Wish (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
Wish is a 2023 animated musical directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, starring Ariana DeBose as Asha, Chris Pine and Angelique Cabral. It runs 1 hour 35 minutes and earned $255 million worldwide on a $200 million budget. It earned 2 award nominations, including Feature Animation at the Artios Awards 2024. Critics gave it 48% on Rotten Tomatoes and 47 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 35m (95 min)
- Directors
- Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Walt Disney Pictures
- Budget
- $200M
- After the credits
- Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
What Is Wish About?
The premise of Wish without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
In this animated adventure, Asha, a spirited and optimistic young woman, makes a wish that summons Star, a magical being full of boundless energy. Their bond is tested when they must confront King Magnifico, the seemingly benevolent ruler who controls the wishes of the people in the kingdom of Rosas. Asha and Star work together to challenge Magnifico's rule and protect their community from an encroaching darkness, demonstrating the power of hope and bravery.
Wish Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- magic
- cgi animation
- computer animation
- kingdom
- king
- wishing on a star
- wish
- castle
- queen
- ruler
- sorcerer
- birthday
+38 more Show fewer
- friendship
- chicken
- island
- boat
- mouse
- princess
- disney animated canon
- forest
- book
- betrayal
- bear
- village
- goat
- cg animation
- fairy tale
- cel shaded animation
- spain
- palace
- wish fulfillment
- teenage girl
- hand drawn cgi hybrid
- human animal relationship
- wishing star
- iberian peninsula
- female protagonist
- peninsula
- talking animal
- talking goat
- one word title
- surrealism
- cgi film
- north american animation
- evil king
- sorcery
- wiped memory
- magic wand
- title sung by character
- hiding in a dumbwaiter
Wish Cast & Characters
Ariana DeBose leads the cast as Asha, with Chris Pine as Magnifico and Angelique Cabral as Amaya. Directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn; 20 actors are credited in all.
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Co-director Chris Buck - Co-director Fawn Veerasunthorn
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Ariana DeBose as Asha -
Chris Pine as Magnifico - Angelique Cabral as Amaya
-
Natasha Rothwell as Sakina
Also Starring in Wish
· 16 more- Victor Garber Sabino
- Alan Tudyk Valentino
- Jennifer Kumiyama Dahlia
- Evan Peters Simon
- Harvey Guillén Gabo
- Della Saba Bazeema
- Jon Rudnitsky Dario
- Ramy Youssef Safi
- Niko Vargas Hal
- Heather Matarazzo Flying Woman
- Keone Young Mountain Climber, Tall Man Tourist, Guard 1
- Efé Ship Captain, Fan Tourist
- Nicole Lynn Evans Mountain Climber's Wife, Mother Tourist
- Lucas Sigler Bunny, Baby Mushroom
- Holland Watkins Mouse, Mountain Climber Wife
- Woody Buck The Stag, Guard 2, Citizen 5
More from Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn
More films directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, best-rated first: Tarzan, Frozen, Surf's Up and Frozen II.
Wish Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Wish 48% on Rotten Tomatoes and 47 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 55/100, strongest in art & craft (78) and weakest in rewatch factor (40).
Wish Echo Score Breakdown
Wish presents a visually pleasing package but struggles with narrative depth and character engagement. Reviewers frequently criticized its plot coherence as formulaic and noted uneven character development that undercuts emotional investment. While the animation and musical moments shine intermittently, the film relies heavily on familiar Disney conventions without offering fresh insights. As a result, the overall impression is of a moderately entertaining experience that falls short of its potential, yielding a mixed but watchable outcome.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 78
In terms of art and craft, Wish delivers generally appealing animation tempered by a sense of creative repetition. Critics applauded moments of inventive visual design and intelligent use of traditional and 3D rendering, but many noted a reliance on familiar Disney aesthetics and interchangeable character models. While the film offers striking paintwork and intermittent stylistic flourishes, its overall visual approach feels safe, yielding a solid yet unadventurous presentation.
- Character & Emotion 50
Regarding character and emotion, Wish exhibits pockets of charm undermined by thin development. Reviewers acknowledged the plucky heroine and occasional comic relief from the animal sidekick, but they lamented interchangeable character models and a lack of memorable motivations. While voice performances were generally competent, insufficient depth and inconsistent chemistry limit emotional resonance. The result is a cast that feels serviceable yet rarely achieves genuine empathy or lasting impact.
- Story & Flow 42
When evaluating story and flow, Wish is criticized for relying heavily on familiar Disney tropes and exhibiting uneven pacing. Several observers described the plot as flimsy or riddled with clichés, and many noted logic gaps that undermine engagement. Some praised the thematic nod to a spiritual revolution, but originality is scarce. Overall, the narrative feels derivative and only intermittently engaging, resulting in a disjointed progression.
- Sensory Experience 65
In terms of sensory experience, Wish offers a mixed musical and auditory landscape. A handful of songs were described as catchy and charming, and the soundtrack features intermittent moments of harmony that engage briefly. However, critics also pointed to a disjointed score, warbled exposition in its numbers, and underutilized sound design. The result is an uneven aural presentation that occasionally delights but often frustrates.
- Rewatch Factor 40
On the rewatch factor, Wish struggles to sustain lasting appeal beyond an initial viewing. Viewers noted that the narrative and characters feel too familiar and lightweight to reward subsequent viewings, and many found the story forgettable. While some musical moments and visual flourishes might entice casual replays, the overall familiarity and lack of depth limit the film’s replay value, resulting in modest rewatch potential.
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IMDb 5.5 /10
50592 votes
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 48% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 80%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 47 Metascore
User score 4.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 62% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.3 /5
234569 ratings
See on Letterboxd
Wish Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Wish 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 5-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The story begins with Asha, portrayed by Ariana DeBose, a spirited young woman who shares the enchanting tale of King Magnifico, played by Chris Pine. Once burdened by heartache, Magnifico dedicated his life to mastering the mystical arts, ultimately rising to become a formidable sorcerer. He joined hands with his beloved wife, Queen Amaya, enacted by Angelique Cabral, to forge the magical kingdom of Rosas, a realm thriving with wonder and enchantment.
Full summary
The whole story of Wish, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Wish Box Office & Budget
Wish grossed $255 million worldwide on a $200 million budget, 1.3 times what it cost. $64 million came from the US and Canada and $191 million (75%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$255M
1.3× its budget
- US & Canada
- $64M
- International
- $191M
- Budget
- $200M
Wish Awards & Nominations
Wish earned 2 award nominations, including Feature Animation at the Artios Awards 2024. The 2 nominations come from 2 ceremonies.
2 nominations2 ceremonies
-
Artios Awards 2024 1 nomination- Nominated Feature Animation
-
Golden Globes 2024 1 nomination- Nominated Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language
Wish Trailers & Videos
38 videos: 4 trailers, 8 teasers, 6 clips, 10 featurettes and 10 behind-the-scenes videos.
- Trailer WISH - November 23
- Trailer Official Trailer
- Trailer A Musical Event
- Teaser This Wish
How Well Do You Know Wish?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the main character recounting the story in 'Wish'?
Wish Also Known As
35 alternative titles, including “Disney's WIsh” and “Le Souhait : Asha et la Bonne Étoile”.
- Also known as
-
- Disney's WIsh
- Le Souhait : Asha et la Bonne Étoile
- Wish : Asha et la Bonne Étoile
- Желание
- Želja
- آرزو
- Wish: El poder de los deseos
- 위시
- Điều Ước
- Přání
- Wish: O Poder dos Desejos
- أمنية
+23 more Show fewer
- Prianie
- Бажання
- Заветное желание
- Życzenie
- ウィッシュ
- Toive
- Dilek
- המשאלה
- Kívánság
- Ønske
- Ønsket
- Wish: El poder dels desitjos
- พรมหัศจรรย์
- Önskan
- Ευχή
- 星愿
- Жеља
- 星願
- Dorința
- 星願奇緣
- Noras, ჯადოსნური ნატვრა
- Vēlēšanās
- Soov
Seen Wish?
Movies Like Wish
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Wishes Come True, Star Fairies and Wish Dragon.
Wish FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Wish, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Wish?
Wish runs 1 hour 35 minutes (95 minutes).
When was Wish released?
Wish was released on November 22, 2023.
Who directed Wish?
Wish was directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn.
More films by Chris Buck Who is in the cast of Wish?
Wish stars Ariana DeBose as Asha, Chris Pine as Magnifico and Angelique Cabral as Amaya, among 20 credited actors.
How much did Wish make at the box office?
Wish grossed $255 million worldwide ($64 million domestic, $191 million international) on a budget of $200 million.
How is Wish rated?
Wish has 5.5/10 on IMDb, 48% on Rotten Tomatoes, 47 on Metacritic and 62% on TMDB.
Was Wish nominated for any awards?
Wish received 2 nominations across 2 ceremonies.
Does Wish have a post-credit scene?
Yes. Wish has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.
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