View source for Beautiful Creatures (2013 film)



{{Infobox film
| name           = Beautiful Creatures
| image          = Beautiful Creatures One,4D low res.jpg
| alt            = 
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Richard LaGravenese]]
| producer       = {{Plainlist| 
* [[Erwin Stoff]]
* [[Andrew Kosove|Andrew A. Kosove]]
* [[Broderick Johnson]]
* [[Molly Smith (producer)|Molly Smith]]
* [[David Valdes]]
}}
| writer    = Richard LaGravenese
| based_on       = {{Based on|''[[Beautiful Creatures (novel)|Beautiful Creatures]]''|[[Kami Garcia]]<br />[[Margaret Stohl]]}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Alden Ehrenreich]]
* [[Alice Englert]]
* [[Jeremy Irons]]
* [[Viola Davis]]
* [[Emmy Rossum]]
* [[Thomas Mann (actor)|Thomas Mann]]
* [[Emma Thompson]] 
}}
| music          = [[Thenewno2]]<br>Dhani Harrison<br>Paul Hicks
| cinematography = [[Philippe Rousselot]]
| editing        = David Moritz
| studio         = {{Plainlist| 
* [[Alcon Entertainment]]
* [[3 Arts Entertainment]]
* Belle Pictures
}}
| distributor    = {{Plainlist|
* [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] (United States)
* [[Summit Entertainment]] (International)<ref>{{cite web|title=Summit titles sell well at FFM|website=[[Screen International]]|first=John|last=Hazelton|date=15 February 2012|access-date=30 September 2021|url=https://www.screendaily.com/distribution/summit-titles-sell-well-at-efm/5038129.article}}</ref>
}}
| released       = {{Film date|2013|01|19|[[Moscow]]|2013|02|14|United States}}<!--per official site-->
| runtime        = 124 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 123:34--><ref>{{cite web|title=''Beautiful Creatures'' (12A)|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/beautiful-creatures-2013-1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213141750/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/beautiful-creatures-2013-1|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 13, 2013|work=[[British Board of Film Classification]]|date=2013-02-01|access-date=2013-02-04}}</ref>
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $50–60 million<ref>{{Cite journal|last=FilmL.A.|date=March 2014|title=2013 Feature Film Study|url=https://www.filmla.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2013-Feature-Production-Report-w-Release-030614_1394125127.pdf|journal=FilmL.A. Feature Film Study|pages=35|access-date=August 14, 2018}}</ref><ref name="mojo">{{cite web | url = https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=beautifulcreatures13.htm | title = ''Beautiful Creatures'' | work = [[Box Office Mojo]] }}</ref>
| gross          = $60.1 million<ref name="mojo" />
}}
'''''Beautiful Creatures''''' is a 2013 American [[romance film|romantic]] [[gothic film|gothic]] [[fantasy film]] written for the screen and directed by [[Richard LaGravenese]]. Based on the 2009 novel [[Beautiful Creatures (novel)|of the same name]] by [[Kami Garcia]] and [[Margaret Stohl]],<ref name="MTV1">{{cite web|last=Wilkinson|first=Amy|title='Beautiful Creatures': Exclusive First Look at the Magical Set!|url= http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1684751/beautiful-creatures-set.jhtml |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120511060958/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1684751/beautiful-creatures-set.jhtml |url-status= dead |archive-date= May 11, 2012 |website=mtv.com|publisher=MTV|access-date=8 August 2012}}</ref> the film stars [[Alden Ehrenreich]], [[Alice Englert]], [[Jeremy Irons]], [[Viola Davis]], [[Emmy Rossum]], [[Thomas Mann (actor)|Thomas Mann]], and [[Emma Thompson]].

It was released in the United States on February 14, 2013, by [[Warner Bros. Pictures]]. It received mixed reviews from critics and grossed only $60.1 million worldwide against its $60 million budget.

==Plot==
 <!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summary should be between 400 to 700 words. -->                     
In Gatlin, [[South Carolina]], teen Ethan Wate awakens from a recurring dream of a girl he has not met. He despairs of his small-town existence and dreams of leaving for college.

On Ethan's first day of junior year, newcomer Lena Duchannes arrives, who resembles the girl in his dreams. Other students gossip about Lena's reclusive uncle Macon Ravenwood, and suggest that the members of her family are [[Theistic Satanism|devil worshippers]]. On the way home, Ethan nearly runs her over. Giving her a ride, they bond over interests.

In class, a few students insist that they cannot be in class with Lena so pray to be protected from her and her family. Visibly shaken, her class windows shatter, which increases fears and suspicions that she is a witch. Ethan and Lena become friends, and he gives her a locket that he found at Greenbriar. Both touch the locket, which triggers a shared flashback to the [[American Civil War]].

Macon disapproves of their relationship and conspires with Ethan's family friend Amma to separate them. Lena tells Ethan that she and her family are "casters" (called witches by mortals) and can perform [[Incantation|spells]]. On her 16th birthday, her true nature will reveal itself toward either the light or dark.

Complications arise when two powerful dark casters aim to push Lena to the dark: Lena's cousin Ridley and Lena's mother Sarafine, who did not raise her and has possessed the mother of Ethan's friend Link, Mrs. Lincoln.

Foreseeing that Lena will become a powerful caster, Sarafine wants Lena to use her power to purge the Earth of mortals and leave just casters. The couple have another flashback of their past with the locket that reveals that their ancestors, the caster Genevieve Duchannes and the mortal Confederate soldier Ethan Carter Wate, were in love. Ethan died in battle, and Genevieve revived him. Doing so laid a curse on all Duchannes women, who will go dark on their 16th birthday.

A mortified Lena asks Amma to help since she is a [[Clairvoyance|seer]] and keeper of the caster library, which is beneath the town library and extends across the United States. The most ancient of the books reveals the secret to undoing the curse: a person Lena loves has to die. Unwilling to take Ethan's life, Lena erases his memories of their love.

Seducing Link, Ridley gives him a bullet to use in the upcoming Civil War [[Historical reenactment|reenactment]] of the [[Battle of Honey Hill]], which is also on Lena's 16th birthday. Lena feels the shock of the curse being broken, runs to Ethan, and clutches his dying body while Ridley and Sarafine encourage her to accept the dark. She lashes out in anger and sends a huge tornado through the crowd until Ethan's body transforms into Macon, who [[Shapeshifting|disguised himself]] to be the sacrifice to lift the curse.

As Macon is dying, he reveals that he promised Ethan's mother to keep her son alive. Those dying words encourage Lena to "claim herself". She causes the moon to disappear so it cannot claim her for the dark. Allowing Ridley to flee, she pulls Sarafine from Mrs. Lincoln's body and powerfully seals away Sarafine's spirit.

Six months later, a still-[[amnesia]]c Ethan visits Amma in the library before a college tour with Link. Lena gives him a book that they had once shared as a present. She is a half-light/dark caster. As Link and Ethan reach the town line, the town's burned exit sign seems to restore his memories. He gets out of the car and shouts for Lena, who hears his call.

==Cast==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Alden Ehrenreich]] as Ethan Wate
*[[Alice Englert]] as Lena Duchannes
*[[Jeremy Irons]] as Macon Melchizedek Ravenwood
*[[Viola Davis]] as Amarie Treadeau, "Amma"
*[[Emmy Rossum]] as Ridley Duchannes
*[[Thomas Mann (actor)|Thomas Mann]] as Wesley Jefferson Lincoln, "Link"
*[[Emma Thompson]] as Mavis Lincoln/Sarafine Duchannes
*[[Margo Martindale]] as Delphine Duchannes, "Aunt Del"<ref name="variety">{{cite news | url = https://variety.com/2012/film/news/beautiful-creatures-attracts-3-thesps-1118051567/ | date = March 16, 2012 | access-date = January 31, 2013 | title = 'Beautiful Creatures' Attracts 3 Thesps | first = Jeff | last = Snider | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>
*[[Eileen Atkins]] as Emmaline Duchannes, "Gramma"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://movies.zap2it.com/movies/beautiful-creatures/9416314 |title=Beautiful Creatures Times, Movie Tickets, and Theaters - Zap2it |website=Zap2it |date=February 14, 2013 |access-date=June 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222224233/http://movies.zap2it.com/movies/beautiful-creatures/9416314 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 
*[[Zoey Deutch]] as Emily Asher<ref name="variety" />
*[[Tiffany Boone]] as Savannah Snow
*[[Kyle Gallner]] as Larkin Kent
*[[Rachel Brosnahan]] as Genevieve Katherine Duchannes<ref name="variety" />
*[[Pruitt Taylor Vince]] as Mr. Lee
*Robin Skye as Mrs. Hester
*Randy Redd as Reverend Stephens
*[[Lance E. Nichols]] as Mayor Snow
*Leslie Castay as Principal Herbert
*Sam Gilroy as Ethan Carter Wate
*Gwendolyn Mulamba as Mrs. Snow
*Cindy Hogan as Mrs. Asher
{{div col end}}

==Production==
[[Alcon Entertainment]] purchased the rights to ''Beautiful Creatures'' in 2009, with the director [[Richard LaGravenese]] signing on soon after to write and direct the movie.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wilkinson|first=Amy|title=Will 'Beautiful Creatures' Movie Cast Similar Box-Office Spell As 'Harry Potter'?|url=http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2009/12/01/will-beautiful-creatures-movie-cast-similar-box-office-spell-as-harry-potter/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091205141601/http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2009/12/01/will-beautiful-creatures-movie-cast-similar-box-office-spell-as-harry-potter|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 5, 2009|website=mtv.com|publisher=MTV|access-date=8 August 2012}}</ref> Casting began in late 2011,<ref>{{cite web|last=Lamoureux|first=Jen|title=Casting for 'Beautiful Creatures' by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl has begun|url=http://www.hypable.com/2011/11/23/casting-for-beautiful-creatures-by-kami-garcia-and-margaret-stohl-has-begun/|website=Hypable|date=23 November 2011|access-date=8 August 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> and in February 2012, [[Viola Davis]] was cast as Amma.<ref>{{cite web|last=Anderton|first=Ethan|title=Viola Davis Lands Roles in 'Ender's Game' and 'Beautiful Creatures'|url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2012/viola-davis-lands-roles-in-enders-game-and-beautiful-creatures/|website=First Showing|date=3 February 2012 |access-date=8 August 2012}}</ref> Soon after, [[Jack O'Connell (actor)|Jack O'Connell]] and [[Alice Englert]] were announced to play the lead characters of Ethan Wate and Lena Duchannes.<ref>{{cite news | last = McNary | first = Dave | title = O'Connell, Englert are WB's 'Beautiful Creatures' | url = https://variety.com/2012/film/news/o-connell-englert-are-wb-s-beautiful-creatures-1118049837/ | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = 7 February 2012 | access-date=31 January 2013}}</ref> O'Connell later dropped out because of a scheduling conflict, with [[Alden Ehrenreich]] assuming the role of Ethan.<ref>{{cite web|last=Prinzivalli|first=Fallon|title=Alden Ehrenreich To Replace Jack O'Connell In 'Beautiful Creatures'|url=http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2012/04/11/alden-ehrenreich-beautiful-creatures/|website=mtv.com|publisher=MTV|access-date=8 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116151015/http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2012/04/11/alden-ehrenreich-beautiful-creatures|archive-date=2013-01-16|url-status=dead}}</ref> Further casting included [[Emma Thompson]] as Sarafine and Mrs. Lincoln and [[Jeremy Irons]] as Lena's uncle, Macon Ravenwood.<ref>{{cite web | last = Kay | first = Jancie | title = Emma Thompson Joins Cast Of 'Beautiful Creatures' | url = http://sciencefiction.com/2012/02/10/emma-thompson-joins-cast-of-beautiful-creatures/ | website= ScienceFiction.com | date = 10 February 2012 | access-date=8 August 2012}}</ref> Of the character of Lena, Englert stated that "Lena is like most girls when you feel massively insecure."<ref name="MTV1" />

[[Principal photography]] was originally scheduled to begin 23 April 2012 in New Orleans<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.filmneworleans.org/2012/uncategorized/beautiful-creatures-casts-emma-thompson/ | website = Film New Orleans | title = Beautiful Creatures Casts Emma Thompson | access-date = January 31, 2013 | archive-date = January 30, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130130022833/http://www.filmneworleans.org/2012/uncategorized/beautiful-creatures-casts-emma-thompson/ | url-status = dead}}</ref> and it took place, according to LaGravenese, from "I think, April 16th, and then we shot until June 26th, and then post[-production] was for me from July 5th to December 17th."<ref name="fji">LaGravenese in {{cite news | url = http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/news-and-features/features/movies/e3i6c35860429ace2035381d0280f94b134 | title = Creature Feature: Richard LaGravenese enters the young-adult fantasy world with 'Beautiful Creatures' | work = [[Film Journal International]] | date = February 8, 2013 | access-date = February 11, 2013 | author-link = Frank Lovece | first = Frank | last = Lovece | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140428003124/http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/news-and-features/features/movies/e3i6c35860429ace2035381d0280f94b134 | archive-date = April 28, 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref> LaGravenese chose to incorporate practical special effects along with computer-based ones for certain scenes, as [[Emmy Rossum]] described: "[W]hen we walked on to the stage and realized the chandelier does actually move, the chairs did actually spin, the table did actually spin.... it was all very exciting."<ref name="swirling">{{cite web|last=Wilkinson|first=Amy|title=Emmy Rossum Takes Us Behind The Scenes Of Swirling 'Beautiful Creatures' Set|url= http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1691065/emmy-rossum-beautiful-creatures.jhtml |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120804014810/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1691065/emmy-rossum-beautiful-creatures.jhtml |url-status= dead |archive-date= August 4, 2012 |website=mtv.com |publisher= MTV|access-date=8 August 2012}}</ref> On 19 September 2012, the first trailer for ''Beautiful Creatures'' was released.<ref>{{cite news | last = Stecker | first = Joshua | title = 'Beautiful Creatures' Trailer Debuts, Smells Like Teenage Spirits (Video) | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/beautiful-creatures-trailer-debuts-smells-372552 | work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]] | access-date = 21 September 2012 | date=September 20, 2012}}</ref>

Camille Balsamo played Genevieve Katherine Duchannes<ref name="balsamo">{{cite web |last=Rojas Weiss |first=Sabrina |title=Beautiful Creatures Co-Star Camille Balsamo Promises Cast "Fits Their Characters To A T" |url=http://www.vh1.com/celebrity/2012-07-23/beautiful-creatures-co-star-camille-balsamo-promises-cast-fits-their-characters-to-a-t/ |website=[[VH1]] |date=July 23, 2012|access-date=8 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729015256/http://www.vh1.com/celebrity/2012-07-23/beautiful-creatures-co-star-camille-balsamo-promises-cast-fits-their-characters-to-a-t/ |archive-date=29 July 2012 }}</ref> in a sequence cut from the film; LaGravenese said:

{{blockquote|There was one part that I shot on [[green screen]] where I had all these actresses playing all the different Duchannes women from different periods [from the Civil War on]. And my costume designer, Jeffrey Kurland, had gowns and things, one was from the turn of the century, one was from the '20s, one was from the ’40s, one was from the '60s, and they were going to appear in the first flashback and at the end of the movie, and then I cut them.... It was just an idea that didn't work.<ref name="fji" />}}The original soundtrack was composed by [[thenewno2]] and released by [[WaterTower Music]]. Its musical style was referred to as "swamptronic", a term coined by LaGravenese, and it was recorded at Abbey Road. [[Dhani Harrison|Dhanni Harrison]], son of [[George Harrison]], used some of his father's guitars and equipment in recording the soundtrack.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wilkinson|first=Amy|title='Beautiful Creatures' Score To Include Alice Englert-Penned Song|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1695564/beautiful-creatures-alice-englert-soundtrack/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107040354/http://www.mtv.com/news/1695564/beautiful-creatures-alice-englert-soundtrack/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 7, 2015|access-date=2021-05-10|website=MTV News|language=en}}</ref>

==Distribution==
===Release===
The film's release date was originally scheduled to be on 13 February 2013,<ref name="MTV1" /><ref name=swirling /> but the distributor [[Warner Bros.]] later pushed the date to 24 February 2013.<!--per official site--> The film was still released in Sweden on the 13th, a day before the film's North American release date.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=beautifulcreatures13.htm|title=Beautiful Creatures (2013) (2013) - International Box Office Results - Box Office Mojo|website=www.boxofficemojo.com}}</ref> The film held its official US [[film premiere|premiere]] on 11 February 2013, in New York City.<ref>{{cite web | author = Frank DiGiacomo |url= http://movieline.com/2013/02/12/beautiful-creatures-new-york-premiere-emmy-rossum-jeremy-irons/ |title='Beautiful Creatures' Premiere — New franchise For 'Twilight' Crowd? |work=Movieline |date=February 12, 2012 |access-date=June 4, 2013}}</ref>

===Home media===
''Beautiful Creatures'' was released on [[DVD]] and [[Blu-ray]] on 21 May 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=Beautiful Creatures DVD release |url=http://outondvds.com/Movie/When-does-Beautiful-Creatures-come-out-on-dvd/ |date=April 23, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127044947/http://outondvds.com/Movie/When-does-Beautiful-Creatures-come-out-on-dvd/ |archive-date=2013-11-27 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Beautiful Creatures Blu-ray release |url=http://newblurayrelease.com/Movies/Beautiful-Creatures-blu-ray-release-date/ |date=April 23, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930094558/http://newblurayrelease.com/Movies/Beautiful-Creatures-blu-ray-release-date/ |archive-date=2013-09-30 }}</ref> In its first month in release, the film sold around 428,792 copies in both DVD and Blu-ray formats combined, bringing in a consumer revenue of $7,377,859. As of 16 June 2013, the film has grossed an estimated $10,337,826 in DVD and Blu-ray sales.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Beautiful-Creatures-(2012)|title=Beautiful Creatures (2013) - Financial Information|website=The Numbers}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Box office===
The film grossed $10,124,912 during its opening weekend, including its Thursday release date, under-performing based on media expectations.<ref name="mojo-3632">{{cite web | url = https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3632&p=.htm | title = Around-the-World Roundup: Fifth 'Die Hard' Has 'Good Day' Overseas |work = [[Box Office Mojo]] |date= February 19, 2013 | author = Ray Subers | quote = Domestic disappointment }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/02/14/box-office-preview-die-hard-gunning-for-no-1-over-holiday-weekend/ |title=Box office preview: 'Die Hard' gunning for No. 1 over holiday weekend | work = Inside Movies &#124; EW.com |publisher= [[Time Inc.]] | author = Grady Smith | date = February 14, 2013 |access-date= September 28, 2013 | quote = Beautiful Creatures will likely have to settle for rather ugly $15 million four-day weekend }}</ref><ref name="mojo-3629">{{cite web |url= https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3629&p=.htm |title= Forecast: Fifth 'Die Hard' Should Blow Up Presidents Weekend | work = [[Box Office Mojo]] |date= February 14, 2013 | author = Ray Subers | quote = ... all had four-day starts north of $20 million, which is a reasonable expectation for Beautiful Creatures. }}</ref>

While the film was considered to be a flop domestically by grossing only $19,452,138 by the end of its North American domestic theatrical run against a $60 million production budget,<ref name="mojo" /><ref name="forbes-flop" /> it did better internationally, where it has grossed $40,600,000. As of 21 April 2013, the film grossed a worldwide total of $60,052,138,<ref name="mojo" /> making it a financial loss. It failed to recoup its production budget and other costs, as generally speaking, half of ticket sales proceeds go to theaters.<ref name="forbes-flop">{{cite news | author =  Dorothy Pomerantz, Forbes Staff | date = 2013-08-20 | title = 'The Mortal Instruments' Is Not The Next 'Hunger Games.' So What Is? | url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2013/08/20/the-mortal-instruments-is-not-the-next-hunger-games-so-what-is/ | quote = The film went on to earn just $60 million, about the same as it cost to make the movie. But considering only half the ticket money goes back to studio (in this case Warner Bros.), the film was a loss }}</ref> [[Variety (magazine)|''Variety'' magazine]] listed ''Beautiful Creatures'' as one of "Hollywood's biggest box office bombs of 2013".<ref name="variety-2">{{cite news |last= Variety Staff |date=December 26, 2013 |title=Hollywood's Biggest Box Office Bombs of 2013 |url=https://variety.com/gallery/box-office-disappointments-of-2013/#!2/enders-game/ |newspaper=Variety |access-date=January 6, 2014}}</ref>

===Critical response===
The film has received mixed reviews from critics. It has a 47% rating on review aggregation website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], based on 180 reviews, with the site's consensus stating: "Charming romantic leads and esteemed supporting cast aside, ''Beautiful Creatures'' is a plodding [[Young adult novel|YA novel]] adaptation that feels watered down for the ''Twilight'' set".<ref name="tomatoes">{{rotten-tomatoes|beautiful_creatures_2013|Beautiful Creatures}}. {{retrieved|access-date=January 8, 2026}}</ref> 
On [[Metacritic]], the film received a score of 52/100 based on 40 reviews, indicating mixed or average reviews.<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/beautiful-creatures-2012 |title=Beautiful Creatures | publisher= CBS | work = [[Metacritic]] |access-date=June 4, 2013}}</ref>

[[Owen Gleiberman]], in ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', gave the film a "B−", writing, "''Beautiful Creatures'' is arriving in a market-place full of ''[[The Twilight Saga (film series)|Twilight]]'' junkies still eager for their supernatural teen-romantic fix, and the film's concept couldn't be clearer: It's ''Twilight'' with the sexes reversed. This time it's the boy who's the mortal: moody, bookish Ethan, the outsider in his sleepy small town." Gleiberman added that though the film "is lushly pictorial and not-too-badly acted... the audience, like Ethan, spends way too much time waiting around for Lena to learn whether she's a good girl or a bad girl."<ref>{{cite magazine |url= https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20483133_20657888,00.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130113042139/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20483133_20657888,00.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= January 13, 2013 |last= Gleiberman |first= Owen |author-link= Owen Gleiberman |title= Beautiful Creatures |magazine= [[Entertainment Weekly]] |date= February 22, 2013 |location= New York |publisher= Time Inc. |page= 59}}</ref>

The film review website ''ScreenRant'' called the film "a choppy and melodramatic experience with very little payoff beyond the central love story. Worse yet, overlooking the usual on-the-nose dialogue about eternal love and sacrifice, this tale of star-crossed sweethearts is especially cheesy and unconvincing – even when compared to similarly heavy-handed young adult novel-turned-movies. Fans of the supernatural romance subgenre will get about what they expect...."<ref>{{cite web | url = https://screenrant.com/beautiful-creatures-movie-2013-reviews/ |last = Kendrick | first = Ben |date = February 2013 | title = ''Beautiful Creatures'' Review |website= Screenrant.com |access-date = March 16, 2013}}</ref>

[[David Denby (film critic)|David Denby]] of ''[[The New Yorker]]'' wrote that the movie "is a classic example of the confusions and the outright blunders that can overtake talented people who commit themselves to a concept driven purely by the movie marketplace.... Alas, the satirical energy and Ethan's bright talk dissipate after a while." He praises a scene from the Civil War flashback which "appears as Ethan and Lena are watching a movie in a local theatre, but only they can see it" as "an interesting idea that I wish LaGravenese had pursued as a parallel narrative. This kind of movie, however, demands not interesting ideas but whooshing spectacle and madly redundant climaxes and a soundtrack filled with thuds and a shouting female chorus."<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Denby |first= David |title= Dangerous Liaisons |magazine= [[The New Yorker]] |volume= 89 |issue= 3 |date= March 4, 2013 |pages= 80–81}}</ref>

Scott Mendelson of ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine called the film "shockingly good" and encouraged viewers who missed it to check it out on video.<ref name="forbes-bombs">{{cite news | date = 2013-08-24 | author = Scott Mendelson | title = 'The Butler' Tops Again, 'The Mortal Instruments' Bombs | url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2013/08/25/weekend-box-office-the-butler-tops-again-the-mortal-instruments-bombs/ | work = [[Forbes]] }}</ref>

CinemaScore audience polls gave the film a B grade.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Smith |first=Grady |date=February 17, 2013 |title=Movies Box office report: 'Die Hard' holds off 'Safe Haven' with $25 million; 'Beautiful Creatures' has ugly debut |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/02/17/box-office-report-die-hard-safe-haven-identity-thief/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221131830/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/02/17/box-office-report-die-hard-safe-haven-identity-thief/ |archive-date=February 21, 2013 |access-date=April 18, 2014 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref>

''Beautiful Creatures'' was featured on episode 187 of the comedy podcast ''[[How Did This Get Made?]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.earwolf.com/episode/beautiful-creatures/ | title = Beautiful Creatures | publisher = Earwolf |date = April 27, 2018 |website= Earwolf.com |access-date = April 21, 2021}}</ref>

===Accolades===
{{Anchor|Awards}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Award !! Category !! Nominee !! Result
|-
| rowspan="6"| [[2013 Teen Choice Awards]]
| [[Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie - Romance|Choice Movie Romance]]
|
|{{nom}}
|-
| Choice Movie Actor Romance 
|Alden Ehrenreich
|{{nom}}
|-
|Choice Movie Actress Romance
|Alice Englert
|{{nom}}
|-
| [[Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie - Sci-Fi/Fantasy|Choice Movie: Sci-Fi/Fantasy]]
|
|{{nom}}
|-
|Choice Movie Breakout 
| Alice Englert
|{{nom}}
|-
|Choice Movie Liplock 
|Alden Ehrenreich and Alice Englert
|{{nom}}
|-
|}

==Canceled sequels==
Warner Bros. and Alcon Entertainment initially purchased the film rights to all four novels in the [[Caster Chronicles]] series, with this film being based on the first book. Tentative plans for the next three books to be adapted into films were abandoned following this film's failure at the box office, along with criticism that this film deviated too much from the novel, which would make it difficult to adapt the sequel novels into films.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/beautiful-creatures-2-updates-release-date-story/|title=Beautiful Creatures 2 Updates: Is a Sequel Still Happening?|website=[[Screen Rant]]|date=11 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Loughrey | first=Clarisse | title=Why was the Beautiful Creatures series cancelled? | website=Digital Spy | date=2022-07-19 | url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a40648917/beautiful-creatures-cancelled-why/ | access-date=2025-08-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Lopez | first=Kristen | title='Beautiful Creatures' Director Richard LaGravenese Surprised YA Film Has Fans Clamoring a Decade Later | website=TheWrap | date=2023-02-14 | url=https://www.thewrap.com/beautiful-creatures-release-marketing-fan-following-richard-lagravenese-interview/ | access-date=2025-08-16}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==


*{{Official website|https://www.warnerbros.com/beautiful-creatures}}
*{{IMDb title|1559547|Beautiful Creatures}}
*{{mojo title|beautifulcreatures13|Beautiful Creatures}}
*{{rotten-tomatoes|beautiful_creatures_2013|Beautiful Creatures}}
*{{Metacritic film|title=Beautiful Creatures}}

{{Caster Chronicles}}
{{Richard LaGravenese}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beautiful Creatures}}
[[Category:2013 films]]
[[Category:2010s romantic fantasy films]]
[[Category:2010s teen romance films]]
[[Category:3 Arts Entertainment films]]
[[Category:Alcon Entertainment films]]
[[Category:American romantic fantasy films]]
[[Category:American teen romance films]]
[[Category:Films based on American novels]]
[[Category:Films directed by Richard LaGravenese]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Richard LaGravenese]]
[[Category:Films set in South Carolina]]
[[Category:Films shot in New Orleans]]
[[Category:Southern Gothic films]]
[[Category:Summit Entertainment films]]
[[Category:2010s teen fantasy films]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. films]]
[[Category:Films about witchcraft]]
[[Category:Films produced by David Valdes]]
[[Category:Films produced by Erwin Stoff]]
[[Category:2013 English-language films]]
[[Category:2013 American films]]
[[Category:Films based on young adult literature]]
[[Category:English-language romantic fantasy films]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Beautiful Creatures (2013 film)|access_date=2026-02-26}}