The Thief of Bagdad is a picture that we highly recommend for all ages and all races. We go further and say it should be the duty of every adult to take the children to see this, in my opinion, the greatest of all fantasy.

| Dec 1, 2020

The entire premise feels like a somewhat generic approach to Islamic folklore, being easily bested by Ray Harryhausen's Sinbad episodes.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Aug 15, 2020

Alexander Korda's tremendous production of The Thief of Bagdad surpasses anything that has ever splattered magnificently across a movie screen anywhere at anytime.

| Oct 29, 2019

As singular in 1940 as it would be today, and that's worth putting up with some sludgy storytelling and a hugely banal lead actor.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jun 1, 2019

In this most lavish production the carefully planned colour scheme and the skillful use of the camera make the film one of the most satisfactory colour films yet created.

| Feb 16, 2016

A wonderfully atmospheric Arabian Nights adventure for children of all ages.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Nov 19, 2013

This 1940 movie is one of the great entertainments. It lifts up the heart.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Nov 26, 2012

Alexander Korda's opulent Arabian Nights fantasy suffers from pallid performances and frequently succumbs to kitsch, but it still casts its fragile spell.

| Nov 26, 2012

An enchanting, supremely mounted fable that deservedly won the techical Oscars in 1940, and still is most enjoyable today.

| Original Score: A- | Jul 26, 2012

The Thief of Bagdad is a colorful, lavish and eye-appealing spectacle.

| Jul 7, 2010

Treating cinema as a giant toy box, Korda resembles a child with an overactive imagination, giddily piling on every exotic and magical conceit the story can handle.

Full Review | Original Score: A | Oct 18, 2008

One of the best ever fantasy films.

| Original Score: A | Oct 17, 2008

it's impossible not to notice how much of the imagery we associate with "Arabian nights" -- genies, bottles, magic carpets, evil sultans -- comes directly from this film

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Sep 9, 2008

This lavish enterprise from producer Alexander Korda reveled in the brave new visual world that The Wizard of Oz explored only the year before.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jul 17, 2008

...like a Bollywood take on 1001 Arabian Nights.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Jun 28, 2008

Despite some sluggish spots, the result is still dazzling, enough to enchant entirely new generations of dreamy children.

| Jun 6, 2008

A fable light on condescension but committed enough to the pleasure principle that the audience is served one giddy act of visual sorcery after another.

| Original Score: 4/4 | May 30, 2008

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 26, 2006

A delightful hocus-pocus of colour, dashing adventure, and special effects.

| Jun 24, 2006

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 12, 2004