Atlantis: The Lost Empire

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Atlantis: The Lost Empire

PG

Released Jun 15, 2001

1h 35m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Sci-Fi

Action

Adventure

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

48%

Tomatometer

145 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

An inexperienced young adventurer becomes the key to unraveling an ancient mystery when he joins up with a group of daredevil explorers to find the legendary lost empire of Atlantis. A naive-but-determined museum cartographer Milo Thatch (Michael J. Fox), dreams of completing the quest begun by his late grandfather, a famous explorer. When a journal surfaces, an eccentric billionaire funds an expedition and the action shifts to high gear.

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Critics Consensus

Atlantis provides a fast-paced spectacle, but stints on such things as character development and a coherent plot.

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Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

Visually imaginative and even persuasively spiritual, this animated adventure has some unusually complex villains and heroes, and some of the plot and dialogue transcends what's typical in movies intended for a broad or youthful audience.

Jan 25, 2011

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Entertaining but intense adventure for tweens and up.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 22, 2010

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Todd McCarthy

Variety

This blandly conceived and executed attempt at a juve-style Indiana Jones with Jules Verne trappings recycles familiar adventure and cartoon devices with minimal wit and flair.

Aug 7, 2008

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Michael D. Reid

Victoria Times Colonist (B.C., Canada)

Disney's summer animation entry, mercifully bereft of cloying musical numbers, falls into the "good enough" category.

Rated: 2.5/5

Apr 30, 2024

Full Review

Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

This feature plays more like the best Disney animated film of 1981 than 2001. The unfortunate retrograde look of this cartoon is further hindered by the conventional nature of the characters and weak dialogue.

Rated: C

Apr 30, 2024

Full Review

Carson Timar

ButteredPopcorn

While the style and technical ability of Atlantis: The Lost Empire is clear, the bland storytelling and the overused emotional beats cause the film to ultimately become forgettable and dull.

Jan 20, 2023

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Daniel R

Absolutely amazing film. The animation is unique and high quality. The story is heartful and deep. Definitely a must watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/19/25

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Michael School K

When I watched with my friend we were shocked just SHOCKED. Why is this even Disney? DISNEY FELL OFF.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/18/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Failure in 1 hour and 35 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/11/25

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Vincent R

Underrated movie with an amazing story, amazing villain, and amazing setting. Also, I for some reason I both ship Milo with Kida and Audrey. Anyway, great movie, and an underrated masterpiece

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/22/25

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Dino G

This is probably the most underrated Disney film of all time! The action is thrilling and the concept is interesting. It certainly deserves way more love than what it got back in 2001. Thankfully, people are giving Atlantis: The Lost Empire the love and recognition it always deserved.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/05/25

Full Review

Anar T

I remember the indescribable emotions this animated film gave me in my childhood. The magnificent animation and unforgettable music, combined with interesting characters and a captivating story, forever secured this film in my heart. Watching it again more than 20 years later, at a much more mature age, I saw it from a different perspective. Noticing more details and understanding certain moments much better than I did as a child, I once again experienced the joy that modern Disney productions simply don’t provide.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/28/25

Full Review

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Gary Trousdale

Director

Kirk Wise

Director

Michael J. Fox

Milo Thatch

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Synopsis

An inexperienced young adventurer becomes the key to unraveling an ancient mystery when he joins up with a group of daredevil explorers to find the legendary lost empire of Atlantis. A naive-but-determined museum cartographer Milo Thatch (Michael J. Fox), dreams of completing the quest begun by his late grandfather, a famous explorer. When a journal surfaces, an eccentric billionaire funds an expedition and the action shifts to high gear.

Director: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
Producer: Don Hahn
Screenwriter: Tab Murphy, Kirk Wise, Gary Trousdale, Joss Whedon, Bryce Zabel, Jackie Zabel, Tab Murphy
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
Production Co: Walt Disney Productions
Rating: PG (Action/Violence)
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 15, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, SDDS, DTS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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