View source for Ever After

{{Short description|1998 American romantic drama film by Andy Tennant}}
{{About|the 1998 film}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Ever After
| image          = Everafterposter.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Andy Tennant]]
| screenplay     = {{Plainlist|
* [[Susannah Grant]]
* Andy Tennant
* Rick Parks}}
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Mireille Soria]]
* [[Tracey Trench]]}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|<!--Per poster billing-->
* [[Drew Barrymore]]
* [[Anjelica Huston]]
* [[Dougray Scott]]
* [[Jeanne Moreau]]}}
| cinematography = [[Andrew Dunn (cinematographer)|Andrew Dunn]]
| editing        = Roger Bondelli
| music          = [[George Fenton]]
| studio         = [[20th Century Animation#Fox Family Films|Fox Family Films]] (uncredited)<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Petrikin|first=Chris|title=Fox renamed that toon|url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/fox-renamed-that-toon-1117467902/|access-date=March 31, 2018|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=February 18, 1998|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250619161324/https://variety.com/1998/film/news/fox-renamed-that-toon-1117467902/|archive-date=June 19, 2025}}</ref><br>Mireille Soria Production
| distributor    = [[20th Century Studios|20th Century Fox]]
| released       = {{Film date|1998|07|31}}
| runtime        = 120 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $25–26 million<ref name="AiryFairyTale">{{cite news|last=Covington|first=Richard|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-dec-05-ca-60729-story.html|title=Airy Fairy Tale|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 5, 1997|access-date=July 12, 2025|url-access=limited}}</ref><ref name="BoxOfficeMojo">{{cite Box Office Mojo|id=0120631|title=Ever After: A Cinderella Story|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=July 12, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250115022627/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0120631/|archive-date=January 15, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
| gross          = $98 million<ref name="BoxOfficeMojo" />
}}
'''''Ever After''''' (known in promotional material as '''''Ever After: A Cinderella Story''''') is a 1998 American [[Romance film|romantic]] [[historical drama|period drama]] film directed by [[Andy Tennant]] from his own screenplay, co-written by [[Susannah Grant]] and Rick Parks. Co-produced by [[20th Century Animation#Fox Family Films|Fox Family Films]] and Mireille Soria Production, the film is inspired by [[Charles Perrault]]'s 1697 fairy tale "[[Cinderella]]" and stars [[Drew Barrymore]] and [[Anjelica Huston]], with [[Dougray Scott]] and [[Jeanne Moreau]] in supporting roles.

The film removes the [[pantomime]] and [[supernatural]] elements commonly found in retellings of the Cinderella tale and instead treats the story as [[historical fiction]], setting it in [[Renaissance]]-era France. It is considered to be a modern, [[Third-wave feminism|post-feminist]] interpretation of the fairy tale.<ref name="feminism">{{cite book  | editor-last = Haase  | editor-first = Donald  |title = Fairy Tales and Feminism: New Approaches  | publisher = Wayne State University Press  | year = 2004  | isbn = 0-8143-3030-4}}</ref>

''Ever After'' released in theaters on July 31, 1998, to positive reviews from critics. It was a box-office success, grossing $98 million.

==Plot==
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for feature films should be between 400 to 700 words. Please check the word count before making any additions. Word Count as of June 30, 2025: 689 -->
[[The Brothers Grimm]] are invited to meet with the Grande Dame, who expresses her disappointment in their version of [[Cinderella]]. She produces a [[Head of a Woman (Leonardo)|portrait]] and glass slipper, and recounts the partial true story that inspired the tale.

During the [[French Renaissance]], ten years after Auguste de Barbarac dies, his daughter, Danielle, has been forced to become a servant to her stepmother, the Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent, and stepsisters, Marguerite and Jacqueline. One morning, Danielle has an unexpected confrontation with [[Henry II of France|Prince Henry]] as he is attempting to flee in order to avoid an [[arranged marriage]] to Princess Gabriella of [[Spain]], at first mistaking him for a thief. Henry gives Danielle 20 francs to keep their interlude secret. He is eventually caught by the Royal Guard after stopping bandits from robbing [[Leonardo da Vinci]], whom [[Francis I of France|King Francis]] has invited to the Royal court.

Danielle disguises herself as a noblewoman and uses Henry's bribe to go to the palace to buy back Maurice, who was sold by Rodmilla. Henry witnesses her arguing with the jailer and impressed by Danielle's passion and intelligence, orders the jailer to release Maurice. When he asks for her name, Danielle gives her late mother's name, [[Countess]] Nicole de Lancret. King Francis agrees to hold a [[masquerade ball]] at which Henry will announce his [[engagement]] to the woman of his choosing at midnight, or else King Francis will announce his marriage to Gabriella. Rodmilla accelerates her efforts at getting Henry to notice Marguerite, while being neglectful to Jacqueline. Meanwhile, Danielle begins secretly spending time with Henry. After an outing at the library of the [[Monk|Franciscan monks]], a gang of gypsies ambushes them, but they offer to help them when Danielle bids the leader and attempts to carry Henry away. At the gypsy camp, they share their first kiss.

Rodmilla and Marguerite plan to steal Nicole's wedding gown and glass slippers for Marguerite to wear at the ball. When Marguerite insults Nicole, Danielle attacks and chases her. Marguerite retaliates by burning the copy of ''[[Utopia (More book)|Utopia]]'' that Auguste had given to Danielle. Jacqueline shows sympathy towards Danielle and criticizes Marguerite for her cruelty.

Queen Marie holds a luncheon with Marguerite and Rodmilla, during which the two deduce that Danielle is Countess de Lancret. Danielle meets Henry, who reveals that she has inspired him to build a [[university]]. Unable to reveal the truth about her identity, she flees. Rodmilla confronts Danielle about her deception and locks her in the pantry when she does not reveal the whereabouts of the slippers and dress. Gustave does Maurice a favor by going to the ball to recruit Leonardo to help Danielle escape. Leonardo, Gustave, Paulette and Louise prepare Danielle in Nicole's attire which they kept hidden prior. Danielle arrives determined to tell Henry the truth, but Rodmilla exposes her. Furious, Henry rejects Danielle, causing her to tearfully flee while Leonardo witnesses her lose a slipper. Leonardo reproaches Henry for his callousness and leaves him the slipper.

Henry agrees to marry Gabriella. During the ceremony, however, realizing that she also loves someone else who's in attendance, he calls off the wedding and seeks out Danielle until Maurice and Jacqueline inform him that Rodmilla sold her to Pierre Le Pieu following the ball. Henry and Laurent set off to rescue Danielle, only to find that she has freed herself. Henry apologizes and professes his love for her, and proposes marriage by fitting the slipper onto her foot. Danielle happily accepts.

The royal court summons Rodmilla, Marguerite and Jacqueline, the former two thinking Henry will propose to Marguerite. As punishment for lying to Marie about Danielle, Rodmilla is publicly condemned, stripped of her title, and threatened with exile to the Americas alongside Marguerite unless someone speaks for her. Princess Danielle appears and instead asks that Rodmilla be shown the same "courtesy" she had shown her. Rodmilla and Marguerite are reduced to servants in the palace laundry.

Danielle and Henry built a university until it was presumably destroyed during the French Revolution centuries later, except for Leonardo's portrait of Danielle he gifted the couple that was later inherited by the Grande Dame. She emphasizes that while her great-great-grandparents did live happily ever after, the point is that they lived.

==Cast==
{{multiple image
| perrow=3
| total_width=312
| align=right
| image1=Drew Barrymore 1997.jpg
| image2=Angelica Huston.jpg
| image3=Dougray Scott (8609505278).jpg
| footer=[[Drew Barrymore]], [[Anjelica Huston]], and [[Dougray Scott]] portrayed the lead roles in the film.
}}
* [[Drew Barrymore]] as Danielle de Barbarac, the only child of Nicole de Lancret and Auguste de Barbarac.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2023/03/28/drew-barrymore-ever-after-reunion-melanie-lynskey/11555361002/|title=Drew Barrymore reunites with 'Ever After' co-stars Melanie Lynskey, Megan Dodds|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|last=Brisco|first=Elise|date=March 28, 2023|access-date=July 12, 2025|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606133812/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2023/03/28/drew-barrymore-ever-after-reunion-melanie-lynskey/11555361002/|archive-date=June 6, 2023}}</ref> Barrymore described her character as a "tough Cinderella. She dives into bees' hives for the wax, takes pigs out truffle-hunting, swims in the river, quotes Sir [[Thomas More]]'s ''[[Utopia (book)|Utopia]]''. She even nails the prince with an apple for stealing her horse. She does many things a man does, whether it involves physical strength or reading. She's ahead of her time in breaking down the barriers between a woman's place in society and a man's place."<ref name="AiryFairyTale" />
**Anna Maguire as 8-year-old Danielle
* [[Anjelica Huston]] as Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent, Danielle's cruel stepmother<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2012/03/30/mirror-mirror-julia-roberts/|title='Mirror Mirror's Julia Roberts vs. Susan Sarandon, Anjelica Huston & others|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|first=Hillary|last=Busis|date=March 30, 2012|access-date=July 12, 2025|archive-date=July 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723211725/https://ew.com/article/2012/03/30/mirror-mirror-julia-roberts/|url-status=live}}</ref> (akin to [[Lady Tremaine]]).
* [[Dougray Scott]] as [[Henry II of France|Henry]], Prince of France, Danielle's love interest and son of Marie and Francis
* [[Patrick Godfrey]] as [[Leonardo da Vinci]], an artist, inventor and a member of the royal court
* [[Megan Dodds]] as Marguerite de Ghent, Danielle's "evil" [[ugly sisters|stepsister]]
** Elizabeth Earl as Young Marguerite
* [[Melanie Lynskey]] as Jacqueline de Ghent, Danielle's "nice" stepsister
** Alex Pooley as Young Jacqueline
* [[Judy Parfitt]] as Marie, Queen of France and Henry's mother
* [[Timothy West]] as [[Francis I of France|Francis]], King of France and Henry's father
* [[Jeroen Krabbé]] as Auguste de Barbarac, Danielle's father
* [[Lee Ingleby]] as Gustave, Danielle's best friend and an apprentice painter
** Ricki Cuttell as Young Gustave
* Kate Lansbury as Paulette, a servant to the de Barbaracs
* [[Matyelok Gibbs]] as Louise, Maurice's wife and a servant to the de Barbaracs
* [[Walter Sparrow]] as Maurice, Louise's husband and a servant to the de Barbaracs
* [[Jeanne Moreau]] as Grande Dame, Danielle and Henry's great-great-granddaughter
* [[Richard O'Brien]] as Monsieur Pierre Le Pieu, a lecherous merchant
* [[Peter Gunn (actor)|Peter Gunn]] as Laurent, Royal Guard captain
* Joerg Stadler as [[Wilhelm Grimm]], author and Jacob's brother
* Andrew Henderson as [[Jacob Grimm]], author and Wilhem's brother
* [[Toby Jones]] as a Royal Page

Patrick Godfrey's wife [[Amanda Walker]] appears as an old noblewoman.

==Production==
''Ever After'' was filmed in [[Super 35]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Jason |title=Ever After - Review |url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/ever-after-a-cinderella-story-v163072/review |access-date=2022-09-03 |website=[[AllMovie]]}}</ref>

===Historical context===
[[File:Leonardo da vinci - La scapigliata.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Leonardo da Vinci]]'s painting ''[[La Scapigliata]]'' is depicted in the film as a portrait of Danielle.]]
While the story is fictional, it involves several historical figures, places and events. The film is set in the 16th and 19th centuries and features [[Francis I of France|Francis I]], Prince Henry (later [[Henry II of France]]), [[Leonardo da Vinci]], [[Brothers Grimm|The Brothers Grimm]], as well as allusions to the explorer [[Jacques Cartier]], the fairy tale collector [[Charles Perrault]], the [[French colonization of the Americas|French colonies in the New World]], and the [[French Revolution]].<ref>''Ever After'' (1998) the movie</ref>

Though the main portion of the film takes place in early 1500s France,<ref name="Ever After: A Cinderella Story">{{cite book |last1=Loggia |first1=Wendy |title=Ever After: A Cinderella Story |date=1998 |publisher=Dell |isbn=0440228158 |page=18 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=98rqUnHW61sC |access-date=18 July 2018}}</ref> the royals shown are most likely not meant to be the historical figures for which they are named. King Francis I summoned Leonardo da Vinci to his court around 1516, three years before King Henry II was born; neither of King Francis I's wives was named Marie (the first was named [[Claude, Duchess of Brittany|Claude]] and the second [[Eleanor of Austria|Eleanor]]). King Henry II was married to [[Catherine de' Medici]] at the age of 14.

===Locations and sets===
The castle shown in the film is the [[Château de Hautefort]] in the [[Dordogne]] region of France.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hodges |first=Christopher |date=2018-08-31 |title=20 Crazy Details Behind The Making Of Ever After |url=https://screenrant.com/every-after-cinderella-movie-behind-scenes-making-trivia-details/ |access-date=2022-09-03 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Other featured châteaux are [[Château de Fénelon|de Fénelon]], [[Château de Losse|de Losse]], [[Château de Lanquais|de Lanquais]], [[Château de Beynac|de Beynac]] and the Château de la Roussie, that served as the house of the de Barbaracs, as well as the city of [[Sarlat-la-Canéda]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ever After: A Cinderella Story tour {{!}} Decouvertes |url=http://decouvertes.fr/content/ever-after-cinderella-story-tour |access-date=2022-09-03 |website=decouvertes.fr}}</ref> The painting of Danielle is based on [[Leonardo da Vinci]]'s ''[[Head of a Woman (Leonardo)|Head of a Woman]]'' (La Scapigliata).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kwan |first=Jamie |date=2021-02-10 |title=What do Leonardo da Vinci and Drew Barrymore have in common? Ever After |url=https://arslongajournal.org/2021/02/10/what-do-leonardo-da-vinci-and-drew-barrymore-have-in-common-ever-after/ |access-date=2022-09-03 |website=ars longa |language=en}}</ref>

==Release==
===Home media===
On March 2, 1999, the film was released on [[VHS]] & [[DVD]].

On April 11, 2003, the film was released on DVD with the movie ''[[Never Been Kissed]]''—another film starring Drew Barrymore—in a combo pack. On May 26, 2006, the film was released in ''The Drew Barrymore Collection'' Celebrity Pack, which also contained DVDs of ''Never Been Kissed'' and ''[[Fever Pitch (2005 film)|Fever Pitch]]''. On March 2, 2010, the film was released in a DVD combo pack with the movie ''[[An Affair to Remember]]''—a double feature celebrating [[20th Century Fox]]'s 75th anniversary; two months later, the film was then released in a DVD combo pack on May 4, 2010, with the movies ''[[Anna and the King]]'' and ''[[Australia (2008 film)|Australia]]''—a triple feature celebrating the same thing.

On January 4, 2011, the film was released on [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bluray.highdefdigest.com/4207/everafter.html|title=Ever After: A Cinderella Story Blu-ray}}</ref> On September 4, 2012, it was released with the movie ''Never Been Kissed'' in a combo pack on Blu-ray. On October 7, 2014, the film was released in a ''4 Drew Barrymore Favorites'' DVD set with ''Never Been Kissed'', ''Fever Pitch'', and ''[[Whip It (film)|Whip It]]''.

On January 6, 2015, the film was released in a Blu-ray / [[Digital copy|Digital HD]] combo pack, [[region-free]]. The film was also released on Blu-ray in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] on August 6, 2018. Then, on January 1, 2019, the film was again released in a Blu-ray / Digital HD combo pack but for [[DVD region code|Region A]].

==Reception==
===Critical response===
[[File:Drew Barrymore headshot by David Shankbone.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Drew Barrymore]] was repeatedly acclaimed by critics for her performance.]]
''Ever After'' received positive reviews from critics. The [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reported that the film had {{a or an|{{RT data|score}}}} approval rating based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. According to its consensus, "''Ever After'' is a sweet, frothy twist on the ancient fable, led by a solid turn from star Barrymore."<ref>{{cite web|title=Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ever_after_a_cinderella_story|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|access-date={{RT data|access date}}|archive-date=July 2, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250702145149/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ever_after_a_cinderella_story|url-status=live}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 66 out of 100 based on 22 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web|title=Ever After|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/ever-after/|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=July 12, 2025|archive-date=May 22, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250522203231/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/ever-after/|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an "A" grade on a scale of A+ to F.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ever After (1998)|url=https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/|archive-date=December 20, 2018|website=[[CinemaScore]]}}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]] from ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' awarded the film three out of four stars and wrote: "I went to the screening expecting some sort of soppy children's picture and found myself in a costume romance with some of the same energy and zest as ''[[The Mask of Zorro]]''." He particularly praised the cinematography, costume design, and Drew Barrymore's acting.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/ever-after-1998|title=Ever After|newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|publisher=[[Sun-Times Media Group]]|last=Ebert|first=Roger|author-link=Roger Ebert|date=July 31, 1998|access-date=July 12, 2025|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250328130458/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/ever-after-1998|archive-date=March 28, 2025}}{{Rating|3|4}}</ref> In his review for ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'', [[Mick LaSalle]] called ''Ever After'' "the best ''Cinderella'' movie ever," complimenting both the character writing and the performances of Barrymore, Anjelica Huston, and Dougray Scott.<ref>{{cite news|last=LaSalle|first=Mick|author-link=Mick LaSalle|title=Romance Thrives In 'Ever After' / Barrymore slips nicely into Cinderella role|url=https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Romance-Thrives-In-Ever-After-Barrymore-slips-2999021.php|access-date=July 12, 2025|newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|publisher=[[SFGate]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220143029/https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Romance-Thrives-In-Ever-After-Barrymore-slips-2999021.php|archive-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref> Leonard Klady of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' gave a positive review, stating that the film "successfully maintains the story's period trappings while introducing a heroine with modern resonance… One can quibble only about a languorous style and a tendency to overplay the villainy of the stepmother and her eldest daughter. But these are small glitches in an otherwise first-rate effort."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Klady|first=Leonard|title=Ever After|url=https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/ever-after-1200454319/|access-date=July 12, 2025|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=July 27, 1998|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905000222/https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/ever-after-1200454319/|archive-date=September 5, 2024}}</ref> Robin Grant wrote for ''[[The Lantern]]'' that although ''Ever After'' "is worth seeing just for the scenery, the updated storyline and good acting make it an excellent movie for young and old alike."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thelantern.com/1998/10/ever-after-infuses-cinderella-story-with-90s-attitude-medieval-charm/|title="Ever After" infuses Cinderella story with '90s attitude, medieval charm|newspaper=[[The Lantern]]|last=Grant|first=Robin|date=October 3, 1998|access-date=July 12, 2025}}</ref>

In her review for ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]'', Marjorie Baumgarten gave the film three out of five stars, stating that ''Ever After'' "turns out to be a potent and imaginative retelling that proves Cinderella's timelessness defies carbon-dating."<ref>{{cite news|last=Baumgarten|first=Marjorie|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/events/film/1998-07-31/138494/|title=Ever After|newspaper=[[The Austin Chronicle]]|date=July 31, 1998|access-date=July 12, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204185623/https://www.austinchronicle.com/events/film/1998-07-31/138494/|archive-date=February 4, 2023|url-status=live}}{{Rating|3|5}}</ref> [[Lisa Schwarzbaum]] from ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' awarded the film a "B−" and described it as "unwieldy, uneven, but nevertheless unexpectedly witty, girl-positive production," while praising the character writing, costume design, and performances by Barrymore, Huston, and Judy Parfitt.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,63674,00.html|title=Ever After (1998)|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|first=Lisa|last=Schwarzbaum|author-link=Lisa Schwarzbaum|date=August 10, 1998|access-date=September 16, 2010|archive-date=October 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019172749/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,63674,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ian Nathan of ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' gave the film three out of five stars, complimenting the cinematography and acting of Huston and Scott, but criticizing the script and Barrymore's performance, which he found unconvincing and "far from her best."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Nathan|first=Ian|date=January 1, 2000|title=Ever After Review|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/ever-review/|access-date=July 12, 2025|magazine=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250428091914/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/ever-review/|archive-date=April 28, 2025}}{{Rating|3|5}}</ref>

A ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'' reviewer wrote that Barrymore "manages just fine in carrying this Cinderella update… Given that this is adolescent romance, never straying far from traditional stereotypes, its 'progressive' feel-good aura is mainly down to Barrymore, whose limitations are only exposed in big love scenes."<ref>{{cite magazine|date=September 11, 2012|title=Ever After|url=https://www.timeout.com/movies/ever-after|magazine=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]|access-date=July 12, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113083755/https://www.timeout.com/movies/ever-after|archive-date=November 13, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Kenneth Turan]] of ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' highlighted Barrymore and Huston's performances, but was displeased with the script and the "inconsistent" tone of the film, concluding that "though it has its moments, ''Ever After'' never completely finds its footing, either in its century or our own."<ref>{{cite news|last=Turan|first=Kenneth|author-link=Kenneth Turan|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jul-31-ca-8696-story.html|title=Cinderella as the Original Spice Girl|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=July 31, 1998|access-date=July 12, 2025|url-access=limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411020116/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jul-31-ca-8696-story.html|archive-date=April 11, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> In his review for ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Stephen Holden]] called the film a "bland, sappy costume comedy," criticizing its script and [[George Fenton]]'s musical score; however, he praised Barrymore's "buoyant, unaffected" acting, which he considered the best thing about the film.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/31/movies/film-review-no-helpless-wimpy-waif-filling-this-glass-slipper.html|title=No Helpless, Wimpy Waif Filling This Glass Slipper|last=Holden|first=Stephen|author-link=Stephen Holden|date=July 31, 1998|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211202751/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/31/movies/film-review-no-helpless-wimpy-waif-filling-this-glass-slipper.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=December 11, 2024|access-date=July 12, 2025}}</ref>

===Accolades===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" | Award
! scope="col" | Category
! scope="col" | Recipient(s)
! scope="col" | Result
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="3"| [[Blockbuster Entertainment Awards]]
| Favorite Actress – Drama/Romance
| [[Drew Barrymore]]
| {{win}}
|-
| Favorite Actor – Newcomer
| [[Dougray Scott]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Favorite Supporting Actress – Drama/Romance
| [[Anjelica Huston]]
| {{win}}
|-
! scope="row"| [[Chlotrudis Society for Independent Films|Chlotrudis Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|title=1999, 5th Annual Awards|url=https://chlotrudis.org/awards/past-awards/1999-5th-annual-awards/|website=[[Chlotrudis Society for Independent Films]]|access-date=July 12, 2025|archive-date=May 26, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250526232942/https://chlotrudis.org/awards/past-awards/1999-5th-annual-awards/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[Chlotrudis Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
| Drew Barrymore
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row"| [[1st Golden Trailer Awards|Golden Trailer Awards]]
| Best Romance Trailer
| ''Ever After''
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row"| [[International Film Music Critics Association|International Film Music Critics Association Awards]]
| [[International Film Music Critics Association Award for Film Composer of the Year|Film Composer of the Year]]
| [[George Fenton]]
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row"| [[1999 Kids' Choice Awards|Kids' Choice Awards]]
| [[Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actress|Favorite Movie Actress]] {{small|(also for ''[[The Wedding Singer]]'')}}
| Drew Barrymore
| {{win}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="5"| [[List of film awards|Online Film & Television Association Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ofta.cinemasight.com/Awards/Film/1998.html|title=1998: THE YEAR OF ''Private Ryan''|website=[[List of film awards|Online Film & Television Association Awards]]|access-date=July 12, 2025|archive-date=August 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826210029/http://ofta.cinemasight.com/Awards/Film/1998.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| Best Breakthrough Performance: Female
| [[Megan Dodds]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Picture
| [[Mireille Soria]], [[Tracey Trench]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Actress
| Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Ensemble
| ''Ever After''
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Music, Original Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Score
| George Fenton
| {{win}}
|-
! scope="row"| [[3rd Golden Satellite Awards|Satellite Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|title=1999 3rd Annual SATELLITE™ Awards|url=http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards1999.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715113013/http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards1999.shtml|archive-date=July 15, 2011|access-date=July 12, 2025|website=[[International Press Academy]]}}</ref>
| [[Satellite Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]
| [[Jenny Beavan]]
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="4"| [[25th Saturn Awards|Saturn Awards]]
| [[Saturn Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
| Drew Barrymore
| {{win}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]]
| Anjelica Huston
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costumes]]
| Jenny Beavan
| {{win}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Music|Best Music]]
| George Fenton
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="3"| [[1999 Teen Choice Awards|Teen Choice Awards]]
| [[Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie – Drama|Choice Drama Movie]]
| ''Ever After''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Villain|Choice Movie Sleazebag]]
| Anjelica Huston
| {{nom}}
|-
| Choice Movie Breakout
| Dougray Scott
| {{nom}}
|}

==Musical adaptation==
{{Main|Ever After The Musical}}
A report in 2012 indicated that a [[musical theatre]] production was in the works, with the book and lyrics by [[Marcy Heisler]] and music by [[Zina Goldrich]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Barrett |first=Annie |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/05/15/ever-after-broadway-cinderella/ |title='Ever After' to hit Broadway in 2013 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=2012-05-15 |access-date=2013-12-17}}</ref> The musical was originally scheduled for its world premiere in April 2009 at the [[Curran Theatre]] in [[San Francisco]], but the pre-Broadway run was postponed.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hetrick|first=Adam|date=2009-01-28|title=South Pacific Revival to Play San Francisco; Pre-Broadway Ever After Run Postponed|publisher=Playbill.com|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125696.html|access-date=2009-01-28|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131054014/http://playbill.com/news/article/125696.html|archive-date=January 31, 2009|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In May 2012, the project was back on track with [[Kathleen Marshall]] signing on to direct a Broadway run.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://broadwayworld.com/article/Kathleen-Marshall-to-Helm-Broadway-Bound-EVER-AFTER-Musical-20120515 |title=Kathleen Marshall to Helm Broadway-Bound EVER AFTER Musical; Music by Heisler/Goldrich |publisher=Broadwayworld.com |access-date=2013-12-17}}</ref><ref name="Marshall">{{cite web |last=Hetrick |first=Adam |url=http://playbill.com/news/article/165992-Kathleen-Marshall-Will-Direct-Broadway-Debut-of-Ever-After-Based-On-1998-Cinderella-Film |title=Kathleen Marshall Will Direct Broadway Debut of Ever After, Based On 1998 Cinderella Film |publisher=[[Playbill]] |date=May 15, 2012 |access-date=March 9, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518001557/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/165992-Kathleen-Marshall-Will-Direct-Broadway-Debut-of-Ever-After-Based-On-1998-Cinderella-Film |archive-date=May 18, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

A workshop of the musical was held from April 25, 2013 – May 15, 2013 with [[Sierra Boggess]] as Danielle, [[Jeremy Jordan (actor, born 1984)|Jeremy Jordan]] as Prince Henry, and [[Ashley Spencer (actress)|Ashley Spencer]] as Marguerite.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://broadwayworld.com/article/Exclusive-Jeremy-Jordan-Sierra-Boggess-and-Ashley-Spencer-Star-in-Developmental-Lab-of-EVER-AFTER-20130429 |title=Exclusive: Jeremy Jordan, Sierra Boggess, Jan Maxwell and Ashley Spencer Star in Developmental Lab of EVER AFTER |publisher=Broadwayworld.com |access-date=April 29, 2013}}</ref> The musical made its world premiere at the [[Paper Mill Playhouse]] from May 21, 2015 – June 21, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://playbill.com/news/article/188119-Paper-Mill-Season-Will-Feature-Can-Can-Hunchback-Ever-After-Vanya-and-Sonia-and-More?tsrc=hpt2 |title=Paper Mill Season Will Feature Can-Can, Hunchback, Ever After, Vanya and Sonia and More |publisher=playbill.com |date=February 26, 2014 |access-date=February 26, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302173902/http://playbill.com/news/article/188119-Paper-Mill-Season-Will-Feature-Can-Can-Hunchback-Ever-After-Vanya-and-Sonia-and-More?tsrc=hpt2 |archive-date=March 2, 2014 |df=mdy }}</ref> [[Christine Ebersole]] played the role of Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theatermania.com/new-jersey-theater/news/christine-ebersole-paper-mill-ever-after_71726.html/ |title=EXCLUSIVE: Tony Winner Christine Ebersole Will Star in New Musical Ever After |publisher=theatermania.com |date=February 13, 2015 |access-date=February 20, 2015}}</ref> Alongside Ebersole, [[Margo Seibert]] starred as Danielle, [[James Snyder (actor)|James Snyder]] as Henry, [[Charles Shaughnessy]] as King Francis, and [[Tony Sheldon (actor)|Tony Sheldon]] as Leonardo da Vinci.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theatermania.com/new-jersey-theater/news/ever-after-casting-paper-mill_72193.html | title=Full Casting Announced for Paper Mill Playhouse's Ever After | work=TheaterMania | date=March 20, 2015 | access-date=March 26, 2015}}</ref> Another production of the musical played at Atlanta's [[Alliance Theatre]] from January 15, 2019, to February 19.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Atlantas-Alliance-Theatre-Announces-its-50th-Anniversary-Season-20180326 | title=EVER AFTER, RIDE THE CYCLONE & More Will Appear in Atlanta's Alliance Theatre's 50th Anniversary Season | work=Broadway World | date=March 26, 2018 | access-date=March 27, 2018}}</ref> The production was directed by Susan V. Booth and starred Sierra Boggess as Danielle de Barbarac, Terry Burrell as Queen Marie, Todd Buonopane as Captain Laurent, [[David Garrison]] as Leonardo da Vinci, Chris Kayser as King Francis, [[Jeff McCarthy]] as Pierre Malette, Tim Rogan as Prince Henry and [[Rachel York]] as Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Sierra-Boggess-Rachel-York-Among-Stars-of-EVER-AFTER-in-Atlanta-20181204 | title=Sierra Boggess, Rachel York, Among Stars of EVER AFTER in Atlanta | work=Broadway World | date=December 4, 2018 | access-date=December 5, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-Sierra-Boggess-Rachel-York-And-More-In-Rehearsal-For-EVER-AFTER-At-Alliance-Stage-20181220 | title=Photo Flash: Sierra Boggess, Rachel York, And More In Rehearsal For EVER AFTER At Alliance Stage | work=Broadway World | date=December 20, 2018 | access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/a-first-look-at-ever-after-at-the-alliance-theatre#|title=A First Look at Ever After at the Alliance Theatre|last=Franklin|first=Marc J|work=Playbill|date=January 25, 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Cultural references to Leonardo da Vinci]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Mojo title}}
* {{Metacritic film}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}

{{Andy Tennant}}
{{Cinderella (Fairy tale)}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ever After}}
[[Category:1998 films]]
[[Category:1998 romantic drama films]]
[[Category:1990s American films]]
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:1990s historical drama films]]
[[Category:1990s historical romance films]]
[[Category:20th Century Fox films]]
[[Category:American historical drama films]]
[[Category:American historical romance films]]
[[Category:American romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Francis I of France]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Leonardo da Vinci]]
[[Category:Films about orphans]]
[[Category:Films about royalty]]
[[Category:Films about siblings]]
[[Category:Films based on Charles Perrault's Cinderella]]
[[Category:Films directed by Andy Tennant]]
[[Category:Films scored by George Fenton]]
[[Category:Films set in the 16th century]]
[[Category:Films set in the 18th century]]
[[Category:Films shot in Europe]]
[[Category:Films set in Europe]]
[[Category:Films shot in France]]
[[Category:Films set in France]]
[[Category:Films shot in Dordogne]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Susannah Grant]]
[[Category:Films based on Cinderella]]
[[Category:English-language historical drama films]]
[[Category:English-language romantic drama films]]
[[Category:English-language historical romance films]]
[[Category:Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award–winning films]]
[[Category:Saturn Award–winning films]]