---
title: "Beauty and the Beast"
year: 2017
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/beauty-and-the-beast-2017"
fi1m_id: "beauty-and-the-beast-2017"
imdb_id: "tt2771200"
tmdb_id: 321612
wikidata_id: "Q19946102"
fi1m_score: 65
critics_score: 71
critics_reviews: 31
published: "2026-09-24T03:06:54.107596+00:00"
updated: "2026-09-24T03:06:54.392825+00:00"
region: "PA"
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."
---

# Beauty and the Beast (2017)

Directed by Bill Condon · 2h 09m · Family, Fantasy, Romance

## Identity

Beauty and the Beast

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/beauty-and-the-beast-2017
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** beauty-and-the-beast-2017
- **IMDb ID:** tt2771200
- **TMDB ID:** 321612
- **Wikidata ID:** Q19946102
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2771200/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/321612, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19946102

**Fi1m score: 65** · Critics 71 from 31 reviews

*In a sentence:* The enchanted furniture is ready to sing; the humans still have backstories to explain

> Bill Condon’s musical remake has warmth, strong songs and an appealing cast, but too much explaining between the numbers. Emma Watson and Dan Stevens give the romance more life than the crowded spectacle.

## Synopsis

Belle (Emma Watson) wants to decide her own future. Gaston (Luke Evans) is a threatening presence in her life, while the Beast (Dan Stevens) lives amid an enchanted household. Lumière (Ewan McGregor), Cogsworth (Ian McKellen) and Mrs. Potts (Emma Thompson) are among the objects with human voices and personalities. Belle’s encounter with the Beast brings her into their company, where she has to look beyond appearances to understand her host. Songs accompany a developing romance between two outsiders, with the household’s inhabitants taking an interest of their own.

## Review

Bill Condon’s [*Beauty and the Beast*](https://film.one/film/beauty-and-the-beast) is a pleasant musical remake that keeps interrupting its pleasures to add explanations. The songs still do their work, and the central pairing has enough warmth to make the romance worth following. But at 129 minutes, this live-action version feels too padded for a story whose appeal is so direct. We would recommend it to someone who wants the familiar music and a sympathetic Belle, with fair warning about the leisurely pace.

Bill Condon stays close to the 1991 animated film, while screenwriters Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulos supply extra history for characters who were already easy enough to understand. Giving people more to say about their past can deepen a romance, and some of the additional attention to Belle and the Beast helps. Too often, though, an explanation delays the next exchange we actually want to hear. The extra dialogue makes the story longer without making its people much clearer.

Emma Watson gives Belle a firm sense of her own wishes, and we believe her independence before the film has finished making its case. Dan Stevens brings a useful melancholy to the Beast, finding gentleness without removing all the awkwardness. We were touched by their growing ease together; the hesitant affection gives us something to care about amid all the decoration. The digital effects can make the Beast difficult to believe in, but Dan Stevens gives us enough feeling to keep following him.

The supporting cast has fewer complications to negotiate. Luke Evans plays Gaston with a confidence the film could use more often, and Josh Gad’s LeFou helps keep their scenes moving. Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen and Emma Thompson give Lumière, Cogsworth and Mrs. Potts enough personality to compete with their elaborate digital bodies. There is warmth in the voices that the busy effects cannot quite reproduce on their own.

Sarah Greenwood’s production design supplies so much gilt and rococo detail that the eye is seldom allowed to rest. We can admire the care and still wish for a less crowded view of the people. Tobias A. Schliessler’s cinematography keeps those elaborate surroundings readable, though the continual richness leaves little room for a change of mood. The décor is impressive, but it also competes with the actors in scenes that would benefit from less distraction.

Alan Menken’s music is the strongest reason to accept all this fuss. ‘Be Our Guest’ gives the enchanted household a musical number big enough to accommodate its collective personality, and here the extravagance feels welcome. The added songs are less memorable, however, and editor Virginia Katz cannot make the additional backstories feel necessary simply by keeping them orderly. Between the musical numbers, the film has a habit of slowing down just when we are ready to move on.

For a family musical, it spends a surprising amount of time explaining what its characters have already made clear. We would have welcomed more trust in the songs, and in the audience’s ability to recognise loneliness without a full account of its causes. If familiar music is the main attraction, there is enough here for a comfortable evening; impatience is a sensible reason to choose something else.

*Fi1m score 65, published 24 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics welcome Beauty and the Beast as a warmly played, lavish musical remake, with praise clustering around the production design, supporting cast and familiar songs. ‘Be Our Guest’ is the most frequently singled-out number, admired for its elaborate choreography and effects. Emma Watson’s independent-minded Belle and Dan Stevens’ thoughtful Beast earn substantial support, particularly for their romance. Several reviews also welcome the emphasis on inclusion and Belle’s greater independence.

The main divide concerns how much the remake gains by expanding its animated predecessor. Admirers find the additions thoughtful; less persuaded critics hear weaker new songs and find the extra backstories slow the film down. Responses range widely, from enthusiastic approval to Film Comment’s complaint that the heavy-handed additions and ornate design damage the story’s emotional core. Even some favourable reviews question the length, while the CGI characters strike others as less expressive than their animated counterparts.

## Straight answers

**Is Beauty and the Beast worth watching?**

*Beauty and the Beast* is worth considering for its familiar songs and warm central romance, but its padding keeps our score at 65 out of 100. We recommend it to those happy with a leisurely family musical; the extra backstories and crowded spectacle make it a weaker choice for the impatient.

**How long is Beauty and the Beast, and what is it rated?**

*Beauty and the Beast* runs 2h 09m. It is a family and fantasy film.

**Where can I watch Beauty and the Beast in Panama?**

*Beauty and the Beast* is streaming on Disney+ in Panama. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does Beauty and the Beast compare to Howl's Moving Castle?**

*Beauty and the Beast* offers familiar songs and a sympathetic Belle, while [*Howl's Moving Castle*](https://film.one/film/howls-moving-castle) is our stronger recommendation for an enchanted household and an unlikely romance. We favour the latter’s visual freedom, humour and tenderness, despite its tangled plot; the musical remake suits those who prefer familiarity and do not mind a slower pace.

**Is Beauty and the Beast based on a true story or a book?**

*Beauty and the Beast* is based on a book by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, not a true story, and this version closely follows the animated film. It adds character histories that sometimes help the romance but more often slow it down. We find no need to know the source beforehand: the film explains more than enough.

**What should I watch after Beauty and the Beast?**

After *Beauty and the Beast*, try [*Howl's Moving Castle*](https://film.one/film/howls-moving-castle) (2004, Fi1m 81): An enchanted household and an unlikely romance, with rather more visual freedom. Then [*The Red Shoes*](https://film.one/film/the-red-shoes) (1948, Fi1m 92): For another feast of colour, with dancing and rather more dangerous desires; and [*Song of the Sea*](https://film.one/film/song-of-the-sea) (2014, Fi1m 82): Family fantasy that lets its sadness matter without crowding out the magic.

### Reviews we read (31)

- **The Times**, Kate Muir (★★★★★): The critic calls the live-action remake an enchanting, scene-for-scene tribute to the 1991 classic that adds zing and subtlety, with convincing motion-capture for the Beast and lavish Busby Berkeley dance numbers. They single out the CGI household objects, diverse casting and escapism as making it better than the original in places. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/beauty-and-the-beast-r632vkmh6)
- **The New York Times**, A.O. Scott (89/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a joyful and enchanting live-action/digital hybrid that feels unforced and fresh, with romance that neither winks nor panders. He singles out the dazzling visual flights matched to the songs, especially the choreographic extravaganza of 'Be Our Guest,' for praise. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/03/movies/beauty-and-the-beast-review.html)
- **Screen Daily** (88/100, inferred): The critic describes it as an enchanting, emotional and exuberant musical makeover that adds to the canon with a burst of life, praising the barnstorming numbers, feisty heroine and poignant message of inclusion. Luke Evans' menacing Gaston and Josh Gad's scene-stealing Le Fou are highlighted amid the rococo fantasy. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/beauty-and-the-beast-review/5115535.article)
- **Empire**, Nick de Semlyen (86/100, inferred): The critic says the film rarely puts a foot wrong, following the blueprint faithfully but not slavishly while adding new elements, with strong casting of Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, standout sequences like Be Our Guest, and an unabashed musical energy that makes the extra runtime fly by. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/beauty-beast-2-review/)
- **Total Film** (85/100, inferred): The critic calls it a delightful live-action recreation of a familiar fable with irresistible spirit and pizzazz, a nostalgia rush and roaring success that clings closely to the 1991 template while well-judging additions by director Bill Condon, with warmth, craft, and finely tuned entertainment. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/beauty-and-the-beast-2017-review/)
- **Little White Lies**, David Jenkins (3/4/3): The critic calls it a total delight that plays the material straight but succeeds as a luxuriant refit extending Disney's winning streak, with subtextual themes of inclusion hardwired in. Watson's controlled performance as an independent Belle is praised for suiting the story's message about choosing one's destiny. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/beauty-and-the-beast)
- **Radio Times**, Alan Jones (4/5): The critic deems it a spectacular success in production values and design, though not quite as captivating as the 1991 animated classic, applauding the new songs, showstopping 'Be Our Guest' and incorporation of tolerance and feminism themes. Extended backstories for characters like LeFou are noted as tweaks. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-hwu0oo/beauty-and-the-beast/)
- **The i Paper**, Matthew Turner (★★★★): The critic praises the film as a delight from start to finish, a remarkably faithful recreation that brilliantly expands on the original with new songs, a deepened father backstory, charming performances, state-of-the-art effects, stunning production design, and musical numbers delivered with gusto. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/beauty-and-the-beast-review-53133)
- **The Telegraph**, Tim Robey (4/5): The critic praises the film as a generous, bells-and-whistles musical update that succeeds where other Disney live-action remakes have not, with Emma Watson dazzling and show-stopping numbers like Be Our Guest. They single out Ewan McGregor’s delightful Lumière and the sugar-rush finale as highlights of a chocolate-box spectacle. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/beauty-beast-review-emma-watson-dazzles-disneys-show-stopping/)
- **Time Out**, Cath Clarke (4/5): The critic praises the lively, modern adaptation with 2017 gender politics and a diverse cast done with integrity, highlighting the lavish musical spectacle and strong performances from Watson and the voice cast. Minor notes include the Beast feeling a bit drippy and questions over Belle's post-ending role. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/beauty-and-the-beast-3)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Susan Wloszczyna (77/100, inferred): The critic finds the live-action remake a dazzling, old-fashioned musical spectacle that is a beauty to behold but suffers from blockbuster bloat as a denser, longer confection than the original animated film. She singles out the inclusive view of love (including a mild same-sex moment) and the strong musical numbers like 'Be Our Guest' for praise, while noting the new songs and some added elements do not match the originals. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/beauty-and-the-beast-2017)
- **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman (76/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a touching, eminently watchable, at times slightly awkward mixture of re-creation and reimagining that justifies its existence but never totally convinces as something the world was waiting for. He singles out Dan Stevens' downbeat, morose Beast and the authentic-feeling romance for praise, while noting the material loses some spryness outside animation and the effects-heavy sequences can feel standard or exhausting. [Read](https://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/beauty-and-the-beast-review-emma-watson-1202001341/)
- **Slant Magazine** (75/100, inferred): The critic praises the film as an optimistic balm offering an idealized alternate universe of diversity and harmony, with visually satisfying set pieces and a sense of shared burden among characters as its greatest triumph. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/beauty-and-the-beast-2017/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Leslie Felperin (71/100, inferred): The critic finds the live-action remake a visually lavish musical confection with intricate production values and strong musical numbers like 'Gaston,' but notes it can feel a little bland and lacking depth once the sugar rush wears off. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/beauty-beast-review-982373/)
- **Evening Standard**, Matthew Norman (69/100, inferred): The critic finds it an engaging film thanks largely to Emma Watson’s casting as a proto-feminist Belle, with Dan Stevens projecting pathos as the Beast, but notes it prefers nostalgia over adventure and questions the point of remaking a flawless original. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/beauty-and-the-beast-review-simply-the-beast-a3680316.html)
- **The AV Club**, A.A. Dowd (C+): The remake is a shiny but unoriginal nostalgia object that faithfully recycles the original plot and songs without adding much new, succeeding mainly in bulking up the central romance but suffering from lead-footed direction and lost charm in the CGI elements. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/why-remake-beauty-and-the-beast-and-do-nothing-new-with-1798190749)
- **The New Yorker**, Anthony Lane (61/100, inferred): The critic finds the film delectably done with overwhelming dexterity and thoroughly marketed magic but notes it feels looser and beefier than the 1991 version, lacking its compacted delights, and ultimately melts away like cotton candy once the spell is broken. He singles out the sheer production values and some performances (like Dan Stevens as the Beast) for note while critiquing the added songs and lack of pep in the lead. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/03/27/beauty-and-the-beast-and-t2-trainspotting)
- **Sight and Sound**, Kate Stables (58/100, inferred): The critic finds the lavish live-action update a glossy, respectful tribute rather than a fresh rethink, with over-the-top production design and musical numbers that lose the original's playfulness. Dan Stevens' thoughtful Beast performance is singled out as a highlight amid an otherwise toothless story. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/beauty-beast-review-magnificent-monster-with-no-teeth)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Justin Chang (51/100, inferred): The critic views the remake as a gilded monument to the more-is-more principle, a leisurely sprawling epic of extravagance that pads and upholsters the original with cinematic excess. He singles out the lavish decor and some rapport between Watson and Stevens (especially the ballroom dance) for note, while complaining about the slack tempos, numbing choreography, and uninspired additions like new songs. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-beauty-and-the-beast-review-20170316-story.html)
- **The Guardian** (48/100, inferred): The critic finds Bill Condon’s live-action remake ornate to the point of desperation, with spectacle and design that become overbearing. They single out the excessive gilt, flourishes and Busby Berkeley-style dance numbers as signs of a film too eager to justify its existence, contrasting it unfavourably with Jean Cocteau’s more restrained version. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/mar/19/beauty-and-the-beast-review-undeniably-arresting-emma-watson-josh-gad-bill-condon)
- **Film Comment**, Michael Sragow (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the live-action remake bloated, awkward, and aggressive compared to the graceful 1991 animated original. They single out the heavy-handed additions and maximalist rococo design as detracting from the story's emotional core. [Read](https://www.filmcomment.com/deep-focus-beauty-beast/)
- **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (90/100, inferred): The critic finds the live-action remake a dazzling Disney musical beauty and a pure delight thanks to its joy, eye-popping visuals, soaring vocals, and craftsmanship in the hands of director Bill Condon. They single out the meticulously cast supporting ensemble—especially the voices and performances in the “Be Our Guest” number—and the soaring Alan Menken score for praise. [Read](https://deadline.com/2017/03/beauty-and-the-beast-review-emma-watson-dan-stevens-disney-musical-video-1202035789/)
- **Den of Geek**, Simon Brew (4/5): The critic calls the film very good overall, praising its sumptuous production, intelligent expansions on the source, and strong supporting performances. They single out the lavish 'Be Our Guest' sequence and high production values for praise. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/beauty-and-the-beast-2017-review/)
- **Digital Spy**, Rosie Fletcher (80/100, inferred): The critic describes it as perfect wish fulfilment and the fairytale needed right now, highlighting its warmth, romance, and progressive touches. They single out Emma Watson's charming performance as Belle and the spectacular 'Be Our Guest' number. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a822580/beauty-and-the-beast-review/)
- **Polygon**, Julia Alexander (75/100, inferred): The film is charming and uses the talents of its lead actors to successfully recreate and redesign the classic story, with the best part being the palpable chemistry and whimsical romance between Belle and Beast. Despite some flaws with supporting characters and occasional over-the-top elements, it captures the heart of the original while feeling entirely new. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/2017/3/3/14800974/beauty-and-the-beast-review/)
- **Consequence** (C+): The film is a kindhearted but over-dressed tribute that is too close to the 1991 classic to justify its additions, stretching the runtime with new songs and backstories that distract from the central romance and music. It could have done much worse but does not strive to reinvent or top the original in any meaningful way. [Read](https://consequence.net/2017/03/film-review-beauty-and-the-beast/)
- **NME**, Nick Levine (3/5): The critic calls it a decent remake that delivers premium nostalgia with modern flourishes and does its job nicely. They single out the voice casting of the enchanted objects and the subtly revisionist gay moment for Le Fou. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/beauty-and-the-beast-film-review-2016859)
- **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (C): The critic finds the live-action remake the weakest of recent Disney adaptations, with additions like new songs and plot tweaks slowing the film and detracting from the central love story despite lavish production values. The CGI Beast is particularly unconvincing, creating a barrier between character and audience. [Read](https://collider.com/beauty-and-the-beast-review/)
- **/Film**, Karen Han (4 out of 10): The critic finds the live-action remake padded and overly reliant on nostalgia rather than forging a fresh identity. Luke Evans as Gaston stands out as the one performance that captures the spirit of the original. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/549848/beauty-and-the-beast-review/)
- **Paste**, Jacob Oller (6.1): The remake hits all the notes of the original slowly and without distinction, with new components jammed into an older model that cannot use them effectively, resulting in a lumbering fairy tale overburdened by expectation. The leads are buried beneath charming living furniture and spotty song mixes. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/beauty-and-the-beast/beauty-and-the-beast)
- **The Ringer**, K. Austin Collins (40/100, inferred): The film hits the right nostalgic notes but is plain boring for kowtowing to what adult nostalgics want, adding dramatic depth and backstories where the story never needed them and preferring familiarity over risk or whimsy. It improves slightly on Belle but overall feels normie and adult-oriented. [Read](https://www.theringer.com/2017/03/17/movies/beauty-and-the-beast-review-2231ba0ec734)

## Details

- **Director:** Bill Condon
- **Director:** Bill Condon
- **Screenplay:** Stephen Chbosky, Evan Spiliotopoulos
- **Novel:** Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont
- **Cinematography:** Tobias A. Schliessler
- **Editor:** Virginia Katz
- **Music:** Alan Menken
- **Production design:** Sarah Greenwood
- **Costume design:** Jacqueline Durran
- **Producer:** David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman
- **Cast:** Emma Watson as Belle; Dan Stevens as Beast; Luke Evans as Gaston; Josh Gad as LeFou; Kevin Kline as Maurice; Hattie Morahan as Agathe / Enchantress; Haydn Gwynne as Clothilde; Gerard Horan as Jean the Potter
- **Runtime:** 2h 09m
- **First release (the UK):** 23 February 2017
- **Genres:** Family, Fantasy, Romance
- **Budget:** $160 million
- **Box office:** $1.27 billion
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYO2Ga4WDk4

## Where to watch in Panama

- Disney+: streaming, uhd

*Checked 2026-09-24.*

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, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 2018: Best Costume Design (nominated); Best Production Design (nominated)
- Saturn Awards 2018: Best Costume (won)
- MTV Movie Award for Best Movie 2017: MTV Movie Award for Best Movie (won)
- MTV Movie Award for Best Performance 2017: MTV Movie Award for Best Performance (won)
- Teen Choice Award for Best Villain 2017: Teen Choice Award for Best Villain (won)
- Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress - Sci-Fi/Fantasy 2017: Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress - Sci-Fi/Fantasy (won)
- Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie - Sci-Fi/Fantasy 2017: Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie - Sci-Fi/Fantasy (won)

## If you liked this

- *La Belle et la Bête* (1946): For a stranger, more unsettling enchantment, with room left for the imagination.
- *Cinderella* (2015): Another familiar fairy tale, told with warmth and a lighter touch.
- *Howl's Moving Castle* (2004), Fi1m 81: An enchanted household and an unlikely romance, with rather more visual freedom. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/howls-moving-castle.md)
- *The Red Shoes* (1948), Fi1m 92: For another feast of colour, with dancing and rather more dangerous desires. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-red-shoes.md)
- *Song of the Sea* (2014), Fi1m 82: Family fantasy that lets its sadness matter without crowding out the magic. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/song-of-the-sea.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/beauty-and-the-beast-2017