---
title: "Alice in Wonderland"
year: 2010
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/alice-in-wonderland-2010"
fi1m_id: "alice-in-wonderland-2010"
imdb_id: "tt1014759"
tmdb_id: 12155
wikidata_id: "Q174385"
fi1m_score: 48
critics_score: 51
critics_reviews: 20
published: "2026-10-01T21:14:14.099219+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-01T21:14:14.574994+00:00"
region: "GB"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Directed by Tim Burton · 1h 48m · BBFC PG · Family, Fantasy, Adventure

## Identity

Alice in Wonderland

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/alice-in-wonderland-2010
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** alice-in-wonderland-2010
- **IMDb ID:** tt1014759
- **TMDB ID:** 12155
- **Wikidata ID:** Q174385
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1014759/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/12155, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q174385

**Fi1m score: 48** · Critics 51 from 20 reviews

*In a sentence:* The Red Queen is furious, and after a while we began to see her point

> Tim Burton’s *Alice in Wonderland* has an entertaining Red Queen and plenty of strange faces, but its dutiful quest leaves little room for curiosity. The visual invention cannot make Alice’s journey engaging.

## Synopsis

Alice Kingsleigh (Mia Wasikowska) faces a quest in Wonderland, among talking creatures and two queens. The Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) is part of this company, along with the Cheshire Cat (voiced by Stephen Fry) and the White Rabbit (voiced by Michael Sheen). The Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) and the White Queen (Anne Hathaway) are among the royal figures Alice must contend with. The Caterpillar (voiced by Alan Rickman) and Tweedledee and Tweedledum (Matt Lucas) also belong to this company of creatures and courtiers, through whom Alice must find her way.

## Review

Tim Burton’s [*Alice in Wonderland*](https://film.one/film/alice-in-wonderland) has some inventive creatures and a disappointingly routine story. It attempts to give Alice a sustained adventure through the characters and creatures of Lewis Carroll, with a quest to keep the encounters moving. There is room for a good family adventure in that approach. Too often, though, an encounter promises something peculiar and then gets hurried along before it becomes interesting, leaving us with another elaborate figure to inspect and little reason to care about it.

Linda Woolverton’s screenplay gives Alice a journey without making her curiosity especially compelling. The opening is stiff, and the film never quite shakes the feeling that its characters have been gathered to explain what needs doing. Mia Wasikowska brings a welcome seriousness to Alice Kingsleigh, but there is too little in the writing for that seriousness to develop into a person we want to follow. We can understand the need for a clear story in a family adventure; we would still like Alice to have more interesting things to discover about herself.

The welcome exception is Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen. Her distorted appearance is funny before she speaks, and she gives the character’s anger a precision that keeps it from becoming merely noisy. We laughed at her impatience, because Helena Bonham Carter makes royal fury seem like a perfectly reasonable response to having to deal with other people. For a few moments, the film allows an unpleasant person to be amusing without asking that amusement to advance the quest.

Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter is less successful, despite the effort that goes into making him distinctive. The performance keeps asking for our attention, while the script offers too little reason to remain interested once we have inspected him. Anne Hathaway’s White Queen has a more promising suggestion of something disconcerting beneath the goodness, though the film does not linger over it. The Cheshire Cat is another pleasure: the creature’s appearance has a playfulness that the surrounding narrative often lacks.

Robert Stromberg’s production design gives the White Queen a palace whose conventional prettiness seems out of place among the stranger inhabitants. Dariusz Wolski’s cinematography makes those distorted figures more interesting to examine than their surroundings, which seldom feel like places worth exploring. Colleen Atwood’s costumes help distinguish the characters at a glance, though clothes can do only so much for people who have been thinly written.

Chris Lebenzon’s editing keeps moving past ideas that need a little more time, particularly the White Queen’s unsettling air of goodness. Danny Elfman’s music adds to the film’s insistence that this is an adventure worth taking seriously, without supplying the emotional involvement the scenes themselves lack. The result can feel tiring even when little of interest is happening. At 108 minutes, this is hardly an excessive length for a fantasy, which makes its heaviness all the more frustrating.

A family fantasy can have a clear destination and still leave space for curiosity. Here, the quest squeezes out the unpredictable encounters and verbal play that might have made the journey worthwhile. Viewers content to examine the creatures and costumes will get more from it than those hoping to be drawn into Alice’s experience. Come for Helena Bonham Carter if her presence is enough, but be prepared for the stretches without her.

*Fi1m score 48, published 1 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

The consensus leans towards disappointment, though praise for Burton’s visual imagination runs through favourable and unfavourable reviews alike. Critics repeatedly admire the creature designs and strange appearances, with Helena Bonham Carter’s Red Queen the most consistently praised performance. Even several detractors find individual images and characters worth enjoying. The recurring distinction is between an inventive-looking Wonderland and an adventure that struggles to make its inhabitants engaging.

Reservations centre on the conventional quest narrative, thin character development and loss of Carroll’s wordplay and dreamlike playfulness. Several critics find the combat generic or the pace ponderous, though the spread of opinion is wide. Little White Lies finds humour and imagination sufficient to outweigh underdeveloped characters, while The Hollywood Reporter considers the spectacle emotionally satisfying. At the other extreme, NME sees an irritating excess of CGI and too little plot. The disagreement extends beyond appearance to whether the film offers much feeling or fun.

## Straight answers

**Is Alice in Wonderland worth watching?**

*Alice in Wonderland* offers some visual pleasures, but we find it too routine to recommend and score it 48 out of 100. Helena Bonham Carter’s entertaining Red Queen and the peculiar creatures reward some attention; the dutiful quest and thinly written Alice make it harder to care about the journey.

**How long is Alice in Wonderland, and what is it rated?**

*Alice in Wonderland* runs 1h 48m and is rated PG by the BBFC in the UK. It is a family and fantasy film.

**Where can I watch Alice in Wonderland in the UK?**

*Alice in Wonderland* is streaming on Disney+ in the UK, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV from £3.49. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does Alice in Wonderland compare to Labyrinth?**

*Alice in Wonderland* is the weaker choice beside [*Labyrinth*](https://film.one/film/labyrinth), which we recommend for its greater humour and stronger personalities. Both follow a young heroine among peculiar creatures, but *Labyrinth* makes its wandering story worthwhile through humour and unease; Burton’s film offers inventive figures without making their encounters sufficiently engaging.

**Is Alice in Wonderland based on a true story or a book?**

*Alice in Wonderland* is based on Lewis Carroll’s fiction, not a true story, and turns his characters and creatures into a sustained fantasy quest. We find that approach leaves too little room for unpredictable encounters and verbal play. Knowing Carroll’s writing is not necessary to follow the adventure, though familiarity may make those shortcomings more frustrating.

**What should I watch after Alice in Wonderland?**

After *Alice in Wonderland*, try [*Labyrinth*](https://film.one/film/labyrinth) (1986, Fi1m 74): Another young heroine among peculiar creatures, with more humour and stronger personalities. Then [*Spirited Away*](https://film.one/film/spirited-away) (2001, Fi1m 92): A girl’s encounters with strange beings make her growing confidence convincing; and [*The Wizard of Oz*](https://film.one/film/the-wizard-of-oz) (1939, Fi1m 91): A clear quest that still finds time to enjoy its peculiar travelling companions.

### Reviews we read (20)

- **Little White Lies**, Anton Bitel (4/5/4): Bitel finds the film visually wondrous, funny and imaginative, though its underdeveloped characters are partly obscured by its strengths. He particularly praises the exuberant visuals and performances. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/alice-in-wonderland)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, THR Staff (90/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a thoroughly enjoyable, emotionally satisfying spectacle. They single out Burton’s visual imagination, along with the production design and costumes, for praise. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/alice-wonderland-film-review-29356/)
- **Empire**, Angie Errigo (65/100, inferred): The critic finds the film flawed but an enjoyable, distinctly Burtonesque adventure. She particularly praises its visual design and Helena Bonham Carter’s entertaining Red Queen. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/alice-wonderland-2-review/)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert (64/100, inferred): The page could not be accessed, so the critic’s verdict cannot be verified. No specific praise or complaint is available from the page content. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/alice-in-wonderland-2010)
- **Screen Daily**, Brent Simon (64/100, inferred): The available page does not expose the critic’s verdict. No specific praise or complaint is visible in the accessible text. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/alice-in-wonderland/5011309.article)
- **Slant Magazine**, Ed Gonzalez (2.5/4): Gonzalez finds the film visually dazzling but noisy, exhausting, and emotionally under-realized. He praises the Red Queen’s frightening performance and Burton’s inventive imagery, while faulting the acting and Alice’s weakly developed inner journey. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/alice-in-wonderland-4688/)
- **Time Out**, Dave Calhoun (3/5): Calhoun gives the film three out of five stars, indicating a mixed verdict. The available description highlights its collage of characters and episodes from Carroll’s books, but the review text is unavailable. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/alice-in-wonderland-1)
- **Radio Times**, Alan Jones (2/5): The critic finds Burton’s adaptation oddly conventional and ponderous. The review particularly criticizes its static, television-drama-style opening. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-pdmya5/alice-in-wonderland/)
- **The New Yorker** (40/100, inferred): The review finds the film visually lavish but more harrying than charming. It praises Helena Bonham Carter’s brisk, well-calibrated Red Queen while faulting the lost wordplay and emphasis on combat. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/alice-in-wonderland)
- **Sight and Sound**, Lisa Mullen (35/100, inferred): Mullen finds the film frustrating, arguing that its dark, imaginative premise is constrained by a hokey, predictable quest narrative. She praises striking ideas such as the Red Queen’s distorted appearance and the White Queen’s unsettling goodness, but says they pass by too quickly. [Read](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/exclusive/alice_in_wonderland_film_review.php)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (35/100, inferred): Bradshaw finds the film dull and overly conventional despite its gothic mood. He praises Burton’s distinctive visual design, while objecting to the Disney-like look of the White Queen’s palace. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/mar/04/alice-in-wonderland-review)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (30/100, inferred): Turan finds the film surprisingly inert and derivative despite some successful moments. He praises Burton’s imaginative creatures, especially the Cheshire Cat, while criticizing the tiresome disputes and generic battle scenes. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-mar-04-la-et-alice4-2010mar04-story.html)
- **The AV Club**, Keith Phipps (30/100, inferred): Phipps finds Burton’s film frustratingly impersonal and says it loses the books’ dreamlike playfulness. He singles out Helena Bonham Carter’s Red Queen as the only character who becomes memorable. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/alice-in-wonderland-1798164468)
- **The New York Times**, A. O. Scott (30/100, inferred): Scott’s verdict is negative, finding the film dull and lumbering. He faults its failure to bring energy or magic to Lewis Carroll’s world. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/05/movies/05alice.html)
- **Collider**, Harrison Pierce (85/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a delightful, imaginative return to Wonderland that surpasses similar fantasy sequels. They single out Burton’s visual style and the performances of Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter for praise. [Read](https://collider.com/alice-in-wonderland-blu-ray-review/)
- **The Playlist** (64/100, inferred): The page is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No praise or complaint from the review is available to report. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/review-alice-in-wonderland-finds-20100302/)
- **Den of Geek**, Michael Leader (3 out of 5): Leader finds the film a shallow, creatively moribund spectacle that squanders its source material. He praises the visuals and the final showdown, while faulting the thin narrative and unconvincing Mad Hatter. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/alice-in-wonderland-review-3/)
- **HeyUGuys**, Jon Lyus (35/100, inferred): The critic finds the film an uneven mix that never captures the stories’ inherent magic. They praise Burton’s haunting designs and several strong performances, but fault Alice’s underdeveloped journey and the film’s lack of cohesion. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/review-alice-in-wonderland/)
- **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (25/100, inferred): Wilkinson finds the film mediocre and its story too randomly assembled to sustain tension. She particularly criticizes the ineffective 3D, which fails to make Wonderland immersive. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/alice-in-wonderland-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson)
- **NME**, Owen Nicholls (10/100, inferred): Nicholls pans the film as an irritating mess of style over substance. He singles out the sparse plot and forced CGI-heavy visuals, while finding Depp and Wasikowska the best parts. [Read](https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/alice-in-wonderland-so-bad-it-even-manages-to-make-johnny-depp-look-rubbish-41978)

## Details

- **Director:** Tim Burton
- **Director:** Tim Burton
- **Screenplay:** Linda Woolverton
- **Novel:** Lewis Carroll
- **Cinematography:** Dariusz Wolski
- **Editor:** Chris Lebenzon
- **Music:** Danny Elfman
- **Production design:** Robert Stromberg
- **Costume design:** Colleen Atwood
- **Producer:** Katterli Frauenfelder, Joe Roth, Suzanne Todd
- **Cast:** Mia Wasikowska as Alice Kingsleigh; Johnny Depp as Tarrant Hightopp / Mad Hatter; Anne Hathaway as Mirana / White Queen; Helena Bonham Carter as Iracebeth / Red Queen; Crispin Glover as Ilosovic Stayne / Knave of Hearts; Matt Lucas as Tweedledee / Tweedledum; Alan Rickman as Absolem / Caterpillar (voice); Stephen Fry as Cheshire Cat (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 48m
- **Certificate (BBFC):** PG
- **Release (the UK):** 4 June 2010
- **Genres:** Family, Fantasy, Adventure
- **Also in:** [Golden Globe Best Musical or Comedy winners](https://film.one/collections/golden-globe-comedy.md) (Nominee, 2010)
- **Budget:** $200 million
- **Box office:** $1.03 billion
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9POCgSRVvf0

## Where to watch in the UK

- Disney+: streaming, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent £3.49, hd
- Apple TV: rent £3.49, hd
- Apple TV: buy £9.99, sd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy £9.99, sd

*Checked 2026-10-01.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 2011: Best Visual Effects (nominated); Best Costume Design (won); Best Production Design (won)
- Nastro d'Argento for Best 3D Film 2010: Nastro d'Argento for Best 3D Film (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *Labyrinth* (1986), Fi1m 74: Another young heroine among peculiar creatures, with more humour and stronger personalities. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/labyrinth.md)
- *Spirited Away* (2001), Fi1m 92: A girl’s encounters with strange beings make her growing confidence convincing. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/spirited-away.md)
- *Alice* (1988): A more unsettling Carroll adaptation, with handmade creatures and little interest in reassurance.
- *The Wizard of Oz* (1939), Fi1m 91: A clear quest that still finds time to enjoy its peculiar travelling companions. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-wizard-of-oz.md)
- *The Adventures of Prince Achmed* (1926), Fi1m 80: Silhouette animation gives this compact fantasy clear shapes, lively movement and real enchantment. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-adventures-of-prince-achmed.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/alice-in-wonderland-2010