Kazaam

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Kazaam

PG,

1996,

1h 33m,

Kids & Family/

Fantasy/

Comedy

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Watchlist

Watchlist

5%

38 Reviews

Tomatometer

20%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

5%

Tomatometer

38 Reviews

20%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

A genie named Kazaam has been sealed up for thousands of years, until one day he is accidentally freed by Max, who is on the run from a local gang. Kazaam explains to the youth that he belongs to Max until he grants three wishes, but what Max really wants is to get to know his estranged father. When the genie, who considers trying his hand at a music career, forgets about his young master, Max is attacked by villainous club owner Malik.

Critics Consensus

Crafted from a mix of genre clichés, Kazaam doesn't know what kind of film it wants to be, and Shaq's larger-than-life charisma is stifled by rote filmmaking and an unimaginative story.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Aug 23, 2017

1/4

It's marketing, not moviemaking.

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Barry McIlheney

Empire Magazine

May 29, 2013

1/5

Dismal.

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Desmond Ryan

Philadelphia Inquirer

May 29, 2013

1.5/4

In his Hollywood debut, Shaq more or less played himself as a coveted college center in William Friedkin's excellent Blue Chips. Kazaam is a compelling argument for keeping him on the court and as far away from a movie set as possible.

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Mike Pearson

Denver Rocky Mountain News

Jul 6, 2026

Shaquille isn't much of an actor, and "Kazaam" isn't much of a film.

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Alistair Lawrence

Common Sense Media

Aug 7, 2020

1/5

Bad fantasy comedy is dated and materialistic; bullying.

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Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

Jan 8, 2019

2/4

The movie looked lively and imaginative in the trailer that has been showing for months. Stretch it out to 92 minutes, though, and you realize that the entire thing was effectively and attractively squeezed into the preview.

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Ron R

Oct 30, 2018

It was pretty awful. It might have been a little better without the rapping.

Han L

Aug 12, 2018

this is going to be a quick review, Kazaam isn't a family comedy, it's a horror movie, if you don't believe me well as they said in Scary Movie, "you haven't seen Shaquille O'Neal act"

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Harry W

Aug 7, 2018

Many critics like to point out all the flaws in a movie instead of just enjoying the movie. Was it as big as space jam? No. Can shaq act better than michael Jordan? Absolutely. Shazam was a decent movie that was never intended to be an oscar winning film. Just a feel good film to sit back and enjoy.

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George S

Aug 4, 2018

Shaqueille O'Neal, I can't believe you got put in this stupid excuse of a movie. You deserve much better than that. Slapping an athlete into movie is one thing, but having a lazy crew won't cut it either.

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Theodore R

Dec 3, 2017

Was there a director on board?

Kylo G

Nov 7, 2017

So bad...its actually good.

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Paul Michael Glaser

Director

Shaquille O'Neal

Kazaam

Francis Capra

Maxwell "Max" Connor

Ally Walker

Alice Connor

Marshall Manesh

Malik

James Acheson

Nick

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Synopsis

A genie named Kazaam has been sealed up for thousands of years, until one day he is accidentally freed by Max, who is on the run from a local gang. Kazaam explains to the youth that he belongs to Max until he grants three wishes, but what Max really wants is to get to know his estranged father. When the genie, who considers trying his hand at a music career, forgets about his young master, Max is attacked by villainous club owner Malik.

Director: Paul Michael Glaser
Producer: Scott Kroopf, Paul Michael Glaser, Bob Engleman
Screenwriter: Christian Ford, Roger Soffer
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 17, 1996, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 12, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $18.9M
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Surround

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