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Dumbo

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 4, age appropriate for kids over 6; suggested age 6.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    1941 classic still makes us cry!

Why We Rated This on for Ages 6 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    A theme of the movie, but...
  • Violence & scariness:

    Younger children may be scared when Mrs. Jumbo is locked up, or when Dumbo has to jump in the clown act.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Dumbo and his friend Timothy accidentally become drunk and have "Pink Elephants on Parade" hallucinations.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Dumbo

Parents need to know that while respecting individual differences is a theme of the movie, the crows who sing "When I See an Elephant Fly" would be considered racist by today's standards. One of them is named "Jim Crow" and they speak with "Amos & Andy"-style accents, but clearly they are not intended to be insulting.

Read our full review by Nell Minow

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about empathy by asking kids how they would feel if everyone laughed at them the way the animals laugh at Dumbo, and how important it is to Dumbo to have a friend like Timothy. Why does Timothy tell Dumbo he needs the feather to fly? How does he learn that he does not need it? Why do the other elephants laugh at Dumbo's ears? How does that make him feel?

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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about Dumbo?
  •  I think this movie is

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

    life is

    frankly, cheny is scarier.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

    Touching

    Dumbo was created to get money back to Disney Studios after the box-office bombs Pinocchio and Fantasia.

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

    Touching

    Dumbo was created to get money back to Disney Studios after the box-office bombs Pinocchio and Fantasia.

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    it made me cry

    the movie is just telling about how if someone looks diffrent dont judge cause there just the same

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 3.0

    i like it butit's probably old now.

  6. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

  7. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 4.0

    i laughed

    Cute!!!!

  8. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 5 and give it 3.0

    Somewhat outdated but redeemed by important content

    In addition to the stereotypical depiction of the "black" crows mentioned in the Common Sense review, there is also a scene of faceless but apparently African American roustabouts setting up the circus in the rain. This scene could be offensive to some. There also is a scene in which Dumbo and Timothy drink alcohol-laced water and get very drunk. The following scene is hallucinogenic and somewhat threatening. (Walt seemed to have a significant interest in hallucination.) My 4 year old loves the drunk/bubble scene; he calls it "when they drink that funny green water," so the alcohol aspect is lost on him at this point. If you have concerns about the stereotyping of women, the elephants are all female and all extremely catty.

  9. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title iffy for age 5 and give it 3.0

    Really Good Kids Movie

    His name is Jumbo Jr.

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