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

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age 9+

Based on 42 parent reviews

Nick H.
Nick H. Parent of 5 and 8-year-old
March 5, 2023
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
jeidhdhi
jeidhdhi Parent of 2, 8 and 11-year-old
August 23, 2022
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
See all 42 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When Judge Frollo (Tony Jay) discovers a group of Gypsy castaways, he attempts to imprison them and is left holding a baby in the shadow of Notre Dame Cathedral. Noticing that the child is deformed, he starts to throw him down a well but is stopped by a priest and told to care for the child instead. So the child Quasimodo (Tom Hulce) is brought into a place of sanctuary and confinement, becoming the bell ringer of the great cathedral. As he grows, he longs to be in the world for one day, and he gets his wish suddenly, only to learn how cruel the world can be. Lucky for Quasimodo that he meets the Gypsy Esmeralda (Demi Moore), who befriends him and saves him from utter shame. Their paths become entwined, and their stories of surviving as outcasts serve as a touching theme.

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.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what it means to be different from the norm. Who were the Gypsies?

  • What is the overall attitude towards "outcasts" in this movie, and how does Esmeralda stand up to these beliefs?

  • In what ways does Esmeralda show courage in her words and actions?

  • What does "sanctuary" mean? Why do people seek sanctuary?

  • What other versions of this story do you know? Which one do you like best?

Movie Details

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