I recently viewed this film after seeing the newer Nutcracker movie (The Nutcracker and the Four Realms [2018]), and I preferred it because it seems better suited for children, as my son pointed out, it felt more "Christmassy" than the other one. I can see why some people gave it low scores; perhaps they were anticipating a traditional holiday film and were put off by the prominent science fiction elements and depiction of a bleak future. However, I didn’t find it to be so problematic. I wasn't going in with any preconceived notions because I was unfamiliar with the original Nutcracker story or having ever seen a ballet performance. We simply wanted to watch a holiday movie as a family, and this one seemed acceptable. The narrative appeared straightforward and accessible for children, which kept me from wanting to give it a negative review. And when compared to the more recent Nutcracker film we watched afterward—a Disney production with a significantly larger budget and higher-profile actors—we were disappointed by how little excitement that movie had; it was quite dull and difficult to become emotionally involved in. This one, at least for me and my son, provided some action and thrills and kept us more engaged while watching. Rating: 7/10

Source on TMDB