Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Family movie night? There's an app for that

Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

Pinocchio

By Nancy Davis Kho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Disney masterpiece is darker than you may remember.

Movie G 1940 88 minutes
Pinocchio Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • Pinocchio Movie: Scene #1
  • Pinocchio Movie: Scene #2
  • Pinocchio Movie: Scene #3
  • Pinocchio Movie: Scene #4

Community Reviews

See all
age 7+

Based on 36 parent reviews

ChakaConnie
ChakaConnie Adult
December 29, 2020
age 6+

Dated

Wow. This movie has not stood the test of time. Very inappropriate content. Child kidnapping and trafficking?! Does anyone care about the kids that were left in cages on Pleasure Island? The story is so peculiar. Wonder what hallucinagenics the writers were using. I told our kids that I hadn't seen this movie since I was a small child. Remembered why after watching it. Kids hated it.
Persi
Persi Adult
June 11, 2022
age 7+

Outdated messages, scenes that could terrify even adults

Underage drinking and smoking. Disturbing scenes like a child being unwillingly transformed into a donkey while having a full-blown panic attack, kicking and screaming for help and for his mom. Children are transformed into donkeys and taken away to salt mines; this is portrayed as justified and what happens to "bad" kids. They don't get rescued and the adults are not punished. Every child is different but parents should be very cautious. I still can't watch this movie as an adult and become distressed just thinking about it.
See all 36 parent reviews

What's the Story?

First released in 1940, PINOCCHIO tells the story of a kindhearted but lonely wood-carver named Geppetto (voiced by Christian Rub) who wishes that the wooden puppet he carved would be a real boy. His wish is granted by a fairy (Evelyn Venable) but only in part; it is up to the suddenly mobile Pinocchio (Dickie Jones) to finish his transformation to boyhood by being brave, truthful, and unselfish. The fairy gives him help in the form of Jiminy Cricket (Cliff Edwards), his designated "guide along the straight and narrow path." But when that path is strewn with temptations to skip school and visit Pleasure Island, Pinocchio's quest to be a real boy -- not to mention his father's life -- is imperiled.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (36 ):
Kids say (53 ):

Seven decades after it first came out, this Disney classic harks back to a time when the stars of animated films were the illustrators, not celebrity voice talent. More recent reissues also include digital restoration of the film's original colors, so that, for instance, scenes of various cuckoo clocks chiming simultaneously in Geppetto's workshop would be reason enough to recommend the film. The soundtrack includes classics such as "When You Wish Upon a Star" and "Give a Little Whistle" that will still be familiar to families today.

But the lessons in Pinocchio also are timeless: The same traits of bravery, honesty, and selflessness that make Pinocchio human are ones we would like our children to possess in adulthood. The downside of ignoring your conscience is rendered in a way that may be uniquely terrifying to children: how indulging in the temptations of Pleasure Island results in separation from family and utter loss of self. Though Jiminy's reassuring presence allows viewers to hope for the puppet boy's rescue, Pinocchio acts as the original Scared Straight experience for the younger set.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what it means to "let your conscience be your guide," both in general and in Pinocchio. How do you tell the difference between right and wrong, and what do you do if you can't figure it out?

  • How are smoking and drinking treated in this movie, and how would this be different if the movie came out today?

  • When Pinocchio is first kidnapped, Jiminy wants to tell Geppetto but worries about being "snitchy." What's the difference between being a tattletale and helping a friend in danger?

  • How do the characters in Pinocchio demonstrate humility, compassion, and integrity? Why are these important character strengths?

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