Overview
A young boy's journey to knighthood is transformed by the magic of an eccentric wizard.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- witty
- warm
- family movie night
- nostalgic rewatch
What critics said
Critics broadly find the characters, imagination, and all-ages humor appealing, while viewing the animation and thin, digressive narrative as uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Merlin tutors Wart through lessons involving magic, history, and transformations rather than conventional knightly training.
The story focuses on Arthur as the boy Wart before he becomes the legendary king associated with the sword in the stone.
Merlin repeatedly transforms Wart into animals, turning educational encounters into colorful physical comedy.
The amnesiac and absent-minded Merlin guides Wart through chaotic lessons while insisting on the power of education.
Films like The Sword in the Stone, and why
The Jungle Book
classic animated fantasy with a young protagonist, magical mentorship, animal transformations, and a warm coming-of-age tone
Robin Hood
family animation blending comic animal characters, musical storytelling, and a child's growth into a larger destiny
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Disney fantasy adventure centered on an inexperienced young hero, eccentric magical figures, and a legendary medieval setting
Movie Details
- Director
- Wolfgang Reitherman
- Release Date
- 1963-12-25
- Runtime
- 79 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (4185)
Cast
- Sebastian Cabot
- Karl Swenson
- Junius Matthews
- Martha Wentworth
- Norman Alden
- Rickie Sorensen
- Ginny Tyler
- Alan Napier
- Richard Reitherman
- Robert Reitherman
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Sword in the Stone about?
- A spirited young squire-in-training receives an unconventional magical education that prepares him for a destiny far greater than he imagines.
- What is The Sword in the Stone like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Sword in the Stone as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Sword in the Stone violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Sword in the Stone.
- What did critics think of The Sword in the Stone?
- Critics broadly find the characters, imagination, and all-ages humor appealing, while viewing the animation and thin, digressive narrative as uneven.
- Which films are like The Sword in the Stone?
- Films with a similar feel include The Jungle Book, Robin Hood, and Bedknobs and Broomsticks.
- How long is The Sword in the Stone?
- The Sword in the Stone runs 79 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Sword in the Stone?
- In United States, The Sword in the Stone streams on Disney Plus.
