Father and child sit together smiling while looking at a smart phone.

Want more recommendations for your family?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration

Parents' Guide to

Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Classic Dr. Seuss story is mischievous fun for whole family.

Movie NR 2012 25 minutes
Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 6+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Lebron45James6
Lebron45James6 Adult
October 12, 2022
age 7+

Epic

Peppa Pig is a British preschool animated television series by Astley Baker Davies. The show follows Peppa, an anthropomorphic piglet, and her family, as well as her peers portrayed as other animals. The show first aired on 31 May 2004. The seventh season began broadcasting on 5 March 2021. Peppa Pig has been broadcast in over 180 countries.
bigchungues
bigchungues Parent of 2, 5, 8 and 10-year-old
June 30, 2022
age 6+

Some drinking in here

Woke up just like any morning New day, same sunlight pouring down Danced on to the beat I'm drumming High hopes pulled my feet off the ground Heart stopped, didn't see you coming Felt like you took my breath away I knew this was the start of something And I think I knew you felt the same Time frozen, eyes open Spun my world around in motion Just a step away Just a slip of fate Oh, you'd never know how one simple interaction Could lead you down a road Where anything can always happen The picture in our mind changes all the time Bigger than what we'd imagined We wouldn't change a thing about it now Life is better loud Ain't no stopping now Life is better loud Oh, it feels like home no matter where we are together Wish we'd always known the bigger crowd was always better We wouldn't change a thing about it now Life is better loud (In the Loud House! In the Loud House!) Life is better loud (In the Loud House! In the Loud House!) Loud House!
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on Dr. Seuss' 1957 children's book, DR. SEUSS'S THE CAT IN THE HAT follows a young sister and brother who are home alone and bored to no end until in swoops a six-foot cat wearing a red-and-white stovepipe hat and a red bowtie. The Cat (voiced by Allan Sherman) immediately alarms the kids' pet fish, Mr. Krinklebein (Daws Butler), who insists the Cat immediately leave. But the Cat in the Hat returns, claiming the fish stole his moss-covered, three-handled family gradunza and enlisting the kids in a chaotic search for the family keepsake that nearly destroys the house. The chaos intensifies as the Cat invites Thing One and Thing Two along as well.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (6 ):

This short-and-sweet adaptation of Theodor Geisel's iconic tale will prove nostalgic for many parents while still amusing the newest generation of Seuss devotees. There's something truly timeless about the Cat in the Hat and his mischievous antics, even if the animation and the musical numbers are a bit dated (the special first aired on CBS in 1971).

The songs are all catchy (there's even a sing-along version of the movie in the bonus features), but by far the most memorable is the titular "Cat in the Hat" song in which the Cat details how to say his name in various languages, from French to "Eskimo." Kids will likely keep singing "chat chapeau and gato sombrero" after the musical number is finished. At only 25 minutes, this feature is a fine way to entertain even the youngest Seuss fan.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why Dr. Seuss' stories are so timeless. What is it about The Cat in the Hat that speaks to even the youngest readers and viewers? What is your favorite Dr. Seuss-based movie or show?

  • Do you think the Cat in the Hat is a role model? If not, why do you think he's still so popular?

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.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

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