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Beauty and the Beast

1946 · Movie · Not Rated · 96 min · ★ 7.5 · 94% critics

DramaFantasyRomance

A gentle merchant’s life is upended when he takes shelter in a mysterious chateau and picks a rose. The chateau’s owner, a repellent but strangely fascinating beast, demands a terrible bargain—pushing a young woman to choose between her family and the beast’s fate, under a haunting sense of magic and consequence.

Based on La Belle et la Bête

Where to watch

Watch free on Kanopy, Hoopla, Shout! Factory TV +3 more — also streaming on HBO Max, The Criterion Channel and TCM.

2 hours to watch.

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Details
Original title
La Belle et la Bête
Years
1946
Release date
1946-10-29
Language
French
Rated
Not Rated
Runtime
96 min
Max quality
HD
Critic score
94/100
TMDB rating
7.5/10 (666 votes)
About

You’ll likely enjoy this surreal, grown-up fairy tale if you want haunting charm and dreamlike visuals without Disney musical expectations; Not for you if you prefer lighter, more straightforward romance like Edward Scissorhands or Last Year at Marienbad.

Pros: haunting fairy-tale atmosphere; gorgeous black-and-white visuals; mesmerizing fantasy sets | Cons: dialogue can feel heavy; romance may feel rushed; some effects feel dated

Themes

  • underdog
  • daughter
  • monster
  • beauty
  • rose
  • black and white
  • romantic

Awards & recognition

  • Louis Delluc Prize · 1946

Cast & crew

Directed by Jean Cocteau