Parents' Guide to

The Haunted Mansion

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Spooky movie based on Disneyland ride has scares, innuendo.

Movie PG 2003 85 minutes
The Haunted Mansion Poster Image: Faces of cast members swirled in mist above a creepy mansion

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 25 parent reviews

Cdixon88
Cdixon88 Parent of 4 and 5-year-old
October 10, 2020
age 13+

Definitely not PG

I watched this with my 7 and 9 year old daughters and they were scared of all the skeletons. This movie should not be PG, it should be PG13. There were talks of suicide, they showed a man hanging by a rope who hung himself, very scary skeletons who come to life, a “devils curse”, and the word “ass” was said twice. This is not appropriate for younger children at all, I’m disappointed in Disney.
hannahrw1991
hannahrw1991 Adult
February 8, 2020
age 9+

Although swearing is rare, a swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated shows up in a 10-year-old's bedroom and there is alcohol use. A suicide by hanging; repeated poisonings; swordplay and a man going through the second-floor window all "add up" on the list of possible parental concerns.
See all 25 parent reviews

What's the Story?

During a family trip with his wife, Sara (Marsha Thomason), and two kids, workaholic realtor Jim Evers (Eddie Murphy) decides to check out a tip he'd gotten from a mysterious caller about THE HAUNTED MANSION outside of town. After the Evers family arrives, a storm rolls in to the bayou, forcing the family to stay as overnight guests in the spooky household of Edward Gracey (Nathaniel Parker) and his butler, Ramsley (Terence Stamp). Once the doors slam shut, the family must solve the mystery of the spooky mansion before they can leave.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (25 ):
Kids say (29 ):

Inspired by Disneyland's iconic ride, this spooky family comedy is about as original as you might expect (which is to say, not very). Director Rob Minkoff doesn't pull off the surprising treat that was Pirates of the Caribbean. But he does turn a six-minute ride into a 90-minute picture with a plot as thin as a spiderweb and as predictable as a Scooby-Doo episode.

The Haunted Mansion drags, despite the near-constant rushing of Jim and his children between clues. Though Jim's spiel is a lighthearted patter, jokes about "knockers" and "whacking it" feel smarmy. Madame Leota (Jennifer Tilly) and the barbershop quartet add a little life, but you have to wonder at a movie where disembodied heads deliver the movie's most interesting performances. Thomason shows little acting range, while Stamp's effortless performance appears to tap the actor's immense desire to be out of the movie.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about priorities and how different characters in The Haunted Mansion seem to prioritize different things. Does this happen in your own life? How do you balance your own needs with those of loved ones?

  • How does this movie compare with other haunted house movies? Were the scary moments too scary for younger kids?

  • In what ways is this movie similar to the 2023 Disney film Haunted Mansion? What areas are different? Does this movie feel outdated in comparison, or does it hold up well over time?

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