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

Tangled: Before Ever After

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Enjoyable movie follow-up continues spunky Rapunzel's tale.

Movie NR 2017 55 minutes
Tangled: Before Ever After Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 9+

Based on 2 parent reviews

mhy7457
mhy7457 Parent of 5-year-old
July 5, 2022
age 10+

Dark and Violent

My daughter was 4 when I regretfully let her watch this show. We loved the movie Tangled so I thought it would be similar but it isn't at all. As someone else said it is very dark. What I disliked the most about the show is that it focuses very strongly on good guys/ bad guys. For the most part there is no character development in regards to the bad guys. There's no reason they are bad other than they just want to take over the world and they have to be killed. My daughter started killing in her pretend play with dolls after watching this show. There are tons of other great shows that have conflict but don't focus on violence as the only option. Sofia the First and Elena of Avalor come to mind.

This title has:

Too much violence
Unikittyglitter
Unikittyglitter Adult
August 25, 2020
age 7+

Cute series

I love the series! So cute! It’s not scary like the other reviews said. I am a kid actually and my mom, aunts and I watch. The only thing I don’t like is that the series ended. :(

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

TANGLED: BEFORE EVER AFTER sees Rapunzel (voiced by Mandy Moore) slowly adapting to her new identity as a princess as her official coronation nears. Increasingly immersed in responsibilities and royal decorum, Rapunzel finds herself longing for the freedoms outside the castle walls, but her protective father forbids her explorations for fear of her safety. What's more, even her faithful partner Eugene (Zachary Levi) doesn't share her doubts about charting this new course for their life together, as he can't wait to marry and settle down in the castle. Desperate for adventure, Rapunzel joins her lady-in-waiting, Cassandra (Eden Espinosa), for a midnight journey and a magical discovery with a fateful turn of events for the reluctant princess.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (5 ):

As movie sequels go, this very enjoyable tale will rate high with fans who loved spunky Rapunzel's original misadventures with the dashing Eugene (nee Flynn Rider). She's lost nary an ounce of her chutzpah, routinely bending tradition by racing men on horseback and shunning shoes at every opportunity. Being different is what defines her, not in an effort to separate herself from the pack but in a statement that she's determined to be true to herself despite what outside influences would have her change. As such, she's a continually refreshing heroine for kids in the audience.

But Rapunzel being Rapunzel raises conflict with her family and with Eugene, reminding viewers that the choices we make always have consequences for other people as well. While it doesn't change her mind about her view of the future, it does give her pause to consider carefully her priorities and what it really means to be happy. Kids and parents will be happy with this delightful story, but be forewarned that Tangled: Before Ever After doesn't come to an entirely satisfactory end since it's meant to introduce a succeeding animated series.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Rapunzel's duties as a royal in Tangled: Before Ever After. What expectations are placed on her because of her status? Do all of them make sense to you, or do some seem unnecessary? Is it OK to break with tradition in some situations? On the other hand, when is tradition important?

  • How do you feel about Rapunzel's father's belief that keeping his daughter safe means keeping her inside the castle walls? Is it reasonable to think we can protect ourselves from every kind of danger? What rules does your family have to keep you safe at home? At school? On the internet?

  • If you've seen Tangled, compare the two stories. In what ways is this a consistent addition to Rapunzel's story? Did you notice consistency in the voice cast? How (if at all) do the different animation styles affect your enjoyment of the stories?

  • How does Rapunzel stay true to herself? Can you name other characters who display character strengths such as integrity? Which others are important?

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.

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