A sweeping, emotionally serious animated epic with unusually strong music, striking visual design, and real dramatic weight. It treats a familiar biblical story like prestige cinema, balancing spectacle with intimate brotherly conflict.
The Prince of Egypt
Where to watch: Buy
Movie · Adventure · Animation
Wed · 1h 39m
Director: Steve Hickner, Brenda Chapman, Simon Wells
Starring: Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer
Overview
The strong bond between two Royal Egyptian brothers is challenged when their chosen responsibilities set them at odds, with extraordinary consequences.
Director
Steve Hickner, Brenda Chapman, Simon Wells
Cast
Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer
Curator Review
Verdict
A sweeping, emotionally serious animated epic with unusually strong music, striking visual design, and real dramatic weight. It treats a familiar biblical story like prestige cinema, balancing spectacle with intimate brotherly conflict.
Best for
viewers who want animated films with adult-level emotional stakes
fans of large-scale musical storytelling
families looking for a serious but accessible classic
people who appreciate hand-drawn animation at its most ambitious
audiences interested in faith-adjacent or mythic storytelling
Skip if
you want light comedy or constant jokes
you prefer modern CGI over painterly 2D animation
you are uncomfortable with religious storytelling
you need a fast, breezy kids' movie
Overview
The Prince of Egypt is one of the rare animated films that feels truly monumental. It pairs a classical visual style with a story of identity, duty, and moral awakening, and the result is both intimate and epic. The sibling dynamic gives the film its emotional core, while the set pieces and songs give it a sense of grandeur that still lands decades later.
Worth noting
What makes it endure is the seriousness of its approach. It does not play the material as a novelty or a joke; it aims for reverence, tragedy, and awe. That commitment gives the movie a weight that many animated features never reach, even when they are technically impressive.
Bottom line
It is not flawless, and some viewers may find the humor uneven or the cultural framing dated. But as a piece of mainstream animation with ambition, craft, and memorable music, it remains a standout. For viewers open to its religious framework, it is easy to see why it has such a devoted following.
Top Letterboxd reviews
James (Schaffrillas) (5★) · 9795 likes
I mean this is basically the best animated film ever made
bri (4.5★) · 8035 likes
ramses really thought that kool aid in a bowl was blood
cinéfila... 🕯️ (4★) · 5573 likes
EVERY SINGLE SONG IN THIS FILM FUCKING SLAPS
tashi duncan idaho (5★) · 5147 likes
catch me in the club throwing down to The Plagues
Ellie ✨ (5★) · 3746 likes
if they'd just let us watch this at church every sunday, i'd still be a christian