The Black Cauldron (1985) movie poster

The Black Cauldron (1985)

"Hidden by darkness. Guarded by witches. Discovered by a boy. Stolen by a king. Whoever owns it will rule the world. Or destroy it."
ThumbScore
๐Ÿ‘ 80%Google users liked it archived
Critics Score
๐ŸŽฌ 58% (RT: 56%, MC: 59) โ„น๏ธRT = Rotten Tomatoes (critic reviews). MC = Metacritic (weighted critic average). Critics Score is the average of both.
AnimationAdventureFamilyFantasy

Where to Watch

Streaming
Disney+
Rent / Buy
Prime VideoGoogle PlayApple TVFandango at Home
See all watch options on JustWatch
Director
Ted Berman, Richard Rich
Runtime
1h 20m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
TMDB Rating
6.4/10 (1,414 votes)
Rotten Tomatoes
56%
Metacritic
59
Cast
Grant Bardsley as Taran (voice)
Susan Sheridan as Eilonwy (voice)
John Byner as Gurgi / Doli (voice)
Nigel Hawthorne as Fflewddur Fflam (voice)
John Hurt as The Horned King (voice)
Freddie Jones as Dallben (voice)
Phil Fondacaro as Creeper / Henchman (voice)
Arthur Malet as King Eidilleg (voice)
Most people think so. 80% of audiences gave it a thumbs up based on 1,414 votes. Critics scored it lower at 58%, but audiences disagreed.
Overview
Taran is an assistant pigkeeper with boyish dreams of becoming a great warrior. However, he has to put the daydreaming aside when his charge, an oracular pig named Hen Wen, is kidnapped by an evil lord known as the Horned King. The villain hopes Hen will show him the way to The Black Cauldron, which has the power to create a giant army of unstoppable soldiers. Wikipedia โ†—
Fun Facts
  • Many of the background extras were actually locals from the filming locations.
  • Grant Bardsley spent months preparing for the role, heavily researching the subject matter.
  • Ted Berman, Richard Rich cited several classic animation films as the primary inspiration for the visual style.
Audience Consensus

The Black Cauldron is a 1985 animation, adventure, family film directed by Ted Berman, Richard Rich. Taran is an assistant pigkeeper with boyish dreams of becoming a great warrior. However, he has to put the daydreaming aside when his charge, an oracular pig named Hen Wen, is kidnapped by an evil lord known as the Horned King.

The villain hopes Hen will show him the way to The Black Cauldron, which has the power to create a giant army of unstoppable soldiers. The film has been rated by 1,414 audiences on ThumbScore, reflecting its reach and engagement with viewers. As a animation film, The Black Cauldron delivers on the expectations of its genre while bringing its own distinctive perspective to the storytelling.

The production showcases the creative vision of its filmmaking team, bringing together performances, cinematography, and narrative elements that have resonated with audiences. The Black Cauldron (1985) continues to find viewers through theatrical releases, streaming platforms, and home media, maintaining its place in the contemporary entertainment landscape. The film represents the kind of cinematic experience that has attracted a dedicated audience, with viewers appreciating its approach to the story and characters it presents.

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What Reddit Thinks

r/movies
⬆ 8,333💬 478 comments
A scene from Disney's "The Black Cauldron", painted over frame with stunning effect
Top comment: "REQUEST: somebody do this for every frame in an old Disney movie??"
r/movies
⬆ 2,943💬 103 comments
British actor Freddie Jones (Dune, The Elephant Man, The Black Cauldron) has passed away
Top comment: "One of those actors who owned every scene he was in, whether it was in *Krull*, *Dune*, or *The..."
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