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The Sword in the Stone

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The Sword in the Stone

G

Released Dec 25, 1963

1h 20m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

66%

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32 Reviews

73%

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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.

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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.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Delightful classic brings Arthur legend to life.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 29, 2010

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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

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

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

Nov 3, 2009

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Carson Timar

ButteredPopcorn

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

Dec 23, 2023

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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

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

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

Rated: 2/4

Sep 8, 2023

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Jacob B

A more laid-back entry in the Disney Animated Canon, The Sword in the Stone has its moments such as the iconic Wizards' Duel and a few fun characters but its competent-but-not-spectacular animation, blatant recycled audio ("Whoa, What, Oh!"), jarring shifts, sometimes within the same scene, between the future King Arthur's voice actors thanks to puberty kicking in for one of them and more episodic structure don't exactly make it an absolute must-watch entry in WDAS' filmography,unless you're a completionist. It's not a terrible film and I do give Disney credit for trying something different with their take on King Arthur rather than the usual Knights of the Round Table story we're used to, but it is one of Disney's more boring films, especially when compared to other smaller-scale stories in the Canon like Lilo and Stitch, Encanto or even their next film after this one, The Jungle Book which was directed by the same man. Still a better film focusing on a young King Arthur that utilises anachronistic humour than Shrek the Third.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/28/25

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Audience Member

Good sense of humor, love it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/02/25

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matthias s

This one’s a bit of a hidden gem. *The Sword in the Stone* isn’t the most talked-about Disney classic, but it’s got some serious charm. The music? Absolutely delightful. But the real star here is Merlin—eccentric, hilarious, and carrying this film on his magical, time-traveling back. The movie thrives on its fun, chaotic energy, making it feel more like a whimsical series of lessons than a tight, structured story. And yeah, the plot is a little wobbly—Arthur pulling the sword almost feels like an afterthought—but it’s still an entertaining ride. Cozy, lighthearted, and packed with that vintage Disney charm, it’s a film that deserves more love. Now, where’s my *King Arthur* sequel? Because that’s the story I really want to see. **3.5/5 – Underappreciated but thoroughly enjoyable.**

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/25

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Audience Member

A simple joy, as I like to call it. Engaging for kids, funny, and nostalgic animation and songs. It's nothing too special, I'd even go so far as to call it a bit boring, and the ending did feel rushed. But, it's enough to entertain. Pretty good movie!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/30/24

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Cristina L

É meu filme predileto da Disney!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/01/24

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Nick S

the plot progression is super slow then sudden end. It's a bit boring and the villain isn't developed enough.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/10/24

Full Review

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Wolfgang Reitherman

Director

Sebastian Cabot

Sir Ector

Rickie Sorensen

Wart

Alan Napier

Sir Pelinore

Karl Swenson

Merlin

Norman Alden

Sir Kay

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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
Producer: Walt Disney
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

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