The Black Cauldron

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The Black Cauldron

PG

1985

1h 20m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Animation

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

37 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

In the land of Prydain, lowly pig herder Taran dreams of becoming a gallant knight. Young Taran receives his heroic calling when the evil Horned King kidnaps Hen Wen, a prophesying pig that had been entrusted to Taran. Now, with help from his furry sidekick Gurgi and Princess Eilonwy, Taran must locate the magical black cauldron before the Horned King is able to use its mystical powers to summon an army of the undead.

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Critics Consensus

Ambitious but flawed, The Black Cauldron is technically brilliant as usual, but lacks the compelling characters of other Disney animated classics.

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

Jan 3, 2018

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.

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Empire Magazine

Nov 4, 2009

2/5

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

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Variety Staff

Variety

Feb 5, 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.

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Terry Grimley

Birmingham Mail

Apr 17, 2026

It hardly seems to have been worth waiting 14 years for. But if you judge it on its own merits rather than on its publicity it is quite entertaining as well as exciting when it needs to be.

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David Reddish

CBR

Nov 19, 2024

3/4

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.

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Carson Timar

ButteredPopcorn

Nov 11, 2023

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

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Cosmo K

@C0sm012 Aug 20, 2026

I wanted this to be good. It could have been a good film. but it just was not good. Poorly timed and executed.

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Peter M

@RT90551629 Aug 19, 2026

This movie was not as successful as other Disney films due to a narrow target audience, but it still delivers in the areas you would expect from a Disney movie. Unfortunately, many have watched this movie with their kids thinking it was good for all-ages. That was understandable in 1985, but having the internet now I'd say there's less of an excuse. This was slight mis-read from Disney but the rest of the movie is very well-done. It is a pure medieval fantasy, which in 1985 was less common of a concept. The characters are very likeable. Even as an adult I would watch it again. It's similar to Mr. Toad and Ichabod Crane in that it has that historical setting with a whimsical plotline that makes it a relaxing and nostalgic watch.

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diogo13 T

@Tua_mera Jul 11, 2026

A "ovelha negra" da Disney vale pelo esforço técnico e pela coragem de apostar em um terror gótico infanto-juvenil. Pena que a narrativa picotada e os protagonistas sem carisma impedem o filme de decolar.

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Davetheman

Jun 27, 2026

This is such a HOT MESS!!!! like the black cauldron is such a bad Disney movie because this movie is too scary for me to watch, and also how is it possible to let the black cauldron got a 57% on the tomatometer? It shouldnt got a 15%, so fck the black cauldron, robin hood and Pocahontas are way better

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Liv S

@LivSolman333 Jun 3, 2026

Way too dark for a kids movie, I watched it with my 8 year old and she was so scared. Not sure how it’s rated PG on Disney.

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andrew H

@andrew512 May 6, 2026

too dark for a Disney kids' cartoon, it's not what people thought and i honestly just don't like it. it's weird what's with the pig, and that old man, and his stupid instrument thingy. and a pig herder going on an adventure, i mean why is the girl not the main character why does every movie have to have a guy as the main character can't we just for once have a main girl character who isn't a princess who needs saving.

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Ted Berman

Director

Richard Rich

Director

Wayne Allwine

Henchman

James Almanzar

Henchman

Grant Bardsley

Taran

John Byner

Gurgi

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Synopsis

In the land of Prydain, lowly pig herder Taran dreams of becoming a gallant knight. Young Taran receives his heroic calling when the evil Horned King kidnaps Hen Wen, a prophesying pig that had been entrusted to Taran. Now, with help from his furry sidekick Gurgi and Princess Eilonwy, Taran must locate the magical black cauldron before the Horned King is able to use its mystical powers to summon an army of the undead.

Director: Ted Berman, Richard Rich
Producer: Joe Hale
Distributor: Buena Vista Distribution
Production Co: Walt Disney Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Animation, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 26, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Runtime: 1h 20m
Sound Mix: Surround

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