How a 2000 sequel turned a classic villain into a victim of Pavlovian conditioning

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the 2000 film 102 Dalmatians, the notorious Cruella de Vil returns from prison supposedly cured of her obsession with fur. But a psychological experiment involving the chimes of Big Ben threatens to undo her progress, triggering a chaotic descent back into her former, villainous self.

Released in November 2000, 102 Dalmatians serves as a live-action sequel to the 1996 film. Directed by Kevin Lima, the production faced significant changes from its predecessor, notably the absence of writer and producer John Hughes. The film follows Cruella de Vil, who, after three years in prison, undergoes therapy with Dr. Pavlov. The doctor claims to have cured her of her criminal desires, though he secretly discovers that the sound of Big Ben’s chimes can force his patients to revert to their original personalities. When Cruella is exposed to these chimes, her transformation is reversed, leading her to plot a new, elaborate scheme involving a French furrier and the theft of dalmatian puppies.

The film’s narrative is marked by a blend of slapstick and high-stakes villainy. Cruella attempts to frame the shelter owner Kevin Shepherd for the theft of puppies, exploiting his past record of animal rescue. The climax takes the characters from London to Paris, culminating in a confrontation at a bakery where the puppies, led by the albino Oddball, trap Cruella inside a giant cake. Despite the film's ambitious scope, it received generally unfavorable reviews, with critics noting that the character of Cruella felt almost too large for a live-action format, perhaps better suited to the operatic scale of animation.

Commercially, the film grossed $183.6 million worldwide against an $85 million budget, performing below its predecessor. While it earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design, it struggled with critical reception, holding a 30% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Beyond the screen, the franchise continued to evolve; Glenn Close, who reprised her role as Cruella, later served as an executive producer on the 2021 film Cruella. Close has even expressed interest in pitching a new sequel set in New York City, drawing inspiration from The Godfather Part II.

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