View source for Aladdin and the King of Thieves

{{Short description|1996 animated film}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Aladdin and the King of Thieves
| image = Aladdin and the King of Thieves VHS.jpg
| caption = North American VHS cover
| director = [[Tad Stones]]
| producer = {{plainlist|
* Tad Stones
}}
| screenplay = {{plainlist|
* [[Mark McCorkle]]
* [[Bob Schooley|Robert Schooley]]
}}
| starring = {{plainlist|
* [[Scott Weinger]]
* [[John Rhys-Davies]]
* [[Gilbert Gottfried]]
* [[Jerry Orbach]]
* [[Linda Larkin]]
* [[Val Bettin]]
* [[Robin Williams]]
* [[Frank Welker]]
}}
| music  = {{plainlist|
* [[Mark Watters]]
* Carl Johnson
}}
| editing = Elen Orson
| studio = [[Disney Television Animation|Walt Disney Television Animation]]<ref name=bfi>{{cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8230cc1d|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027163926/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8230cc1d|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 27, 2021|title=Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1998)|work=[[British Film Institute]]|access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref>
| distributor = [[Buena Vista Home Video]]
| released = {{Film date|1996|8|13}}
| runtime = 81 minutes
| country = United States<ref name=bfi/><br />Australia<br />Japan<ref name=awn2>{{cite news|last=Strike|first=Joe|title=Disney's Animation Cash Crop — Direct-to-Video Sequels|url=http://www.awn.com/articles/disney-s-animation-cash-crop-direct-video-sequels|access-date=March 9, 2013|newspaper=[[Animation World Network]]|date=March 28, 2005}}</ref>
| language = English
| budget =
}}
'''''Aladdin and the King of Thieves''''' (stylized as '''''Aladdin and The King of Thieves Starring Robin Williams''''' on the first edition) is a 1996 American [[direct-to-video]] [[animation|animated]] [[musical film|musical]] [[fantasy film|fantasy]] [[adventure film]] produced by [[Walt Disney Television Animation]]. It is the second sequel to Disney's 1992 animated feature film ''[[Aladdin (1992 Disney film)|Aladdin]]'', and it serves as the final chapter and installment of the ''[[Arabian Nights]]-''inspired [[Aladdin (franchise)|Disney franchise]] beginning with the first film, and continuing with its first direct-to-video sequel ''[[The Return of Jafar]]'' and the animated [[Aladdin (animated TV series)|television series]].

The film takes place after the third season of the television series and is inspired by the tale ''[[Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves]]'' from ''[[One Thousand and One Nights]]'', replacing Ali Baba with Aladdin. For the first time since the original ''Aladdin'', the film has a completely new soundtrack instead of the rearranged music from the original film for ''[[The Return of Jafar]]'' and the series. This film also marks the return of [[Robin Williams]], reprising his role as Genie ([[Dan Castellaneta]] voices him in the second film, the series and other media).

Although this film serves as the [[series finale]] of the television series, the characters also appear in a 1999 [[Crossover (fiction)|crossover]] episode of the animated series ''[[Hercules (1998 TV series)|Hercules]]'', titled "[[Hercules and the Arabian Night]]", as well as the segment ''More Than a Peacock Princess'' from the 2007 direct-to-video film ''[[Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams]]'', both of which occur after this plot. The film received mixed-to-negative reviews, although it was deemed an improvement over ''The Return of Jafar''.

== Plot ==
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for feature films are 400 to 700 words. -->
At Agrabah, [[Aladdin (Disney character)|Aladdin]] and [[Princess Jasmine]] prepare to be married. During the ceremony, the legendary Forty Thieves appear, trying to steal a magical staff. After driving them off, Aladdin and his friends discover the Oracle, a woman within the staff who can answer a single question about absolutely anything to any individual. She hints to Aladdin that all of his questions can be answered by his father, who is still alive, much to everyone's surprise. According to her, Aladdin's father is with the Forty Thieves, "trapped within their world".

Aladdin, with Abu, Iago and Carpet, tracks the thieves and stows away into their hideout, Mount Sesame, where he discovers that his father Cassim is actually the King of Thieves, their leader. The two have a heartfelt reunion before Cassim's chief subordinate Sa'luk tries to punish Aladdin for infiltrating their hideout. Cassim, however, suggests that Aladdin instead face the initiation ritual known as "the Challenge": if he defeats another one of the Forty Thieves, he can take their place. Aladdin defeats Sa'luk and is welcomed into the band.

Cassim reveals that he left his family in search for the [[Midas|Hand of King Midas]], an artifact that can transform anything it touches to gold. Cassim believed that, with it, he could return to his family and rescue them from poverty. With the staff, he could question the Oracle for the precise whereabouts of the artifact. Aladdin convinces Cassim to return with him to Agrabah to live an honest life. Initially hesitant, Cassim agrees after realizing that the wedding can be his last chance to get the Oracle.

After spending quality time with Aladdin and his friends, Cassim decides to go forward with his original scheme, with Iago as his new henchman. Meanwhile, Sa'luk travels to Agrabah and sells out his fellow thieves by telling Razoul, the Captain of Agrabah's Royal Guard, [[Open sesame|the password to their hideout]] in exchange for immunity from prosecution. After all but seven of the thieves are captured, Razoul learns that Aladdin is one of the forty, and his father Cassim is the King himself. Cassim and Iago try to steal the Oracle but are captured and detained after the Sultan learns of Cassim's relationship with the Forty Thieves. Aladdin rescues Cassim and Iago but returns to the palace to take responsibility for his actions. As the Sultan is about to punish Aladdin, the Genie and Jasmine come to his defense, stating that all he wanted was to give his father a second chance. Understanding this, the Sultan accepts Aladdin's apology and resumes preparations for the wedding.

Returning to Mount Sesame, Cassim and Iago are captured by Sa'luk and the remaining seven thieves (Sa'luk deceived them into believing Cassim had betrayed them to Razoul), who force them to use the Oracle to locate the Hand of Midas. The Oracle directs them to the Vanishing Isle, a marble fortress built on the back of an enormous turtle that periodically dives to the bottom of the ocean, where the Hand is hidden. Iago escapes and goes to lead Aladdin, Jasmine, Abu and Carpet to Cassim.

Aladdin frees and reconciles with his father. Working together, they retrieve the Hand just as the turtle is starting to submerge. However, they are ambushed by Sa'luk, who takes Aladdin hostage, demanding that Cassim surrender the Hand. Cassim throws the Hand to Sa'luk, who grabs it by the wrong end and is transformed into a lifeless gold statue. Realizing that his obsession has brought only trouble and that his son is actually his ultimate treasure, Cassim throws the Hand into the ship with the remaining thieves aboard, turning it into gold and sinking it.

That night, Aladdin and Jasmine are married with all their friends and family present. Cassim watches this from afar because he is still a wanted man, and Iago decides to join him on his travels. Aladdin and Cassim wave goodbye to each other as the former kisses Jasmine while the latter rides off into the moonlight with Iago.

== Voice cast ==
{{Main|List of Disney's Aladdin characters}}
* [[Scott Weinger]] as [[Aladdin (Disney character)|Aladdin]]
** [[Brad Kane]] as Aladdin (singing voice)
* [[John Rhys-Davies]] as Cassim
** Merwin Foard as Cassim (singing voice)
* [[Jerry Orbach]] as Sa'Luk
* [[Linda Larkin]] as [[Princess Jasmine]]
** [[Liz Callaway]] as Princess Jasmine (singing voice)
* [[Gilbert Gottfried]] as [[Iago (Aladdin)|Iago]]
* [[Frank Welker]] as:
** Abu
** [[List of Disney's Aladdin characters#Fazal|Fazal]]
** [[List of Disney's Aladdin characters#Rajah|Rajah]]
* [[Robin Williams]] as [[Genie (Disney)|Genie]]
* [[Val Bettin]] as The Sultan
* [[Jim Cummings]] as Razoul
* [[CCH Pounder]] as The Oracle
* [[Bruce Adler]] as The Peddler

Additional voices are provided by [[Jeff Bennett]], [[Corey Burton]], [[Jess Harnell]], [[Clyde Kusatsu]] and [[Rob Paulsen]].

== Production ==
Following the success of ''The Return of Jafar'', Disney announced in January 1995 that a third film was in production.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-01-31-fi-26438-story.html | title=Company Town Annex | date=January 31, 1995 | access-date=September 17, 2014 | newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311155935/http://articles.latimes.com/1995-01-31/business/fi-26438_1_lion-king | archive-date=March 11, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1995/01/31/sequel-to-lion-king-set-to-roar-into-vcrs-within-the-next-year/ | title=Sequel To 'Lion King' Set To Roar Into Vcrs Within The Next Year | date=January 31, 1995 | access-date=August 15, 2014 | newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]]}}</ref> In June, it was scheduled for a home-video release in 1996.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-06-23/entertainment/9506210323_1_direct-to-video-sequels-live-action-video | title=As Long As It Sells, Keep Doing Sequels | date=June 23, 1995 | access-date=August 15, 2014 | work=[[Sun-Sentinel|The Sun-Sentinel]] | archive-date=August 19, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819090303/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-06-23/entertainment/9506210323_1_direct-to-video-sequels-live-action-video | url-status=dead }}</ref> In September 1995, it was confirmed that [[Robin Williams]] would reprise the role of the Genie reportedly for a $1 million salary, after he received an apology from [[Joe Roth]] for Disney breaching an agreement not to use his voice to merchandise products inspired by ''Aladdin''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-27-ca-50412-story.html | title=Genie Grants Disney's Video Wish | last=Cerone | first=Daniel Howard | newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=September 27, 1995 | access-date=August 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-11-10/entertainment/9511080444_1_direct-to-video-aladdin-pocahontas | title=Williams Returns In 'Aladdin' Sequel | date=November 10, 1995 | access-date=August 15, 2014 | work=Los Angeles Times | archive-date=August 19, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819085537/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-11-10/entertainment/9511080444_1_direct-to-video-aladdin-pocahontas | url-status=dead }}</ref> With Williams on board, all recordings and animation footage of [[Dan Castellaneta]] as the Genie was scrapped, and all of the Genie's scenes were rewritten to fit Williams' comedic style.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aladdincentral.org/articles/spins.html | title=Robin spins 'Aladdin' | last=Westbrook | first=Bruce | work=[[The Houston Chronicle]] | via=Aladdin Central.org | date=August 16, 1996 | access-date=August 15, 2014}}</ref>

=== Songs ===

{{Track listing
| all_writing = 
| all_lyrics = 
| all_music = 
| extra_column = Performer(s)
| title1 = There's a Party Here in Agrabah
| extra1 = Robin Williams, Merwin Foard & [[Gilbert Gottfried]]
| title2 = Out of Thin Air
| extra2 = [[Liz Callaway]] & [[Brad Kane]]
| title3 = Welcome to the Forty Thieves
| extra3 = Merwin Foard & Chorus
| title4 = Father and Son
| extra4 = Robin Williams
| title5 = Are You In or Out?
| extra5 = [[Jerry Orbach]] & Chorus
| title6 = Arabian Nights (Reprise)<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=The Music Behind the Magic: The Musical Artistry of Alan Menken, Howard Ashman & Tim Rice: Disc 3: Aladdin|others=Various Artists|year=1992|type=[[Compact disc]] [[liner notes]]|page=4 Note: Track 28 on Disc 3 is called "Arabian Nights, Reprise (Unreleased Master)" that is later used in ''Aladdin and the King of Thieves''|publisher=[[Walt Disney Records]]|id=60014-7}}</ref>
| extra6 = [[Bruce Adler]]
}}

=== Adaptation ===
Two [[Comics|comic]] adaptations of the movie were on sale in September 1996.
* The first is in [[Marvel Comics]]' ''Disney Comic Hits'', #13.
* The second is in ''[[Disney Adventures]]'', Volume 6, #12.

== Release ==
On its release, the film was accompanied by a marketing campaign at more than $70 million, with commercial tie-ins with [[McDonald's]] and [[General Mills]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/aug/09/aladdin-sequel-with-robin-williams-goes-direct-to/ | title='Aladdin' Sequel With Robin Williams Goes Direct To Video | last=Moore | first=Steve | publisher=[[The Spokesman-Review]] | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | date=August 9, 1996 | access-date=August 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1996/08/16/disney-has-wish-for-genie/ | title=Disney Has Wish For Genie | last=Moore | first=Steve | publisher=[[Orlando Sentinel]] | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | date=August 16, 1996 | access-date=August 15, 2014}}</ref><ref name="LA Times">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-08-29-ca-38535-story.html | title='King' of Sales? | last=Snow | first=Shauna | newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=August 29, 1996 | access-date=August 15, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819090336/http://articles.latimes.com/1996-08-29/entertainment/ca-38535_1_space-jam |archive-date=August 19, 2014}}</ref>

=== Home media ===
At the time of its release, ''The King of Thieves'' was reportedly outselling ''The Return of Jafar'', but Disney declined to disclose actual sales figures for the release.<ref name="LA Times" /> In 1996, the film sold {{nowrap|10.3}} million units in the United States,<ref name="Wroot">{{cite book|last1=Wroot|first1=Jonathan|last2=Willis|first2=Andy|title=DVD, Blu-ray and Beyond: Navigating Formats and Platforms within Media Consumption|date=2017|isbn=978-3-319-62758-8|page=22|publisher=Springer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q-M8DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA22|language=en|via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> generating at least {{US$|130,000,000|long=no|1996|round=-6}} in sales revenue.<ref>{{cite news |last=Orwall |first=Bruce |title=Video buying is surprise hit with viewers |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=January 17, 1997 |page=B1}}</ref> It was the sixth-[[List of best-selling films in the United States|best-selling film video release in the United States]] during 1996.<ref name="Wall96">{{cite journal |editor-last1=Alsop |editor-first1=Ronald J. |title=Top Selling Videos in 1996 |journal=[[The Wall Street Journal|The Wall Street Journal Almanac 1998]] |date=1997 |page=914 |publisher=[[Ballantine Books]] |location=New York City |url=https://archive.org/details/wallstreetjourna00wall_2/page/914 |url-access=registration |quote=Source: Paul Kagan Associates Inc.}}</ref>

On January 18, 2005, the film was re-released as a [[special edition]] [[DVD]] and [[VHS]] (the same day as ''The Return of Jafar''), with the DVD version receiving a digitally-restored picture, [[remaster]]ed sound, two interactive games, and a behind-the-scenes bonus feature.  It also dropped the "Starring Robin Williams" from its title on the cover. However, the film is matted into a 1.85:1 [[widescreen]] ratio (an [[Aspect ratio (image)|aspect ratio]] that, at the time, Disney had seldom used for television animation).<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.dvdizzy.com/aladdinsequels.html | title=Aladdin II & III Collection DVD Review | last=Bonanno | first=Luke | date=January 16, 2005 | access-date=August 15, 2014 |website=DVDizzy.com}}</ref> The movie returned to the [[Disney Vault]] with the two other films in the series in January 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Out of Print Disney DVDs |url=http://www.ultimatedisney.com/OOP.htm |access-date=September 24, 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060929172259/http://www.ultimatedisney.com/OOP.htm |website=UltimateDisney.com |archive-date=September 29, 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Aladdin and the King of Thieves'' and ''The Return of Jafar'' were released in North America on a [[Blu-ray]]/DVD/[[Digital HD]] combo pack on January 5, 2016, as a Disney Movie Club exclusive (with both films matted into a 1.78:1 widescreen ratio).<ref>{{cite web|title=Aladdin sequels arrive on Blu-Ray, Exclusive to Disney Movie Club members|url=http://www.hidefninja.com/2015/10/14/aladdin-sequels-arrive-on-blu-ray-exclusive-to-disney-movie-club-members/|website=Hi-Def Ninja|date=October 14, 2015|access-date=June 1, 2016}}</ref>

== Reception ==
Based on 12 reviews collected by [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has received a 33% approval rating, with an [[weighted mean|average]] score of 4.84/10.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/aladdin_and_the_king_of_thieves | title=Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996) | work=Rotten Tomatoes | access-date=December 21, 2019}}</ref>

[[Caryn James]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' praised the sequel as "far better than ''The Return of Jafar''", and acknowledged that "the video has some other weak spots, but these hardly matter when ''Aladdin and the King of Thieves'' is so brimming with comic invention and adventure".<ref>{{cite news |last=James |first=Caryn |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/12/arts/williams-is-back-as-big-blue.html | title=Williams is Back as Big Blue |work=The New York Times |page=C13 |date=August 12, 1996 |access-date=July 11, 2021}}</ref>

Scott Blakey of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' wrote that the story grows tedious after an hour, and recommended ''[[The Fool and the Flying Ship]]'' instead.<ref name="trib">{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-09-05-9609050094-story.html|title=Disney's Final 'Aladdin' is not for Younger Viewers|last=Blakey|first=Scott|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=September 5, 1996|access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref>

''[[The Washington Post]]'' stated that the "art of animation is strictly Saturday morning quality again (jobbed out to Disney's overseas JV team), and the score is a long step backward from the original, meaning the movie lacks the lingering resonance and memorable visual moments of Disney's big-budget affairs. Essentially, the movie is comparable to other reputable animated titles like ''[[The Swan Princess]]'' and ''[[Balto (film)|Balto]]'' – pretty good, but not exactly Disney."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/technology/1996/08/28/kids-in-plugged/c2792764-33b4-462e-b65c-07dd00dd436a/ |title=Kids In-Plugged |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 28, 1996 |access-date=July 11, 2021}}</ref>

== Awards and nominations ==
{{awards table}}
|-
| 1997
| ''Aladdin and the King of Thieves''
| Annie Award for Best Home Video Production
| {{won}}<ref name="imdb.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115491/awards?ref_=tt_awd|title=Aladdin and the King of Thieves|date=16 November 1997|via=IMDb}}</ref>
|-
| 1997
| Mark Watters, Carl Johnson
| Annie Award for Best Individual Achievement: Music in a Feature/Home Video Production
| {{nom}}<ref name="imdb.com"/>
|-
| 1997
| ''Aladdin and the King of Thieves''
| World Animation Celebration Award for Best Direct to Home Video Production
| {{won}}<ref name="imdb.com"/>
|}

== Cancelled fourth film ==
In 2005, screenwriter Robert Reece pitched a fourth ''Aladdin'' film to [[DisneyToon]] executives, but it never came to fruition.<ref>{{cite web |last=Armstrong |first=Josh |date=June 3, 2014 |title=From Snow Queen to Pinocchio II : Robert Reece's animated adventures in screenwriting |url=https://animatedviews.com/2013/from-snow-queen-to-pinocchio-ii-robert-reeces-animated-adventures-in-screenwriting/ |website=AnimatedViews}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
{{Portal|Disney|Film|United States|Animation|1990s}}
* {{wikiquote-inline}}
* {{Official website|http://movies.disney.com/aladdin-and-the-king-of-thieves}}
* {{IMDb title|0115491}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|aladdin-and-the-king-of-thieves}}

{{Disney's Aladdin}}
{{Aladdin}}
{{Ali Baba}}
{{One Thousand and One Nights}}
{{Disney Television Animation}}
{{Disney direct-to-video animated features}}
{{Disney Princess}}
{{Annie Award for Best Animated Home Entertainment Production}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aladdin And The King Of Thieves}}
[[Category:1996 films]]
[[Category:1996 American animated direct-to-video films]]
[[Category:1996 children's films]]
[[Category:1990s musical fantasy films]]
[[Category:1990s fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:1990s children's fantasy films]]
[[Category:American musical fantasy films]]
[[Category:American children's animated adventure films]]
[[Category:American children's animated fantasy films]]
[[Category:American children's animated musical films]]
[[Category:American fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:American sequel films]]
[[Category:Annie Award–winning films]]
[[Category:Aladdin (franchise)]]
[[Category:Australian animated feature films]]
[[Category:Australian sequel films]]
[[Category:DisneyToon Studios animated films]]
[[Category:Disney direct-to-video animated films]]
[[Category:Direct-to-video sequel films]]
[[Category:Films about theft]]
[[Category:Animated films based on Aladdin]]
[[Category:Animated films based on Ali Baba]]
[[Category:Animated films about father–son relationships]]
[[Category:Films scored by Mark Watters]]
[[Category:Animated films set in palaces]]
[[Category:Animated films set on islands]]
[[Category:Animated teen films]]
[[Category:Films about treasure hunting]]
[[Category:Films about weddings]]
[[Category:Disney Television Animation films]]
[[Category:1990s children's animated films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Tad Stones]]
[[Category:Japanese animated films]]
[[Category:Japanese sequel films]]
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:Animated films set in the Middle Ages]]
[[Category:Animated films set in the Middle East]]
[[Category:English-language musical fantasy films]]
[[Category:English-language adventure films]]
[[Category:1996 musical films]]
[[Category:Japanese animated adventure films]]