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Animated musical

Wish (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Wish (2023) movie poster

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.

IMDb rating
5.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
48%
worldwide gross
$255M
award nominations
2
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Wish (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 35m (95 min)
Original language
English
Budget
$200M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

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
  • 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
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Cast & crew

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.

Also Starring in Wish

· 16 more
From the directors

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.

Ratings

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).

55 /100

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.

Plot

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

Read the full summary
Box office

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.

2023 box office

Worldwide gross

$255M

1.3× its budget

US & Canada
$64M
International
$191M
Budget
$200M
US & Canada 25% Rest of the world 75%
Awards

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

Videos

Wish Trailers & Videos

38 videos: 4 trailers, 8 teasers, 6 clips, 10 featurettes and 10 behind-the-scenes videos.

All 38 videos
Official Teaser Trailer
  • Trailer WISH - November 23
  • Trailer Official Trailer
  • Trailer A Musical Event
  • Teaser This Wish
Quiz

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

  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 is the main character recounting the story in 'Wish'?

Details

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
  • 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?

FAQ

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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