---
title: "Snow White and the Huntsman"
year: 2012
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/snow-white-and-the-huntsman"
fi1m_id: "snow-white-and-the-huntsman"
imdb_id: "tt1735898"
tmdb_id: 58595
wikidata_id: "Q624603"
fi1m_score: 52
critics_score: 51
critics_reviews: 22
published: "2026-10-01T22:12:18.363140+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-01T22:12:18.910812+00:00"
region: "PT"
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."
---

# Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

Directed by Rupert Sanders · 2h 07m · IGAC M/12 · Adventure, Fantasy, Drama

## Identity

Snow White and the Huntsman

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/snow-white-and-the-huntsman
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** snow-white-and-the-huntsman
- **IMDb ID:** tt1735898
- **TMDB ID:** 58595
- **Wikidata ID:** Q624603
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1735898/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/58595, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q624603

**Fi1m score: 52** · Critics 51 from 22 reviews

*In a sentence:* The queen has a personality; everyone else has an appointment with the costume department

> Charlize Theron gives this sombre fairytale some feeling, and the costumes and landscapes reward attention. But Rupert Sanders cannot keep an underwritten adventure moving, and 127 minutes is too long to spend admiring the scenery.

## Synopsis

Snow White (Kristen Stewart) makes a dangerous escape in a fairytale realm ruled by Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron). The Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) sets out on a deadly quest, while Snow White tries to get clear of the queen’s power. Her flight takes her into a threatening landscape, with freedom still far from secure. William (Sam Claflin) also figures in her story, and romantic complications accompany the struggle surrounding the queen and the escaping young woman. For Snow White, the immediate task is to survive beyond Ravenna’s reach.

## Review

Rupert Sanders gives *Snow White and the Huntsman* plenty of menace, but not enough momentum to sustain its 127 minutes. Turning a fairytale into a solemn fantasy adventure is a reasonable idea; the trouble is how seldom the characters become more interesting as the scenery changes. Hossein Amini, Evan Daugherty and John Lee Hancock’s screenplay keeps adding people without giving enough of them something distinctive to want or say. There is care in the making, and too little pleasure in following the story.

Charlize Theron’s Queen Ravenna is the substantial exception. We felt sorry for her, which surprised us. Theron allows pain to show through the queen’s coldness, making her hostility feel rooted in something more troubling than the need to provide a villain. That gives the film a human complication it could have pursued much further. When the performance grows more emphatic, the effect weakens: Theron is more disturbing when she seems to have decided what to do than when she is insisting on how furious she feels.

Kristen Stewart’s Snow White is less satisfactorily written, though blaming the performance alone would let the screenplay off too easily. Her reserve is credible, but the dialogue gives her too few chances to turn that reserve into a recognisable personality. Chris Hemsworth brings some warmth to The Huntsman, enough to suggest a more companionable adventure than the film usually allows. Sam Claflin’s William adds another person to care about without making the romantic complications much more persuasive. These are actors working to fill gaps that the writing should have dealt with.

Greig Fraser’s cinematography is much more persuasive, particularly in the landscapes, which look threatening before anyone has to explain the danger. Dominic Watkins’s production design makes the fantasy setting worth looking at even when the action has stalled. Colleen Atwood’s costumes give Ravenna the imposing presence the role needs, and Theron makes good use of it. The care lavished on these things matters: a dark fairytale needs somewhere convincing for its fears to take hold. But there are too many stretches when looking at the surroundings becomes the chief occupation.

The editing by Conrad Buff IV and Neil Smith cannot resolve the long middle section’s lack of urgency. Scenes accumulate without enough change in the people moving through them, so the journey begins to feel longer than the distance travelled could explain. James Newton Howard’s music adds weight, but its seriousness is more than some of the thinly written encounters can carry. A quicker pace would help, though speed alone would not make these relationships matter. The adventure needs better reasons to pause with its characters.

The supporting ensemble offers some relief, with Ian McShane, Ray Winstone and Nick Frost among the faces competing for limited space. The dwarves bring welcome humour, but their warmth also makes the surrounding solemnity feel harder to excuse. Dark fantasy can accommodate jokes without surrendering its dangers, and this film could have used more of that confidence. We would happily spend longer with these supporting characters if it meant less time on the unpersuasive romance. Go in for the queen if she is the attraction; do not expect everyone else to be given her opportunities.

*Fi1m score 52, published 1 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

The consensus is mixed, leaning towards disappointment, with praise concentrated on the visual world and Charlize Theron’s Ravenna. The reviews repeatedly single out the production and costume design, haunted landscapes and effects, even when the storytelling fails to engage them. Theron draws the most consistent approval for giving the queen menace, sadness and complexity. Several critics also welcome the dwarves’ warmth and humour amid the film’s prevailing seriousness.

The recurring complaints concern a sluggish middle, thin romance and too many underdeveloped characters. Critics divide over Kristen Stewart’s casting and whether the retelling follows through on its feminist ambitions; some also find that Ravenna loses her early complexity. The spread is wide: Eye for Film finds the fantasy gripping and praises the dwarves’ performances, while Collider sees shallow visuals and sloppy storytelling, though it still credits Theron with bringing pain to the queen.

## Straight answers

**Is Snow White and the Huntsman worth watching?**

*Snow White and the Huntsman* earns our 52 out of 100: worth considering for Charlize Theron’s queen and the threatening landscapes, but difficult to recommend as an adventure. We find the characters underwritten and the long middle section sluggish; viewers drawn to sombre fantasy and elaborate costumes have more reason to stay than those seeking pace or persuasive romance.

**How long is Snow White and the Huntsman, and what is it rated?**

*Snow White and the Huntsman* runs 2h 07m and is rated M/12 by the IGAC in Portugal. It is an adventure and fantasy film.

**Where can I watch Snow White and the Huntsman in Portugal?**

*Snow White and the Huntsman* is streaming on Netflix in Portugal, and it is also available to rent from Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video from €3.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is Snow White and the Huntsman, and is it suitable for children?**

*Snow White and the Huntsman* has a UK 12A certificate, and its menacing queen and threatening landscapes make it a cautious choice for younger or easily frightened children. The certificate requires under-12s to be accompanied by an adult at the cinema; we would treat this sombre fantasy as a better fit for older children comfortable with menace than those expecting a gentle fairytale.

**How does Snow White and the Huntsman compare to Princess Mononoke?**

*Snow White and the Huntsman* is the weaker adventure beside [*Princess Mononoke*](https://film.one/film/princess-mononoke), which we recommend for its forceful action and the sympathy it gives both sides of its conflict. Both offer threatening fantasy landscapes, but Theron’s queen supplies much of the former’s human interest; *Princess Mononoke* better rewards viewers seeking characters worth caring about, though its crowded storytelling also needs patience.

**What should I watch after Snow White and the Huntsman?**

After *Snow White and the Huntsman*, try [*Princess Mononoke*](https://film.one/film/princess-mononoke) (1997, Fi1m 88): A fantasy adventure whose forests and divided loyalties make its conflicts worth following. Then [*Pan's Labyrinth*](https://film.one/film/pans-labyrinth) (2006, Fi1m 87): Cruel authority and supernatural danger meet in a fairytale with painful human stakes.

### Reviews we read (22)

- **Los Angeles Times**, Betsy Sharkey (70/100, inferred): Sharkey finds the film a visually dazzling, inventive fairy-tale revision, though its romance feels unconvincing. She especially praises Charlize Theron’s chilling portrayal of Queen Ravenna and the film’s striking visual design. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-jun-01-la-et-snow-white-20120601-story.html)
- **Vulture**, David Edelstein (70/100, inferred): Edelstein finds the film’s revisionist, feminist tone compelling despite its uneven direction. He praises Charlize Theron’s commanding performance and striking presence as Queen Ravenna. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2012/05/movie-review-snow-white-and-the-huntsman.html)
- **Screen Daily**, Mark Adams (64/100, inferred): The review's verdict is unavailable in the accessible page. No specific element of praise or complaint is visible. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/-snow-white-and-the-huntsman/5042832.article)
- **Radio Times**, Stella Papamichael (3/5): Papamichael finds Kristen Stewart well cast but says Charlize Theron makes the deeper impact. She praises the queen’s tragic complexity while criticizing the overplayed flashbacks and underdeveloped love triangle. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-t2xld0/snow-white-and-the-huntsman/)
- **Total Film**, Joshua Winning (3/5): Winning finds the film visually striking but let down by a limited story and underdeveloped supporting characters. He singles out the haunted landscapes and the dwarves’ warmth and humour as highlights. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/snow-white-and-the-huntsman-review/)
- **Slant Magazine**, Ed Gonzalez (2/4): Gonzalez finds the film visually polished but weakened by banal, programmatic storytelling and an uncommitted feminist vision. He praises Charlize Theron’s campy, bored menace as the film’s most commanding performance. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/snow-white-and-the-huntsman/)
- **The AV Club**, Tasha Robinson (C-): Robinson finds the film increasingly dull and generic, despite an intriguing beginning. She praises Charlize Theron’s initially nuanced, character-driven portrayal of the queen, but says the story abandons that complexity for familiar fantasy tropes. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/snow-white-and-the-huntsman-1798172982)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Todd McCarthy (50/100, inferred): McCarthy finds the film visually arresting and imaginatively designed, but says its long middle section drags and its characters remain underdeveloped. He especially praises the rich production and costume design, along with the striking contrast between Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/snow-white-huntsman-film-review-331207/)
- **Empire**, Dan Jolin (40/100, inferred): The critic finds the film visually impressive but let down by weak storytelling and too many characters. Charlize Theron’s chilling performance as Ravenna is singled out for praise. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/snow-white-huntsman-review/)
- **Evening Standard**, The Standard (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the film overlong and underwritten, with a thin emotional impact. Its striking visuals are singled out for praise, while the crowded cast is criticized for having little to do. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/snow-white-and-the-huntsman-review-7811102.html)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (30/100, inferred): Bradshaw finds the film tangled and overblown, with the same basic problem as its recent counterpart. He praises Charlize Theron’s initially steely coldness but complains that she soon becomes a panto villainess. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/may/31/snow-white-and-huntsman-review)
- **IndieWire**, Sophia Savage (25/100, inferred): The critic calls the film muddled and ultimately unsuccessful as a feminist retelling. She singles out Kristen Stewart’s miscasting and the film’s failure to make Snow White a believable leader, while noting Chris Hemsworth brings some soul to the proceedings. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-round-up-snow-white-and-the-huntsman-wants-to-be-everything-its-not-181355/)
- **Time Out**, Tom Huddleston (1/5): Huddleston’s one-star rating indicates a strongly negative verdict. The available description frames the film as another Hollywood attempt to modernize classic fairy tales, but the review text is unavailable. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/snow-white-and-the-huntsman)
- **Eye for Film**, Merlin Harries (90/100, inferred): The critic finds the film gripping and exhilarating, praising its epic fantasy atmosphere and visual effects. The performances of the dwarfs, especially Johnny Harris as Quert, also stand out for praise. [Read](http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/snow-white-and-the-huntsman-film-review-by-merlin-harries)
- **HeyUGuys**, Ben Mortimer (4/5): The critic finds the film very good and well worth watching, despite its overly serious tone and occasional lulls. They praise its richly imagined world and production design, along with Kristen Stewart’s effective performance. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/snow-white-and-the-huntsman-review/)
- **NME**, Owen Nicholls (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the film mostly solid, though it lags in the middle and Kristen Stewart falls short in the hero scenes. They praise its dark, magical take on the Grimm tale and Charlize Theron’s performance. [Read](https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/snow-white-and-the-huntsman-film-review-769199)
- **Den of Geek**, Louisa Mellor (3/5): Mellor finds the film visually impressive but ultimately unbalanced and unsatisfying. She particularly praises Charlize Theron’s committed performance and the film’s striking effects and world-building. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/snow-white-and-the-huntsman-review-2/)
- **Digital Spy**, Stella Papamichael (3/5): Papamichael finds the film entertaining but narratively weak, with Charlize Theron outshining the other leads. She praises Rupert Sanders’s composed, ethereal visuals and spectacle, while criticizing the thin romantic tension and lack of meaningful revelations. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a383745/snow-white-and-the-huntsman-review-charlize-theron-outshines-co-stars/)
- **Paste**, Michael Burgin (5.3): Burgin finds the film poorly told, with uneven pacing and bland dialogue undermining its striking images. He praises Charlize Theron’s committed performance and Chris Hemsworth’s swagger, while criticizing Kristen Stewart’s casting. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/snow-white-and-the-huntsman)
- **/Film**, Russ Fischer (5/10): Fischer finds the film fractured and overstuffed, wasting its strongest ideas and characters. He praises Charlize Theron’s compelling Ravenna, whose power and complexity make her the most captivating presence. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/521461/snow-white-huntsman-review/)
- **The Wrap** (35/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a beautiful but ultimately misdirected mess. They praise Charlize Theron’s flamboyant performance while faulting the thin characterization and story. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/snow-white-and-huntsman-review-theron-chews-all-scenery-except-mirror-wall-42256/)
- **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (D-): Goldberg gives the film a harsh verdict, criticizing its shallow visuals and sloppy storytelling. He credits Charlize Theron with bringing sadness and pain to Ravenna, but finds the heroine and her journey dull. [Read](https://collider.com/snow-white-and-the-huntsman-review/)

## Details

- **Director:** Rupert Sanders
- **Director:** Rupert Sanders
- **Screenplay:** Evan Daugherty, John Lee Hancock, Hossein Amini
- **Cinematography:** Greig Fraser
- **Editor:** Neil Smith, Conrad Buff IV
- **Music:** James Newton Howard
- **Production design:** Dominic Watkins
- **Costume design:** Colleen Atwood
- **Producer:** Sam Mercer, Joe Roth
- **Cast:** Kristen Stewart as Snow White; Chris Hemsworth as The Huntsman; Charlize Theron as Queen Ravenna; Sam Claflin as William; Ian McShane as Beith; Ray Winstone as Gort; Nick Frost as Nion; Noah Huntley as King Magnus
- **Runtime:** 2h 07m
- **Certificate (IGAC):** M/12
- **Release (Portugal):** 31 May 2012
- **Genres:** Adventure, Fantasy, Drama
- **Budget:** $170 million
- **Box office:** $397 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDzRFcxlkMw

## Where to watch in Portugal

- Netflix: streaming
- Apple TV: rent €3.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent €3.99, uhd
- Apple TV: buy €5.99, sd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy €5.99, sd

*Checked 2026-10-01.*

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

## Awards

- Academy Awards 2013: Best Costume Design (nominated); Best Visual Effects (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *Beauty and the Beast* (1946): An enchanted setting and a dangerous romance, with room for both tenderness and fear.
- *The Company of Wolves* (1984): For fairytale menace that grows out of desire rather than general gloom.
- *Princess Mononoke* (1997), Fi1m 88: A fantasy adventure whose forests and divided loyalties make its conflicts worth following. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/princess-mononoke.md)
- *Pan's Labyrinth* (2006), Fi1m 87: Cruel authority and supernatural danger meet in a fairytale with painful human stakes. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/pans-labyrinth.md)
- *Tale of Tales* (2015): Elaborate costumes and royal appetites, with stranger consequences than the usual fantasy quest.

---
© 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/snow-white-and-the-huntsman