The Haunted Mansion (PG)

Go on the Disney ride instead. It's over sooner.

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Common Sense rates it
1
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Buena Vista Pictures
  • Directed By: Rob Minkoff
  • Cast: Eddie Murphy, Terence Stamp, Jennifer Tilly
  • Running Time: 85 minutes
  • Release Date: 11/26/2003
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 04/20/2004
  • Genre: Thriller
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • MPAA Explanation: frightening images, thematic elements and language

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that there are lots of chases and peril involving ghosts and skeletons. The atmospherics of the crypt scenes might scare younger viewers. A ghost is dragged into a fiery pit while other ghosts dematerialize to ascend into the heavens. Younger children might be scared when the Evers parents, Jim and Sarah, are threatened.

Families can talk about priorities and how different people in the same family might view an action in a very different light. For example, Jim argues that he is trying to succeed in business so that his kids will have everything they want, whereas his kids argue that they really only want time with their parents. Families might also wish to discuss being scared and how Jim explains overcoming one's fears to his son.

Message

Social Behavior:

Issue of mixed marriages raised.

Consumerism:

The movie is based on a theme park ride.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Social drinking.

Violence

Scary and spooky with creepy and grisly images, including murder, suicide, skeletons. Lots of chases and peril involving ghosts and skeletons. The atmospherics of the crypt scenes might scare younger viewers.

Sex

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Nell Minow

During a family trip with his wife Sara (Marsha Thomason) and two kids, workaholic realtor Jim Evers (Eddie Murphy) decides to check into things when a mysterious caller requests that Sara be the agent for a mansion outside of town. After the Evers clan arrives at the mansion a storm rolls into the bayou, forcing the family to stay overnight as guests in the atmospheric household of Edward Gracey (Nathaniel Parker) and his spooky butler Ramsley (Terence Stamp). Once the doors slam shut, the family must solve the mystery of the spooky mansion before they can leave together again.

Is it any good?

1
Inspired by Disneyland's Haunted Mansion ride, the movie of the same name is about as original as you might expect. Director Rob Minkoff doesn't pull off the surprising treat that was Pirates of the Caribbean. But he does turn a six-minute ride into a 90-minute picture with a plot as thin as spider webs and as predictable as a Scooby-Doo episode.

The movie drags despite the near constant rushing of Jim and his children between clues. While Jim's spiel is a lighthearted patter complemented by his kids' matter-of-fact acceptance of their surroundings, the resulting dialogue feels smarmy. Madame Leota (Jennifer Tilly) and the barbershop quartet add a little life, but you have to wonder at a movie where disembodied heads turn in the movie's most interesting performances. Thomason shows little acting range, while Terence Stamp's effortless performance appears to tap the actor's immense desire to be out of the movie.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 15 reviews.

5


Posted on 10/05/07 by KelandryOfTortall Kid contributor, age 13

seriously....

the people who run this site judge waaaaaay too harshly. I love this movie. Case closed.
3


Posted on 09/25/07 by quest133 Adult contributor

Pg-13 n doubt and a good mystery

Fun family film but 11 is the youngst I would choose.
5


Posted on 08/12/07 by schuymarch1 Kid contributor, age 13

One of the best PG movies ever...

This is a wonderful PG movie. The best thing about the movie is the ghosts and the zombie skeletons.
4


Posted on 07/21/07 by big_sister Kid contributor, age 13

a fun ghost movie for the entire family

i really enjoyed thsi movie. ive always liked ghost movies but they would always scare me. this one had the same type of plot-line but it wasnt scary enough to give me nightmares or anything like that. i would say to just know your kid...but nayone 8 or older should be able to see this without trouble
3

Posted on 07/04/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16

Overall - Moderate content

Violence: Moderate - There is a depiction of a man who has committed suicide (he has hanged himself). One of the main characters is nearly choked and thrown out of a high window (he survives). Sex/Nudity: None Horror: Moderate - Themes of suicide, murder and various supernatural elements (including menacing zombies/skeletons) with moderately perilous situations. There is also a theme of arachnophobia which features a confrontation with spiders (this is, however, offset by a positive message about facing fear). Language: Mild - Minor swearwords. Drugs/Alcohol: None. Overall: Moderate themes. It is highly likely that children will be afraid/confused by some of the darker elements of the film, which will probably warrant further explanation. The supernatural elements may also prove frightening.
3


Posted on 03/24/06 by bethlthomson Adult contributor

i laughed

EDDIE MURPHY IS A REALLY FUNNY GUY FOR KIDS MOVIES MY KIDS LOVED IT.
3


Posted on 11/14/05 by tommysportsgirl Adult contributor

A lot of fun!

Fans of the ride should enjoy this movie! Eddie Murphy's really funny, and the special effects are great! No, this isn't a classic, but it is a fun movie.
3


Posted on 05/16/05 by kevin Kid contributor, age 9

funny.........but strange and freaky

1


Posted on 02/24/05 by fritzsky Adult contributor
3


Posted on 10/29/04 by Nocmom Adult contributor

Unoffensive Comedy

I found this movie to be entertaining, without having to be concerned with foul language, sex, violence and other offensive subject matter. I recommend it from a mother's point of view for their child, not from a movie critic's. I laughed, felt sadness, and saw evidence of love and compromise between adults, which is typical of a loving family relationship. Sweet story line overall, even with the "evil vs good" that is tied into it. I say "thumbs up" for simple entertainment!

See all 15 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 8 reviews.

3


Posted on 09/25/07 by quest133 Adult contributor

Pg-13 n doubt and a good mystery

Fun family film but 11 is the youngst I would choose.
3


Posted on 03/24/06 by bethlthomson Adult contributor

i laughed

EDDIE MURPHY IS A REALLY FUNNY GUY FOR KIDS MOVIES MY KIDS LOVED IT.
3


Posted on 11/14/05 by tommysportsgirl Adult contributor

A lot of fun!

Fans of the ride should enjoy this movie! Eddie Murphy's really funny, and the special effects are great! No, this isn't a classic, but it is a fun movie.
1


Posted on 02/24/05 by fritzsky Adult contributor
3


Posted on 10/29/04 by Nocmom Adult contributor

Unoffensive Comedy

I found this movie to be entertaining, without having to be concerned with foul language, sex, violence and other offensive subject matter. I recommend it from a mother's point of view for their child, not from a movie critic's. I laughed, felt sadness, and saw evidence of love and compromise between adults, which is typical of a loving family relationship. Sweet story line overall, even with the "evil vs good" that is tied into it. I say "thumbs up" for simple entertainment!
2

Posted on 05/02/04 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Not a very Disney like movie

As we plan our 1st trip to Disney World, my 7 1/2 year old daughter said she did not want to go into the Haunted Mansion. Having been in it many times myself since childhood, I told her it is not too scary and it is a fun ride and anything related to Disney is not ment to be scary. We watched the movie in hopes of convincing her that the ride would be fun. Well, after seeing that movie nothing we can say now will ever get her on that ride. Very disappointed that some of the scenes were very scary for young children.
4

Posted on 12/12/03 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Fun-scary, funny and innovative

The movie was very well done. It was not a ripoff of the Disney World ride at all - in fact, it was enjoyable spotting the elements from the ride in the move. Jennifer Tilly as the gypsy head in the crystal ball was hilarious, and even the scary part with the spiders and zombies was funny (albeit rather realistic). My 11 year old girl and 5 year old boy both had a ball and went to see it a second time (and are angling for a third viewing).
1


Posted on 12/10/03 by awareness Adult contributor
See all 8 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 7 reviews.

5


Posted on 10/05/07 by KelandryOfTortall Kid contributor, age 13

seriously....

the people who run this site judge waaaaaay too harshly. I love this movie. Case closed.
5


Posted on 08/12/07 by schuymarch1 Kid contributor, age 13

One of the best PG movies ever...

This is a wonderful PG movie. The best thing about the movie is the ghosts and the zombie skeletons.
4


Posted on 07/21/07 by big_sister Kid contributor, age 13

a fun ghost movie for the entire family

i really enjoyed thsi movie. ive always liked ghost movies but they would always scare me. this one had the same type of plot-line but it wasnt scary enough to give me nightmares or anything like that. i would say to just know your kid...but nayone 8 or older should be able to see this without trouble
3

Posted on 07/04/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16

Overall - Moderate content

Violence: Moderate - There is a depiction of a man who has committed suicide (he has hanged himself). One of the main characters is nearly choked and thrown out of a high window (he survives). Sex/Nudity: None Horror: Moderate - Themes of suicide, murder and various supernatural elements (including menacing zombies/skeletons) with moderately perilous situations. There is also a theme of arachnophobia which features a confrontation with spiders (this is, however, offset by a positive message about facing fear). Language: Mild - Minor swearwords. Drugs/Alcohol: None. Overall: Moderate themes. It is highly likely that children will be afraid/confused by some of the darker elements of the film, which will probably warrant further explanation. The supernatural elements may also prove frightening.
3


Posted on 05/16/05 by kevin Kid contributor, age 9

funny.........but strange and freaky

3


Posted on 04/21/04 by KoOkYMoNsTa234 Kid contributor, age 13

Scary...not

The newest Disney attraction that has become a movie is THE HAUNTED MANSION. Everyone remembers the great POTC: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL, which was both funny and action packed. Overall this MANSION gets moldy quickly if you know what I mean, with some laughs to save it from being a disaster.
3


Posted on 12/15/03 by dogbone Kid contributor, age 10

This was a pretty good, pretty funny movie with a weird ending.

When the Evers go to an old mansion to see its owner about selling it, a huge rainstorm makes it impossible to leave that night. The scary butler gives them rooms, but instead of settling down for a peacful night, strange things start to happen. Eddie Murphy plays the work-obsessed Mr. Evers, who, with his children, must save his wife and the fate of the sad and lonley ghosts in this haunted masion.
See all 7 kids reviews >
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