‘Eloise at the Plaza’ Turns 20 — Here’s How To Watch the Cult Classic Film

Kyle Lamar Rice
·4 min read
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Quick Answer: Currently, Eloise at the Plaza is available to stream for Amazon Prime members.

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Eloise at the Plaza is nothing short of a cult classic that has stood the test of time as perhaps one of the best seasonal films in history (critics, feel free to disagree, but our opinion stands). As the movie approaches its 20 year anniversay, we’ve outlined how to stream Eloise at the Plaze online to celebrate the shear brilliance of this film.

Initially written in 1955, the story follows six-year-old Eloise (played by actress Sofia Vassilieva) as she galivants around New York’s famous Plaza Hotel, living with her “heartbroken” British nanny, her pet turtle Skipperdy, and her dog Weenie, whom she comes with a fork. Amidst the chaos of Eloise’s antics, she finds herself in the middle of a high-stakes love affair, playing matchmaker with a prince and wrangling together the high-society event of the season.

There’s romance, comedy, and, most importantly, chaos as this young girl lives her most lavish, honest life amidst the hustle and bustle of world leaders and celebrities of this historic location. As she famously notes to the hotel butler, “I always say what’s in my head. It makes everything so much easier.” If that doesn’t clue you into the pure comedy of this film that makes it a cult watch, I don’t know what will.

The unruly and high-spirited nature of the main character is what makes this film so gravitational, juxtaposed to the real lives of tenants so self-absorbed with maintaining their posh egos they forget to have a little fun. If you’re interseted on where to watch Eloise at the Plaza online, keep reading for the best options!

How to Watch Eloise at the Plaza Online

While we’re still waiting for the film to be re-released for streaming via Disney Plus, the only way to watch Eloise at the Plaza online is through Prime Video on Amazon Prime. This means having an active Amazon Prime subscription.

Watch Eloise Now on Prime

Apart from streaming Eloise at the Plaza online, you’ll also be able to stream other Prime original TV shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and an array of other movies and TV shows in various languages.

Subscriptions start at $14.99/month, and grabbing an Amazon Prime subscription also gives you access to other Amazon deals and perks, including Prime Day, two-day delivery, and access to Prime Gaming. Amazon Prime also offers a 30-day trial that won’t auto-enroll once the trial is over.

When Did Eloise at the Plaza Come Out?

The original book was written by Kay Thompson, an actress most famously noted for her part in the 1957 film Funny Face, and illustrated by Hilary Knight who went on to become a famous Broadway poster designer. Following the success of the first book, three series followed, including Eloise in Paris, Eloise at Christmastime, and Eloise in Moscow.

The film was released almost six decades later in 2003 by the production companies Handmade Films and DiNovi Pictures for Walt Disney Television.

WATCH ELOISE NOW ON PRIME

Though The New York Times gave the movie props for its likeness to the book, Reel Film Reviews burned the release, stating, “Eloise at the Plaza is mildly entertaining, if only because it seems to consist of one caper after another. The film’s structure soon becomes perfectly obvious – Eloise gets into a madcap adventure, adults chase her around, Nanny admonishes her, etc – and the fast pace is clearly in place to keep younger viewers interested. But, though there are a number of talented actors in the cast, Eloise just isn’t a compelling enough character to sustain an entire movie. There’s no doubt that the movie will act as wish fulfillment for kids – who wouldn’t want to run amuck and get away with it? – but when you get right down to it, Eloise is awfully thin and one-dimensional (not to mention annoying).”

Regardless, 20 years after the film’s original release, it still remains a seasonal classic that pulls on the heartstrings and cracks smiles as Eloise takes the viewer into her lavish New York life.

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