Maleficent (2014)

Disney took the scariest villain it ever drew and spent 97 minutes explaining she was just having a rough decade. The three pixie aunties are rendered in CGI so uncanny they look like bobbleheads that learned to argue. Sharlto Copley’s Stefan turns evil mostly because the script needed somebody to. The big finale is a blur of iron, fire and swooping that could belong to any fantasy movie. But Angelina Jolie is having an absolute blast. The horns, the cape, the slow smile when she crashes the christening: she plays it like the whole movie is her stage and everyone else is visiting. Sam Riley’s raven sidekick gives her somebody to roll her eyes at, which helps a ton. It made $759.9 million worldwide and pulled an A CinemaScore, so families clearly didn’t mind. A 5.2 because Jolie is a perfect villain trapped in a movie that’s scared to let her be one. $4,908 says you try Jolie’s slow villain smile in the mirror and scare yourself a little.

What works: Jolie owns every frame she’s in, and the christening scene is a perfect little villain showcase.

What doesn’t: The CGI pixies are creepy in the wrong way, Stefan is paper thin, and the finale is generic fantasy noise.

Who it’s for: Families who want a softer spin on Sleeping Beauty, and anyone who’d follow Jolie’s horns anywhere.