De-Vil-lish Picks After Watching Cruella
Cruella is the latest in the long line of Disney live-action remakes. This time, the attention turns to devilish psychopath Cruella De Vil.
If you’ve finished streaming this one and are looking for alternatives – fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top 10 picks.
Of course for all the movies we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with.
So without further ado, we present 10 movies to check out when you’ve finished watching Cruella.
Joker
Uncomfortable, unnerving and utterly mesmerizing, Joker is the perfect example of how to create a villain origin story.
Joaquin Phoenix’s performance single-handedly grabs this film by the scruff of the neck and injects a different flavour into Joker than what we’ve seen before.
The story follows mentally-troubled comedian Arthur Fleck who lives a difficult life. Fleck’s life soon spirals into despair though, pushing him to breaking point. This point of no return shifts Fleck into the maniacal Joker.
Boasting a lot of flair and strong characterization, Joker is a solid choice if you’re looking for a villain origin story.
You can read our thoughts on Joker in our movie review here!
Birds Of Prey
Birds Of Prey is a mess. It’s an enjoyable mess but it’s a film littered with issues that are hard to ignore. Behind the visual façade of explosions, glitter guns and freeze-frame vignettes is a picture paper thin in both characterization and compelling story-telling. So why is it on this list?
Well, in terms of style and flair, Birds Of Prey has a lot of similarities to Cruella. Both films have a very compelling lead character. They’re both about gaining revenge against men and they’re both very impressive visually.
The story here centers on Harley Quinn, who joins supervillains Black Canary, Huntress and Montoya after splitting with the Joker. Together, they set out to save a young girl from an evil crime lord.
The movie is fun in parts but this recommendation is much more of a love/hate affair.
You can read our thoughts on Birds Of Prey in our movie review here!
The Devil Wears Prada
The Devil Wears Prada is a delightful movie, one that fully embraces the fashion world and should be familiar to anyone who watched Cruella.
The story is set in New York and follows simple and naïve journalist graduate Andrea Sachs. She’s enthusiastic to stat work and is hired as the second assistant for powerful and sophisticated Miranda Priestly. Miranda is ruthless and currently the executive for Runway fashion magazine.
What follows is a character-driven journey that sees both Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep deliver excellent performances in this fish-out-of-water drama.
101 Dalmatians
One of the few Disney films that actually translates pretty well to its live-action counterpart, the original 1961 film is a bit of a slow burn to begin with but when it gets going, produces a really enjoyable thrill ride. It also has the added bonus of bringing with it one of the most iconic Disney villains in Cruella De Vil.
This maniacal dog-napper injects the movie with a deliciously evil cackle and a lot of charisma, causing her scheme to kidnap Pongo and Perdito’s litter to feel that much more urgent. All of this crescendos into a race against time as the dogs band together to try and stop Cruella before it’s too late.
101 Dalmatians (1996)
Speak of the Devil; 1996 saw the deliciously camp and cheesy remake of 101 Dalmatians release. It’s not a particularly outstanding film but it is a very enjoyable family feature nonetheless.
The story here is similar to the animated version but with a few distinct differences. Roger is a struggling computer game designer while Anita is a charming fashion designer. Their dogs Perdita and Pongo don’t talk, but do act out all their scenes well.
Hijinks ensue when Cruella inevitably shows, leading Pongo and Perdita out to save the day and bring back their puppies before Cruella slaughters them and turns the pups into her latest coat.
With lots of slapstick humour, plenty of Home Alone-esque pranks and a pacey screenplay, this live-action remake is great fun.
You can read our thoughts on 101 Dalmations in our movie review here!
The September Issue
If you’re interested in finding out more about the fashion industry, The September Issue is essential viewing.
This documentary chronicles Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour’s preparations for the 2007 fall-fashion issue. This is a raw, unflinching look inside an industry that’s usually very guarded. Interestingly, this also takes place just before the financial crash.
Eye opening and incredibly endearing, this documentary is well worth watching.
Cinderella
Cinderella is a classic Disney movie and easily one of the best live-action remakes.
Here, the movie follows a girl called Ella who has the purest heart in this cruel world filled with evil stepsisters and stepmothers. Ella becomes one with her pure heart when she meets the Prince, dancing her way to a better life with glass shoes and some help from the fairy Godmother.
Although modeled off the original animated version, this live-action remake actually takes some time to flesh out the different characters, producing a thoroughly enjoying movie in the process.
I, Tonya
Based on a true story, I, Tonya is a raw, relentless journey through the life of controversial US ice skater Tonya Harding. Carried by strong performances from Tonya and her mother, I, Tonya is an artistic film, but also an acquired taste.
Beginning as a 4-year-old and working up to the cusp of Olympic fame, the first half of I, Tonya is mired in optimism before a scandal leads to Tonya’s fall from grace. In that respect, the movie does share the same sort of story beats as Cruella.
This may not be for everyone but strong acting performances make this a real powerhouse of a movie.
You can read our thoughts on I, Tonya in our movie review here!
Coco Before Chanel
Coco Before Chanel is another intriguing movie, one that hones in on the fashion industry, charting the beginnings of Gabrielle Chanel’s rise to fame.
The story picks up several years after she leaves the orphanage to which her father never returned for her. Chanel works in a provincial bar, adopting the nickname Coco while moonlighting as a seamstress for performers and singers alike.
Although not entirely factual, this movie is certainly well produced and covers the early parts of Coco Chanel’s life, up to around the beginning of World War I.
Maleficent
Before Cruella, Disney dipped their toes into misunderstood-villain territory with Maleficent. Here, our villain is presented as a beautiful, pure-hearted young woman called Maleficent.
When invaders arrive and threaten the harmony of her land, Maleficent suffers a ruthless betrayal, setting her along the path to villainy.
Hell-bent on revenge, Maleficent faces a battle with the invading King’s successor, which results in her placing a curse upon his newborn infant, Aurora.
The film does take some serious liberties with Maleficent’s character, but fans of Disney should find enough to like here.
So there we have it, our 10 Movie picks to keep you busy after watching Cruella on Disney+.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!