Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas#Critical response

Sinbad and his pirate crew attempt to steal the magical Book of Peace, which is en route to Syracuse, and hold it for ransom as one last job before retiring to Fiji. Sinbad is surprised to see it is being protected by his childhood best friend, Prince Proteus of Syracuse. Sinbad tries to steal the Book anyway, but his attempt is foiled when Cetus attacks the ship. Sinbad and Proteus work together to fight off Cetus and for a moment reaffirm their bond. Though the beast is defeated, Sinbad is dragged off the ship and into the sea.

Sinbad is saved by the Goddess of Discord, Eris, who offers him any boon he desires in exchange for the Book of Peace. Sinbad and his crew go to Syracuse to steal the Book, but after seeing Proteus with his fiancé Lady Marina, Sinbad abandons the mission. Anticipating this, Eris steals the Book herself and frames Sinbad for the crime. Sinbad is sentenced to death, but Proteus interrupts the trial and sends Sinbad to retrieve the Book instead, placing himself as a hostage. Marina stows away to make sure that Sinbad succeeds, and the two quickly butt heads over Sinbad's flippant attitude towards Proteus' situation. To stop them, Eris sends a group of mythical sirens, who entrance Sinbad and his men with their hypnotic singing voices. Unaffected, Marina pilots the ship to safety and wins the favor of the crew. However, she and Sinbad continue to clash. Eris sees this disharmony and sends in a roc which captures Marina. She is rescued by Sinbad, and they successfully defeat the creature. Afterwards, the two reconcile.

After these and other incidents, Sinbad and Marina talk in a brief moment of peace — Marina reveals that she had always dreamed of a life on the sea, and Sinbad reveals that he distanced himself from Proteus 10 years earlier because he loved Marina. They reach and enter Eris' realm, where the goddess reveals that her plan was to maneuver Proteus into Sinbad's place, leaving Syracuse to collapse into chaos without an heir. Eris makes a deal with Sinbad: she will ask him whether he will return to Syracuse and accept his execution if he does not get the Book of Peace. If he answers truthfully, she will surrender the Book. Eris gives Sinbad her word that she will honor the deal, which even a god cannot break. When he answers that he will return, Eris calls him a liar, and returns him and Marina to the mortal world. Ashamed, Sinbad admits that Eris is right, truly believing himself a selfish, black-hearted liar. Having fallen in love with Sinbad, Marina tearfully urges him to flee, which he seemingly does.

In Syracuse, Proteus readies himself to be beheaded, but at the last minute, Sinbad appears and takes his place. An enraged Eris appears and shatters the executioner's sword, saving Sinbad, before chastising him for returning. Sinbad realizes that this was part of her test and that he has won by proving his answer to be true after all. Eris, furious but unable to go back on her word as a goddess, begrudgingly gives the Book to Sinbad before leaving to sow chaos elsewhere. With the true culprit revealed, Sinbad is pardoned and is allowed to go free.

With the Book of Peace restored to Syracuse, Proteus and Sinbad part as friends once more. Sinbad and his crew prepare to leave on another voyage, leaving Marina in Syracuse. Unbeknownst to him, Proteus sees that Marina has fallen in love with Sinbad and life on the sea, and releases her from their engagement, sending her to join Sinbad's ship. Marina surprises Sinbad by revealing her presence on the ship just as it begins to sail, and the two share a kiss. Now together, they and the crew set out on another voyage as the ship sails into the sunset.

• Brad Pitt as Sinbad, an Arabian adventurous pirate and sailor who plans on retiring to Fiji.
• Catherine Zeta-Jones as Ambassador Marina, a Thracian ambassador to a fictional Syracuse, Proteus's fiancé, and Sinbad's love interest.
• Michelle Pfeiffer as Eris, the manipulative Goddess of Discord and Chaos who wants to create destruction throughout the world.
• Joseph Fiennes as Prince Proteus of Syracuse, Sinbad's noble childhood-friend and Marina's fiancé.
• Dennis Haysbert as Kale, Sinbad's first mate and friend.
• Adriano Giannini as "Rat", an Italian lookout of Sinbad's crew.
• Timothy West as King Dymas of Syracuse, Proteus' father.
• Jim Cummings as Luca, an elderly member of Sinbad's crew.
• Cummings also voices Council Judge.
• Conrad Vernon as Jed, a comically heavily armed member of Sinbad's crew.
• Raman Hui as Jin, an Asian member of Sinbad's crew who frequently makes bets with Li.
• Chung Chan as Li, an Asian member of Sinbad's crew who frequently makes bets with Jin.
• Andrew Birch as Grum and Chum, members of Sinbad's crew.
• Frank Welker (uncredited) as Spike, Sinbad's pet mastiff who Marina grows a soft spot for.
• Chris Miller as Tower Guard.

Shortly after co-writing Aladdin (1992) for Disney, screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio came up with the idea of adapting the story of Sinbad the Sailor in the vein of the story of Damon and Pythias before settling on a love triangle.{{cite web|last=Rossio|first=Terry|url=http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp47.100.Million.Mistake.html|title=The One Hundred Million Dollar Mistake|website=Wordplayer|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109171528/http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp47.100.Million.Mistake.html|url-status=live}} They wrote a treatment inspired by screwball romantic comedy films with Sinbad as a reserved apprentice cartographer who joins Peri, a free-spirited female smuggler, on an adventure and falls in love.{{cite web|url=http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp37-xtras/wp37x.SINBAD.html|title=Sinbad: 2/8/94 Treatment|website=Wordplayer|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=December 2, 1998|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981202222725/http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp37-xtras/wp37x.SINBAD.html|url-status=live}}{{cite interview|url=http://mjsimpson-films.blogspot.com/2013/04/interview-ted-elliott-and-terry-rossio.html|title=Interview: Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio|interviewer=MJ Simpson|subject=Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio|via=Blogger|date=April 27, 2013|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=April 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418000248/http://mjsimpson-films.blogspot.com/2013/04/interview-ted-elliott-and-terry-rossio.html|url-status=live}} The story was based largely on the Simbad comic book written and illustrated by Elena Poirier (1949–1956).{{Cite web|title=Simbad: el gran amigo del Peneca: año 1, números del 1-17, del 8 de noviembre al 28 de diciembre de 1949 - Memoria Chilena|url=http://www.memoriachilena.gob.cl/602/w3-article-553856.html|access-date=August 30, 2021|website=Memoria Chilena: Portal|language=es|archive-date=August 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830000204/http://www.memoriachilena.gob.cl/602/w3-article-553856.html|url-status=live}} In July 1992, Disney had announced they were adapting the story into a potential animated feature.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/07/02/odyssey-sinbad-pocahontas-getting-disney-treatment/|title='Odyssey,' Sinbad, Pocahontas Getting Disney Treatment|work=Los Angeles Daily News|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=July 2, 1992|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=September 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913032413/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1992-07-02/features/9202290009_1_songs-aladdin-studio-chairman-jeffrey-katzenberg|url-status=live}} The project was cancelled in 1993.

In 1994, Jeffrey Katzenberg had left Disney and co-founded DreamWorks SKG with Steven Spielberg and David Geffen. When The Prince of Egypt (1998) was in production, Katzenberg decided to restart some ideas that Disney had cancelled. Tim Johnson, who had directed Antz (1998), intended to direct his follow-up CGI animated film Tusker.{{cite news |last=Hindes |first=Andrew |url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/d-works-pdi-trumpet-tusker-1117489121/ |title=D'Works, PDI trumpet 'Tusker' |website=Variety |date=December 3, 1998 |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508225440/https://variety.com/1998/film/news/d-works-pdi-trumpet-tusker-1117489121/ |archive-date=May 8, 2023 |url-status=live}} Three years later, Shrek (2001) was released and because of the film's success, Katzenberg sat down with Johnson and proposed a more irreverent comedic approach to the project. Johnson explained, "There was so much success with this outrageous comedy [Shrek] that he didn't feel it was the right time to make a drama. So, Tusker got shelved."{{cite book |editor=Diamond, Ron |chapter=Tim Johnson Interview |title=On Animation: The Director's Perspective—Volume 1 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UPCyDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA317 |pages=331–337 |publisher=CRC Press |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-138-06653-3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119020811/https://www.google.com/books/edition/On_Animation/UPCyDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA317 |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |url-status=live}} Johnson was later recruited to direct Sinbad and was teamed with Patrick Gilmore, a first-time director. Reflecting on the experience, Johnson acknowledged the film "was a personal struggle" for him; he explained: "Making it was a joy. But it was a dramatic action adventure, and honestly, that's not where my instincts, sense of humor, and strengths are."

Shortly after writing the screenplay for Gladiator (2000), John Logan was approached by Katzenberg to write the script for an animated film. When he was offered the story of Sinbad, Logan researched the multiple tales of the character before settling on depicting the Greek and Roman versions. He described his first draft script as "very complex, the relationships were very adult. It was too intense in terms of the drama for the audience that this movie was aimed at."{{cite web|author=Scott B.|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/07/01/an-interview-with-john-logan|title=An Interview with John Logan|website=IGN|date=July 1, 2003|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726030424/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/07/01/an-interview-with-john-logan|url-status=live}}

Russell Crowe was originally set to voice Sinbad, but he dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.{{cite news|title=Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas Preview|url=https://ew.com/article/2003/04/25/sinbad-legend-seven-seas/|access-date=January 18, 2014|newspaper=Entertainment Weekly|date=April 25, 2003|archive-date=September 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927152532/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,444346,00.html|url-status=live}} He was replaced by Brad Pitt, who wanted to make a film that his nieces and nephews could see. He explained, "They can't get into my movies. People's heads getting cut off, and all that." Pitt had already tried to narrate DreamWorks' previous animated film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, but "it didn't work", with Matt Damon taking over the role. Pitt's purist intentions worried him that his Missourian accent would not be suitable for the Middle Eastern character, but was persuaded by the filmmakers that his accent would lighten the mood.

Michelle Pfeiffer, who voices Eris, the Goddess of Discord, had struggles with pinning down the character's personality, initially finding her "too sexual," and then too dull. After the third rewrite, Pfeiffer called Jeffrey Katzenberg and told him, "You know, you really can fire me," but he assured her that this was part of the process.

In January 2001, it was reported that DreamWorks Animation would completely transfer their animation workflow into using the Linux operating system. Previously, their animation and rendering software had used Silicon Graphics Image servers and workstations, but as their hardware began to show slowness, DreamWorks began looking for an alternate platform for superior optimal performance in order to save hardware costs.{{cite news|last=Galli|first=Peter|url=https://www.eweek.com/servers/linux-plays-starring-role-in-sinbad|title=Linux Plays Starring Role in Sinbad|magazine=eWeek|date=July 1, 2003|access-date=July 25, 2019}}{{cite news|last=Butcher|first=Matt|title=The stallion and the penguin: DreamWorks uses Linux to create new animated film|url=https://www.linux.com/news/stallion-and-penguin-dreamworks-uses-linux-create-new-animated-film|journal=Linux Journal|date=April 24, 2002|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726030435/https://www.linux.com/news/stallion-and-penguin-dreamworks-uses-linux-create-new-animated-film|url-status=live}} In 2002, they decided to partner with Hewlett-Packard for a three-year deal for which they used their dual-processor HP workstations and ProLiant servers running Red Hat Linux software.{{cite news|last=Perez|first=Juan Carol|url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2679020/sinbad-and-linux-brave-the-high-seas.html|title=Sinbad and Linux brave the high seas|magazine=InfoWorld|date=July 1, 2003|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726030427/https://www.infoworld.com/article/2679020/sinbad-and-linux-brave-the-high-seas.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Shankland|first=Stephen|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/dreamworks-switches-to-hp-linux/|title=DreamWorks switches to HP, Linux|website=ZDNet|date=January 30, 2002|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=June 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180610235113/https://www.zdnet.com/article/dreamworks-switches-to-hp-linux/|url-status=live}} Starting with Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002), they had replaced its entire render farm with x86-based Linux servers.

Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas was the first DreamWorks Animation production to completely utilize Linux software, with more than 250 workstations used. Starting with storyboards, the artists first drew sketches on paper to visualize the scene, which were later edited into animatics. For the character animation, rough character sketches were passed through the ToonShooter software, which digitized the sketches. From that point, the animators were able to easily integrate the animation into existing scenes. Production software lead Derek Chan explained, "ToonShooter is an internal tool we wrote for Linux. It captures low resolution 640 x 480 line art that the artists use to time the film."{{cite news|last=Rowe|first=Robin|title=Linux Dreamworks Redux|url=http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/6103|access-date=October 24, 2012|newspaper=Linux Journal|date=May 28, 2002|archive-date=October 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002064646/http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/6103|url-status=live}} The animated characters were then digitally colored using the Linux software application, InkAndPaint.

For the visual effects, DreamWorks Animation had used Autodesk Maya to create water effects. However, the rendering was found to be too photorealistic, and senior software engineer for advanced R&D future films Galen Gornowicz sought to modify the effects so as to closely match the movie's visual development renderings. Craig Ring, who served as digital supervisor on the film, described four major approaches to water used in the film: compositing ripple distortion over the painted backgrounds; creating fluid simulation; developing a rapid slashing technique to create a surface and then send ripples through the surface; and better integrating the 3D visual effects with stylized, hand drawn splashes.{{cite news|last=Desowitz|first=Bill|url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/sinbad-sets-sail-new-journey-water-surfaces|title='Sinbad' Sets Sail on a New Journey into Water Surfaces|magazine=Animation World Network|date=July 16, 2003|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726030426/https://www.awn.com/animationworld/sinbad-sets-sail-new-journey-water-surfaces|url-status=live}}

The film's traditional animation and its final line services were provided by Stardust Pictures and Bardel Entertainment, with PDI/DreamWorks handling its computer animation technology and CG character animation.

A PC game based on the film was released by Atari, who worked closely with one of the film's directors, Patrick Gilmore. It was released before the VHS and DVD release of the film.{{cite news|title=Atari Brings the Action of Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas to the Home PC; New PC Game To Be Based on Upcoming Major Motion Picture|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20030512005201/en/Atari-Brings-Action-Sinbad-Legend-Seas-Home|access-date=October 24, 2012|newspaper=Business Wire|date=May 12, 2003|author=DreamWorks SKG|archive-date=September 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925003012/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20030512005201/en/Atari-Brings-Action-Sinbad-Legend-Seas-Home|url-status=live}} Burger King released six promotional toys at the time of the film's release, and each toy came with a "Constellation Card".{{cite press release|url=http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/3598.shtml|title=Sinbad Sails His Way Into Burger King|agency=Burger King|publisher=ToyMania|date=June 26, 2003|access-date=July 26, 2019|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726135501/http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/3598.shtml|url-status=live}} Hasbro produced a series of Sinbad figures as part of its G.I. JOE action figure brand.{{cite news|title=DreamWorks, Hasbro in 'Sinbad' Toy Deal|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jun-10-fi-hasbro10-story.html|access-date=October 24, 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=June 10, 2002|archive-date=October 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013130326/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/jun/10/business/fi-hasbro10|url-status=live}} The figures were 12" tall and came with a mythical monster.{{cite news|title=DreamWorks SKG and Hasbro Team Up for Action-Packed G.I. JOE Figures Based On The New Animated Feature Property, 'Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas(TM)'|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dreamworks-skg-and-hasbro-team-up-for-action-packed-gi-joe-figures-based-on-the-new-animated-feature-property-sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seastm-77843957.html|access-date=October 24, 2012|newspaper=PR Newswire|date=June 10, 2002|author=DreamWorks SKG|archive-date=November 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102101839/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dreamworks-skg-and-hasbro-team-up-for-action-packed-gi-joe-figures-based-on-the-new-animated-feature-property-sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seastm-77843957.html|url-status=live}}

Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas was released on DVD and VHS on November 18, 2003, by DreamWorks Home Entertainment.{{cite news|last=Ball|first=Ryan|title=Sinbad Sails Home|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/home-entertainment/sinbad-sails-home/|access-date=November 15, 2013|newspaper=Animation Magazine|date=November 18, 2003|archive-date=April 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410075911/http://www.animationmagazine.net/home-entertainment/sinbad-sails-home/|url-status=live}} The DVD included a six-minute interactive short animated film Cyclops Island, featuring an encounter with the eponymous Cyclopes.{{cite news|last=Simon|first=Ben|title=Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas|url=http://animatedviews.com/2003/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas/|access-date=October 23, 2012|newspaper=Animated Views|date=November 10, 2003|archive-date=October 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017221959/http://animatedviews.com/2003/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas/|url-status=live}} In July 2014, the film's distribution rights were purchased by DreamWorks Animation from Paramount Pictures (owners of the pre-2011 DreamWorks Pictures library) and transferred to 20th Century Fox{{cite news|last1=Chney|first1=Alexandra|title=DreamWorks Animation Q2 Earnings Fall Short of Estimates, SEC Investigation Revealed|url=https://variety.com/2014/biz/news/dreamworks-animation-q2-earnings-fall-short-of-estimates-1201271262/|access-date=July 30, 2014|work=Variety|date=July 29, 2014|archive-date=June 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623141606/https://variety.com/2014/biz/news/dreamworks-animation-q2-earnings-fall-short-of-estimates-1201271262/|url-status=live}} before reverting to Universal Studios in 2018; Universal Pictures Home Entertainment subsequently released the film on Blu-ray Disc on June 4, 2019, with the Cyclops Island short removed.{{cite news|title=Flushed Away and Shark Tale Heading to Blu-ray (UPDATED)|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=24952|access-date=April 18, 2019|work=Blu-ray.com|date=April 12, 2019|archive-date=April 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413135421/https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=24952|url-status=live}}

Cyclops Island (also known as Sinbad and the Cyclops Island) is a traditionally animated interactive short film that acts as a sequel to Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, taking place shortly after the events of the previous film.

Instead of travelling to Fiji, Sinbad and his crew decide to spend their vacation on the tropical island of Krakatoa. While attempting to find a source of fresh water on the island, Marina and Spike run into a tribe of Cyclopes who they have to defeat with the help of Sinbad, Kale, and Rat. When Sinbad dislodges a large boulder during the fight, a volcano erupts and the island goes down in flames. Marina then suggests looking for a nicer destination for their next holiday, such as Pompeii.

While watching the short film on DVD, the viewer can choose to follow different characters to see different angles of the same story. The viewer can follow Sinbad, the duo of Kale and Rat, Marina, or Spike. Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Dennis Haysbert, and Adriano Giannini all reprised their roles from the original film. On the film's VHS release, the short film takes place after the movie ends but before the credits roll, and is shown in its entirety.

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas has an approval rating of 45% based on 128 reviews with an average rating of 5.63/10. The site's consensus reads: "Competent, but not magical."{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sinbad_legend_of_the_seven_seas/|title=Sinbad - Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=October 24, 2012|archive-date=October 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025024247/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sinbad_legend_of_the_seven_seas/|url-status=live}} Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating, has a score of 48 based on 33 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web |title=Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas |access-date=October 24, 2012 |website=Metacritic |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104183041/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas |url-status=live }} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A-" on an A+ to F scale.{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.cinemascore.com/ |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=CinemaScore |language=en-US |archive-date=January 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102130540/https://www.cinemascore.com/ |url-status=live }}

Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter praised the film, writing that "Sinbad is a cartoon that does what matinée [afternoon showings] moviemakers of old never had the resources to do: allow their imagination to run amok in an ancient world that never existed ― but should have." He praised the animation and backgrounds as "lushly rendered by the animation artists, displaying details not only from the world according to Ray Harryhausen; but from the Greco-Roman world and Middle East. As with all good animation, these serve as backdrops to the comedy and adventure the characters encounter every second."{{cite news|last=Honeycutt|first=Kirk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030707135659/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com:80/thr/reviews/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1924324|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/reviews/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1924324|title=Film Review: Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 30, 2003|archive-date=July 7, 2003|access-date=May 4, 2020}} Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three-and-a-half stars, concluding that "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas is another worthy entry in the recent renaissance of animation, and in the summer that has already given us Finding Nemo, it's a reminder that animation is the most liberating of movie genres, freed of gravity, plausibility, and even the matters of lighting and focus. There is no way that Syracuse could exist outside animation, and as we watch it, we are sailing over the edge of the human imagination."{{cite news|last=Ebert|first=Roger|title=Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas-2003|access-date=July 26, 2019|publisher=Ebert Digital LLC|date=July 2, 2003|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726135451/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas-2003|url-status=live}}

Claudia Puig, reviewing for USA Today, summarized that "Sinbad is a swashbuckling adventure saga that probably will appeal more to older kids. But it's not a wondrous tale. The effects are competent, the action has exciting moments, and the story is interesting enough, but the parts don't add up to a compelling sum."{{cite news|last=Puig|first=Claudia|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2003-07-01-sinbad_x.htm|title='Sinbad' is good but not legendary|work=USA Today|date=July 1, 2003|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=September 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926011312/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2003-07-01-sinbad_x.htm|url-status=live}} Todd McCarthy of Variety wrote, "A passably entertaining animated entry from DreamWorks that's closer to The Road to El Dorado than to Shrek, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas tries too strenuously to contemporize ancient settings and characters for the sake of connecting with modern kids."{{cite news|last=McCarthy|first=Todd|url=https://variety.com/2003/film/reviews/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas-1200540758/|title=Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas Review|work=Variety|date=June 30, 2003|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726030423/https://variety.com/2003/film/reviews/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas-1200540758/|url-status=live}} Elvis Mitchell of The New York Times panned the film, suggesting the film featured a "boatload of celebrities slumming through another not-quite-thawed adventure story." Additionally, he claimed "more thought and care were lavished on the design of the monsters than on the hand-drawn lead characters, who have the same kind of sketchy features as the stars of those animated Bible story cartoons sold on late-night infomercials."{{cite news|last=Mitchell|first=Elvis|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/02/movies/film-review-a-selfish-adventurer-with-a-selfless-mission.html|title=FILM REVIEW; A Selfish Adventurer With a Selfless Mission|work=The New York Times|date=July 2, 2003|access-date=July 26, 2019|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726135451/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/02/movies/film-review-a-selfish-adventurer-with-a-selfless-mission.html|url-status=live}}

There was additional criticism for the film's departure from its Arabic origin. Jack Shaheen, a critic of Hollywood's portrayal of Arabs, believed that "the studio feared financial and possibly political hardships if they made the film's hero Arab," and claimed that "if no attempt is made to challenge negative stereotypes about Arabs, the misperceptions continue. It's regrettable that the opportunity wasn't taken to change them, especially in the minds of young people." At one point, Shaheen asked Katzenberg to include some references to Arabic culture in the film. According to Shaheen, "he didn't seem surprised that I mentioned it, which presumably means that it was discussed early on in the development of the film."{{cite news|last=Clarke|first=Seán|title=Printing the legend|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/jul/23/iraq.world|access-date=October 24, 2012|website=The Guardian|date=July 23, 2003|archive-date=August 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827044911/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/jul/23/iraq.world|url-status=live}}

On the film's opening weekend, the film earned $6.9 million and $10 million since its Wednesday start. It reached sixth place at the box office and faced early competition from Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Finding Nemo, Rugrats Go Wild, and Hulk.{{cite web|url=https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/2003/07-07/195680_he_s_back___terminator_3__tops_.html|title=He's back: 'Terminator 3' tops box office|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Kitsap Sun|date=July 7, 2003|access-date=July 26, 2019|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726135453/https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/2003/07-07/195680_he_s_back___terminator_3__tops_.html|url-status=live}} The week after its release, the similarly themed film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl premiered, in which Sinbad grossed $4.3 million finishing seventh.{{cite news |last=Holson |first=Laura M. |title=Animated Film Is Latest Title To Run Aground At DreamWorks |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/21/business/animated-film-is-latest-title-to-run-aground-at-dreamworks.html |access-date=April 6, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=July 21, 2003 |archive-date=April 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406233353/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/21/business/animated-film-is-latest-title-to-run-aground-at-dreamworks.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2003&wknd=28&p=.htm|title=Weekend Box Office Results for July 11-13, 2003|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=July 26, 2019|archive-date=May 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514195036/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2003&wknd=28&p=.htm|url-status=live}} The film closed on October 9, 2003, after earning $26.5 million in the United States and Canada and $54.3 million overseas, for a worldwide total of $80.7 million.{{cite web|title=Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=sinbad.htm|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=October 24, 2012|archive-date=September 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905212757/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=sinbad.htm|url-status=live}}

The box office failure of Sinbad caused a loss of $125 million for DreamWorks Animation. When speaking of the disappointment, Katzenberg commented, "I think the idea of a traditional story being told using traditional animation is likely a thing of the past."{{cite news|last1=Eller|first1=Claudia|last2=Hofmeister|first2=Sallie|title=DreamWorks Sale Sounds Wake-Up Call for Indie Films|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-dec-17-fi-dreamworks17-story.html|access-date=September 11, 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=December 17, 2005|quote=The company nearly went bankrupt twice, Geffen said during a panel discussion in New York this year, adding that when the animated film "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas" flopped in 2003, the resulting $125-million loss nearly sank his company.|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306175411/http://articles.latimes.com/2005/dec/17/business/fi-dreamworks17|url-status=live}}

The score was composed by Harry Gregson-Williams, in his fourth collaboration with DreamWorks Animation, following Antz (1998), Chicken Run (2000), and Shrek (2001), as well as his first film that he composed solely by himself for the studio, since he previously worked with John Powell on all three of those films. It is also the only DreamWorks hand-drawn film to not have music composed by Hans Zimmer, who previously composed The Prince of Egypt (1998), The Road to El Dorado (2000; with Powell), and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002). The soundtrack was released on June 24, 2003.

{{Track listing

| total_length = 1:04:30

| all_music = Harry Gregson-Williams, except as noted.

| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = Let the Games Begin

| length1 = 3:04

| title2 = The Book of Peace

| length2 = 1:41

| title3 = The Sea Monster

| length3 = 3:32

| title4 = Sinbad Overboard

| length4 = 3:27

| title5 = Syracuse

| length5 = 1:16

| title6 = Proteus Proposes

| length6 = 1:12

| title7 = Eris Steals the Book

| length7 = 1:53

| title8 = Lighting Lanterns

| length8 = 1:29

| title9 = The Stowaway

| length9 = 2:35

| title10 = Setting Sail

| length10 = 1:40

| title11 = Sirens

| length11 = 3:22

| title12 = Chipped Paint

| length12 = 2:52

| title13 = The Giant Fish

| length13 = 1:05

| title14 = Surfing

| length14 = 3:04

| title15 = The Roc

| length15 = 2:00

| title16 = Heroics

| length16 = 2:11

| title17 = Rescue!

| length17 = 2:18

| title18 = Is It the Shore or the Sea?

| length18 = 3:28

| title19 = Tartarus

| length19 = 10:12

| title20 = Marina's Love / Proteus' Execution

| length20 = 2:02

| title21 = Sinbad Returns and Eris Pays Up

| length21 = 7:45

| title22 = Into the Sunset / End Credits

| length22 = 2:22

}}

A video game based on the film developed by Small Rockets and published by Atari was released on October 21, 2003, for Microsoft Windows.{{cite web|last1=Scott|first1=Jonathan|title=Sinbad Sails Into Stores|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/21/sinbad-sails-into-stores|website=IGN|access-date=December 6, 2014|date=October 21, 2003|archive-date=March 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325114329/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/21/sinbad-sails-into-stores|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Krause|first1=Staci|title=Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas Review|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/01/23/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas-review|website=IGN|access-date=December 6, 2014|date=January 23, 2004|archive-date=September 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904224945/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/01/23/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas-review|url-status=live}}

{{reflist}}

{{wikiquote}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{official website|https://www.dreamworks.com/movies/sinbad-legend-of-the-seven-seas}}
• {{IMDb title|0165982}}
• {{mojo title|sinbad}}

{{Sinbad the Sailor}}

{{DreamWorks animated films}}

{{Tim Johnson}}

{{John Logan}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sinbad Legend Of The Seven Seas}}

Category:2003 films

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