Summary
In recent years, Disney has been building on a live-action remake trend, yet 2010’sThe Sorcerer’s Apprenticewas one of Disney’s earliest live-action reboots, and it was a box office bomb.Disney’s live-action remakeshave become increasingly commonplace, withThe Little Mermaidpremiering in 2023 andSnow WhiteandMoanain the pipeline. However,Disney’s live-action remakes began decades ago. The first was 1994’sRudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book,followed by101 Dalmationsand102 Dalmationsin 1996 and 2000 respectively. In reality, 2010 is when these movies really started to pick up.
In 2010, Disney put out two live-action remakes. The most popular of the two wasAlice in Wonderland.Starring Mia Wasikowka, Anne Hathaway, Johnny Depp, and Helena Bonham Carter, the movie was an overwhelming hit. On a budget of $150 to $200 million, the movie grossed over $1 billion at the box office. This success led to a 2016 sequel, and ongoingsuccess for Disney and its live-action remakes. Yetthat success also overshadowed that year’s other Disney remake:The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.
10 Original Live-Action Disney Movies That Are Better Than The Live-Action Remakes
Original live-action Disney movies like Enchanted, Hocus Pocus, and Pirates of the Caribbean surpass the studio’s animated to live-action remakes.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Is Technically A Disney Live-Action Remake
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’s Inspiration Explained
Although many may rememberThe Sorcerer’s Apprenticeas a generic live-action Disney movie, it turns out that the film is actually a remake.The Sorcerer’s Apprenticetells the story of Dave, a normal guywho is enlisted by a powerful sorcerer to become his assistant. Dave quickly learns how to use magic in order to help the sorcerer protect New York from an evil enemy.The Sorcerer’s Apprenticeis inspired bythe Disney moviesFantasiaandFantasia 2000,wherein Mickey Mouse is the eponymous apprentice.
The Sorcerer’s Apprenticesection ofFantasiawas set to the symphonic poem “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” by Paul Dukas.
Although it has become a Disney classic,the original point ofFantasiawas to display Mickey Mouse in the story ofThe Sorcerer’s Apprentice.In 1940, Mickey was declining in popularity, so the company wanted to reinvigorate his legacy. However, the cost of makingThe Sorcerer’s Apprenticesurpassed what the short film could make. Therefore, Disney decided to create an anthology feature film whereThe Sorcerer’s Apprenticewas just one of various segments in the movie, all of which were set against classical music. Eventually,The Sorcerer’s Apprenticegot its own movie in the form of the 2010 live-action version.
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The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Was Not Unique Enough
Unfortunately, despite its historic roots, 2010’sThe Sorcerer’s Apprenticedid not succeed. With a budget of $150 million, the film only grossed $215 million. Furthermore, it was mostly panned by critics, who felt that the movie suffered from a derivative story. Consequently,The Sorcerer’s Apprenticeearned just 40%on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite a star-studded cast and some unique visuals, it seems that the movie simply wasn’t distinct enough to set itself apart, especially compared to the stylistic choices ofAlice in Wonderland.
Toby Kebbell
Drake Stone
Regardless,The Sorcerer’s Apprenticemay still be a worthwhile watch. It may not beDisney’s best movie, but it certainly holds some nostalgic value for audiences who first saw it in their youth. Plus,The Sorcerer’s Apprenticecast brings some undeniable talent to the project, and theFantasiaconnection makes it an interesting entry in the studio’s back catalog. Overall,The Sorcerer’s Apprenticemay be considered a failure, but it is one that’s still worth remembering.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Cast
Balthazar Blake and and Maxim Horvath are rival sorcerers, hundreds of years old. In modern-day Manhattan, Balthazar fights the forces of evil, while Horvath searches for the person destined to inherit the powers of the mythical Merlin. This turns out to be Dave Stutler, whom Balthazar takes in as a reluctant apprentice to help him stop Horvath from destroying the world.
