Parents' Guide to

Alice Through the Looking Glass (1966)

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Dated but surprisingly entertaining '60s network special.

Movie NR 2010 90 minutes
Alice Through the Looking Glass (1966) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 6+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 6+
Very dated, but that being said this is a wonderful version of Alice! Children will enjoy the bright sets and the music and adults will enjoy the story :)
age 5+

Worth it!

A wonderful movie I really enjoyed when I was young and would love to see it again sometime!!

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (1):

There's no denying that the painted sets and cheesy costumes are quite dated, but that's to be expected, even from one of the most expensive network specials from 1966. More than four decades later, most adult audiences will only recognize about a third of the actors, but unsurprisingly, young kids won't care. The costumes, the singing, and the live-studio audience don't take away from the charm of Alice's journey through Looking Glass Land.

It's wonderful to see the late Montalban, best known to those under-50 as Mr. Roarke, Khan, and the grandpa in Spy Kids, who was actually an accomplished musical-theater performer early in his nearly-70-year career. The always-funny Smothers Brothers, a creepy Palance, and legendary Durante are also a treat, and English entertainer Castle is particularly memorable as a Jester who helps Alice. Rolin, the actress who plays Alice, isn't as impressive as the all-star supporting cast, but she looks the part, and that's enough. This is not the definitive adaptation of Carroll's story, but it's an appealing throwback to a time when networks put on original family-friendly productions.

Movie Details

Inclusion information powered by

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.

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