[4][5][6] Jason Ankeny from AllMusic gave to the soundtrack a positive review, stating that "The Black Cauldron contains no vocal performances or comedic elements, instead embracing the conventions of traditional symphonic music in an attempt to lend new depth and gravitas to family-friendly filmmaking.

Bernstein's bleak arrangements and ominous melodies vividly underline the fantasy world portrayed onscreen, and taken purely on its own terms, the score is an undeniable success.

"[3] The website Filmtracks wrote: "The score for The Black Cauldron was for Bernstein what Mulan was for Jerry Goldsmith in the next decade: a fascinating journey into a fresh realm that required its music to play a more significant role in the film".

[1] It further opined that, "Somewhere in the process of creating the ambitious musical environment for The Black Cauldron, Bernstein lost the narrative romanticism that exists as part of the animated formula, despite his impressive attention to subtle motific manipulation throughout.

"[1] James Southall of Movie Wave wrote " At times the composer is able to stick to genuinely dark areas, focusing on the lower registers of all the sections of the orchestra and providing bold accompaniment which recalls the finer moments of those other fantasy scores.