---
title: "Encanto"
year: 2021
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/encanto"
fi1m_id: "encanto"
imdb_id: "tt2953050"
tmdb_id: 568124
wikidata_id: "Q103372692"
fi1m_score: 80
critics_score: 80
critics_reviews: 23
published: "2026-09-24T03:14:36.282399+00:00"
updated: "2026-09-24T03:14:36.722329+00:00"
region: "FI"
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."
---

# Encanto (2021)

Directed by Byron Howard, Jared Bush · 1h 42m · KAVI K-7 · Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy

## Identity

Encanto

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/encanto
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** encanto
- **IMDb ID:** tt2953050
- **TMDB ID:** 568124
- **Wikidata ID:** Q103372692
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2953050/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/568124, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q103372692

**Fi1m score: 80** · Critics 80 from 23 reviews

*In a sentence:* A house full of magic, and still nobody has worked out how to stop making the children anxious

> A warm, perceptive family musical with an engaging heroine and a house worth getting to know. Its eagerness to tidy up difficult feelings is the chief reservation, but we recommend it warmly.

## Synopsis

In Colombia, Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz) lives in the Madrigal family’s enchanted house, which has a life of its own. Her relatives have magical gifts; she has none. The household includes Abuela Alma (María Cecilia Botero), Luisa (Jessica Darrow) and Isabela (Diane Guerrero), and exceptional abilities are part of everyday life. Mirabel wants to belong and to be useful, but being surrounded by gifted relatives makes that difficult. As she tries to find her place, she has to contend with the expectations that govern the family and the uncomfortable possibility that she has little to offer it.

## Review

*Encanto* is a warm, funny family musical that understands how much damage a household can do while congratulating itself on being close. Directors Byron Howard and Jared Bush concentrate on the Madrigals, a Colombian family whose magical gifts leave Mirabel wondering what she is supposed to contribute. We recommend it, with a reservation about how briskly it handles feelings it has spent time making complicated. Its most useful question is a simple one: what happens to children who think they have to earn their place at home?

Stephanie Beatriz gives Mirabel enough energy and humour to keep that question from becoming a lecture. The character’s eagerness to be useful is affecting because it sits so close to embarrassment; we recognise the effort involved in trying not to look left out. We felt protective of her as the family’s extraordinary abilities made her ordinariness seem like a personal failing. The performance makes that hurt clear without reducing Mirabel to someone who needs to be pitied.

Ian Gooding’s production design gives the family a home with enough character to compete with its occupants. The living house is a good comic idea, and it makes the shared home an active participant in the family business. Cinematographers Alessandro Jacomini, Daniel Rice and Nathan Warner keep faces readable amid the flowers and busy colour, so the visual abundance rarely becomes exhausting. There is care in the hair textures and skin tones, and it matters in a story asking us to distinguish individuals inside one large family.

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s songs draw on Colombian music and hip-hop, and their restless rhythms suit a family anxious about keeping up appearances. The singing allows characters to admit worries that ordinary conversation keeps concealed, which gives the musical numbers something useful to do. Germaine Franco’s score helps the quieter stretches retain warmth, although the songs supply the musical character we remember. Not every tune is equally durable, but there is pleasure in hearing a family musical let nervous energy shape its sound.

Jeremy Milton’s editing keeps the crowded household manageable, though the pace sometimes works against the writing. Jared Bush and Charise Castro Smith’s screenplay notices how praise can become pressure, then occasionally hurries past the consequences. We wanted longer with the awkwardness, especially when affection and resentment belong to the same person. At 102 minutes, the film accommodates a large family and several musical moods, but leaves less space for people to sit with something uncomfortable. Some of the emotional repair feels too quick.

Within family fantasy, giving the person without the special ability the central role is a welcome choice. The film is interested in the daily cost of being impressive, and it is generous towards relatives who make one another unhappy without setting out to do so. The Colombian setting matters, too: the variety of faces and the musical influences give the family an identity beyond the lesson it is meant to teach. Watch it with the family, then give whoever has been doing the organising a night off.

*Fi1m score 80, published 24 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics warmly welcome Encanto as an animated musical whose close attention to family expectations gives its magic emotional weight. Praise clusters around the expressive animation, the Colombian setting and cultural detail, and the Madrigal house as a character in its own right. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s songs are widely admired for their energy and storytelling, while Mirabel’s ordinary status within an extraordinary family gives the reviews a sympathetic heroine to rally round.

Reservations concern familiar storytelling and the tendency to tidy away complicated family hurts. The range of opinion is wide, though only one of the 23 reviews is negative. RogerEbert.com finds some songs forgettable and the narrative prone to meandering; /Film considers the storytelling too formulaic. The Guardian is the clear dissenter, finding little magic in the film and arguing that its messages about the characters’ gifts contradict one another.

## Straight answers

**Is Encanto worth watching?**

*Encanto* is worth watching for its humour, songs and perceptive treatment of family expectations, and we score it 80/100. We recommend it warmly for family viewing, especially for its engaging heroine, Mirabel, whose lack of a magical gift makes her feel inadequate, though it tidies up difficult feelings faster than we would like.

**How long is Encanto, and what is it rated?**

*Encanto* runs 1h 42m and is rated K-7 by the KAVI in Finland. It is an animation and comedy film.

**Where can I watch Encanto in Finland?**

*Encanto* is streaming on Disney+ in Finland, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV from €3.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does Encanto compare to Kiki's Delivery Service?**

*Encanto* offers a busy family musical where [*Kiki's Delivery Service*](https://film.one/film/kikis-delivery-service) offers a gentler fantasy, and we recommend both warmly. Both understand how exhausting it is for a capable girl to measure herself by usefulness, though each sometimes makes its lessons too tidy. Choose *Encanto* for songs and household friction, or *Kiki's Delivery Service* for the courage required by ordinary working life.

**What should I watch after Encanto?**

After *Encanto*, try [*Kiki's Delivery Service*](https://film.one/film/kikis-delivery-service) (1989, Fi1m 86): Another capable girl discovers how exhausting it is to measure herself by usefulness. Then [*Song of the Sea*](https://film.one/film/song-of-the-sea) (2014, Fi1m 82): Family grief and sibling friction find room inside carefully drawn magical adventures; and [*Coco*](https://film.one/film/coco) (2017, Fi1m 84): Music and family expectations again complicate a young person’s wish to belong.

### Reviews we read (23)

- **The Independent**, Mark Kennedy (4/4): The critic calls it a charming animated musical that flips the typical script by making the ordinary weird in a magical Colombian family. They single out the expressive visuals, house-as-character, and Miranda songs for praise. [Read](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/linmanuel-miranda-stephanie-beatriz-colombia-hamilton-mpaa-b1962409.html)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney (91/100, inferred): The critic calls it an absolute charmer, praising the purity of its storytelling, stunning visuals, and the buoyant original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda that blend traditional musical theater with Colombian music. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/encanto-disney-1235047171/)
- **The New York Times**, Maya Phillips (Critic’s Pick): The critic praises the film as brilliant Disney animation with stunning visuals, a beautifully composed story focused on family dynamics, and spellbinding songs, highlighting its respect for Latino culture. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/23/movies/encanto-review.html)
- **Vulture** (91/100, inferred): The critic deems it the best Disney animated film since Frozen, praising its visual and musical strategies that underscore a nuanced tale of self-doubt, family expectations, and maintaining a façade, which becomes enormously moving. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-disneys-encanto-with-songs-by-lin-manuel-miranda.html)
- **Empire**, Ben Travis (85/100, inferred): The critic praises the vibrant visuals, stellar songs, and story with real heart as another Disney banger. They single out the intimate family story, Miranda's melodies, and the emotional finale for praise. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/encanto/)
- **Total Film** (85/100, inferred): The critic calls it high-tier modern Disney that recasts the studio formula in fresh, dazzling shapes. They single out the endearing heroine, Colombia-set setting, and especially Lin-Manuel Miranda's songs for praise. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/encanto-review-disney/)
- **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman (Critics Pick): The critic calls it a lively, lovely, lush animated musical fairy tale with vibrant animation and infectious songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda that keep the film bopping, noting its girl-power themes and emotional depth. [Read](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/encanto-review-lin-manuel-miranda-1235111940/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Katie Walsh (80/100, inferred): The critic describes it as a rousing and compassionate animated musical with vibrant animation and a fast-paced script rooted in lessons about self-worth, praising its empathetic charm and potential for healing. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-11-23/review-encanto-disney)
- **Radio Times**, Patrick Cremona (4/5): The critic describes it as a vibrant and rousing exploration of family and Colombian culture and praises the bright, lively animation with memorable characters and the anthropomorphised Madrigal home. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/encanto-review-disney/)
- **The i Paper**, Francesca Steele (80/100, inferred): The critic describes it as a spectacular yet intimate coming-of-age fable celebrating ordinariness and everyday miracles in a Colombian magical family. They single out the best soundtrack since Frozen and the lack of a villain for praise. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/encanto-review-movie-film-disney-lin-manuel-miranda-frozen-1319056)
- **The Telegraph**, Robbie Collin (4/5): The critic calls it an out-and-out delight and a lusciously rendered swashbuckling adventure with dazzling animation, a sentient house, and a shrewdly introspective story about a young woman who feels surplus to requirements, boosted by Lin-Manuel Miranda's Latin and hip-hop-flavoured songs. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/encanto-review-lusciously-rendered-swashbuckling-adventure/)
- **Time Out**, Whelan Barzey (4/5): The critic calls it a fun, boisterous and sassy magical realistic tale and praises the animation for rendering luscious flowers, hair textures and skin tones as a genuine love letter to the diversity of Latin America. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/encanto-disney-review)
- **The Times**, Kevin Maher (★★★★☆): The critic praises it as a spectacular all-singing all-dancing Disney cartoon with a muscular sense of its own identity that addresses superhero tropes and the weight of family expectations and status in a Colombian setting, though it ends with a somewhat compromised happy ending. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/encanto-review-a-spectacular-all-singing-all-dancing-disney-superhero-cartoon-k82zsfwtj)
- **Slant Magazine** (77/100, inferred): The review praises its clever use of magical realism that brings a vibrant, distinctly South American flavor and conveys that even in the best families it takes work to stay together, though the resolution is wrapped up too quickly and cleanly. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/encanto-review-disney-animated-musical/)
- **Screen Daily** (75/100, inferred): The critic calls it an appealing animated film that finds fresh ways to tell a story about characters with powers and praises the heartfelt message about coming to terms with trauma, which yields intensely moving results when the directors focus on underlying emotions. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/encanto-review/5164982.article)
- **IndieWire**, Kristen Lopez (B-): The review describes it as a beautiful but trite lavish animated musical that feels emotionally wrought about family hurts and how 'normal' can be a four-letter word, though the story tries too hard to wrap nuance in a tidy bow. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/2021/11/encanto-review-disney-animated-musical-1234676653/)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Monica Castillo (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a charming animated musical about family and self-worth despite some meandering and forgettable songs, praising its animation, design, voice cast, and cultural nods to Colombia. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/encanto-movie-review-2021)
- **The Guardian** (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a blandly frictionless Disney fairytale that misses the magic, hampered by contradictory messages about its characters' gifts and a lack of sparkle despite nice moments and sweet show tunes by Lin-Manuel Miranda. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/nov/15/encanto-review-disney-lin-manuel-miranda-blandly-frictionless-fairy-tale)
- **HeyUGuys**, Emily Breen (5/5): The review calls Encanto a joy with dazzling animation and a colourful soundtrack by Lin-Manuel Miranda, highlighting Mirabel as an engaging heroine and the film's delicate handling of peril leading to happy tears. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/encanto-review/)
- **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (A-): The critic calls Encanto a heartwarming celebration of family that stands out from recent Disney Animation films by focusing entirely on familial relationships and expectations rather than using family as mere backdrop. They single out the catchy, original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda and the gorgeous animation for praise, while noting the story's emphasis that Mirabel does not need a superpower to be special. [Read](https://collider.com/encanto-review-disney/)
- **Polygon**, Petrana Radulovic (90/100, inferred): The critic praises Encanto as a musical masterpiece and one of the most emotionally compelling films of Disney’s Revival Era, highlighting its tight focus on complex family dynamics, relatable themes of legacy and expectations, and effective use of music and animation to explore them without relying on a traditional villain. They single out the story’s grounded, inward-looking approach to family relationships and the infectious, storytelling-driven songs. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22778613/encanto-review-disney-lin-manuel-miranda/)
- **Eye for Film**, Andrew Robertson (★★★★): The critic finds the film breezy, bright, and brilliant, praising its catchy songs, dazzling animation, and charming take on family dynamics and magical realism in a Colombian setting. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/encanto-2021-film-review-by-andrew-robertson)
- **/Film**, Josh Spiegel (7/10): The critic describes it as a likable and charming Disney film with beautiful animation and strong cultural elements, but notes it stays formulaic and does not push storytelling limits far enough. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/660992/encanto-review-a-sweet-but-formulaic-new-disney-adventure/)

## Details

- **Director:** Byron Howard, Jared Bush
- **Director:** Byron Howard, Jared Bush
- **Screenplay:** Charise Castro Smith, Jared Bush
- **Story:** Charise Castro Smith, Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Jason Hand, Nancy Kruse, Lin-Manuel Miranda
- **Cinematography:** Nathan Warner, Alessandro Jacomini, Daniel Rice
- **Editor:** Jeremy Milton
- **Music:** Germaine Franco
- **Production design:** Ian Gooding
- **Producer:** Clark Spencer, Yvett Merino
- **Cast:** Stephanie Beatriz as Mirabel (voice); María Cecilia Botero as Abuela Alma (voice); John Leguizamo as Bruno (voice); Mauro Castillo as Félix (voice); Jessica Darrow as Luisa (voice); Angie Cepeda as Julieta  (voice); Carolina Gaitán as Pepa (voice); Diane Guerrero as Isabela (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 42m
- **Certificate (KAVI):** K-7
- **Release (Finland):** 24 November 2021
- **Genres:** Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
- **Budget:** $150 million
- **Box office:** $261 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaimKeDcudo

## Where to watch in Finland

- Disney+: streaming, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent €3.99, uhd
- Apple TV: rent €3.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy €16.99, uhd
- Apple TV: buy €16.99, hd

*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, 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 2022: Best Animated Feature (won)
- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie 2022: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie (won)
- Annie Award for Best Animated Feature 2021: Annie Award for Best Animated Feature (nominated)
- Critics' Choice Awards 2021: Best Animated Feature (nominated)
- Golden Globes 2021: Best Animated Feature Film (won)

## If you liked this

- *Kiki's Delivery Service* (1989), Fi1m 86: Another capable girl discovers how exhausting it is to measure herself by usefulness. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/kikis-delivery-service.md)
- *Song of the Sea* (2014), Fi1m 82: Family grief and sibling friction find room inside carefully drawn magical adventures. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/song-of-the-sea.md)
- *Coco* (2017), Fi1m 84: Music and family expectations again complicate a young person’s wish to belong. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/coco.md)
- *Whale Rider* (2002): A granddaughter’s abilities meet a family tradition reluctant to make room for her.
- *Petite maman* (2021): A quieter family fantasy that lets a child reconsider her mother’s life.

---
© 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/encanto