A Little Princess

97%

Tomatometer

37 Reviews

88%

Audience Score

100,000+ Ratings

When young Sara (Liesel Matthews) is sent to a boarding school by her well-meaning World War I-bound father (Liam Cunningham), the imaginative girl makes the best of things by entertaining her friends with fanciful tales. After running afoul of the strict headmistress, Miss Minchin (Eleanor Bron), Sara receives some heartbreaking news, and is forced to work in servitude. As she struggles to keep her spirits up, she makes some remarkable discoveries that may change her seemingly bleak fate.

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A Little Princess

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Alfonso Cuarón adapts Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel with a keen sense of magic realism, vividly recreating the world of childhood as seen through the characters.

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Critics Reviews

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Anthony Puccinelli

Chicago Reader

I’d advise all parents, even all grown-ups: Go.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 7, 2022

Full Review

Caroline Westbrook

Empire Magazine

Soppy and girlish in the extreme, this should keep even the tiniest viewer rapt, while all too many adults may fall victim to an inexplicable bout of eye-watering long before the closing credits.

Rated: 4/5

May 27, 2011

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

The film uses studio resources to create an entrancing world both in New York and in the heroine's fantasies about India.

May 27, 2011

Full Review

Rachel Wagner

Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

One of the most well-crafted, magical family films ever made

Rated: 9/10

Apr 30, 2020

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Purely innocent, whimsical, and imaginative.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 29, 2019

Full Review

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

One of the very best children's movies of the past quarter-century.

Rated: 9/10

Sep 18, 2013

Full Review

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Audience Reviews

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Audience Member A gift of a movie. Very touching. Loved it. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/23/24 Full Review Cristina C Very magical children’s story that will leave some adults wondering too. A great memory from childhood!! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/04/24 Full Review Blu B All Time Classic. It masterfully blends a fantasy elements with a moving drama. The setting is beautiful, the camerawork is great, the asetics are amazing save for the Mortal Kombat Annihilation CGI but it's a small point. Everything else is masterful especially Becky & Sarah who are amazing to watch. The story is charming, moving, sincere, and even though you can see the ending coming the whole way it's so well executed it doesn't really matter at all. It fully embraces it rather than trying to hide it. Everyone should give this a try once, Kids will love this especially. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/19/23 Full Review StephenPaul C The greatest 01 hour: and 37 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/05/23 Full Review Cameron L Wow! Just wow! Very surreal and very beautifully and chanting at the very same time! Plus it's a hell of a tearjerker Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/13/23 Full Review steve d It didn't work at all for me even as a child. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews

A Little Princess

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

Alfonso Cuarón Director Eleanor Bron Miss Minchin Liam Cunningham Capt. Crewe Liesel Matthews Sara Crewe Rusty Schwimmer Amelia Minchin Arthur Malet Charles Randolph

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A Little Princess

A Little Princess (1995)

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Movie Info

Synopsis When young Sara (Liesel Matthews) is sent to a boarding school by her well-meaning World War I-bound father (Liam Cunningham), the imaginative girl makes the best of things by entertaining her friends with fanciful tales. After running afoul of the strict headmistress, Miss Minchin (Eleanor Bron), Sara receives some heartbreaking news, and is forced to work in servitude. As she struggles to keep her spirits up, she makes some remarkable discoveries that may change her seemingly bleak fate.

Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Producer: Mark Johnson
Screenwriter: Frances Hodgson Burnett, Richard LaGravenese, Elizabeth Chandler
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Brothers, Baltimore Pictures
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 10, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.0M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo