The Huntsman: Winter's War

When two sisters with deadly magic decide to extend their rule across the realm, Eric the Huntsman is drawn back into the conflict he helped start. Years after aiding Snow White against Queen Ravenna, Eric and his secret partner Sara must confront a revived Ravenna and an icy new queen whose cold rule threatens the land. The story moves between flashbacks and the present, filling in how alliances were made and why old loyalties still matter. Sword fights and sorcery sit alongside quieter scenes about grief and trust, and old wounds make the stakes personal.

Released in 2016, The Huntsman: Winter's War was directed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, and builds on Snow White and the Huntsman. Screenplay credits include Evan Daugherty, Craig Mazin and Evan Spiliotopoulos, cast includes Hemsworth, Theron, Blunt, Chastain and Nick Frost.

It earned moderate box office returns worldwide, performing below studio expectations in several markets and never matching the commercial profile of the 2012 original. Still, it attracted a core audience for its fantasy elements and star-led cast across key territories.

Visually, the film got attention for lavish costume design and wintry production design, and Theron's Ravenna also continued to shape audience expectations for fairy tale villains. Its focus on sisterhood and magic kept the film present in discussions about darker fantasy aesthetics. Costume and visual teams received praise from critics.

Critical reaction was mixed, reflected in a 6.3/10 user vote average, with praise for performances and visuals but criticism of pacing and story focus. The film returns to themes of love versus vengeance, fractured families and how power corrupts, while giving more backstory to its central characters, and audience response varied.