Custom image of Cinderella and Mulan live-actionIn recent years, Disney has been building on a live-action remake trend, yet 2010’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice was one of Disney’s earliest live-action reboots, and it was a box office bomb. Disney’s live-action remakes have become increasingly commonplace, with The Little Mermaid premiering in 2023 and Snow White and Moana in the pipeline. However, Disney’s live-action remakes began decades ago. The first was 1994’s Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, followed by 101 Dalmations and 102 Dalmations in 1996 and 2000 respectively. In reality, 2010 is when these movies really started to pick up.

In 2010, Disney put out two live-action remakes. The most popular of the two was Alice in Wonderland. Starring Mia Wasikowka, Anne Hathaway, Johnny Depp, and Helena Bonham Carter, the movie was an overwhelming hit. On a budget of $150 to $200 million, the movie grossed over $1 billion at the box office. This success led to a 2016 sequel, and ongoing success for Disney and its live-action remakes. Yet that success also overshadowed that year’s other Disney remake: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Is Technically A Disney Live-Action Remake

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’s Inspiration Explained

Nicolas Cage in the Sorcerer's Apprentice
Nicolas Cage as Balthazar Blake and Jay Baruchel as Dave Stutler in the Street in The Sorcerer's Apprentice A still from the 1940 Disney animated short The Sorcerer's Apprentice. The sorcerer's apprentice version of Mickey Mouse floating in water on a book in Fantasia Nicholas Cage casts a spell in The Sorcerer's ApprenticeNicolas Cage in the Sorcerer's Apprentice Nicolas Cage as Balthazar Blake and Jay Baruchel as Dave Stutler in the Street in The Sorcerer's Apprentice A still from the 1940 Disney animated short The Sorcerer's Apprentice. The sorcerer's apprentice version of Mickey Mouse floating in water on a book in Fantasia Nicholas Cage casts a spell in The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Although many may remember The Sorcerer’s Apprentice as a generic live-action Disney movie, it turns out that the film is actually a remake. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice tells the story of Dave, a normal guy who is enlisted by a powerful sorcerer to become his assistant. Dave quickly learns how to use magic in order to help the sorcerer protect New York from an evil enemy. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is inspired by the Disney movies Fantasia and Fantasia 2000, wherein Mickey Mouse is the eponymous apprentice.

Although it has become a Disney classic, the original point of Fantasia was to display Mickey Mouse in the story of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. In 1940, Mickey was declining in popularity, so the company wanted to reinvigorate his legacy. However, the cost of making The Sorcerer’s Apprentice surpassed what the short film could make. Therefore, Disney decided to create an anthology feature film where The Sorcerer’s Apprentice was just one of various segments in the movie, all of which were set against classical music. Eventually, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice got its own movie in the form of the 2010 live-action version.

What Went Wrong With Nicolas Cage’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Movie

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Was Not Unique Enough

Nicolas Cage as Balthazar in The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Unfortunately, despite its historic roots, 2010’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice did not succeed. With a budget of $150 million, the film only grossed $215 million. Furthermore, it was mostly panned by critics, who felt that the movie suffered from a derivative story. Consequently, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice earned just 40% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite a star-studded cast and some unique visuals, it seems that the movie simply wasn’t distinct enough to set itself apart, especially compared to the stylistic choices of Alice in Wonderland.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Cast
Who They Played

Nicolas Cage
Balthazar Blake

Jay Baruchel
Dave Stutler

Alfred Molina
Maxim Horvath

Teresa Palmer
Rebecca Barnes

Toby Kebbell
Drake Stone

Regardless, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice may still be a worthwhile watch. It may not be Disney’s best movie, but it certainly holds some nostalgic value for audiences who first saw it in their youth. Plus, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice cast brings some undeniable talent to the project, and the Fantasia connection makes it an interesting entry in the studio’s back catalog. Overall, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice may be considered a failure, but it is one that’s still worth remembering.