Encanto premiered at theEl Capitan Theatre inHollywood, Los Angeles, on November 3, 2021, and was released in the United States on November 24 over a 30-day theatrical run. It was also released inRealD 3D,Dolby Cinema, 2D andD-BOX formats. Despite underperformance at the box office, grossing $261.3 million worldwide against a $120–150 million budget, it was a ratings success after its release onDisney+ on December 24, 2021. The film received acclaim for its characterization, music, animation, voice acting, emotional depth, and cultural fidelity; reviews namedmagic realism andtransgenerational trauma as the film's core concepts. Publications have describedEncanto as a cultural phenomenon, and executives had begun referring to it as a "franchise" within a year of release.[6] The film was nominated for three awards at the94th Academy Awards, winningBest Animated Feature, and receivednumerous other accolades, including theGolden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature and theBAFTA Award for Best Animated Film.
An armed conflict forces young couple Alma and Pedro Madrigal to flee their home village inColombia with their infant triplets, Julieta, Pepa, andBruno. Pedro is killed, but the candle Alma carries gains a magical power that repels the attackers and creates Casita, a sentient house located in a magical realm bordered by mountains.
Fifty years later, a new village thrives under the candle's protection, which grants "gifts" and corresponding bedrooms to each Madrigal descendant when they turn five, which they use to serve the villagers. Julieta's youngest daughter, Mirabel, is the only Madrigal to not be granted with a gift, while Bruno was vilified and scapegoated for hisprecognition, which resulted in him disappearing.
Ten years later, Pepa's youngest son, Antonio, is granted the ability to communicate with animals. During the celebration, Mirabel sees Casita cracking and the candle's flame flickering and goes downstairs to investigate. She alerts her family, but Casita repairs itself before the rest of the family can see the cracks. After overhearing Alma lament the candle's fading that night, Mirabel resolves to restore Casita's magic herself. Her older sister Luisa, who possessessuperhuman strength, confesses to Mirabel that she feels overwhelmed with her constant obligation to help the villagers by using her strength, which has begun to start faltering. She suggests to Mirabel that Bruno's room, located inside a forbidden tower in Casita, may hold the secret to the fading magic.
Mirabel finds a cave in Bruno's room that holds pieces of his last vision made of opaque emerald. Most of the family warns Mirabel not to investigate further, but she reassembles the pieces into the form of a tablet and sees herself with Casita cracking behind her. Mirabel’s father Agustín accidentally discovers her and warns her to keep the vision a secret, but they are overheard by Pepa's daughter Dolores, who possesses supernatural hearing. Mirabel's oldest sisterIsabela, who can make plants instantly grow at will, is scheduled to be engaged to the Madrigals' neighbor Mariano Guzmán. Amidst Mariano's proposal during an awkward dinner, Dolores tells everyone about Mirabel's discovery. Casita begins to crack again, and everyone starts losing control of their gifts.
Mirabel follows rats carrying the pieces of the vision to a secret passage behind a portrait, where she finds Bruno, who reveals he never left Casita. His visions alternate between Mirabel saving Casita and destroying it, leading him to believe she is the key to the fate of Casita's magic. Not wanting Mirabel to be hurt, he destroyed the vision and isolated himself. At Mirabel's insistence, Bruno conjures another vision that depicts Mirabel and Isabela hugging after seemingly repairing their strained relationship, which strengthens the candle.
Mirabel attempts to apologize to Isabela, who confesses she is burdened by her image of perfection and does not want to marry Mariano. Mirabel helps Isabela use her powers more freely and they hug. When a furious Alma arrives, she accuses Mirabel of causing the family's misfortunes out of spite for not having a gift. In response, Mirabel denounces Alma's behavior and asserts that her harmful expectations for her family are the true cause of Casita dying. In the ensuing argument, Casita is demolished as the candle extinguishes, leaving the Madrigals powerless, and a distraught Mirabel runs away.
Alma finds Mirabel tearfully sitting beside the river where Pedro was killed and the miracle had begun. Alma realizes that her obsession with preserving the magic made her oblivious to how her expectations and pressure were harming the family. She expresses remorse, reconciles with Mirabel, and reunites with Bruno. The three return to the village and assemble the other Madrigals to rebuild Casita, and the townspeople join in, restoring the family's gifts and reviving Casita. The Madrigals celebrate and take a family photo.
Stephanie Beatriz asMirabel Madrigal: the 15-year-old[8][9]protagonist, Alma's granddaughter, Bruno, Félix and Pepa's niece, Luisa and Isabela's sister, Julieta and Agustín's daughter, and Camilo, Antonio, and Dolores' cousin who, unlike her family, does not have a special gift. Director and co-writerJared Bush described her as "imperfect and weird and quirky, but also deeply emotional and incredibly empathetic".[10]
Noemi Josefina Flores voices a 5-year-old Mirabel.[9]
María Cecilia Botero as "Abuela" Alma Madrigal: Mirabel's 75-year-old grandmother and the family matriarch.[10] In the film, her full name is not given and she is simply called Abuela, which is grandmother in Spanish.[9]
Olga Merediz provides Abuela's singing voice.[11] Botero reprises her role in theSpanishdub of the film,[12][13] while Yaneth Waldman provides her singing voice in that version.
Mauro Castillo as Félix Madrigal: Mirabel's uncle and Pepa's husband. Bush stated that Félix is "just there to have a good time!".[10] Castillo reprises his role in the Spanish dub of the film.[12][13]
Jessica Darrow as Luisa Madrigal: Mirabel's older sister, who is 19, hassuperhuman strength and is the tallest of the family.[15] Co-writer and co-directorCharise Castro Smith described Luisa as someone who "[carries] all the burdens and never [complains]".[10]
Angie Cepeda as Julieta Madrigal: Mirabel's 50-year-old mother and Agustín's wife who can heal people with her cooking.[10] Cepeda reprises her role in the Spanish andItalian dubs of the film.[12][13][16]
Carolina Gaitán as Pepa Madrigal: Mirabel's 50-year-old aunt and Félix's wife whose mood controls the weather. She often creates rain and storms due to her strong emotions.[10] Gaitán reprises her role in the Spanish dub of the film.[12][13]
Wilmer Valderrama as Agustín Madrigal: Mirabel's father and Julieta's husband who Bush described as "accident-prone" as seen when he had different accidents revolving around him getting attacked by bees.[8][10]
Rhenzy Feliz as Camilo Madrigal: Pepa and Félix's 15-year-old son,[8] Dolores and Antonio's brother, and Mirabel's cousin who canshapeshift. Castro Smith stated that Camilo is someone who "doesn't quite know who they are yet".[10]
Ravi Cabot-Conyers as Antonio Madrigal:[8] Pepa and Félix's five-year-old son, Dolores and Camilo's brother, and Mirabel's cousin who gained the ability to talk to and understand the animals. He looks up to Mirabel and considers her a big sister.[10]
Adassa as Dolores Madrigal: Pepa and Félix's 21-year-old daughter, Camilo and Antonio's sister, and Mirabel's cousin who has superhuman hearing.[10][15]
Maluma as Mariano Guzman: Isabela's fiancé.[17][18] Maluma reprises his role in the Spanish dub of the film.[12]
Additionally, Rose Portillo voices Señora Guzman, Mariano's mother and the Madrigal family's neighbor; Alyssa Bella Candiani, Noemi Josefina Flores, Paisley Herrera, Brooklyn Skylar Rodriguez, and Ezra Rudulph voice the town kids; Juan Castano voices Osvaldo, a donkey delivery man who Bruno predicted would grow a gut which came true;Sarah-Nicole Robles voices Señora Ozma, a townsperson who once asked Luisa to reroute the river; Hector Elias voices Old Arturo, a townsperson who asks Alma about their fellow townspeople becoming anxious about the fading magic;Alan Tudyk provides the vocal effects of Pico, atoucan who Bush described as "clueless";[19] and animator Jorge E. Ruiz Cano voices the Tiple Maestro, an unseentiple player.
During a November 2016 publicity tour forMoana, Miranda revealed that early-stage work had begun on an animated project thatJohn Lasseter, then the chief creative officer of Disney Animation, had presented to him and Howard.[20] Howard and Bush subsequently revealed that after finishingZootopia (2016), they knew they wanted their next project to be a musical[21]—which turned into a Latin American musical after Miranda came on board.[22][23] Howard and Bush had already worked onbuddy films "where two characters go out into the world and learn about each other" and wanted to try something "completely different".[23] The three men discussed their common experience of having largeextended families, and decided to make a musical film about a large extended family with a dozen main characters.[23][24]
During the five years it took to develop the film, Howard and Bush's "true north" was the theme of perspective, "about how you see the other people in your family and how you're seen".[23] They began by brainstorming ideas on awhiteboard.[25] Early on, they made "three important discoveries" about families which became the basis of the film's story: "1)most of us don't feel truly seen by our families, 2)most of us carry burdens we never let our families see, and 3)most of us are oblivious that nearlyall of us, especially within our own families, feel the exact same way".[26]: 8 In turn, it was Miranda who suggested that the "vibrant, broad spectrum" ofLatin American music could "best capture" the complexity of family relationships.[26]: 8
Early in development, the production team spoke with many therapists and psychologists. All were asked who would be treated best by the parents in a four-person family; every answer differed. Bush concluded: "It's about how you perceive yourself in the family."[27] The crew also consulted family members and Disney Animation people.[28]
Howard and Bush started to discussLatin American culture at length with Juan Rendon and Natalie Osma, who had previously worked with them on the making-of documentaryImagining Zootopia.[21][23] Rendon and Osma both happened to be from Colombia and repeatedly drew upon their personal experiences withColombian culture in their discussions, which caused Howard, Bush, and Miranda to focus their research on that country.[21] Rendon and Osma became the first two of several cultural experts hired by Disney Animation as consultants on the film,[21] who collectively formed what Disney called the "Colombian Cultural Trust".[23][29]
In 2018, Rendon and Osma accompanied Howard, Bush, and Miranda on a research trip to Colombia.[21] During their two weeks in the country,[23] they met with architects, chefs, and artisans to immerse themselves in the country's culture.[29] They also visited theGabriel García Márquez foundation.[29] They visited big cities likeBogotá andCartagena, but they found inspiration in small towns such asSalento (terrain) andBarichara (architecture).[29] Bush noticed that "every town we went to had a very specific personality", because of how the country's mountainous terrain divides and isolates them.[23]
According to Disney fan club publicationDisney twenty-three, this isolation became the key to placing the Madrigals' residence in a "remote 'encanto'—that is, a place that's 'charmed', or spiritually blessed, a domain where magic and reality merge".[23] As Colombian tourist guide Alejandra Espinosa Uribe explained, Colombians are surrounded by "sacred lands that feel magical, and we coexist with them, not questioning their existence".[26]: 30
In Barichara, they befriended Espinosa Uribe, who showed them around the town, and later hired her to consult on the film's historical and cultural authenticity.[30] Uribe was an inspiration for several aspects of the film's protagonist Mirabel, including her curly black hair, large eyeglasses, and gestures.[30] The design of Mirabel's skirt was inspired by traditional skirts woven in theVélez area.[30]
The final version of the film is deliberately vague as to the timeframe in which it is set, but drew inspiration from early-20th-century Colombia.[30] After exploring the 1950s, the directors decided to shift the look of the film to the early 1900s and to use a "folkloric Colombian aesthetic".[26]: 22 At the beginning of the 20th century, the country endured theThousand Days' War, which resulted in the populations of entire villagesfleeing to save themselves as depicted in the film.[30]
As the film steadily became more complex, with an entire family to develop, multiple songs, and a rich cultural setting with a deep tradition ofmagical realism, Howard and Bush realized they needed a second screenwriter to help write the screenplay.[23] They selected Charise Castro Smith for her strong background in magical realism and experience with handling "real-world family dynamics".[23] Bush described her as a "godsend", as she provided "a foundation of heart, vulnerability and authenticity". Castro Smith sought to create a distinct, imperfect, and completely human character in Mirabel, one that spoke to the lives of many Latinas while also being relatable to viewers globally.[31]
From working onMoana, Miranda knew that film's protagonist,Moana, originally had eight brothers before they were removed to streamline the film's plot.[24] As Miranda had expected from that experience, Disney Animation initially resisted moving forward with a dozen main characters forEncanto.[24] Miranda deliberately wrote the film's opening number, "The Family Madrigal", to prove to Disney Animation that it was possible to efficiently introduce such a large family and its internal dynamics to the audience.[24] Because of the film's 90-minute runtime, the filmmakers struggled to make the center family feel genuine, fleshed out, and human, and to give them arcs.[28]
The crew worked hard to developEncanto upon instantly identifiable familyarchetypes. The team focused on pushing past the archetypes and showing that family members are more complicated than the "masks" imposed on them.[21] Each member of the Madrigal family is inspired by a common family archetype if it were exaggerated and made magical; for example, Isabela and Luisa are based on that of thegolden child and rock, respectively.[32] Bush explained that this method prevented each gift from feeling arbitrary, instead being prescribed by emotions and personality.[26]: 26
Like most Disney Animation films,Encanto went through "many different versions" in its development, as various story ideas were explored and discarded.[26]: 17 The ideas discarded along the way include:
a young modern-day woman is transported by a magical doorknob to another world;[26]: 17
Agustín was the family patriarch who discovered Encanto and personally built Casita there;[26]: 17
setting the film expressly in the 1950s featuring cosmopolitan and modern fashions,[26]: 22 as well asmotor vehicles and a trip to the big city where Alma had originally come from;[26]: 146
Casita was an extension of only Alma's personality, rather than the entire family;[26]: 41
following the story of multiple generations and Casita over a 100-year timespan;[26]: 49
Mirabel was desperately trying to find her magical gift, rather than merely expressing frustration with not being granted one;[26]: 71
the colors of Mirabel's world as seen from her perspective would have reflected her emotional state as she narrated the first two acts, and then changed over to more realistic colors when the film shifted to Alma's point of view in the third act;[26]: 76
Luisa's room would have been made out of stone and appeared "boring" to reflect her sense of responsibility, but would have concealed a "secret exit" to a hidden room similar to a "theme park" where she could have fun;[26]: 94
Isabela at one point had a "dorky" suitor named Bubo who came from the big city.[26]: 153
After the film's release, Bush revealed via Twitter several more ideas which had been discussed and set aside: Alma gave birth to the triplets at the river, at the moment of Pedro's death; Isabela and Mirabel's mutual hostility culminated in a fistfight; and Mirabel celebrated herquinceañera.[25] According to Howard, as the plot evolved over several years, "the core of the whole film" was always the relationship between Mirabel and Alma.[23][26]: 116
Disney cast several actors with Colombian heritage, includingStephanie Beatriz, whose father is Colombian;John Leguizamo, who was born inBogotá; andWilmer Valderrama, who spent his childhood in Colombia, where his mother is from.[33]
Though no obvious roles which he could voice existed, due to the Madrigals' Colombian nationality and Mirabel's lack of an animal sidekick,Alan Tudyk—considered Disney's "good luck charm"—makes acameo as Pico, a toucan.[34][35] When he first came into the recording studio, Tudyk informed the crew that theirscratch vocals for Pico were not actually those of toucans, but instead were parrots. He spent many hours doing imitations of various toucans. The team would speak to him in English, and Tudyk would respond using toucan noises.[36]
Encanto was the "hardest film" to date for heads of animation Renato dos Anjos and Kira Lehtomaki because they were asked to fully develop a dozen characters, as opposed to other animated films which primarily feature two or three characters out of a large cast.[37] Accordingly, the characters required a degree of complexity that Disney Animation had previously never achieved.[38] Journalist Edna Liliana Valencia Murillo was theAfro-Caribbean consultant and contributed greatly towards Félix, Dolores, and Antonio's designs.[39] According to Howard, certain characters'Afro-Latin hairstyles were essential.[40] Disney veterans Ian Gooding and Lorelay Bové were hired as production designers for the film. Lorelay and her sister, costume design lead Neysa Bové, hoped to represent the film's various communities well. Neysa requested Colombian consultants, which included ananthropologist and botanist.[39]
Instead of fabrics similar toneoprene that are often depicted in films, the characters' costumes are generally loose. The clothes are meant to appear as though they are from Colombia. The designers emphasized embroidery, texture, and movement; each costume—except Isabela's—is asymmetric, with a handmade feeling.[39] InEncanto, personalities and family ties are represented through color. For example, Pepa and Félix's side of the family wear warm tones of orange, yellow, and red—an homage to his Caribbean ancestry.[26]: 29
By contrast, Julieta and Agustín's side wear cool tones of blues, purples, and greens. Alma "sits in the middle", with darker hues, such as purple, black, and brown.[26]: 29 Each Madrigal has a symbol on their clothing that denotes their gift, such as barbells on Luisa's skirt and Pepa's sun earrings. Due to her lack of a gift, Mirabel has symbols of the other family members' gifts embroidered across her skirt,[41] in addition to her face and name.[42]
The residents of theEncanto dress in neutral tones; thus, the main family are distinguished by their vivid colors.[26]: 29 They needed to be distinctive while not standing out, which visual development artist Jin Kim said occasionally made them harder to design than the main cast.[26]: 148 Disney used simple silhouettes for the villagers' clothes to make them seem and feel similar to typical residents from the Colombian coffee region. They incorporated depictions of theSombrero vueltiao from theZenú Indigenous Community and the Sombrero Aguadeño from the Aguadas Community.[26]: 149
The animators were challenged by the directors to make Mirabel distinctively different from all prior Disney heroines; she had to be both capable and imperfect, but not merely just clumsy.[37] The Casita was inspired not only by traditional Colombian homes but films in which houses come alive, especiallyBeetlejuice (1988).[37]
The production team learned in their research that music, dance, and rhythm are core elements of everyday life in Colombia.[43] As a result,Encanto was the first Disney Animation film to have choreographers involved in the development process from start to finish, meaning they worked closely with the production team to develop songs, characters, and story.[37][43]
This is in contrast to older films where the story was already in place by the time a choreographer was hired to consult on specific scenes.[43] ForEncanto, Disney Animation initially hired African-American choreographerJamal Sims, who insisted on immediately hiring Colombian-American dancer Kai Martinez as the film's animation reference consultant.[37][43] They worked together with a team of dancers to prepare choreography reference footage for each scene, and then gave feedback to the animators on scenes as they were animated.[37][43] They developed different dance styles for different characters; Luisa's style isreggaeton, while Mirabel's style isCalisalsa.[43]
For selection and animation of the plants and flowers that Isabela could make grow, the production team consulted with Colombian botanist Felipe Zapata. His advice allowed appropriate plants to be selected and then shown in accurate detail. The river ofjacarandas andstrangler figs and the cascade ofsundew that Isabela produces are all based on this input. Plants in the background scenery are also realistic. These included the iconic, but now vulnerablewax palm and dramaticCecropia trees. Economically important plants, likecoffee, also appear.[44]
Over 800 people, 108 of them animators, were involved in the production ofEncanto.[45] Disney Animation was planning to send many of its animators to Colombia starting on March 15, 2020, in preparation for the film's transition from development to production. This second research trip had to be cancelled after the onset of theCOVID-19 pandemic. The studio's animators ended up having towork remotely with the Colombian Cultural Trust; for example, Espinosa Uribe gave the animators avirtual tour of Colombia with the help of her cell phone.[30] Diane Guerrero sent the studio's designers photographs of Colombian food taken by her relatives in Colombia.[25]
On June 22, 2020, Miranda confirmed onGood Morning America that he and Bush were working on an animated Disney film set in Colombia, with Bush and Byron Howard directing, and Charise Castro Smith co-directing.[46]
On June 18, 2020, the tentative title was revealed to beEncanto. The project was also confirmed to be the film Miranda was involved in, and it was reported to be about a girl in a magical family. On December 10, 2020, the project was officially confirmed at a Disney Investor Day meeting, where a clip was shown, a fall 2021 release was announced, and magical realism was referenced.[47] According to Bush, development of the film's scriptwrapped in August 2021, and production on the film wrapped a month later.[25] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many crew members worked together remotely for over a year and did not meet each other in person until Disney put on a socially distanced outdoor screening of the final version of the film.[45]
Encanto is the first Walt Disney Animation Studios film sinceWinnie the Pooh (2011) to employ the taller1.85:1 aspect ratio instead of2.39:1, a decision made to "get closer to the characters". Thislayout was supplemented byromantic lighting.[26]: 168 According to Howard,romantic (meaning heightened in spirit) is the film's key word in terms of the approach towards cinematography and lighting. The latter was also inspired by magical realism, due to the genre's heavy influence on the writing and characters.[40]
The directors aimed to use the film's optics to portray strong emotions. Alessandro Jacomini and Daniel Rice—directors of cinematography and lighting, respectively—stated this use "would amplify, exaggerate, and distort perception, which is very in line with Mirabel's point of view as a narrator". Her feelings of being left out were also shown using emotive lighting. The directors frequently reminded the crew of the emotional subtext of every scene as well as the intricacies of the individual parts. That subtext was applied by Warner, Jacomini, and Rice in elaborate sequences, such as the song "Surface Pressure".[26]: 168
In June 2020, Miranda publicly revealed that he had begun to write the film's music, which would have eight original songs in both Spanish and English.[48] After the film's premiere, he disclosed that he had been writing songs for the film from the very beginning.[22] On September 8, 2021,Germaine Franco, co-composer of the songs forCoco (2017), began to score the film.[10][49][50]
Encanto was released on November 19, 2021. A huge commercial success alike the film, the soundtrack reached number one on the USBillboard 200, becoming the first Disney soundtrack sincethat ofFrozen II (2019) to top the chart.[51] The track "We Don't Talk About Bruno" broke various records and became one of Disney's most successful songs of all time. It topped the USBillboard Hot 100 and theUK Singles Chart, and marked Disney's first number-one song on the former in the 21st century and its first ever on the latter,[52][53] makingEncanto the first Disney film to produce a number-one song and a number-one album.[54]
The first look of the film was shown on December 10, 2020, during Disney's Investor Day.[55] The teaser trailer was released on July 8, 2021,[56] which garnered acclaim from internet users due to Luisa's physical appearance, especially her muscles; she was dubbed the "Buff Lady".[57][58] The official trailer was released on September 29, 2021.[59] For its opening weekend at the box office, Disney spent $14 million on television advertisements to promote the film, generating 1.26 billion impressions.Deadline Hollywood said the marketing failed to distinguish the film from other Disney properties, causing audience members to believe that it would be similar toCoco.[60]/Film was critical of Disney's merchandising, most of which featured Mirabel and Isabela. Many members of the Madrigal family could only be bought in more costly merchandise of the entire family. Since Isabela is considered the perfect and beautiful sister, the website stated the merchandise reinforces the idea that beauty is the most effective marketing tactic for young girls.[57]
Disney held the film'sworld premiere at theEl Capitan Theatre inHollywood, Los Angeles, on November 3, 2021,[61] and also held a Colombia premiere at theTeatro Colón inBogotá, Colombia on November 23, 2021.[62] The film was theatrically released in the United States on November 24. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it had an exclusive 30-day theatrical run before being released onDisney+ on December 24.[63] The film was paired with the short filmFar from the Tree.[64][65]Encanto was released in China on January 7, 2022.[66] On February 16, 2022, the film was re-released in cinemas after its success on Disney+ and Academy Award nominations.[67] As part of Disney's 100th anniversary,Encanto was re-released inHelios theaters across Poland on October 28, 2023.[68]
Encanto was released on Disney+ on December 24, 2021, and was released byWalt Disney Studios Home Entertainment onDVD,Blu-ray, andUltra HD Blu-ray on February 8, 2022. Bonus features include "Let's Talk About Bruno", "Our Casita", "Journey to Colombia", "Familia Lo Es Todo", "A Journey Through Music", and a sing-along version of the movie.[69] The short filmFar from the Tree was also released alongside the film on streaming and on physical media.[70]
Analytics companySamba TV, which gathers viewership data from certainsmart TVs and content providers, calculated that 2 million U.S. households watchedEncanto over the holiday weekend of December 24–26, 2021. Viewership was particularly high in Sacramento (+58%), Seattle (+36%), and Los Angeles (+30%). Demographics that over-indexed compared to the U.S. overall included households with younger viewers (0–19 years), female viewers (+9%), and Hispanic viewers (+64%).[71]Nielsen Media Research, which records streaming viewership on some U.S. television screens, calculated thatEncanto was the most-watched film of 2022 with 27.4 billion minutes viewed—approximately 269 million complete showings. This figure was more than double that of the second-place film on the year-end list,Turning Red (11.43 billion minutes).[72][73]Encanto subsequently ranked as the second most-streamed film of 2023 with 9.7 billion minutes viewed, behindMoana.[74][75] In 2024,Encanto ranked as the fifth most-streamed film of the year, recording 6.61 billion minutes of watch time.[76][77] Between January and June 2025,Encanto accumulated 2.620 billion minutes of viewing time, ranking as the nineteenth most-streamed film in that period.[78][79]
Encanto grossed $96.1 million in the United States and Canada, and $160.4 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $256.5 million.[4][5]Encanto was 2021's highest-grossing animated film before it was surpassed bySing 2.[80][81] Factoring in both the film's production budget and marketing expenses, along with the theaters' share of revenues,Encanto was estimated to need to gross at least $300 million worldwide tobreak even.[82] Nevertheless, the film went viral over the 2021holiday season and achieved wider commercial success after its digital release to Disney+ on December 24, 2021.[83][84][85]
In the United States and Canada, it was released alongsideHouse of Gucci andResident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, and originally projected to gross $35–40 million from 3,980 theaters in its five-day opening weekend.[86] It opened nationwide on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 (the day before AmericanThanksgiving), and made $7.5 million on its first day, including $1.5 million from Tuesday night previews. It went on to make $40.6 million in its first five days.[87] Of the 3.7 million moviegoers who saw it, 52% were Latino and Hispanic, 51% were families, and 62% were female. Though its five-day opening gross was lower than Pixar'sThe Good Dinosaur (2015) ($55.4 million), which failed at the box office in 2015,Encanto had the best opening weekend for an animated film during the COVID-19 pandemic.[88]
In its second weekend, it made $13.1 million, less than the second-weekend results ofThe Good Dinosaur ($15.3 million) andTangled (2010) ($21.6 million) but higher thanThe Princess and the Frog (2009) ($12.1 million).[89][90] It went on to finish in second place in its third and fourth weekends, earning $10 million and $6.5 million, respectively.[91][92] In its fifth weekend, it made $1.8 million and dropped to ninth place at the box office.[93][94] In its sixth weekend, it finished in tenth place with $1.08 million.[95] It dropped out of the box office top ten in its seventh weekend, finishing eleventh with $613,501.[96]
Outside of the U.S. and Canada, it made $29.3 million from 47 markets in its opening weekend. The top countries in its first five days were France ($3.5 million), Colombia ($2.6 million), the UK ($2.4 million), Korea ($2.2 million), and Italy ($2.1 million).[97][98] It earned $20.7 million in its second weekend and $13.6 million in its third.[99][100] In its fourth weekend, it became Colombia's second-highest-grossing animated film of all time.[101] In its fifth weekend, it crossed the $100 million mark outside the U.S. and Canada.[102] It earned $3.5 million in its sixth weekend,[103] $5.8 million in its seventh,[104] and $3.6 million in its eighth.[105] As of January 9, 2022, its largest markets are France ($18.5 million), Colombia ($10.2 million), the UK ($8.8 million), Spain ($7.3 million), and Japan ($6.6 million).[104]
[T]he general consensus onEncanto is that, if you tend to enjoy most modern Disney movies, you'll probably enjoyEncanto, as it has a lot in common with them. However, you might just find something truly special within that tried and true formula.
Encanto received critical acclaim.[b] News channelCNBC reported reviewers considered it among Walt Disney Animation's best films.[111] On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 92% of 210 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.5/10. The website's consensus reads, "Encanto's setting and cultural perspective are new for Disney, but the end result is the same – enchanting, beautifully animated fun for the whole family."[112]Metacritic, which uses aweighted average, assigned the film a score of 75 out of 100 based on 41 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[113] Audiences polled byCinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale,[114] while those atPostTrak gave it an 88% positive score, with 70% saying they would definitely recommend it.[60]
The film's animation, which journalists considered beautiful,[115] was a source of plaudits.[111]RogerEbert.com critic Monica Castillo thought the musical sequences and characters' rooms allowed animation more artistic and abstract than that of previous Disney films.[116] Writing forGood Morning America,Peter Travers deemed the visuals ofEncanto miraculous,[117] while Shreemayee Das ofFirstpost described the animation as having spellbinding intricacy.[118]Variety's Owen Gleiberman gave acclaim, saying "Encanto has been visualized with a vivacious naturalistic glow (swirling flower petals, eye-candy pastels) that, at moments, is nearly psychedelic".[119] David Rooney fromThe Hollywood Reporter highlighted the film's colors and the designs of the costumes, natural settings, and Casita for particular praise.[120] ForIndieWire, Kristen Lopez lauded the visuals as stunning and life-like.IGN's Andrea Towers called the animation beautiful.[121]The Daily Telegraph film criticRobbie Collin was particularly amazed: "Encanto's animation is dazzling in all sorts of ways, with technical effects and flights of creative fancy that would have been unimaginable even a year ago, particularly during the musical numbers."[122]
Critics found the film's songs "spellbinding".[111] According to Ben Travis ofEmpire, the songs once again demonstrate Miranda's abundant skills for enchanting, wondrous melodies and lyrics.[123] ForChicago Sun-Times and theDaily Herald, respectively, Richard Roeper and Dann Gire described the music as "infectious and instantly memorable", and "emotionally distilled [and] verbally nimble";[124][125]The Detroit News writer Adam Graham agreed, commenting that the songs "lift [Encanto] to the sky".[126] Similarly,The Arizona Republic's Bill Goodykoontz regarded them as the film's peak.[127]CNN writer Brian Lowry shared a similar view.[128] Nevertheless, many journalists found fault with the music, such asNational Review's Kyle Smith, who called it "thuddingly mediocre".[129] Though he found the songs "breezy and fun", Christian Holub ofEntertainment Weekly deemed them unmemorable.[130] Writing forBleeding Cool, Kaitlyn Booth believed the music was "[no]thing particularly special" and that a lack of songs would have benefited the film.[131]
[Encanto] is about a lot more than just representation. The happiness portrayed inEncanto isn't justescapism, it's defiance. It's about challenging that notion that we Colombians have to be miserable forever. ... It's about the miracle of thriving when you seem almost cosmically predisposed to suffer ad infinitum. Because that's what Colombia is: a country of people trying their best to thrive in spite of themselves.
Reviewers singled outEncanto's representation and diversity for particular praise.[133] Writing forThe Guardian, Simran Hans found the awareness of culturally uniquegenerational trauma and displacement intriguing and surprising.[134] Despite being critical of a perceived disguise of cultural representation, Rafael Matomayor ofThe New York Observer stated that "when the film dives into the specificity of its portrayal of Colombia[,] ... it becomes an exciting, nuanced, complex magical realist adventure" that propels Disney into "a new era".[135]The Independent's Clarissa Loughgrey highlighted that the cultural specificity was more than simple aesthetic or linguistic references, commending the incorporation of magical realism and various skin tones.[136] Whelan Barzel ofTime Out summarized the film as a "genuine love letter to the diversity of Latin America".[137]
Reviews with regards to the film's portrayal of family dynamics deemed the aspect one of its strengths.[133] According toSlant Magazine's Derek Smith,Encanto thrives in expressing not only the typical message of the value of family but also the concept that even the best families require much effort to stay intact.[138] Preston Barra ofDenton Record-Chronicle named the message of family a contributing factor to the film becoming a "must-see family event";[139] fellow journalist Matt Goldberg, who writes forCollider, commended the message of "[being] enough because family is enough".[140]Polygon's Petrana Radulovic found the familial interactions stunningly realistic and strengthened by magical metaphors.[141] Many critics also acclaimedEncanto's emotional depth.The A.V. Club's Caroline Siede lauded the depiction of intergenerational trauma.[142] According toScreen International critic Tim Greierson, when the directors concentrate on the script's underlying emotions, the film is extremely moving.[143] Writing forCinemaBlend, Dirk Libbey opined that every audience member would eventually cry once they discovered which character they identified with most.[144]MovieWeb singled out Mirabel's search for acceptance and a purpose, stating "[b]uckets of tears are going to be shed".[145]
Regarding "Disney's regular formula",Encanto divided reviewers; some thought that it departed from the formula well.[106]Forbes's Scott Mendelson called the film "terrifically unconventional",[146] whileWorld critic Collin Garbarino highlighted several aspects that he recognized as deviating from the formula; such as a lack of princesses and villains, as well as the focus on community.[147]Vulture's Bilge Ebiri attributed the film's enchanting qualities to the "smaller-scale narrative". He explained that when the Madrigals' inner journey is combined with the typical "Disney spectacle", it becomes an unexpected, "downrightSirkian power".[148] Others found it too similar to other Disney films. ForPittsburgh Magazine, Sean Collier felt the film was "just another by-the-numbers Disney flick",[149] whilePeter Bradshaw fromThe Guardian thought that the story "wants to have its metaphorical cake and eat it", deeming it contrived.[150]/Film's Josh Spiegel thoughtEncanto included a mixture of formulaic aspects from many of the previous Disney and Pixar films, and failed to make them unnoticeable.[151]
Some critics found the story unfocused. TheIrish Independent's Paul Whittington considered the plot "too aimless, to satisfy anyone for long".[152] Alice Forman ofMashable concurred and felt several parts of Mirabel's journey were arbitrary; she had a particularly negative opinion of the film's middle section, which she called tedious.[153]The Globe and Mail writer Aparita Bhandari asserted the internal, rather than external, source of conflict and several unanswered questions confused her, preventing her from immersing herself in the film.[154] FromUSA Today, Brian Truitt expressed his disappointment in thethird act, which he said missesEncanto's focal point.[155] David Lynch, writing forKENS, agreed, and stated the act was weak due to an underdeveloped relationship between Mirabel and Alma, as well as clumsy writing.[156] Multiple critics also cited the film's lack of villains as a detractor.[157][158]
The Denver Post journalist John Wenzel wrote, withEncanto alongside other 2021 films likeWest Side Story andBeing the Ricardos, "Latino voices are having a moment in U.S. cinema, injecting a diverse set of cultures long ignored by TV, books, movies, video games, stage shows and news media."[174] Pamila Avila, writing forUSA Today, underscored thatEncanto is Disney's first feature with an all-Latin American cast, capturing "the complicated tug and pull between older and younger generations inHispanic families."[175] Roughly 25% of viewership comes from Hispanic households, while 40% of viewers are between the ages of 2 and 11.[176]
Billboard writer Leila Cobo said, following the success of Colombian musicians likeShakira,Maluma andJ Balvin in the U.S., Colombia is "finally seen and not just heard" viaEncanto. Cobo praised the film for not homogenizing all of theLatin American countries in the manner U.S. media has generally been, instead accurately depicting the culture unique to Colombia: "from accents to outfits to minute details like the hand-painted tableware, the embroidered dresses, the food, the many colors of our skin, even the animals – including the ubiquitoustoucan and the yellow butterflies that are synonymous withGarcía Márquez."[177]
Johanna Ferreira ofPopSugar wrote that the success of bothEncanto and its soundtrack speaks to "not just the importance and significance of this type of representation in animated films, but also how movies like this are really changing how Latino stories are being told." She statedEncanto celebrates the importance of family and respect forLatin American culture, featuring "animated stories about Latinos written by Latinos, with characters voiced by Latinos, and a storyline that actually celebrates Latino communities rather thanstereotype [Latino]."[178]
Mikael Wood ofLos Angeles Times statedEncanto became "2022's first widespread cultural phenomenon", bolstered by its unique direction and music.[179]Far Out journalist Tyler Posen called the effect "Encanto-mania".[180] Various social media trends surroundingEncanto had "people posting videos of their children recognizing themselves for perhaps the first time in the movie's characters."[179] Luisa's physical appearance has been praised for representing muscular women—a departure from Disney's conventionally "feminine" depiction of female protagonists as "small and skinny".[181] As of January 23, 2022, the videos tagged with the hashtag "#encanto" have collectively amassed more than 11.5 billion views onTikTok.[182][183]
The film's characters and their dynamics have fueled a discourse amongmental health specialists, many of whom reported that their clients, especiallyfirst-generation children of immigrants, "see themselves reflected" in the story ofEncanto and use the film to communicate "about things that otherwise might go unsaid." Mirabel, Isabela, Luisa, Alma and Bruno have been the most discussed characters, with Bruno being associated withneurodivergent family members. Speaking toCNN,psychotherapist Kadesha Adelakun stated "there are so many layers" toEncanto, portraying issues "many families are going through."[184][185]
Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl is a 2022 live musical hosted byLin-Manuel Miranda, which includes some of the film's cast members performing the songs from the film. The stage musical was performed on November 11 and 12 at theHollywood Bowl, and a filmed special of the show was released on December 28, 2022 onDisney+.[192]
Theyoung adult novelNightmares and Sueños, written by Alex Segura, is a prequel to the film that focuses on seventeen-year-old Bruno and shows why people do not talk about him.[193] It released on December 3, 2024.[194]
Mirabel was added toDisney Dreamlight Valley in a February 2023 update as one of the villagers of the titular valley, along with a small version of Casita called "Mini Casita" as her home.[195] In theworld building gameDisney Magic Kingdoms, during a limited time event with a storyline set after the events of the film, Mirabel, Bruno, Isabela, Luisa and Antonio were added as playable characters, along with Casita and Isabela's Room as attractions.[196][197]
On March 21, 2024, Disney announced that a newEncanto stage show,¡Celebración Encanto! would temporarily run from June 10 through September 6, 2024. However, it was later announced that it would become a full-time entertainment offering, and is currently permanent. The show is held multiple times daily at the CommuniCore Plaza in the World Celebration area atEpcot, and features live appearances from Mirabel and Bruno.[198][199]
In August 2024, it was announced that anEncanto ride is in development forDisney's Animal Kingdom, scheduled to open in 2027 as part of a new Tropical Americas section of the park, which will replace DinoLand U.S.A.. The ride will take guests on a tour of the Casita on the day of Antonio's gift ceremony, celebrating his connection with animals.[200]
Jared Bush and Charise Castro Smith said they are open to a potential Disney+ series. Bush stated he would be happy to see a show about any member of the family, and Castro Smith shared that Miranda was very interested in creating a show about Dolores.[201] Then–Disney CEOBob Chapek describedEncanto as the company's latest franchise during a February 2022earnings call.[6] However, Miranda revealed in December 2024, three years after the film's release: "We haven't talked about anyEncanto sequels".[202]
In March 2025, John Leguizamo reported that the possibility of a sequel is in the works, once the team in charge comes up with a storyline.[203]
^abcSmith, Charise Castro & Bush, Jared (January 15, 2022)."Encanto"(Script).Deadline Hollywood.Archived(PDF) from the original on January 15, 2022. RetrievedJanuary 21, 2022.
^abcdefghijklSteele, Bruce C. (Winter 2021). "The House of Mirth: Encanto—Walt Disney Animation Studios' 60th film—conjures a remarkable family living in a magical house in the mountains of Colombia".Disney Twenty-three.13 (4). Burbank: The Walt Disney Company:4–11.ISSN2162-5492.OCLC698366817.
^Moody, Cassidy (January 28, 2022)."The plants of Encanto".Missouri Botanical Garden.Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. RetrievedJanuary 31, 2022.
^Rubin, Rebecca (January 23, 2022)."'Spider-Man: No Way Home' Returns to No. 1 on Box Office Charts in Sixth Weekend of Release".Variety.Archived from the original on January 23, 2022. RetrievedJanuary 23, 2022.Sing 2 has generated $128 million at the domestic box office and $241 million globally, making it the highest-grossing animated film in pandemic times. The movie surpassed Disney'sEncanto ($223 million) and Universal'sCroods: A New Age ($227 million) to notch that benchmark.
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