The Sword in the Stone

G

Released Dec 25, 1963

1h 20m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Animation

List

66%

Tomatometer

32 Reviews

73%

Audience Score

100,000+ Ratings

This Disney adaptation of the classic fable chronicles King Arthur's humble beginnings. As an orphaned child, Arthur, who was then known as Wart, wants to help his foster brother, Kay, succeed in becoming a knight. While helping Kay train, Wart stumbles upon a cabin belonging to Merlin, a bumbling but talented wizard. Merlin does his best to convince the boy that he is bound for greatness, and when Wart and Kay travel to London to attend a jousting contest, they learn that Merlin was right.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Nov 28

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Disney+

Watch The Sword in the Stone with a subscription on Disney+, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Critics Consensus

A decent take on the legend of King Arthur, The Sword in the Stone suffers from relatively indifferent animation, but its characters are still memorable and appealing.

Read Critics Reviews

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Delightful classic brings Arthur legend to life.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 29, 2010

Full Review

Empire Magazine

It feels older than contemporary Disney work due to flat, creaky animation. The story still has resonance for kids, though.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 3, 2009

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

There is still some life in the characterizations, though the animation is turning stiff and flat.

Nov 3, 2009

Full Review

Carson Timar

ButteredPopcorn

While Disney has had some misses, few are as obvious and consistent as The Sword in the Stone.

Dec 23, 2023

Full Review

Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

Those who enjoy Disney animation, as I do (I have all but seven of Disney’s animated features on video cassette), may take special liking to this feature with its crazy villainess, but may feel a bit let down in the plot area.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 5, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Aside from the owl Archimedes, none of the characters make any impression whatsoever.

Rated: 2/4

Sep 8, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Ryan C

One of the best Disney movies of all times, I have watched this hundreds of times in my lifetime and my kids have carried on the tradition, love this one!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/09/24

Full Review

Jose G

Although the weakest of Walt's full length animated movies, it's still great fun. As with contemporaries "Sleeping Beauty" and "One Hundred and One Dalmatians", the animation is bright, boldly colored and stylized. The wizards' duel between Merlin and Madame Mim is a highlight, as is the ending when young Arthur pulls the titular sword from the stone and becomes the King of England.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/30/23

Full Review

Matthew M

One of the most boring and uneventful Disney movies ever. Not worth your time.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/06/23

Full Review

Tabitha B

I feel like the story department didn't have enough ideas to make this into a feature length movie.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/11/23

Full Review

Russell H

Classic. Great characters and humor

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/27/23

Full Review

Jack O

The one with the nostalgia to it is The Sword in the Stone cause it's one of my favorite Disney classics of all time. Me and my friends from old school loved it and we were quoting all the lines and songs from it non stop, it is just a lot of fun as always. My favorite character is Wart because he looks just exactly like me and Liam is Merlin and the songs that are fun called Higitus Figitus and many more also speaking of characters, the characters are memorable. Wart is the main character who wants to learn education, Merlin is the wise and the most powerful wizard who learns magic, Archimedes an owl who is miserable as always until the wizards duel and many more are really pleased at Wart who pulls the sword from the stone and becomes king. This Disney classic will change the world forever. I've seen it a million times and I will definitely watch it a million times again. Though has anyone else notice that Wart clearly went through puberty when he was doing his voice?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/19/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Wolfgang Reitherman

Director

Sebastian Cabot

Sir Ector

Rickie Sorensen

Wart

Alan Napier

Sir Pelinore

Karl Swenson

Merlin

Norman Alden

Sir Kay

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

78%

80%

Peter Pan

84%

78%

Alice in Wonderland

TRAILER

for Alice in Wonderland

90%

80%

Sleeping Beauty

TRAILER

for Sleeping Beauty

88%

71%

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

100%

76%

The Phantom Tollbooth

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

An Emoji Movie Is Coming, Jurassic World Gets a Sequel, and LeBron James Could Star in Space Jam 2

View more photos

Synopsis

This Disney adaptation of the classic fable chronicles King Arthur's humble beginnings. As an orphaned child, Arthur, who was then known as Wart, wants to help his foster brother, Kay, succeed in becoming a knight. While helping Kay train, Wart stumbles upon a cabin belonging to Merlin, a bumbling but talented wizard. Merlin does his best to convince the boy that he is bound for greatness, and when Wart and Kay travel to London to attend a jousting contest, they learn that Merlin was right.

Director: Wolfgang Reitherman
Screenwriter: Bill Peet
Distributor: Buena Vista Distribution Co. Inc.
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1963, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 23, 2013
Runtime: 1h 20m

Most Popular at Home Now