Aladdin (1992)

**Aladdin** is a 1992 American animated musical/fantasy/comedy film directed by Ron Clements and John Musker which was released by Walt Disney Pictures on November 25, 1992.

It is based on the Arabic folktale, "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp" from "One Thousand and One Nights."

## Plot

The film follows Aladdin, an Arabian street urchin who finds a magic lamp with a genie inside and disguises himself as a wealthy prince in order to impress Princess Jasmine and her father, the Sultan.

## Voice Cast

* Scott Weinger as Aladdin
	+ Brad Kane as Aladdin (singing voice)
* Robin Williams as Genie
* Linda Larkin as Jasmine
	+ Lea Salonga as Jasmine (singing voice)
* Jonathan Freeman as Jafar
* Frank Welker as Abu
* Gilbert Gottfried as Iago
* Douglas Seale as The Sultan
* Jim Cummings as Razoul
* Charlie Adler as Gazeem
* Corey Burton as Prince Achmed

## Box Office

**Aladdin** was a box office hit, grossing $196,664 during its opening weekend. Overall, the film grossed $504,050,219 on an estimated budget of $28,000,000.

## Critical Reception

The Los Angeles Times said: *"Aladdin is a film of wonders. To see it is to be the smallest child, open-mouthed at the screen's sense of magic, as well as the most knowing adult, eager to laugh at some surprisingly sly humor."*

Entertainment Weekly wrote: *"Despite a similar setting-the never-never land of the Arabian Nights: the new movie is hipper, faster, more topical."*

Roger Ebert from the Chicago Sun-Times called it *"good but not great, with the exception of the Robin Williams sequences, which have a life and energy all their own."*

Variety magazine wrote: *"Floridly beautiful, shamelessly derivative and infused with an irreverent, sophisticated comic flair thanks to Robin Williams' vocal calisthenics, Aladdin probably won't equal its beastly predecessor but should still enjoy a magic carpet ride through the holiday season."*

Janet Maslin from the New York Times said: *"The fundamentals here go beyond first-rate: animation both gorgeous and thoughtful, several wonderful songs and a wealth of funny minor figures on the sidelines, practicing foolproof Disney tricks. Only when it comes to the basics of the story line does Aladdin encounter any difficulties."*

Jonathan Rosenbaum from the Chicago Reader wrote: *"The animation seeks to dazzle, but with a self-consciousness that's relatively new to the Disney studio. The results are fun and fast moving, but far from sublime."*

The Hollywood Reporter said: *"The magical, the mystical, the mysterious; all those powers that lurk within movies but are rarely tapped are unleashed in Disney's latest magnificent animation, Aladdin."'*

The Seattle Times called the film a *"thoroughly satisfying musical-comedy romp."*

Jay Boyer of the Orlando Sentinel wrote: *"This hilariously hip and thoroughly gorgeous motion picture is nothing less than the crowning achievement (so far) of Disney's revitalized animation department."*

People magazine wrote: *"Sweetly spirited, brightly funny and forthrightly romantic, this variation on the classic myth would rank among the most enjoyable Disney animated features even without Robin Williams' contribution."*

Tom Hutchinson from Radio Times said: *"Robin Williams's vocal performance as the Genie steals the show in this beautifully constructed Disney animation, his ad-libbing a perfect match for the wonderful visuals."*

## Awards

**Awards Circuit Community Awards** (1992)

* Best Motion Picture: John Musker and Ron Clements
* Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Robin Williams
* Best Sound: Terry Porter, Mel Metcalfe, David J. Hudson, Doc Kane and Mark A. Mangini
* Best Original Score: Alan Menken [**Winner**]
* Best Original Screenplay: John Musker, Ron Clements, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio [*Nominated*]
* Best Visual Effects: Don Paul, Barry Cook, Jeff Dutton and Steve Goldberg [*Nominated*] (tied with Michael L. Fink, Craig Barron, John Bruno and Dennis Skotak for Batman Returns in second place)

**Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards** (1992)

* Best Animation: John Musker and Ron Clements [**Winner**]

**Academy Awards** (1993)

* Oscar for Best Music, Original Song: Alan Menken (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics) ['*Winner*] for "A Whole New World"
* Oscar for Best Music, Original Score: Alan Menken [*Nominated*]

Nominee

* Oscar for Best Sound: Terry Porter, Mel Metcalfe, David J. Hudson and Doc Kane [*Nominated*]
* Oscar for Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing: Mark A. Mangini [*Nominated*]
* Oscar Best Music, Original Song: Alan Menken (music) and Howard Ashman (lyrics) for "Friend Like Me" [*Nominated*]

**Golden Globes** (1993)

* Best Original Score (Motion Picture): Alan Menken [**Winner**]
* Best Original Song (Motion Picture): Alan Menken (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics) for "A Whole New World" [**Winner**]
* Best Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical) [*Nominated*]
* Best Original Song (Motion Picture): Alan Menken (music) and Howard Ashman (lyrics) for "Friend Like Me" [*Nominated*]
* Best Original Song (Motion Picture): Alan Menken (music) and Howard Ashman (lyrics) for "Prince Ali" [*Nominated*]
* Special Award: Robin Williams (for his vocal work) [**Winner**]

**Saturn Awards** (1993)

* Best Fantasy Film [**Winner**]
* Best Supporting Actor: Robin Williams ['*Winner*]
* Best Performance by a Younger Actor: Scott Weinger [**Winner**]
* Best Music: Alan Menken [*Nominated*]

**Annie Awards** (1993)

* Best Animated Feature [**Winner**]

**ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards** (1993)

* Top Box Office Films: Howard Ashman, Alan Menken and Tim Rice [**Winner**]

**BMI Film & TV Awards** (1993)

* BMI Film Music Award: Alan Menken [**Winner**]

**Motion Picture Sound Editors** (1993)

* Best Sound Editing (Animated Feature) [**Winner**]
* Best Sound Editing (Animated Feature): Doc Kane, Vince Caro and Walt Disney Animation Studios [**Winner**]

**MTV Movie Awards** (1993)

* Best Comedic Performance: Robin Williams ['*Winner*]
* Best Movie [*Nominated*]
* Best Movie Song: Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle for "A Whole New World" [*Nominated*]

**Publicists Guild of America** (1993)
Maxwell Weinberg Award for Motion Picture: Walt Disney Pictures and Buena Vista Marketing [**Winner**]

**Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards** (1993)

* Best Picture (3rd Place) [*Nominated*]

**Young Artist Awards** (1993)

* Special Award for Outstanding Family Entertainment of the Year [**Winner**]

**Hugo Awards** (1993)

* Best Dramatic Presentation: Ron Clements (screenplay/director), John Musker (screenplay/director), Ted Elliott (screenplay), Terry Rossio (screenplay), Ed Gombert (story), Burny Mattinson (story), Roger Allers (story), Daan Jippes (story), Kevin Harkey (story), Sue C. Nichols (story), Francis Glebas (story), Darrell Rooney (story), Larry Leker (story), James Fujii (story), Kirk Hanson (story), Kevin Lima (story), Rebecca Rees (story), David S. Smith (story), Chris Sanders (story) and Brian Pimental (story) [*Nominated*]

**Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards** (1993)

* Best Animated Film ['*Winner*]
* Best Picture [*Nominated*]

**Grammy Awards** (1994)

* Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television: Alan Menken (Various Artists) [**Winner**]
* Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television: Alan Menken and Tim Rice for "A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)" [**Winner**]
* Song of the Year: Alan Menken (music by) and Tim Rice (lyrics by) for "A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme) [**Winner**]
* Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals: Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle for "A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)" [**Winner**]
* Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television:

Alan Menken and Howard Ashman for "Friend Like Me" [*Nominated*]

* Record of the Year: Peabo Bryson, Regina Belle and Walter Afanasieff (producer) for "A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)" [*Nominated*]

**BMI Film & TV Awards** (1994)

* Most Performed Song from a Film: Alan Menken for "A Whole New World" [**Winner**]

**BAFTA Awards** (1994)

* Best Score: Alan Menken [*Nominated*]
* Best Special Effects: Don Paul and Steve Goldberg [*Nominated*]

**Golden Screen** (Germany) (1994)

* Golden Screen [**Winner**]
* Golden Screen with 1 Star [**Winner**]

**ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards** (1995)

* Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures: Tim Rice and Alan Menken for "A Whole New World" [**Winner**] for "A Whole New World"

**ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards** (1995)

* Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures: Tim Rice and Alan Menken for "A Whole New World" [**Winner**]