MALEFICENT 3: The Dark Fairy (2025)

𝑴𝑨𝑳𝑬𝑭𝑰𝑪𝑬𝑵𝑻 𝟑: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒚 (𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓)

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5)

Genre: Fantasy | Adventure | Dark Fairy Tale

Starring: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Richard Madden, Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Directed by: Joachim Rønning

Produced by: Walt Disney Studios

Plot Summary (imagined):

Maleficent 3: The Dark Fairy picks up years after the fragile peace between the Moors and the human kingdom was restored. But now, a forgotten dark force rises from deep within the roots of the ancient lands — an evil that predates even Maleficent herself.

When Aurora’s rule is threatened by a shadowy alliance of cursed bloodlines, Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) must confront her origins — and her destiny — as the last of a near-extinct race of dark fae. With the help of her daughter-figure Aurora (Elle Fanning), and a mysterious guardian knight (Richard Madden), Maleficent embarks on a final journey through the Forbidden Depths, where the truth about her past could change the fate of all realms.

Direction & Style:

Director Joachim Rønning delivers a visually lush and emotionally charged fantasy epic. The Dark Fairy balances breathtaking world-building with intimate character moments, leaning into darker, more mythical tones reminiscent of The Lord of the Rings and Pan’s Labyrinth.

The visual effects are stunning — from obsidian-winged aerial duels to enchanted wastelands swirling with forgotten magic. Every frame is steeped in mystery, beauty, and menace.

Performances:

Angelina Jolie is, once again, spellbinding. Regal, fierce, and heartbreakingly human, her final turn as Maleficent is layered with grace and rage.

Elle Fanning gives Aurora more fire and depth, evolving her from innocent queen to a brave protector of light.

Richard Madden adds quiet intensity and unexpected warmth as the protector with a past.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw plays the new antagonist — an exiled shadow priestess with secrets of her own — and absolutely owns every scene.

Themes & Magic:

This final chapter dives deep into themes of legacy, redemption, maternal love, and embracing both darkness and light within. Maleficent’s struggle isn’t with villains — it’s with herself, with what she was created to be vs. what she chooses to become.

The final battle is both epic and poetic, and the ending? Bittersweet, satisfying, and worthy of the legend.

🦋 Verdict: 4.3/5 – A beautifully dark and majestic finale. “The Dark Fairy” gives Maleficent the epic send-off she deserves — fierce, flawed, and unforgettable.