What we flagged
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Our take
Disney's Hercules is bright, musical and full of jokes, but the Hydra, the Titans and Hades can be loud and frightening when you are little. A baby is taken from his parents, and the monster fights have real tension. We would start around 8, with a parent beside a younger child who wants to try it.
Uplifting themes
Shows that being a true hero is about courage, sacrifice, and caring for others, and that strength alone is not enough. It also tells kids it is fine to feel like an outsider Hercules keeps trying despite being mocked, Meg learns to trust others, and Phil is gruff but supportive. A few characters make selfish choices before they change Introduces kids to Greek myths and figures like Zeus, Hades, and the Titans, though it plays loosely with the original stories
Story (may spoil tone)
Bestowed with superhuman strength, a young mortal named Hercules sets out to prove himself a hero in the eyes of his father, the great god Zeus. Along with his friends Pegasus, a flying horse, and Phil, a personal trainer, Hercules is tricked by the hilarious, hotheaded villain Hades, who's plotting to take over Mount Olympus!
What we flagged
Details
Violence Hercules fights a many-headed Hydra and other monsters in cartoon battl…
Hercules fights a many-headed Hydra and other monsters in cartoon battles, and the Titans smash through the city. There is no real blood, and the hits are played for adventure and jokes
Language Language is very mild, with one damn and a pun on the word gods. Nothin…
Language is very mild, with one damn and a pun on the word gods. Nothing stronger is said, so most families will barely notice it
Sex / nudity A statue is briefly shown nude, and the villain makes cheeky remarks ab…
A statue is briefly shown nude, and the villain makes cheeky remarks about Meg's figure. A long scene where she tries to charm Hercules ends with a loose shoulder strap, and nothing is shown
Drugs / alcohol The gods are seen drinking at the start and toasting with wine at the e…
The gods are seen drinking at the start and toasting with wine at the end, and the villain smokes a cigar. It is brief background and never made a focus
Frightening A giant monster, the screaming, fiery god of the underworld, and the Ti…
A giant monster, the screaming, fiery god of the underworld, and the Titans' attack can frighten young children. A creepy underworld full of skeletons and ghosts adds to it, though the film returns to comedy quickly
Child peril / abuse A baby is snatched from his parents' home, and two bungling henchmen ar…
A baby is snatched from his parents' home, and two bungling henchmen are sent to get rid of him. He is quickly out of danger, but young kids may find the separation upsetting
Bullying / discrimination Young Hercules is mocked as a clumsy outsider and called names by other…
Young Hercules is mocked as a clumsy outsider and called names by other kids. The teasing is brief and sets up his wish to belong
Gore / death / weapons Monsters are beaten in cartoon ways, though a Hydra's cut heads spray g…
Monsters are beaten in cartoon ways, though a Hydra's cut heads spray green slime and one severed neck is held on screen. A few explosions and cracked stone are the most intense images
Grief / bereavement The underworld and its spirits of the dead may bring up sadness or fear…
The underworld and its spirits of the dead may bring up sadness or fear of losing someone. A character is badly hurt, but the film handles the loss gently and does not dwell on it
Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
Family watch notes
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Talk after watching
- Hercules is the strongest person around, but he does not feel like a hero at first. What do you think makes someone a real hero?
- Some parts of the film were funny and some were scary. Which part would you tell a younger sibling about, and which would you skip?
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Hercules
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