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Fantasy drama

Wendy (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Wendy (2020) movie poster

Wendy is a 2020 fantasy drama directed by Benh Zeitlin, starring Devin France as Wendy, Shay Walker and Krzysztof Meyn. It runs 1 hour 51 minutes and earned $235,016 worldwide on a $6 million budget. Critics gave it 42% on Rotten Tomatoes and 55 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10.

IMDb rating
5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
42%
worldwide gross
$235K
Echo Score
73
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Wendy (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 51m (111 min)
Director
Benh Zeitlin
Genres
Drama , Fantasy
Original language
English
Budget
$6M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Wendy About?

The premise of Wendy without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Lost on a strange and timeless island, Wendy finds herself in a place where aging doesn't work as it should. To protect her family and her own freedom, she must confront a dangerous threat that seeks to steal the happiness and innocence of youth. She embarks on a perilous journey to preserve the spirit of childhood and escape the island's mysterious power.

Wendy Themes & Keywords

· 46 tags
  • forename as title
  • one word title
  • cutting off a hand
  • getting old
  • reference to peter pan
  • volcano
  • island
  • train
  • diner
  • frying an egg
  • name in title
  • child
+34 more
  • train track
  • freight train
  • child worker
  • mother son relationship
  • mother daughter relationship
  • brother sister relationship
  • narration
  • narrator on screen
  • female protagonist
  • children's fantasy adventure
  • reimagining
  • peter pan character
  • wendy darling character
  • underwater scene
  • pushed off a train
  • lost boys characters
  • childhood
  • female lead
  • no opening credits
  • friendship between children
  • interracial friendship
  • shipwreck
  • childhood adventure
  • hand chopped off
  • fantasy drama
  • intermittent narration
  • captain hook character
  • sea creature
  • fishing boat
  • harpoon
  • peter pan movie
  • animal in cast credits
  • louisiana
  • title spoken by character
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Cast & crew

Wendy Cast & Characters

Devin France leads the cast as Wendy, with Shay Walker as Angie Darling and Krzysztof Meyn as Thomas. Directed by Benh Zeitlin; 12 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Wendy

· 8 more
From the director

More from Benh Zeitlin

More films directed by Benh Zeitlin, best-rated first: Beasts of the Southern Wild, Glory at Sea and Egg.

Full filmography
Ratings

Wendy Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Wendy 42% on Rotten Tomatoes and 55 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 73/100, strongest in sensory experience (80) and weakest in story & flow (55).

73 /100

Wendy Echo Score Breakdown

Wendy presents a striking blend of visual ambition and heartfelt performances offset by an uneven narrative structure. Critics routinely praise its immersive style and sincere engagement with themes of childhood, while others point to a sense of narrative exhaustion and pacing irregularities. User feedback highlights emotional resonance and imaginative direction but notes occasional story lapses. The film ultimately impresses with its sensory richness and character work despite lingering coherence issues.

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

  • Art & Craft 75

    The film’s art direction and cinematography stand out with thoughtful framing and textured color palettes. Critics commend its visual richness and evocative locales, while a few note that the director’s imaginative well sometimes feels depleted. Users appreciate the soaring technique and seamless design elements. Overall, the artistic execution remains strong even if it occasionally overextends its visual ambition.

  • Character & Emotion 78

    The child ensemble delivers nuanced performances that infuse the story with genuine emotional resonance. Critics praise the unrestrained joy and chemistry among the young cast, though some find an abstract distance at the center. User reviews emphasize themes of hope, loss of innocence, and chemistry that grounds the narrative. In sum, the character work provides the film’s most compelling and heartfelt moments.

  • Story & Flow 55

    The narrative ambition of Wendy is clear, yet it struggles with coherence and pacing. Several critics point out moments of thematic overreach and a void at the story’s core, while user reactions applaud its reimagining of familiar material and thematic depth. Plot progression can feel uneven and messaging occasionally hamfisted. Ultimately, the story offers creative ideas but falters in consistent execution.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    In terms of sensory experience, Wendy excels with immersive soundscapes and striking visual cohesion. Reviewers highlight the lush cinematography, evocative score, and seamless integration of practical textures—all contributing to an enveloping atmosphere. A minority find the abstraction distancing, but most agree on its rich style and design. The film’s sensory presentation is a clear strength, delivering a compelling audiovisual journey.

  • Rewatch Factor 65

    The rewatch factor combines memorable imagery and emotional beats with some narrative shortcomings. Viewers note the lasting appeal of its themes of innocence and imagination, yet pacing inconsistencies and story gaps may hamper subsequent viewings. Critics acknowledge its captivating moments but caution that parts feel disjointed on repeat watches. Overall, Wendy offers moderate replay value that is buoyed by its strongest sensory and character elements.

Plot

Wendy Plot Summary

What happens in Wendy from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The cinematic adventure unfolds in the Darling Diner, a charming eatery nestled in a sun-drenched town, where Angela Darling (Shay Walker) cheerfully serves breakfast to the crowd. Among her patrons are her children, particularly Thomas Marshall (Krzysztof Meyn), who, along with his siblings, fills the diner with youthful spirit and enthusiasm. Angela playfully envisions a future where her children will be entrenched in diner duties, but Thomas’s heart longs for excitement and adventure, dreaming of life as a swashbuckling pirate. However, a heavy realization settles in when he contemplates growing older and leaving his dreams behind.

Full summary

The whole story of Wendy, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Wendy Box Office & Budget

Wendy grossed $235,016 worldwide on a $6 million budget. $143,518 came from the US and Canada and $91,498 (39%) from the rest of the world.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$235K

US & Canada
$143.5K
International
$91.5K
Budget
$6M
US & Canada 61% Rest of the world 39%
Videos

Wendy Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Wendy.

Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Wendy?

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 the name of the diner where Angela works?

Details

Wendy Also Known As

10 alternative titles, including “ונדי” and “Wendy Sohaországban”.

Also known as
  • ונדי
  • Wendy Sohaországban
  • Ein Leben zwischen den Zeiten
  • Венди и Питер. Остров застывшего времени
  • 웬디
  • 温蒂
  • 溫蒂
  • וונדי
  • Венді
  • 溫迪

Seen Wendy?

FAQ

Wendy FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Wendy, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Wendy?

Wendy runs 1 hour 51 minutes (111 minutes).

When was Wendy released?

Wendy was released on February 28, 2020.

Who directed Wendy?

Wendy was directed by Benh Zeitlin.

More films by Benh Zeitlin

Who is in the cast of Wendy?

Wendy stars Devin France as Wendy, Shay Walker as Angie Darling and Krzysztof Meyn as Thomas, among 12 credited actors.

How much did Wendy make at the box office?

Wendy grossed $235,016 worldwide ($143,518 domestic, $91,498 international) on a budget of $6 million.

How is Wendy rated?

Wendy has 5.7/10 on IMDb, 42% on Rotten Tomatoes, 55 on Metacritic and 57% on TMDB.

Does Wendy have a post-credit scene?

No. Wendy has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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