The Black Cauldron (1985): cast, story & where to watch
1985 · Film · ★ 6.4
Released in 1985, The Black Cauldron is a fantasy, adventure, family and animation film directed by Ted Berman, running about 80 minutes. “Hidden by darkness. Guarded by witches. Discovered by a boy. Stolen by a king. Whoever owns it will rule the world. Or destroy it.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Taran is an assistant pigkeeper with boyish dreams of becoming a great warrior. However, he has to put the daydreaming aside when his charge, an oracular pig named Hen Wen, is kidnapped by an evil lord known as the Horned King. The villain hopes Hen will show him the way to The Black Cauldron, which has the power to create a giant army of unstoppable soldiers.
Who’s in it. The Black Cauldron stars Grant Bardsley as Taran (voice), Susan Sheridan as Eilonwy (voice), John Byner as Gurgi / Doli (voice) and Nigel Hawthorne as Fflewddur Fflam (voice), among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.4/10, The Black Cauldron has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $21.3M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Disney Plus and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Black Cauldron page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Black Cauldron tend to enjoy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Green Mile, Spirited Away and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Black Cauldron (1985)?
- In US, The Black Cauldron is available to stream on Disney Plus, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Black Cauldron worth watching?
- The Black Cauldron holds an audience score of 6.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy fantasy, adventure, family and animation. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Black Cauldron?
- The Black Cauldron stars Grant Bardsley, Susan Sheridan, John Byner, Nigel Hawthorne and John Hurt.
- When was The Black Cauldron released?
- The Black Cauldron was released in 1985, with a runtime of about 80 minutes.