It was produced by Celia Bannerman, Andrew Gellis, Lorne Orleans and Olivier Stockman at Sands Films Studios in London.

The film stars Miriam Margolyes, Heathcote Williams, Lotte Johnson, Benjamin Hall, Harriet Thorpe, and Patrick Pearson.

Variety was positive, writing “while it lacks the richness and texture of the famed ballet, “The IMAX Nutcracker” is nevertheless solid family entertainment.” The reviewer praised the film's “strong production values”, predicting it would “become a holiday classic”.

[6] New York Times described it as “the movie equivalent of...layer cake that's so rich it can only be consumed in tiny nibbles” and “a holiday dreamscape that is considerably darker in tone that the ballet”.

They thought that despite the anticipation of director Christine Edzard's “uniquely charmingly sensibility”, the film “disappointed” due to the use of actors instead of dancers.