Parents' Guide to

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Touching but dark Disney tale cheers on the outcasts.

Movie G 1996 91 minutes
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 9+

Based on 42 parent reviews

age 6+

A well delivered realistic story

A really good movie. Everyone says it’s “dark” but actually I’d say it just not as relentlessly chipper and cheery as most Disney films of this era are. More realistic. There’s a few scary bits for little people but my 6 yr old boy loved it, and thought that all the people were being horrible to Quasimodo for no reason. A Good message, and the baddies are bad, the goodies are good but not perfect. Well executed.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
age 9+

Good for children to teach them a lesson

It’s a very good movie for children to teach them a lesson about not bullying deformed kids. And for the language category, Esmeralda quoted in the church “You sneaky son of a b-“

This title has:

Educational value
Great role models

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (42):
Kids say (92):

Disney's recreation of Victor Hugo's novel is rich in visual and musical sensation. But deeper beneath the rich production lie questions about normalcy, how sanctuary confines us as well as protects us, and what punishment is.

Some younger children might be frightened by Frollo's intensity. With his crusade against the Gypsies and simultaneous lecherous pursuit of Esmeralda, he is a formidable and contemptible villain. But Tom Hulce's performance is so lovely that it makes the darker aspects of this tale incredibly human. Along for comic relief, Jason Alexander of Seinfeld fame leads a trio of gargoyles, whose quick banter is fun but can be a little grotesque.

Movie Details

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