---
title: "Beauty and the Beast"
year: 1991
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/beauty-and-the-beast"
fi1m_id: "beauty-and-the-beast"
imdb_id: "tt0101414"
tmdb_id: 10020
wikidata_id: "Q179673"
fi1m_score: 91
critics_score: 89
critics_reviews: 6
published: "2026-09-13"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:15.956150+00:00"
region: "NO"
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 (1991)

Directed by Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise · 1h 24m · Romance, Family, Animation, Fantasy

## Identity

Beauty and the Beast

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/beauty-and-the-beast
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** beauty-and-the-beast
- **IMDb ID:** tt0101414
- **TMDB ID:** 10020
- **Wikidata ID:** Q179673
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101414/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/10020, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q179673

**Fi1m score: 91** · Critics 89 from 6 reviews

*In a sentence:* The Beast is awkward company, but at least he is not Gaston

> We would recommend Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale’s animated musical to anyone, not just families. The comic bustle occasionally crowds the romance, but its songs and voice performances make the tenderness feel earned.

## Synopsis

Belle (Paige O’Hara) is bookish and unwilling to accept the advances of Gaston (Richard White). Her story takes her to an enchanted castle and the Beast (Robby Benson), where a romance develops around the question of how much appearances tell us about a person. Musical numbers accompany the courtship and its comic complications, in a fairy tale where Belle insists on making up her own mind. Jerry Orbach voices Lumiere, David Ogden Stiers plays Cogsworth and Angela Lansbury is Mrs. Potts.

## Review

*Beauty and the Beast* takes the business of a musical seriously: the songs have to tell us who these people are, then give them something to do. Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale make that look straightforward, and their film is funny and moving enough for us to recommend it without asking whether there are children in the house. There is room for spectacle without losing sight of Belle, the bookish woman at its centre. At 84 minutes, it also knows how much evening it needs.

Linda Woolverton’s screenplay gives Belle a useful quality for a fairy-tale heroine: she is prepared to be unimpressed. Paige O’Hara makes that independence audible without making her sound pleased with herself. Richard White’s Gaston has enough self-satisfaction for both of them, and his vocal certainty makes Belle’s resistance all the more enjoyable. The song ‘Gaston’ gives his vanity an absurdly generous amount of musical encouragement. We laughed at how thoroughly the tune appeared to agree with him.

Alan Menken’s music gives each number a dramatic job. ‘Be Our Guest’ turns hospitality into an extravagantly organised production, with patterned choreography that makes the welcome almost overwhelming. It is excessive in exactly the right way. Editors Bill Wilner and John Carnochan keep the musical passages connected to the surrounding comedy and romance. The pace is brisk, but the numbers still have time to develop their own jokes.

That confidence carries into the ballroom sequence, where computer animation gives the space a depth that makes the dance feel physically possible. All that technical effort could have made the couple seem incidental. Instead, the scale makes their closeness more affecting, because we keep attending to two figures within it. We were moved more than we expected by Belle and the Beast dancing together. The animation gives them room, and the music does not make their tentative intimacy feel foolish.

Robby Benson’s Beast matters just as much as the space around him. There is awkwardness in the voice that makes the romance worth following; a more assured performance would have made it less touching. Jerry Orbach’s Lumiere and David Ogden Stiers’s Cogsworth give the comedy contrasting rhythms, one expansive and the other exact. Angela Lansbury’s Mrs. Potts supplies warmth without sounding as though she is instructing us to feel it. The voices make the enchanted castle companionable.

Our small reservation is that the castle can become too busy keeping us entertained. The comic business occasionally interrupts a feeling that could have been allowed to last a little longer. Wise and Trousdale are so capable of filling the screen that we sometimes wished they would leave the romance alone for another moment. A little less comic fuss would give O’Hara and Benson more room.

Family musicals can exhaust themselves trying to keep every age group separately occupied. Here the same songs, jokes and hesitations do the work for everyone, and the film lets the romance matter without making fun of anyone for believing in it. The comedy never depends on our feeling cleverer than the story. If animation usually sends you looking for something else, make an exception for this one.

*Fi1m score 91, published 13 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

The consensus is warmly positive, with praise clustering around the songs, animation and strength of the characters. The reviews find a traditional fairy tale refreshed by wit, lively staging and a resourceful, bookish Belle. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s musical numbers receive particular attention, both as songs and as animated set pieces. Critics also value the storytelling’s pace and the feeling in Belle’s relationship with the Beast, finding plenty for adults as well as children.

There is little substantive disagreement in the supplied reviews, and no recurring reservation emerges. The differences are chiefly in emphasis: The Independent highlights Belle’s feminist characterisation and the enchanted castle’s comic details, while Variety stresses the romance’s sincerity and its avoidance of corniness. Enthusiasm varies in degree rather than direction; even the more measured assessments describe a successful return to Disney’s traditional strengths.

## Straight answers

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

*Beauty and the Beast* is worth watching for anyone, not only families with children, and we scored it 91. Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale's animated musical gives Alan Menken's songs real dramatic work to do, and the voice performances make the romance feel earned. Our one reservation is that the comic bustle in the castle sometimes crowds a feeling that deserved another moment.

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

*Beauty and the Beast* runs 1h 24m. It is a romance and family film.

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

*Beauty and the Beast* is streaming on Disney+ in Norway, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from kr 39.00. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does Beauty and the Beast compare to The Red Shoes?**

*Beauty and the Beast* and [*The Red Shoes*](https://film.one/film/the-red-shoes) both use music and movement to make romantic feeling hard to dismiss, but they sit at opposite ends of the evening. The animated musical is brisk, funny and gentle enough for any age; Powell and Pressburger's film is longer, more dangerous and occasionally too pleased with its own seriousness. We recommend both without hesitation; choose by mood rather than quality.

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

*Beauty and the Beast* is based on a book, not a true story: the fairy tale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. Linda Woolverton's screenplay reshapes it into a musical with a heroine who is prepared to be unimpressed, so knowing the source is not necessary. The film explains itself entirely.

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

After *Beauty and the Beast*, try [*The Little Mermaid*](https://film.one/film/the-little-mermaid-1989) (1989, Fi1m 80): Another musical romance where the songs reveal impatience, longing and poor judgement. Then [*The Red Shoes*](https://film.one/film/the-red-shoes) (1948, Fi1m 92): For music and movement that make romantic feeling difficult to dismiss; and [*The Tale of the Princess Kaguya*](https://film.one/film/the-tale-of-the-princess-kaguya) (2013, Fi1m 84): Another heroine constrained by expectations, with animation that makes her feelings immediate.

### Reviews we read (10)

- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Duane Byrge (95/100, inferred): The critic delivers an ecstatic verdict, calling the film an enchantingly splendid animation that stands at the pinnacle of the art form and will cast its spell for generations. They single out the rousing musical numbers by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, lifted by visual delights and Busby Berkeley-style choreography. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/beauty-beast-1991-review-949935/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (90/100, inferred): This is the most satisfying Disney animated feature in decades, wised-up yet traditional with striking visuals and a strong story that charms all ages. It excels thanks to its memorable songs and endearing characters like the Beast and Gaston. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-11-15-ca-1202-story.html)
- **Empire**, Emma Cochrane (85/100, inferred): The 1991 film heralded Disney's return to classic form and became a landmark animated feature nominated for Best Picture. It singles out the strong characters, lively storytelling, film references and musical numbers for particular praise. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/beauty-beast-review/)
- **The Independent** (80/100, inferred): The film is a welcome return to form for Disney as a musical cartoon with a strong, bookish heroine. It singles out the lively animation, comic details in the enchanted castle and the new feminist take on Belle for praise. [Read](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-disney-hurtles-back-to-form-1556753.html)
- **Sight and Sound**, Marina Warner: The critic finds the Disney adaptation funny, touching and lively, communicating romantic hopefulness with panache and high spirits. It singles out the plucky, bookish heroine as a product of 70s feminism within a long literary tradition of romance. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/features/beauty-beast-belle-bete-marina-warner)
- **The New York Times**, Janet Maslin (Critic’s Pick): The film is a fresh and triumphant success that combines sophisticated computer animation with Broadway-style musical scoring. It updates the tale with a strong, self-reliant Belle and witty staging while honoring Disney traditions. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/13/movies/review-film-disney-s-beauty-and-the-beast-updated-in-form-and-content.html)
- **Time Out**, BC: The review hails the film as dazzlingly good and a family treat, praising its embrace of computer-generated imagery in the ballroom sequence and the resourceful, bookish Belle who resists chauvinist advances. It singles out the touching relationship between Belle and the Beast along with the musical numbers, especially 'Be Our Guest'. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/beauty-and-the-beast-1)
- **Variety**, Variety Staff: A lovely film ranking with Disney's best animated classics, it retells the tale with unabashed sincerity and emotional engagement while avoiding corniness. The songs integrate smoothly and the animation delivers a strikingly three-dimensional look. [Read](https://variety.com/1990/film/reviews/beauty-and-the-beast-3-1200428997/)
- **The Playlist**, The Playlist Staff (A): The review calls it a masterpiece with brilliant songs and heart, noting the 3D adds charm but the original's awesomeness is the draw. They single out the songs and emotional impact. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/review-beauty-and-the-beast-3d-is-the-same-great-movie-with-some-added-3d-charm-20120112/)
- **Eye for Film**, Scott Macdonald (90/100, inferred): The critic praises the film's magical quality and peerless craftsmanship in script, story, song, and emotion. They highlight the well-paced storytelling and standout musical numbers like the title song and "Gaston." [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/beauty-and-the-beast-film-review-by-scott-macdonald)

## Details

- **Director:** Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
- **Director:** Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
- **Screenplay:** Linda Woolverton
- **Story:** Brian Pimental, Kevin Harkey, Chris Sanders, Robert Lence, Tom Ellery, Joe Ranft, Bruce Woodside, Brenda Chapman, Burny Mattinson, Roger Allers, Kelly Asbury
- **Novel:** Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont
- **Editor:** Bill Wilner, John Carnochan
- **Music:** Alan Menken
- **Producer:** Don Hahn, Sarah McArthur
- **Cast:** Paige O'Hara as Belle (voice); Robby Benson as Beast (voice); Richard White as Gaston (voice); Jerry Orbach as Lumiere (voice); David Ogden Stiers as Cogsworth (voice); Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts (voice); Rex Everhart as Maurice (voice); Jesse Corti as Lefou (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 24m
- **First release (the US):** 29 September 1991
- **Genres:** Romance, Family, Animation, Fantasy
- **Also in:** [Best Picture winners](https://film.one/collections/oscar-best-picture.md) (Nominee, 1991); [Golden Globe Best Musical or Comedy winners](https://film.one/collections/golden-globe-comedy.md) (Winner, 1991)
- **Budget:** $25 million
- **Box office:** $425 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUVpyeS_fVw

## Where to watch in Norway

- Disney+: streaming, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent kr 39.00, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy kr 129.00, sd

*Checked 2026-09-13.*

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

## Awards

- Academy Awards 1992: Best Picture (nominated); Best Sound (nominated); Best Original Score (won)
- Annie Award for Best Animated Feature 1992: Annie Award for Best Animated Feature (won)

## If you liked this

- *La Belle et la Bête* (1946): For the same fairy tale made stranger, quieter and less reassuring.
- *The Little Mermaid* (1989), Fi1m 80: Another musical romance where the songs reveal impatience, longing and poor judgement. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-little-mermaid-1989.md)
- *The Red Shoes* (1948), Fi1m 92: For music and movement that make romantic feeling difficult to dismiss. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-red-shoes.md)
- *The Tale of the Princess Kaguya* (2013), Fi1m 84: Another heroine constrained by expectations, with animation that makes her feelings immediate. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-tale-of-the-princess-kaguya.md)
- *The King and the Mockingbird* (1980): A fairy-tale romance with political bite and room for visual mischief.

---
© 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