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The Nutcracker and the Four Realms 2018
Children's fantasyFantasy adventureMysteryChristmas
A 2018 American Christmas fantasy film, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms was directed by Lasse Hallström and Joe Johnston, with screenplay by Ashleigh Powell. Based on the 1816 fairy tale The Nutcracker and the Mouse King and the 1892 ballet The Nutcracker, it follows a young girl who receives a locked egg from her late mother and ventures into a mystical realm to find the key. Starring Keira Knightley, Mackenzie Foy, Eugenio Derbez, Matthew Macfadyen, Richard E. Grant, Misty Copeland, Helen Mirren, and Morgan Freeman, the movie was announced in March 2016 with Hallström as director and Powell writing the script. Most of the cast joined during that summer, with principal photography starting in October at Pinewood Studios and continuing through January 2017.
In December 2017, it was revealed that Johnston would oversee a month of reshoots, with Hallström agreeing to give Johnston co-directing credit. These additional scenes were written by Tom McCarthy, who remained uncredited, while Powell kept sole screenwriting credit. The score was composed by James Newton Howard, incorporating themes from Tchaikovsky’s 1892 ballet, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel with the London Philharmonia Orchestra.
Premiering at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on October 29, 2018, the film was distributed in the United States by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on November 2. Despite its release, it failed commercially, earning $174 million globally. The production cost between $120–133 million, resulting in a loss for Disney exceeding $65 million. Critics generally disliked the story and Knightley’s performance, although visual effects and design were praised.
Cast
- Mackenzie FoyClara Stahlbaum
- Keira Knightleythe Sugar Plum Fairy
- Jayden Fowora-KnightCaptain Philip Hoffman
- Helen MirrenMother Ginger
- Morgan FreemanDrosselmeyer
- Eugenio DerbezHawthorne
- Richard E. GrantShiver
- Misty Copelandthe Ballerina Princess
- Matthew MacfadyenBenjamin Stahlbaum
- Anna MadeleyQueen Marie Stahlbaum
- Sergei Poluninthe Sweets Cavalier
- Ellie BamberLouise Stahlbaum
- Tom SweetFritz Stahlbaum
- Jack WhitehallHarlequin
- Omid DjaliliCavalier
- Meera Syalthe Stahlbaum's Cook
- Lil Buckthe Mouse King
- Prince (the horse)Jingles the Horse
- Gustavo DudamelConductor
- Max WestwellFlower Cavalier
- Aaron SmythSnow Cavalier
Crew
- Director
- Lasse Hallström, Joe Johnston
- Writer
- Ashleigh Powell
- Producer
- Mark Gordon, Larry Franco
- Cinematography
- Linus Sandgren
- Editing
- Stuart Levy
- Music
- James Newton Howard
Details
- Production
- The Mark Gordon Company, Walt Disney Pictures
- Distributor
- Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- Budget
- $120–133 million
- Box office
- $174 million
