The Nutcracker is one of the most beloved ballets ever and has been adapted into film many times. Here's how these movies compare, according to IMDb.
The Nutcracker is one of the most beloved ballets in history as well as one of the most cherished and treasured Christmas stories ever put to paper. But whether it's the ballet composed by Tchaikovsky or the original novel written by E.T.A Hoffman, the story has been rather difficult to translate to film.
Of course, there are filming of various and very famous productions of the ballet, and reimaginings of the Nutcracker narrative, but which ones truly capture the experience? For those looking to bring the Christmas classic home for the holidays, IMDb has more than a few to choose from.
Disney's interpretation of the ballet isn't going to win any awards anytime soon, but consider looking at it from another angle. Think of The Nutcracker and the Four Realms less as a version inspired by the ballet and more of a reimagining of Fantasia's "Nutcracker Suite" by way of Alice in Wonderland.
It's a bit of a fantasy mishmash, but the visuals and ideas the film explores with the characters from both the ballet and the fairytale are nothing if not interesting.
Ever want to see Kevin McAlister fight a seven-headed rat? Enter 1993's film version of the NYC Ballet production of The Nutcracker. It might have a low rating, but it's actually a pretty solid version that most viewers can access and understand.
Macaulay Culkin might be a little distracting in the lead role, but there's nothing overtly wrong with his performance. Plus, the narration of the ballet by Kevin Kline makes it easy for newcomers to follow. Definitely worth a spot on the Christmas movie lineup.
Nutcracker Fantasy is an... interesting take on the tale to say the very least. This Japanese stop-motion adaptation of the Hoffman story is what happens when one blends The Nutcracker, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and The Wizard of Oz.
The film, though with somewhat of a cult status, is almost as far from the traditional tale as one can possibly get. That being said, hearing Christopher Lee as Uncle Drosselmeyer is still pretty cool.
The Nutcracker Prince did not receive very many positive reviews. But with that in mind, it does take a lot more from the original story than a great number of ballets. It's still a very loose adaptation of both the book and ballet, but it's not entirely unlikable.
With big names behind the voices, such as Kiefer Southerland in the lead role and Phyllis Diller and Peter O'Toole in supporting roles, there's definitely talent behind the scenes. A little cat and dog, but it'll keep the kids entertained.
If there was one definitive Nutcracker that was a prominent representation of E.T.A. Hoffman's original novel, it's Nutcracker: The Motion Picture. Inspired by the original book and illustrations by Maurice Sendak, this version might be one of the most accurate interpretations, but it's far from a fairytale.
There are no Sugarplum Fairies, the Nutcracker himself is like something out of a Jim Henson hallucination, and the overall production has a strange dream-like or nightmare-like quality to it. As if there's something dark the audience is not seeing.
Nutcracker: The Motion Picture was weird but not without reason. The Hard Nut, on the other hand, is another story altogether. Think of the ballet, but replace the fairytale setting with 1970s America, and that gives a basic description of the production.
Complete with hippies, toy robots, an Elvis-impersonator Mouse King, and a pop-art design inspired by Andy Warhol and Jack Kirby, The Hard Nut is an interpretation of a Christmas Classic that just has to be seen to be believed.
Quite possibly the most traditional version of the ballet, the Bolshoi Ballet's production of The Nutcracker ranks pretty high on the performance scale. The company has been performing the original production for dozens of decades, earning a strong reputation amongst fans and critics alike.
It might be a little strange for those unfamiliar with the source material or ballet in general, but definitely worth a watch at least once.
When a maid discovers an enchanted nutcracker soldier while cleaning up after a children's Christmas party, the toy comes to life and battles a three-headed Mouse King before her love turns him into a handsome prince. This Russian short film feels more like a Christmassy version of Cinderella than The Nutcracker, but there's still a certain charm to it that simply cannot be ignored.
The animation mixes Chuck-Jones-esque character designs with music-inspired imagery straight from Fantasia to create this brief but beautiful retelling.
The San Fransisco Ballet's version has to get some serious props, mainly due to the fact that it's a purely American interpretation of the original production inspired by the 1915 World's Fair. It has all the familiar elements seen in most traditional productions, but with a very distinct and stylish design.
The result is a colorful circus of Christmas toys, ornaments, and holiday joy. Worth more than an 8.2, but certainly not mom and dad's Nutcracker.
Mikail Baryshnikov is an all-star of the Ballet world, and to not include his interpretation of the Christmas classic would be an absolute crime and shame.
It might have been a made-for-TV production, but it's a beautiful rendition of the original ballet, and one even those unfamiliar with the medium of dance can comprehend. It checks all the boxes and features all the classic moments associated with the ballet. What's not to like?
