Black Beauty.

Name: Black Beauty
Genre: Drama, Family
Released: 1994-07-29
Duration: 85 min
Cast: Sean Bean, David Thewlis, Jim Carter, Peter Davison, Alun Armstrong

The world looks different through his eyes.

A horse named Black Beauty recounts his life with a succession of owners in nineteenth-century England. Kind homes, hard labor and separation from friends teach him how much an animal's happiness depends on the people responsible for it.

74%Tomatometer19 critics · Rotten Tomatoes

Checked Oct 20, 2026. About these scores

Why it’s a little special

The horse's point of view makes kindness concrete, with quiet stretches as memorable as the larger adventures.

BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY

Know the story.
Know your little people.

General audiences

US film rating

Animal cruelty, overwork, neglect, fires and the death of a horse. The story contains long sad passages and may be difficult for sensitive animal lovers.

Our notes are a starting point, not an age recommendation. G and PG films can still include intense moments. You know your family best.

BEHIND THE SCENES

The little details.

Directed by: Caroline Thompson
Starring: Sean Bean, David Thewlis, Jim Carter, Peter Davison, Alun Armstrong, John McEnery, Eleanor Bron, Peter Cook, Andrew Knott, Alan Cumming
Written by: Caroline Thompson
Produced by: Peter Macgregor-Scott, Robert Shapiro
Release date: July 29, 1994
Runtime: 85 minutes
Genre: Drama, Family
Studio: Warner Bros.
Language: English