Red
  • 디센던츠: 레드의 반항
  • Descendenții: Ascensiunea lui Red
+18 more
  • Η Επόμενη Γενιά: Η Άνοδος της Ρεντ
  • Následníci: Vzestup Red
  • Następcy: Rebelia Red
  • Descendants: L’Ascesa di Red
  • Následníci: Vzostup Red
  • Los descendientes: Corazón rebelde
  • Descendants 4: The Rise of Red
  • Utódok: Vörös felemelkedése
  • ディセンダント ライズ・オブ・レッド
  • Os Descendentes: Coração Rebelde
  • Yeni Nesil: Kızıl'ın Yükselişi
  • Наследники: Возвышение Рэд
  • היורשים: עלייתה של רד
  • 星光继承者:公主反叛联盟
  • Hậu Duệ: Sự Trỗi Dậy của Red
  • Наследниците 4: Възходът на Ред
  • Įpėdiniai 4: Raudonųjų pakilimas, მემკვიდრეები: წითლის აღზევება
  • Спадкоємці: Сходження Ред

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FAQ

Descendants: The Rise of Red FAQ: Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, budget, ratings and post-credit scenes of Descendants: The Rise of Red, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Descendants: The Rise of Red?

Descendants: The Rise of Red runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).

When was Descendants: The Rise of Red released?

Descendants: The Rise of Red was released on July 12, 2024.

Who directed Descendants: The Rise of Red?

Descendants: The Rise of Red was directed by Jennifer Phang.

More films by Jennifer Phang

Who is in the cast of Descendants: The Rise of Red?

Descendants: The Rise of Red stars Kylie Cantrall as Red, Rita Ora as Queen of Hearts and Brandy Norwood as Cinderella, among 20 credited actors.

What was the budget of Descendants: The Rise of Red?

Descendants: The Rise of Red had a reported budget of $85 million.

How is Descendants: The Rise of Red rated?

Descendants: The Rise of Red has 4.7/10 on IMDb and 67% on TMDB.

Does Descendants: The Rise of Red have a post-credit scene?

No. Descendants: The Rise of Red has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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