Flaws and all, it doesn't deserve its reputation as the nadir of Disney's animated storytelling. If nothing else, it's still a hell of a lot more entertaining than Wish.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Nov 19, 2024

While The Black Cauldron might not be the best Disney film, it easily could be the studio's most underrated work.

Full Review | Nov 11, 2023

“The Black Cauldron” is an intriguing medieval film to be shared by a family or any group of fantasy role-players.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Oct 4, 2023

A tug-of-war between interesting graphics and uninteresting scenarios.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | May 8, 2021

Feels like only half of a story, as if audiences are thrust into the core chapters of an epic quest, with countless elements left undetailed, unexplained, and underdeveloped.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/10 | Aug 31, 2020

Definitely one of the worst Disney animated films and gets worse every time I watch it

Full Review | Original Score: D | Apr 18, 2019

Technically brilliant though short on narrative, "The Black Cauldron" is a painless, old-fashioned way to take out the kids, and a triumph for the animation department at the Disney studio, where it has been in development for almost a dozen years.

Full Review | Jan 3, 2018

With all of the talent and effort put into this, the movie only amounts to a bunch of premature ideas that are clumped together, making little sense.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | May 14, 2012

It's not a good film, but for one with the reputation of being the studio's worst animated feature, it shows that interesting work is done in it.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Mar 9, 2011

Disney's worst animated feature.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/5 | Sep 22, 2010

Flawed jumble of a film, but a picture of immense artistic accomplishment and dedication to atypical faces of wickedness...there's still so much to admire about this red-headed stepchild of a film.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Sep 20, 2010

It may have cost five times the amount of any other Disney film in the preceding two decades, but by God that money ended up on screen.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Nov 22, 2009

A glorious return to the days at Disney when animation was full and detail was everything.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Nov 4, 2009

Possibly not the worst animated feature the House Of Mouse has produced, but certainly stumbling around the darker recesses of the Disney vault.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Nov 4, 2009

The characters, though cute and cuddly and sweet and mean and ugly and simply awful, don't really have much to do that would remain of interest to any but the youngest minds.

Full Review | Feb 5, 2009

It's quite good, though by the impossible standards the film sets for itself it inevitably falls short.

Full Review | Sep 5, 2008

As usual it is technically excellent, but the charm, characterisation and sheer good humour that made features like Pinocchio and Jungle Book so enjoyable are sadly absent.

Full Review | Feb 9, 2006

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 11, 2005

Middle road Disney animation, unmemorable.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 2, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jan 2, 2005