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Parents' Guide to

101 Dalmatians

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Lovable cartoon classic with cute dogs and a mean villain.

Movie G 1961 79 minutes
101 Dalmatians Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 5+

Based on 21 parent reviews

doctora
doctora Parent of 5-year-old
June 6, 2022
age 5+

Has not aged well...

I would argue you can put this in the list of Disney films that have not aged well (I'm looking at you Peter Pan!). It is not too egregious but it is enough to turn me off to the film. The gender dynamics are tired and worn thin. The violence towards the villains is over the top and unfunny to my taste and Cruella de Ville is seen as a disfigured tantrummy non-person by the film's end. Also the female lead and Perdy are also portrayed as whiny and helpless.
Eleanor B.
Eleanor B. Parent of 2 and 4-year-old
August 21, 2023
age 4+
See all 21 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Like Lady and the Tramp, 101 DALMATIANS is told from the perspective of dogs, this time two dalmatians, Pongo and Perdita, the cherished pets of Roger and Anita. Anita's old friend, one of the most notorious villains in movie history, is the aptly named Cruella De Vil. Her henchmen kidnap Perdita's puppies and 84 others so she can make them into a dalmatian fur coat. Pongo and Perdita, with the help of their animal friends, undertake a daring rescue.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (21 ):
Kids say (24 ):

The puppies are adorable, and the movie is exciting, funny (with a sly poke at television and the kids who watch it), and fun. Cruella is still one of the most memorable villains in the history of the movies -- for good reason. She's loud and mean, and she's willing to wear a coat made of 101 puppies -- what could be worse?

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the responsibilities of raising a pet, as Roger and Anita do in 101 Dalmatians. Do kids think they would be able to maintain enthusiasm for their pet? Would they be responsible for feeding, brushing, playing, and walking it? What kind of commitment is it to raise a pet, particularly a dog?

  • What makes Cruella scary? Can you think of any other villians as scary as her? What similarities do all villains share?

  • How do the dogs in 101 Dalmatians demonstrate teamwork? Why is this an important character strength?

Movie Details

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 suggesting a diversity update.

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