Aladdin is a Disney media franchise comprising a film series and additional media. It began with the 1992 American animated feature of the same name, which was based on the tale of the same name, and was directed by Ron Clements and John Musker. The success of the film led to two direct-to-video sequels, a television series (which had a crossover episode with Hercules: The Animated Series), a Broadway musical, a live-action remake, various rides and themed areas in Disney's theme parks, several video games, and merchandise, among other related works.
Films FilmU.S. release dateDirector(s)Screenwriter(s)Story byProducer(s)Animated Theatrical filmsAladdinNovember 25, 1992John Musker and Ron ClementsRon Clements, John Musker, Ted Elliott and Terry RossioBurny Mattinson, Roger Allers, Daan Jippes, Kevin Harkey, Sue Nichols, Francis Glebas, Darrell Roonney, Larry Leker, James Fujii, Kirk Hanson, Kevin Lima, Rebecca Rees, David S. Smith, Chris Sanders, Brian Pimental and Patrick A. VenturaJohn Musker and Ron ClementsDirect-to-Video filmsThe Return of JafarMay 20, 1994Toby Shelton, Tad Stones and Alan ZasloveKevin Campbell, Mirith J.S. Colao, Bill Motz, Steve Roberts, Dev Ross, Bob Roth, Jan Strnad and Brian SwenlinDuane Capizzi, Douglas Langdale, Mark McCorkle, Robert Schooley and Tad StonesTad Stones and Alan ZasloveAladdin and the King of ThievesAugust 13, 1996Tad StonesMark McCorkle and Robert SchooleyTad Stones and Jeannine RousselLive-Action Theatrical filmsAladdin May 24, 2019Guy RitchieJohn August and Guy RitchieDan Lin and Jonathan EirichUntitled Aladdin sequelTBATBASpin-off feature filmUntitled Prince Anders spin-offTBAJordan Dunn and Michael KvammeTBA
Animated feature films Aladdin (1992)
Aladdin is the original film of the franchise. It was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation, and was released on November 25, 1992, by Walt Disney Pictures. It was produced and directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, and belongs to an era known as the Disney Renaissance. Based on the Arabic folktale of Aladdin and the Magic Lamp from the One Thousand and One Nights, the plot follows street urchin Aladdin as he attempts to gain the affection of Princess Jasmine after acquiring a magic lamp.
The Return of Jafar (1994)
Aladdin was followed by Disney's first direct-to-video sequel, The Return of Jafar. It was produced by Walt Disney Television Animation, and was released on May 20, 1994, by Walt Disney Home Video. It was directed by Toby Shelton, Tad Stones, and Alan Zaslove. The plot mainly focused on Jafar seeking revenge on Aladdin. However, this time, with Iago on Aladdin's side, Abis Mal becomes Jafar's new henchman. Now, Aladdin and co. must find a way to thwart Jafar, with his limitless genie power.
Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996)
Aladdin and the King of Thieves is the second and final direct-to-video sequel to Aladdin. It was directed by Tad Stones and was released on August 14, 1996, by Walt Disney Home Video. The story concludes as Aladdin and Jasmine are about to have their wedding and Aladdin discovers that his father is still alive, but is the leader of the Forty Thieves.
More Than a Peacock Princess (2007)
In 2005, screenwriter Robert Reece pitched a fourth Aladdin feature to DisneyToon Studios execs, although it never came to fruition. In 2007, DisneyToon Studios produced Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams, a crossover film with Sleeping Beauty. The second half of the film, More Than a Peacock Princess, follows Princess Jasmine, sometime after the events of Aladdin and the King of Thieves as she becomes tired and bored of her usual princess duties, and upon requesting more responsibility from her father, is assigned the role of Royal Assistant Educator.
Live-action feature films Aladdin (2019)
A live-action Aladdin movie was released on May 24, 2019, directed by Guy Ritchie with John August as the writer and Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich as the producers and stars Mena Massoud as Aladdin, Naomi Scott as Princess Jasmine, Marwan Kenzari as Jafar and Will Smith as Genie.
Untitled Aladdin sequel (TBA)
On August 12, 2019, producer Dan Lin announced his enthusiasm for a sequel and revealed that Disney is in the early stages of developing a follow-up. The studio also hopes to bring back Guy Ritchie to direct and Will Smith to reprise his role as The Genie while also telling a story that's "fresh and new". On February 12, 2020, it was announced that Ritchie will be returning as director with Lin and Jonathan Eirich returning as producers. In addition, Ryan Halprin joined the film as executive producer.'Aladdin 2' in the Works, Guy Ritchie to Direct | Hollywood Reporter
Untitled Prince Anders spin-off (TBA)
On December 6, 2019, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Disney was in the early stages of developing a spin-off of Aladdin for Disney+ centered on Prince Anders, tentatively titled Prince Anders, with Jordan Dunn and Michael Kvamme writing the script and Billy Magnussen reprising his role.
Genies (TBA) On July 15, 2015, it was reported that a live-action prequel to Aladdin (2019) was in development under the title Genies. The new film will reportedly focus on genies and their realm and reveal how Aladdin's genie ended up in the lamp. The film was being written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift. Tripp Vinson was to serve as a producer through Vinson Films.
Television Aladdin (1994–1995)
Shortly after The Return of Jafar, an animated series was produced. The episodes focused on Aladdin's adventures after the events of the second film. Produced by Tad Stones and Alan Zaslove, the series aired from February 6, 1994, to November 25, 1995, having originally aired as a preview on The Disney Channel before airing simultaneously on the syndicated block The Disney Afternoon and CBS. It was later shown in reruns on Disney Channel and Toon Disney.
Descendants (2015–2019)
Descendants is a live-action Disney Channel Original film series based on the lives of the children of various Disney heroes and villains when they attend the same prep school. Jafar appears in the first film as does his son, Jay, who additionally appears its two sequels.
Other shows The Aladdin characters later made a crossover with the 1998 animated series, Hercules, and were featured as guests in the television series House of Mouse and related works to those series—Jafar was the leader of the villains in Mickey's House of Villains.
Agrabah
Agrabah is a fictional sultanate that serves as the setting for the Aladdin franchise. Aladdin was initially intended to be set in the Iraqi city of Baghdad, but after the Gulf War happened, the name Agrabah was chosen as an approximate anagram of the name of the city of Baghdad. In Aladdin, the Peddler mentions that Agrabah is placed close to the Jordan River.
Cast and characters
Characters Animated films Television series Video games Live-action film Aladdin The Return of Jafar Aladdin and the King of Thieves Aladdin Disney's Math Quest with Aladdin Disney's Aladdin in Nasira's Revenge Aladdin Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Aladdin Scott Weinger Scott Weinger Scott Weinger Mena Massoud Brad Kane Brad Kane Genie / Peddler Robin Williams Dan Castellaneta Robin Williams Dan Castellaneta Robin Williams Dan Castellaneta Will Smith Bruce Adler Bruce Adler Princess Jasmine Linda Larkin Linda Larkin Linda Larkin Naomi Scott Lea Salonga Liz Callaway Lea Salonga Jafar Jonathan Freeman Jonathan Freeman Marwan Kenzari Abu Frank Welker Frank Welker Iago Gilbert Gottfried Alan Tudyk The Sultan Douglas Seale Val Bettin Val Bettin Navid Negahban Rajah Frank Welker Frank Welker Razoul Jim Cummings Jim Cummings Robby Haynes Cave of Wonders Frank Welker Frank Welker Omar Charlie Adler Dan Castellaneta Farouk Jim Cummings Jim Cummings Amir Boutrous Prince Achmed Corey Burton Billy Magnussen Abis Mal Jason Alexander Jason Alexander Hakim Frank Welker Corey Burton Frank Welker Numan Acar Cassim John Rhys-Davies Merwin Foard Sa'luk Jerry Orbach The Oracle CCH Pounder Merc rowspan="3" Dorian Harewood Prince Uncouthma Tino Insana Sadira Kellie Martin Fasir Ed Gilbert Amin Damoola Jeff Bennett Mozenrath Jonathan Brandis Jonathan Brandis Jeff Bennett Mirage Bebe Neuwirth Eden Valery Pappas Mukhtar John Kassir Haroud Hazi Bin James Avery Bizarrah April Winchell Nasira Jodi Benson Dalia Nasim Pedrad
Crew Crew/detail Film Aladdin The Return of Jafar Aladdin and the King of Thieves Aladdin Composer(s) Alan Menken Mark Watters Carl Johnson Mark Watters Alan Menken Songwriter(s) Howard AshmanAlan MenkenTim Rice Randy PetersenKevin QuinnDale GonyeaMichael SilversherPatty Silversher David FriedmanRandy PetersenKevin Quinn Alan MenkenHoward AshmanTim RiceBenj PasekJustin Paul Editor(s) Mark A. Hester H. Lee Peterson Robert S. Birchard Elen Orson Elen Orson James Herbert Production companies Walt Disney Feature Animation Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Walt Disney Television Animation Walt Disney Animation Australia Walt Disney Animation Japan Disneytoon Studios Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Walt Disney Television Animation Walt Disney Animation Australia Disneytoon Studios Walt Disney Pictures Rideback Distributor Buena Vista PicturesWalt Disney Home Video Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Reception Box office performance
Film Release date Box office gross Budget Reference United States and Canada Other territories Worldwide Aladdin November 25, 1992 $217,350,219 $287,700,000 $504,050,219 $28,000,000 Aladdin May 24, 2019 $355,559,216 $695,134,737 $1,050,693,953 $183,000,000 Total
Home media performance + Animated film video sales in the United States Film Video release US video sales US sales revenue () VHS DVD Blu-ray All formats Aladdin October 1, 1993 30,000,000 2,820,000 1,807,236 The Return of Jafar May 20, 1994 15,000,000 15,000,000+ Aladdin and the King of Thieves August 13, 1996 10,300,000 10,300,000+ Total 2,820,000+ 1,807,236+ +
+ Remake home entertainment revenue Film Home media release Net revenue Aladdin August 27, 2019 $345,000,000
Critical and audience response Film Year Critics Audiences Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore PostTrak Aladdin 1992 94% (74 reviews) 86 (25 reviews) A+ rowspan="3" The Return of Jafar 1994 33% (12 reviews) rowspan="2" rowspan="2" Aladdin and the King of Thieves 1996 33% (12 reviews) Aladdin 2019 57% (383 reviews) 53 (50 reviews) A 90%
Music
Video games Along with the film release, three different video games based on Aladdin were released. Disney's Aladdin, an international co-production between Virgin Games and Walt Disney Feature Animation for the Genesis, was released in late 1993 and later ported to Nintendo Entertainment System, PC, Game Boy and Game Boy Color.. Retrieved October 6, 2010. That same year, Capcom released a Super NES game, also called Disney's Aladdin, which was ported to the Game Boy Advance in 2002.. Retrieved October 6, 2010. In 1994, SIMS released another game called Disney's Aladdin for the Game Gear and Master System.. Retrieved October 6, 2010. These video games based on the original Aladdin film earned in sales revenue.
The television series inspired another game by Argonaut Games, entitled Aladdin: Nasira's Revenge and released in 2000 for the PlayStation and PC. Also, in 2004 Vivendi Universal released Disney's Aladdin Chess Adventures, a chess computer game with the Aladdin license.
The Kingdom Hearts series features a playable Aladdin world known as Agrabah. In Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, the plotline is loosely related to the storyline of the original film. In Kingdom Hearts II, it is a mixture of Aladdin and The Return of Jafar. Genie is also a recurring summon in the series.