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A Little Princess

Play trailer Poster for A Little Princess G,  1995,  1h 37m,  Kids & Family/ Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 97% 38 Reviews Tomatometer 88% 100,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
97% Tomatometer 38 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
When young Sara is sent to a boarding school by her well-meaning World War I-bound father, the imaginative girl makes the best of things by entertaining her friends with fanciful tales. After running afoul of the strict headmistress, Miss Minchin, 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.
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 Jun 7, 2022
3/4
I’d advise all parents, even all grown-ups: Go. Go to Full Review
Caroline Westbrook Empire Magazine May 27, 2011
4/5
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. Go to Full Review
Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader May 27, 2011
The film uses studio resources to create an entrancing world both in New York and in the heroine's fantasies about India. Go to Full Review
Clotilde Chinnici Loud and Clear Reviews Aug 19, 2025
4/5
Overall, A Little Princess is a masterclass in magical realism, which also happens to be one of the genres Alfonso Cuarón excels in. Go to Full Review
Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) Apr 30, 2020
9/10
One of the most well-crafted, magical family films ever made Go to Full Review
Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid Jan 29, 2019
3.5/4
Purely innocent, whimsical, and imaginative. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Theodore R Jul 8, 2018 a bold and mighty walk of righteousness.. A Little Princess 3 And A Half Out Of 5 A Little Princess is a plot driven fantasy feature about a girl that stands for something that outs her on potential, power and tricks but lacks the force. There may have been various such features or tales that walks on a familiar path and rigid structure but its Alfonso's lens that lures the audience in for a second look. It is rich on technical aspects like background score, sound effects, art design, cinematography and editing. The camera work is impressive and is shot beautiful with a mild tone and perfectly balanced energy attained for providing a wider range. The adaptation by Richard LaGravenese and Elizabeth Chandler is smart, gripping and thought-provoking due to its layered concept and its sketchy and edgy characters that are as much as juicy as they are nutrient. Alfonso Cuaron; the director, as mention earlier, has done an excellent work on executing such mythical tale that could not resonate more with practicality and the society that we all reside in. The performance by the young cast is plausible and convincing throughout the course of it where Liam Cunningham and Rusty Schwimmer has done a decent work on supporting them. A Little Princess is a bold and mighty walk of righteousness that withholds the audience not for its ingenious modern take on old comic tales but the essence of those pages that it sums of. See more
Anakin S Mar 31, 2018 One of my favorite movies ever!!! Every I watch it as for the first time.
Abraham S Sep 1, 2017 With a strong sense of wonder and sharp visuals, this little girls' film, while not greatly acted or sporting the best plot, is adorable, light as a feather, and sometimes funny. See more
Anakin G Jun 23, 2017 "All girls are princesses, even snotty two-faced bullies like you..."
Poe R Feb 15, 2017 In my opinion the movie was pretty cute I think kids though 6-7 to adults will enjoy this movie. For me honestly I probably wouldn't want to go to a boarding school because I would miss my family to my just like Sara in the movie but I personally would recommend it even for adults. I give it 3 1/2 stars . See more
Finn S Jan 22, 2017 A beautifully shot, carefully constructed movie that slowly draws you in with each successive scene. Delightfully acted by the cast, in short a joy to watch. See more
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A Little Princess

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Movie Info

Synopsis When young Sara is sent to a boarding school by her well-meaning World War I-bound father, the imaginative girl makes the best of things by entertaining her friends with fanciful tales. After running afoul of the strict headmistress, Miss Minchin, 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
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