“Aladdin” is one of the most beloved Disney movies of all time. The story of a poor street urchin who falls in love with a princess and must defeat an evil sorcerer has captivated audiences for generations. While the animated classic is the most well-known version of the story, there have been several live-action and animated sequels and spin-offs.
The original film was released in 1992 and told the story of a young boy discovering a magic lamp that grants him three wishes. This Disney media franchise-based film was a critical and commercial success, and in June 2019, Walt Disney Pictures released a live-action remake of the film, which starred Will Smith as the Genie.
The remake was met with mixed reviews but still grossed over $1 billion at the worldwide box office.
Undoubtedly, Walt Disney World has no match when it comes to animation films, and the Aladdin franchise is one of Disney’s most successful and enduring properties.
There is no denying the impact that Aladdin has had on popular culture. Instead, the film’s enduring popularity is a testament to the power of its story and its characters.
If you have yet to watch the fantastic story of Aladdin and princess Jasmine, you’re missing out. But where do you start? The original 1992 film? The live-action remake? One of the numerous sequels?
To help you sort through the confusion, we’ve put together a list of all the Aladdin movies in order.
Aladdin Movies in Chronological Order
- “Aladdin” – November 25, 1992
- “The Return of Jafar” – May 20, 1994
- “Aladdin and the King of Thieves” – August 13, 1996
- “Aladdin” – May 24, 2019
“Aladdin” (1992)
The animated fantasy film, “Aladdin,” was the first release in its franchise in 1992. Walt Disney Feature Animation produced the movie, distributed by Walt Disney. The picture is derived from an Arabic folktale with the same title found within One Thousand and One Nights and was produced and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, respectively.
Aladdin is a street urchin in the fictional Middle Eastern city of Agrabah who finds a magic lamp containing a genie. Aladdin, with the aid of Genie, poses as a prosperous prince to wed Sultan’s carefree daughter Jasmine. Jafar, the Sultan’s scheming vizier, works behind the scenes to take control of the magical lamp for himself.
The film was well-received by critics and became a box-office success, grossing over $504 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 1992. It became the first animated feature to reach the half-billion mark upon release. The Lion King would eventually surpass its earnings in 1994.
The film is one of a kind and has been praised for its music, characters, and animation. The Genie character, voiced by Robin Williams, is particularly lauded for his humor and improvisational acting. “Aladdin” was also nominated for five Academy Awards, winning two: Best Original Score and Best Original Song for “A Whole New World.”
“The Return of Jafar” (1994)
“The Return of Jafar” was the second movie in the Aladdin series. It was released after two years and was a direct-to-video animated fantasy film.
Aladdin and Abu have been living in the palace of Agrabah with Princess Jasmine since the first film’s events.
They settle into a daily routine until Abis Mal, a dimwitted criminal, returns to steal from the people again.
Iago also escapes from Jafar’s lamp in the desert as he is tired of being taken for granted by Jafar and refuses his demands and drops the lamp into a well; Iago returns to Agrabah to make friends with Aladdin and returns to the palace. Aladdin, Abu, and Iago are attacked by Abis Mal and his minions; though it was unintentional, Iago ends up saving Aladdin’s life. In gratitude, Aladdin lets Iago stick around the palace, promising to speak with the Sultan on Iago’s behalf.
It was the first American direct-to-video animated film, the movie received mixed negative reviews, but it sold 15 million VHS tapes. Grossing more than $300 million on a budget of approximately $5 million, it is one of the best-selling films on home video.
Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996)
The third and final sequel to the 1992 film “Aladdin,” “Aladdin and the King of Thieves,” is a direct-to-video animated musical fantasy adventure film produced by Walt Disney.
The film is based on the tale Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves from One Thousand and One Nights, focusing on Aladdin instead of Ali Baba. Unlike the original film and its sequel, “The Return of Jafar,” this film has an entirely new soundtrack.
In Agrabah, Aladdin and Princess Jasmine are getting ready to get married. The mythical Forty Thieves appear during the ceremony, trying to steal a magical staff. After driving them off, Aladdin and his friends find the Oracle, a woman on their team who can answer any question about anything for anyone. She reveals that the Thieves want the staff to get to the “ultimate treasure.”
The story starts with Aladdin and Princess Jasmine getting married, but the Forty Thieves show up during the ceremony and try to steal a magical staff. Aladdin and his friends drive them off, and they discover the Oracle – a woman who can answer any question. Aladdin asks her to tell him what the thieves want and where to find them. The Oracle tells them that the Thieves wish to the staff so they can get to the “ultimate treasure.”
Aladdin, with the aid of Abu, Iago, and Carpet, finds the thieves and hides them in their base on Mount Sesame. There, he discovers that his father, Cassim is their leader; as told by the oracle, Aladdin’s father is trapped within their world. The film did well compared to the last part and sold more than 10.3 million units in the US alone.
Aladdin (2019)
After nearly two decades, Disney released a live-action remake of the 1992 film. Directed by Guy Ritchie, “Aladdin” is a musical fantasy adventure film based on the story of the same name from One Thousand and One Arabian Nights.
Will Smith stars as Genie, Mena Massoud as Aladdin, Naomi Scott as Princess Jasmine, Marwan Kenzari as Jafar, and Navid Negahban as the Sultan. The film was released in May 2019 and grossed more than $1 billion worldwide.
The movie follows a street urchin named Aladdin who finds a magic lamp containing Genie; he uses it to grant him three wishes and falls in love with Princess Jasmine. Iago helps Aladdin save Agrabah from Jafar and his plans for tyranny, ultimately becoming allies with Aladdin and allowing him to marry Princess Jasmine.
The film received mixed reviews but was praised for its visual effects, costume design, Smith’s performance as Genie, and Massoud’s portrayal of Aladdin.
The franchise’s journey continues with the upcoming release of the Untitled Aladdin sequel in the coming year. This will be an original story set after the original film’s events, focusing on Aladdin, Princess Jasmine, and Genie. With a star-studded cast, this sequel is expected to be filled with action and adventure. We’ll have to wait and see what Disney has for us next!
Spin-off film
In December 2019, a focus film on Prince Anders was announced for development on Disney+, with Jordan Dunn and Michael Kvamme attached to script the film. In April 2021, it was reported that the project was still in development, with another round of rewriting taking place by May 2022.
Disney’s Aladdin movies have also inspired various theatrical presentations; Courtney Reed played Aladdin in the New Amsterdam Theatre, with over 2,000 performances.
FAQs About the Aladdin Movies in Order
Are all Disney’s Aladdin Movies Connected?
The original animated film version of “Aladdin” (1992) is the only one directly related to the other movies in the franchise. “The Return of Jafar” (1994), “Aladdin and the King of Thieves”(1996), and “Aladdin” (2019) are all set after the events of the original movie. However, they focus on different characters and storylines, so they don’t directly connect.
How many Aladdin movies are there in total?
There is a total of four movies based on the Aladdin franchise. These include “Aladdin” (1992), “The Return of Jafar” (1994), “Aladdin and the King of Thieves” (1996), and “Aladdin” (2019). A spin-off movie is also developing for Disney+ starring Prince Anders as the main character.
Are there any novels or books of Disney’s Aladdin?
Yes, a series of six short-chapter novels starring Aladdin and the Disney princess was released. It retells Disney’s Aladdin films with a specific change in characters that includes friends in new adventures with new enemies.
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