Involving story and characters. Vibrant art. Memorable songs. Set the animation standard for decades to come.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Animated classic is enchanting but also scary.
Themes in this movie include: family relationships, friendship, gender issues, growing up, revenge
updated 09.08.09
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 5 and Up
The good stuff
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Educational value:
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What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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What Parents Need to Know
This review of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was written by Nell Minow
Parents need to know that Disney's first animated film does contain a few scenes that might frighten young preschoolers. The scenes with the wicked queen are especially creepy, as are the parts when Snow White runs through the frighteningly enchanted forest, bites the poisoned apple, and when the Queen turns into the old hag. While the violence is far from bloody, the queen does order the huntsman to kill Snow White and bring back her heart. As is to be expected in a film made in 1937, Snow White is a passive damsel in distress who needs to be rescued by her true love, the prince.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about how characters like Snow White might be different if they were created today, and what elements of the story make it a classic fairy tale.
- How is the violence in Snow White different than the violence in other Disney movies?
- Snow White is a traditional damsel in distress. How have depictions of princesses and heroines changed since 1937?
- Why is the Queen jealous of Snow White? Why is being beautiful so important to her?
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More on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
What’s the Story?
SNOW WHITE, the first feature-length animated film in movie history, is the original Disney Princess. In a far off kingdom, a wicked Queen (voiced by Lucille LaVerne) is so evil she forces her lovely step-daughter Snow White (Adriana Caselotti) to work as a servant. Obsessively vain, the Queen is only happy when her slave in a magic mirror tells her she's "the fairest one of all." On the fateful day the magic mirror informs her that Snow White is the fairest, the jealous Queen orders a huntsman to kill Snow White and return with her heart. Instead, the huntsman instructs Snow White to flee, and he takes the Queen a pig's heart. Eventually forest animals direct Snow White to a small cottage -- the home of seven dwarfs who become her little friends and protectors. The Queen's mirror, however, knows Snow White is still alive and the fairest, so the Queen will stop at nothing to get rid of her beautiful rival.
Is It Any Good?
Although Snow White may not be as brave as Mulan, as intelligent as Belle, or as talented as Ariel, she is, like Cinderella after her, the sweetest among the Disney Princesses. Girls nowadays like their princesses and movie idols with a little edge, but considering Snow White was made in 1937, it's still a timeless tale, chock-full of the key ingredients to Disney's recipe for success: romance, mystery, mild peril, and music (more than 70 years later, people can still sing along to "Some Day My Prince Will Come") .
Snow White has it all, and it's a testament to the original Walt Disney animators that the traditional, hand-drawn animation can still evoke so much terror (the bulging eyes that creep out of the enchanted forest, or the menacing look of the two vultures), pathos (the sight of Snow White's outstretched hand after eating the apple) and tenderness (the dwarfs mourning Snow White's apparent death). Seven decades have passed, and this original wicked Queen is still the scariest of the Disney villains, and Snow White quite possibly the fairest of them all.
Movie Details
Studio: Disney, Director: David Hand
Run time: 84 minutes
Theatrical release: 2/4/1938, DVD release: 10/6/2009
MPAA Rating: G
Run time: 84 minutes
Theatrical release: 2/4/1938, DVD release: 10/6/2009
MPAA Rating: G
Our Members Say
See all 14 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
this was the first disney movie ever made! thats why i like this movie.
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
Outdated in spots, for sure, but this set the standard for animation, and for that it must be respected and embraced.
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I rate this title off for age 4 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
NOT FOR LITTLE ONES
Even though your little girl or possibly boy may want to see this mvoie if they are 4 or under DON"T let them. This movie is much to scary and creepy for someone there age so just wait till there 5 it will be age apropreat then.
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I rate this title off for age 4 and give it
great just not totilers
scary and to much romance but it is probably ok for five year olds to watch.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Great flick!
A Disney classic at its best, SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS is still enchanting after all these years. Albeit mildly scary, this movie stills warms my heart and everyone who watches it.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
fantasy
a great family time winner
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
A classic, but a bit scary for sensitive kids
I remember being frightened by the Evil Queen in "Snow White" as a girl. But when my then three-year-old begged to watch it, I agreed to let her watch this classic Disney movie. Like me, she was frightened by the scene where the huntsman is supposed to kill Snow White, and had a nightmare about the Evil Queen. She even had to put the video in the freezer before she could sleep that night! However, when my second daughter,who is MUCH less sensitive, saw it, she loved it and was enchanted by the story. She was only 2, and soon after we went to Disneyland. When she saw the Evil Queen standing by the castle, she ran to her sister, then 4, and told her, "Cover your eyes! Evil Queen too scary for you!" and then hugged the character and told her she loved her. The moral? You know your child. Make decisions accordingly. My oldest was afraid of King Triton, Maleficent, Jafar, Santa, Ronald McDonald. My youngest is afraid of nothing.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
daddy long legs 11 years old!!
tis is one of my favorite movies a must see for any age!!
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I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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