The Island at the Top of the World

On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the film has an approval rating of 50% based on reviews from 10 critics.{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_island_at_the_top_of_the_world/ |title=The Island at the Top of the World |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=October 18, 2024}}

On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the film has an approval rating of 50% based on reviews from 10 critics.{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_island_at_the_top_of_the_world/ |title=The Island at the Top of the World |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=October 18, 2024}}

[[Nora Sayre]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote, "At moments, the Scandinavian actors seem slightly hampered by having to speak so much old Norse, but their dragon ships are first rate. And the small children in the audience—who broadcasted their responses and opinions throughout—enjoyed the movie loudly."[[Nora Sayre|Sayre, Nora]] (December 21, 1974). "[https://www.nytimes.com/1974/12/21/archives/screen-top-of-world-arctic-isle-is-focus-of-childrens-tale.html Screen: 'Top of World']". ''[[The New York Times]]''. 18. ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' stated, "Turning to live-action fantasy and stunning use of special effects, Disney comes up with a firstrate entry for the general market in this imaginative meller filmed partially in the Arctic.""Film Reviews: The Island At The Top Of The World". ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''. November 27, 1974. 16. [[Gene Siskel]] of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' gave the film one-and-a-half stars out of four, calling it a "''[[20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954 film)|20,000 Leagues Under the Sea]]'' ripoff" with David Hartman contributing "one of the year's worst performances by an actor."[[Gene Siskel|Siskel, Gene]] (December 26, 1974). "[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37790607/ 'Island at Top of the World']". ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. Section 3, p. 6. [[Kevin Thomas (film critic)|Kevin Thomas]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' called it "the best live-action feature from Disney in years. A lively, imaginative epic adventure of much charm and wide appeal, it marks a refreshing departure from the studio's all-too-frequent blend of coyness and cut-rate production values and special effects."[[Kevin Thomas (film critic)|Thomas, Kevin]] (December 20, 1974). "Disney's 'Island' of Excitement". ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. Part IV, p. 1. Gary Arnold of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' wrote that the film "gets by if you don't mind an essentially passive, poky approach to adventure", and called the accompanying featurette, ''Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too'', "a livelier and more amusing film."Arnold, Gary (December 26, 1974). "Tame Adventure for Preschoolers". ''[[The Washington Post]]''. B15. Geoff Brown of ''[[The Monthly Film Bulletin]]'' wrote that the movie "tells its tale with abundant good humour and is a constant visual delight."{{cite journal |last=Brown |first=Geoff |date=January 1975 |title=The Island at the Top of the World |journal=[[The Monthly Film Bulletin]] |volume=42 |issue=492 |page=10 }}

[[Nora Sayre]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote, "At moments, the Scandinavian actors seem slightly hampered by having to speak so much old Norse, but their dragon ships are first rate. And the small children in the audience—who broadcasted their responses and opinions throughout—enjoyed the movie loudly."[[Nora Sayre|Sayre, Nora]] (December 21, 1974). "[https://www.nytimes.com/1974/12/21/archives/screen-top-of-world-arctic-isle-is-focus-of-childrens-tale.html Screen: 'Top of World']". ''[[The New York Times]]''. 18. ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' stated, "Turning to live-action fantasy and stunning use of special effects, Disney comes up with a firstrate entry for the general market in this imaginative meller filmed partially in the Arctic.""Film Reviews: The Island At The Top Of The World". ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''. November 27, 1974. 16. [[Gene Siskel]] of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' gave the film one-and-a-half stars out of four, calling it a "''[[20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954 film)|20,000 Leagues Under the Sea]]'' ripoff" with David Hartman contributing "one of the year's worst performances by an actor."[[Gene Siskel|Siskel, Gene]] (December 26, 1974). "[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37790607/ 'Island at Top of the World']". ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. Section 3, p. 6. [[Kevin Thomas (film critic)|Kevin Thomas]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' called it "the best live-action feature from Disney in years. A lively, imaginative epic adventure of much charm and wide appeal, it marks a refreshing departure from the studio's all-too-frequent blend of coyness and cut-rate production values and special effects."[[Kevin Thomas (film critic)|Thomas, Kevin]] (December 20, 1974). "Disney's 'Island' of Excitement". ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. Part IV, p. 1. Gary Arnold of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' wrote that the film "gets by if you don't mind an essentially passive, poky approach to adventure", and called the accompanying featurette, ''[[Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too]]'', "a livelier and more amusing film."Arnold, Gary (December 26, 1974). "Tame Adventure for Preschoolers". ''[[The Washington Post]]''. B15. Geoff Brown of ''[[The Monthly Film Bulletin]]'' wrote that the movie "tells its tale with abundant good humour and is a constant visual delight."{{cite journal |last=Brown |first=Geoff |date=January 1975 |title=The Island at the Top of the World |journal=[[The Monthly Film Bulletin]] |volume=42 |issue=492 |page=10 }}

Nick Pratt reviewed ''The Island at the Top of the World'' for ''[[Imagine (game magazine)|Imagine]]'' magazine, and stated that "overall there is little to recommend a film which alternates uneasily between the dully predictable and the unintentionally comic."{{cite journal | last = Pratt|first = Nick| title =Film Review | type = review | journal = [[Imagine (AD&D magazine)|Imagine]] | issue = 2| pages =45 | publisher = TSR Hobbies (UK), Ltd. |date=May 1983}}

Nick Pratt reviewed ''The Island at the Top of the World'' for ''[[Imagine (game magazine)|Imagine]]'' magazine, and stated that "overall there is little to recommend a film which alternates uneasily between the dully predictable and the unintentionally comic."{{cite journal | last = Pratt|first = Nick| title =Film Review | type = review | journal = [[Imagine (AD&D magazine)|Imagine]] | issue = 2| pages =45 | publisher = TSR Hobbies (UK), Ltd. |date=May 1983}}