Common Sense Media Review
Sweet Disney classic is still lovely, despite stereotypes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Dumbo
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 25 parent reviews
Parents say that this film, while considered a Disney classic, is fraught with controversial elements such as animal abuse, racial stereotypes, and depictions of substance use, making it potentially unsuitable for very young children. Many have noted the emotional bond between Dumbo and his mother as a highlight, but the overall themes and certain scenes, particularly the frightening Pink Elephants sequence, may lead to distress in younger viewers and warrant conversations about its more problematic content.
- animal abuse
- racial stereotypes
- emotional bond
- inappropriate for young children
- frightening imagery
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 32 kid reviews
Kids say this classic Disney film has a heartwarming story but also contains outdated cultural references and sensitive content regarding racial stereotypes and drug use. While many viewers appreciate its charm and messages about acceptance, they note that some parts, particularly the pink elephant scene and the portrayal of characters, may not be suitable for younger audiences without prior discussion or context.
- heartwarming story
- outdated stereotypes
- sensitive content
- drug references
- family classic
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Disney's classic animated tale of DUMBO begins when the stork delivers babies to the circus animals, including Mrs. Jumbo's baby, an elephant with enormous ears. The other elephants laugh at him and call him Dumbo, but Mrs. Jumbo loves him very much. When Dumbo is mistreated, she is furious and raises such a fuss that she is locked up. Dumbo is made part of the clown act, which embarrasses him very much. He is a big hit and, celebrating his good fortune, accidentally drinks champagne and becomes tipsy. The next morning, he wakes up in a tree, with no idea how he got there. It turns out that he flew! He becomes the star of the circus, with his proud mother beside him.
Is It Any Good?
This is a classic family film, with the gorgeous handcrafted animation that's a hallmark of early Disney films. Composers Oliver Wallace and Frank Churchill won Oscars for the film's musical score. The themes in Dumbo include friendship, tolerance of differences, and the importance of believing in yourself. Some of the characters (particularly the crows) are quite dated by today's standards, but kids will sill appreciate the story of the little elephant who learns to believe in himself.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how they would feel if everyone laughed at them the way the animals laugh at Dumbo. Why do the other elephants laugh at Dumbo's ears? How does that make him feel? What can kids do when they're laughed at or bullied?
Talk about friendship. How important it is to Dumbo to have a friend like Timothy? Why does Timothy tell Dumbo he needs the feather to fly? How does he learn that he does not need it?
Talk about the crows. Why are they controversial ? How have depictions of ethnicities and races changed since this movie was made? Can people still enjoy movies that contain dated stereotypes?
How do the characters in Dumbo demonstrate courage and empathy? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 31, 1941
- On DVD or streaming : September 19, 2011
- Cast : Edward Brophy , Herman Bing , Sterling Holloway
- Director : Ben Sharpsteen
- Studio : Walt Disney Pictures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Friendship , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy
- Run time : 63 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate