The Nutcracker and the Four Realms facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Nutcracker and the Four Realms |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by |
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| Produced by |
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| Written by | Ashleigh Powell |
| Starring | |
| Music by | James Newton Howard |
| Cinematography | Linus Sandgren |
| Editing by | Stuart Levy |
| Studio |
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| Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
| Release date(s) | October 29, 2018 (Dolby Theatre) November 2, 2018 (United States) |
| Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $120–133 million |
| Money made | $174 million |
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is a 2018 American fantasy adventure film. It was directed by Lasse Hallström and Joe Johnston. The movie was produced by Mark Gordon and Larry Franco. Ashleigh Powell wrote the screenplay.
This film is a new version of an old story. It is based on "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" by E. T. A. Hoffmann. It also takes ideas from the famous 1892 ballet The Nutcracker. The story is about a young girl named Clara. She gets a special locked egg from her mother, who has passed away. Clara then goes on an adventure in a magical land to find the key.
The movie stars many well-known actors. These include Keira Knightley, Mackenzie Foy, Helen Mirren, and Morgan Freeman. The film's music was created by James Newton Howard. He used parts of the original ballet music by Tchaikovsky.
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms first showed in Los Angeles on October 29, 2018. It was released in the United States on November 2, 2018. The movie earned $174 million around the world. However, it cost between $120–133 million to make. This meant it did not make a profit for Disney. Critics had mixed feelings about the film. They often praised its amazing visual effects and look. But some did not like the story or some of the acting.
Contents
What Happens in the Story?
Clara's Magical Gift
The story begins on Christmas Eve in Victorian London. Benjamin Stahlbaum gives his children presents from their mother, Marie, who has died. Clara gets a special egg-shaped box. She cannot open it. A note with the box says, "Everything you need is inside."
The family goes to a Christmas party. It is hosted by their godfather, Drosselmeyer. He is a very clever engineer. Clara asks him how to open her egg. Drosselmeyer tells her he made the egg for Marie when she was young.
Entering the Four Realms
Clara follows a string with her name on it. This string leads her into a magical forest. In this parallel world, she sees a key. But a mouse quickly grabs it and runs across a frozen river.
Captain Philip Hoffman, a Nutcracker, helps Clara cross a bridge. They enter the Fourth Realm. There, they meet the Mouse King and Mother Ginger. Mother Ginger is the leader of this realm. Clara and Philip just barely escape them.
Meeting the Realm Leaders
Captain Philip takes Clara to a grand palace. She meets the leaders of the other lands. These are the Sugar Plum Fairy from the Land of Sweets, Shiver from the Land of Snowflakes, and Hawthorne from the Land of Flowers.
They tell Clara that they are fighting a war. Their enemy is the Land of Amusements, also called "the Fourth Realm." Clara also learns a big secret. Her mother, Marie, was once the beloved Queen of this magical world. This means Clara is the princess!
The Machine and the Truth
The Sugar Plum Fairy explains that Marie created this world. She used a special machine to bring toys to life. Sugar Plum says this machine can help them fight Mother Ginger. But it needs a key, just like the one for Clara's egg.
Clara and Philip sneak into the Fourth Realm. They get the key back from Mother Ginger. Mother Ginger tries to warn them that Sugar Plum is lying. But Clara and Philip do not listen. Clara is sad when she opens her egg. It is only a music box.
Sugar Plum then uses the machine. She brings toy soldiers to life to attack the Fourth Realm. She then reveals her true plan. She lied about Mother Ginger. Mother Ginger had refused to join Sugar Plum's plan to take over all four realms. Sugar Plum also reveals the machine can turn people back into toys. She traps Clara, Captain Philip, and the male leaders. Clara feels it is all her fault.
Restoring Peace
Clara opens her music box again. She sees a mirror inside. This shows her that she had everything she needed within herself. She and the others escape. One of Mother Ginger's mice helps Clara find the engine room. Captain Philip convinces Mother Ginger to help them stop Sugar Plum.
Clara shuts down the machine. She fights off soldiers with Mother Ginger's help. Sugar Plum tries to turn Mother Ginger back into a toy. But Clara quickly changes the machine's aim. When Sugar Plum activates it, the machine turns her into a porcelain doll. Her whole army becomes lifeless toys.
Everyone thanks Clara for bringing peace back to the Realms. Clara promises to visit again. She says goodbye to Captain Philip. Then she returns to London. Hardly any time has passed since she left. Clara and her father, Benjamin, apologize to each other. She finally agrees to dance with him. Benjamin tells her that the music playing was the first song he and Marie ever danced to. They dance together through the night.
Who Are the Main Characters?
- Mackenzie Foy as Clara Stahlbaum: A young girl who travels to the Four Realms. She is looking for a key to a gift from her mother, Marie.
- Keira Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy: The leader of the Land of Sweets.
- Jayden Fowora-Knight as Captain Philip Hoffman: A brave nutcracker who helps Clara on her journey.
- Helen Mirren as Mother Ginger: The leader of the Land of Amusements (also called The Fourth Realm).
- Morgan Freeman as Drosselmeyer: Clara's godfather. He is a clever engineer who gives Clara a magical gift.
- Eugenio Derbez as Hawthorne: The leader of the Land of Flowers.
- Richard E. Grant as Shiver: The leader of the Land of Snowflakes.
- Misty Copeland as the Ballerina Princess: A talented dancer in the Four Realms.
- Matthew Macfadyen as Benjamin Stahlbaum: Clara's father.
- Anna Madeley as Queen Marie Stahlbaum: Clara's mother, who created and ruled the Four Realms as a child.
- Sergei Polunin as the Sweets Cavalier: A dancer who performs with the Ballerina Princess.
- Ellie Bamber as Louise Stahlbaum: Clara's older sister.
- Tom Sweet as Fritz Stahlbaum: Clara's younger brother.
- Jack Whitehall as Harlequin: A guard at The Palace of the Four Realms.
- Omid Djalili as Cavalier: Another guard at The Palace of the Four Realms.
- Meera Syal as the Stahlbaum's Cook: A staff member in the Stahlbaum home.
- Charles "Lil Buck" Riley as the Mouse King: The leader of the mice. He also helped create the character's movements.
How the Movie Was Made
Making the Film Idea Happen
On March 4, 2016, Walt Disney Pictures announced the movie. They wanted Lasse Hallström to direct it. This continued Disney's plan to make live-action versions of classic fairy tales. The movie is based on The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E. T. A. Hoffmann. Ashleigh Powell wrote the first script. The Mark Gordon Company also helped produce the film.
Choosing the Actors
In July 2016, Mackenzie Foy, Misty Copeland, and Morgan Freeman joined the cast. In August 2016, Keira Knightley and Helen Mirren were added. Ellie Bamber joined in September 2016. In March 2017, Eugenio Derbez confirmed he was in the movie. Later, Jack Whitehall also joined the cast.
Filming the Movie
Filming started in October 2016. It took place in South Kensington and Pinewood Studios in England. Filming finished in late January 2017. In December 2017, Joe Johnston directed 32 days of extra filming. This was because Hallström was busy. Hallström still helped with the final editing. Later, both Hallström and Johnston decided to share the directing credit for the film.
The Music of the Realms
The movie's music was partly taken from Tchaikovsky's 1892 ballet The Nutcracker. James Newton Howard changed the original music and added new songs. Gustavo Dudamel led the London Philharmonia Orchestra for the recording. Lang Lang played the piano solos.
Singers Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo sang an original song for the film. It was called "Fall on Me". The movie's soundtrack album was released on October 26, 2018.
When Was the Movie Released?
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms was released on November 2, 2018. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures distributed it. This date was originally planned for Disney's live-action Mulan movie.
How Much Money Did It Make?
The movie earned $54.9 million in the United States and Canada. It made $119.1 million in other countries. This brought its total worldwide earnings to $174 million. However, the film cost a lot to make. Some reports said Disney lost between $75–90 million on the movie.
Some reasons for this included its release date. It came out only two days after Halloween. Also, people might not have been very interested in the Nutcracker story at that time.
In the United States, the movie opened against Nobody's Fool and Bohemian Rhapsody. It was expected to make $20–24 million in its first weekend. It made $5.89 million on its first day. This was one of the lowest first-day earnings for a Disney film released widely. It ended up making $20.35 million in its opening weekend. It came in second place behind Bohemian Rhapsody.
This was the third big-budget Disney film in 2018 that did not do as well as expected. The others were A Wrinkle in Time and Solo: A Star Wars Story. However, Disney's Marvel and Pixar movies from 2018 made up for these losses. The film's earnings dropped by 53% in its second week.
The movie was released in 45 other countries at the same time as the US. It earned $39.2 million from these countries. Its biggest markets were China, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Watching It at Home
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms was released on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD. This happened on January 29, 2019. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released it. The Blu-ray version included extra features. These included behind-the-scenes videos and five deleted scenes. It also had music videos for "Fall on Me" and Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite.
See also
In Spanish: El cascanueces y los cuatro reinos para niños
