The Prince of Egypt (1998)
80%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
12 wins & 27 nominations total
The Prince of Egypt’s stunning visuals and first-rate voice cast more than compensate for the fact that it’s better crafted than it is emotionally involving
The Prince of Egypt is a movie that’s so good, it’ll make you want to part the Red Sea yourself. With stunning animation and a story that’s both epic and human, it’s no wonder this movie has been a favorite for years. Plus, the music is incredible – you’ll be humming “When You Believe” for days. Sure, there are some critics who nitpick at the details, but who cares? This movie is a masterpiece. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the ride.
Production Company(ies)
Red Crown Productions, The Princess Grace Foundation Participant
Distributor
DreamWorks SKG
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Glendale, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for intense depiction of thematic elements
Year of Release
1998
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 37m
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Language(s):English, Hebrew
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 18, 1998 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 26, 2004
Genre(s)
Musical
Keyword(s)
starring Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Goldblum, Danny Glover, directed by Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, Simon Wells, written by Philip LaZebnik, musical, animated, Book of Exodus, Egyptian Prince Moses, Jewish slave, quest, freedom, bondage, brother Rameses, pharaoh, plagues, Red Sea, drowning, Ten Commandments, rules, stunning visuals, first-rate voice cast, emotionally involving, critic reviews, box office gross, DreamWorks SKG, PG rating, musical genre, Penney Finkelman Cox, Sandra Rabins, surround sound, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Worldwide gross: $218,613,188
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $401,186,026
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 383
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 43,749,839
US/Canada gross: $101,413,188
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $186,107,500
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 398
US/Canada opening weekend: $14,524,321
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $26,654,177
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 514
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $70,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $128,459,870
Production budget ranking: 280
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $69,175,640
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $203,550,515
ROI to date (est.): 103%
ROI ranking: 927
Ralph Fiennes – Rameses (voice)
Michelle Pfeiffer – Tzipporah (voice)
Sandra Bullock – Miriam (voice)
Jeff Goldblum – Aaron (voice)
Danny Glover – Jethro (voice)
Director(s)
Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, Simon Wells
Writer(s)
Philip LaZebnik
Producer(s)
Penney Finkelman Cox, Sandra Rabins
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
12 wins & 27 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (90) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (72) | Rotten (18)
Well-told story that’s careful not to offend.
December 27, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
The movie’s proudest accomplishment is that it revises our version of Moses toward something more immediate and believable, more humanly knowable.
March 19, 2008
Stephen Hunter
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
This is sensational cinema: crowds swarming among pyramids in eye-popping 3-D, camerawork that’s distinctly Spielbergian in its fluidity.
March 19, 2008
David Edelstein
Slate
TOP CRITIC
The blend of animation techniques somehow demonstrates mastery modestly, while the special effects are nothing short of magnificent.
March 19, 2008
Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
As epic, emotionally satisfying spectacle, it’s way up there with the very best in mainstream animation.
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
The handsomely animated Prince of Egypt is an amalgam of Hollywood biblical epic, Broadway supermusical and nice Sunday school lesson.
July 21, 2005
Jeff Millar
Houston Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The Prince of Egypt may have beautiful animation and music but in retelling the story of the Exodus, they get part of it wrong.
April 13, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies
A sweeping epic that threads a very human struggle amidst the plagues and miracles.
March 30, 2021
Petrana Radulovic
Polygon
This story reminds me that in a world run by men and kings, there is wonder and strength in the woman, in the child, and in the slave, to change the course of history.
September 11, 2019
Debbie Holloway
Narrative Muse
I love the reverent tone throughout and the incredible music
May 8, 2019 | Rating: 10/10
Rachel Wagner
Rachel’s Reviews (YouTube)
The animation is stunning.
March 13, 2019 | Rating: A+
Rachel Wagner
rachelsreviews.net
Prince gives great emotional depth to the story…
October 22, 2018
Eve Tushnet
Patheos…
Plot
This is the extraordinary tale of two brothers named Rameses II (Ralph Fiennes) and Moses (Val Kilmer), one born of royal blood, and one an orphan with a secret past. Growing up the best of friends, they share a strong bond of free-spirited youth and good-natured rivalry. But the truth will ultimately set them at odds, as one becomes the ruler of the most powerful empire on Earth, and the other the chosen leader of his people. Their final confrontation will forever change their lives and the world.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Ralph Fiennes voices the character of Rameses in The Prince of Egypt.
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