Netflix’s Goth-tinged Cinderella Puts a Fresh Spin on a Fairy Tale
WHO:
Mashable - Ali Wong, Amanda Seyfried, Stephanie Hsu, and Daniel Radcliffe provide voices in Netflix’s “Steps.”
Screen Rant - The review describes “Steps” as a winning, funny family film with a moving emotional core.
The Hollywood Reporter - The cast includes Amanda Seyfried, Ali Wong, Stephanie Hsu, Nikki Glaser, Daniel Radcliffe, Young Mazino, Peter Dinklage, Bette Midler, Damian Priest, Gwendoline Yeo, and Matt Lowe.
The Hollywood Reporter - Amy Poehler produced “Steps”; Alyce Tzue and John Ripa co-directed it. The screenplay is credited to Ava Tramer, James Madejski, Jen Chuck, Dana Schwartz, and Felicia Ho; the story is credited to six writers and originated with Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci, who perform as Garfunkel and Oates.
The Hollywood Reporter - In the story, Lilith (Ali Wong) is Cinderella’s punky stepsister, and Margot (Stephanie Hsu) is her younger sister. Their mother, dressmaker Li Mei (Gwendoline Yeo), marries Edmund (Matt Lowe), Cinderella’s father. Cinderella is voiced by Amanda Seyfried; Priscilla by Nikki Glaser; Roderick by Peter Dinklage; the Fairy Godmother by Bette Midler; the Prince by Daniel Radcliffe; troll Gef by Young Mazino; and Craktor by Damian Priest.
WHAT:
Mashable - “Steps” is a Netflix animated adventure that gives the Cinderella story a goth-girl twist.
The Hollywood Reporter - The film recasts Cinderella’s stepsisters as misunderstood rather than evil. Lilith calls the traditional story’s portrayal of them “character assassination” and wants her own “happily ever after.”
The Hollywood Reporter - Lilith takes the Fairy Godmother’s wand to create a goth-glamour look and attend the Royal Ball with Margot. Priscilla later takes the wand and uses magic to persuade the Prince she is his true love.
The Hollywood Reporter - Margot is turned into a talking frog; Lilith and Margot encounter Gef, a kind-hearted troll cast out by his brother Craktor.
Screen Rant - The review says the animation could have been more ambitious.
The Hollywood Reporter - The film is rated PG and runs 1 hour 41 minutes. The review describes it as a musical fantasy and notes original songs by Justin Trantor and an end-credits song by Blackpink member Jennie.
WHERE:
The Hollywood Reporter - The story moves to the kingdom of Alouette, where Li Mei’s family settles; its central ball is a Royal Ball.
The Hollywood Reporter - The review describes the setting as macaroon-colored and influenced by an 18th-century French rococo aesthetic.
WHEN:
The Hollywood Reporter - The article lists the release date as “Friday, Nov. 20”; the year is not specified. The film is described as family viewing over Thanksgiving.
WHY:
The Hollywood Reporter - Lilith wants to correct what she sees as the story’s unfair portrayal of the stepsisters and find a place where she belongs.
The Hollywood Reporter - Priscilla traps Lilith and Margot after perceiving Lilith’s storytelling as a threat to her dominance among the tea-party guests.
HOW:
The Hollywood Reporter - Priscilla tricks Lilith and Margot into entering a gated storm drain and locks them inside. Cinderella sides with popular children rather than her mistreated stepsisters, creating conflict between them.
The Hollywood Reporter - Lilith and Margot arrive at the ball in a skull-shaped black carriage. The review describes the character designs as blending K-animation and Disney influences.
(UPDATED November 9, 2026 09:59 UTC)
Netflix’s animated “Steps” retells Cinderella through her misunderstood, goth-glamour stepsisters. Ali Wong and Stephanie Hsu voice the sisters, with Amanda Seyfried and Daniel Radcliffe. The funny, emotional family adventure arrives Friday, Nov. 20.