Alan Bates, Dougray Scott, James Frain

When Sultan Said discovers his wife locked in a passionate embrace with his only brother, he flings his sword at the prince and accidentally murders his adulterous queen. Tortured by his wife's ghost,...( read more  read more... ) the maniacal and cowardly sultan must marry another to save his kingdom, but to avoid future matrimonial disgrace he plans to have her executed the morning after the wedding. Fortunately for him, Scheherezade, the grand vicar's daughter played by the lovely Mili Avital, jumps at the challenge and the chance to marry her childhood love. A master storyteller, the newly crowned sultana escapes death night after night with her mesmerizing tales of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Aladdin and his Magic Lamp, countless warriors, supernatural duels, and ferocious genies.

Although the main story line falls short of Scheherezade's seductive tales, audiences will be enchanted with fantastic special effects, elaborate costumes, and the magic of Persia. Wonderfully directed and edited by Steve Barron, Hallmark's Arabian Nights will particularly appeal to fans of magical computer-effects laden television miniseries. --Melissa Asher

Flixster Users

67% liked it

1,001 ratings

Unrated, 175 min.

Directed by: Steve Barron

Release Date: April 30, 2000

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: August 7, 2001

Stats: 197 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Your Rating



clear rating

Flixster Reviews (197)


  • August 19, 2007
    Above par film, worth owning.
  • September 2, 2009
    Hallmark Entertainments Arabian Nights, is the story of a womans attempt to save the one she loves, through the art of story-telling. Set in mysterious Arabia, it traces Scheherezade, who with more and more of her tales, escapes her husband, Schariars, death traps. After being be...( read more)trayed by his first wife, Schahriar has lost all trust, and kills his new brides the morning after the weddings. When Scheherazade decides to marry him, she saves her kingdom and her life, by seducing her husbands imagination. Breathtaking cinematography, a fairy-tale theme, and beautifully-mastered special effects contribute to the unforgettable overall effect of the film. My review: There has been so much garb on TV lately that one would not have any expectations for this one. This pure myth and magical tale proved many wrong. It is highly entertaining with great much loved classical tales like Ali Baba, Aladdin and more. Wonderful special effects, lush costumes and sets kept me entertained throughout the 175 minutes.
  • August 20, 2009
    Sultan's advisor Ja'Far's (Jim Carter) daughter named Scheherazade (Mili Avital) win the love of the Sultan (Dougray Scott) of Baghdad. Scheherazade tells tales inspired by a storyteller master (Alan Bates) about the adventures of Ali Baba (Rufus Rowell) loots a treasure cave is...( read more) belonging to the vengeful master thief named Black Coda (Tchéky Karyo) & the story of Aladdin (Jason Scott Lee) is the Prince of the Thieves with a pair of powerful genie, a king who trades places with a beggar, & a fable of an amazing quest for the world's greatest wonder.
  • June 22, 2009
    Very nice.
    All the favourite stories from 1001 nights!
  • June 9, 2009
    very enjoyable. truly a lot of fun to watch
  • June 1, 2009
    it's very good, .. i really like it,..
  • May 15, 2009
    the stories of Arabian Nights hv always made me fancy... hope the movie is that good
  • March 11, 2009
    Not bad. I thought that this was very creative and had a very good story to it. I loved that the woman told the Sultan stories that helped save her life AND his life in the end.
  • February 16, 2009
    film viewing for children's literature
  • January 8, 2009
    An incredibly captivating movie! Never gets boring.

Critic Reviews


No recent reviews.

Comments


This board looks lonely. Be the first to talk about "Arabian Nights" !

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Official Trailer

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • The Return of Jafar (Aladdin 2)
    The Return of Jafar (Aladdin 2) (57%)
  • Kazaam
    Kazaam (25%)
  • The Thief of Bagdad
    The Thief of Bagdad (33%)
  • The Sheik
    The Sheik (100%)

Theater Showtimes & TV Listings


Arabian Nights Trivia


  • What is the first song sung in Aladdin?  Answer »

Movie Quizzes


No quizzes for Arabian Nights. Want to create one?

Video Clips


No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Most Popular Skin


No skins yet. Interested in creating one?