Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Play trailer Poster for The Hunchback of Notre Dame Released Sep 2, 1923 1h 33m Drama Horror Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
93% Tomatometer 28 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
In 15th-century Paris, Jehan (Brandon Hurst), the evil brother of the archdeacon, lusts after a Gypsy named Esmeralda (Patsy Ruth Miller) and commands the hunchback Quasimodo (Lon Chaney) to capture her. Military captain Phoebus (Norman Kerry) also loves Esmeralda and rescues her, but the Gypsy is not unsympathetic to Quasimodo's condition, and an unlikely bond forms between them. After vengeful Jehan frames Esmeralda for the attempted murder of Phoebus, Quasimodo's feelings are put to the test.
Watch on Prime Video Stream Now

Where to Watch

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A heart-rending take on the classic book, with a legendary performance by Lon Chaney.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (28) Critics Reviews
C.A. Lejeune Guardian Although it is an elaborate-studied piece of work, over which much time and many dollars have been spent, it makes no tumultuous call upon our enthusiasm. Nov 20, 2018 Full Review Tom Milne Time Out Worth seeing mainly for Chaney's remarkable performance; even bowed and constricted by the heavy weights he used to help simulate Quasimodo's crippled gait, his body remains extraordinarily expressive. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader The self-torture demanded by Chaney's makeup is impressive, as are the scales of the sets and the crowd scenes, but nothing comes to life under the flat direction of Wallace Worsley. Mar 28, 2002 Full Review Jules Caldeira Film Inquiry This iteration of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a must for Chaney fans, Hugo Stans, or anyone who’s seen the Disney film and is looking for something a little more true in tone to the book. Nov 2, 2023 Full Review Michael Barrett PopMatters Every aspect of the studio machine was working on all cylinders, yet The Hunchback of Notre Dame would have accounted for nothing without the anchoring performance by Lon Chaney. May 5, 2022 Full Review Carl Sandburg Chicago Daily News In The Hunchback of Notre Dame may be seen what is surely Lon Chaney's masterpiece, the best piece of character work he has done in his interesting life in the movies. Mar 28, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (154) audience reviews
Liam D One of the first adaptations of the Victor Hugo’s novel and the one that leads the most into horror. It still holds up 101 years later Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/22/24 Full Review Teddy B Wallace Worsley's direction isn't anything to really write home about but, admit it, Lon Chaney carries this film on his hunched back and into the stratosphere. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/12/24 Full Review robert p There are *2* such films with this title and both are good including the one done by actor Charles Loughton but this version falls below the one with Charles Laughton because his is the best by far but this actor get's his dues too, which is why I give this version a *4* star review!!!! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member By far the best silent film I've seen. Love it! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Ethan S An enjoyable if a little overlong film. I haven't read the book, but it seems to me the filmmakers may have played up the bit about class struggle - there are definite shades of the French Revolution that seem a little anachronistic for the 15th century (though I realize the novel was also written well after the revolution also). Coming out in 1923 just as the Soviet Union emerged from its own revolution and civil war, I wonder if the filmmakers were not attempting some form of social commentary. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/22 Full Review Audience Member Not quite as iconic as other films of thebtime its still great. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/12/21 Full Review Read all reviews
The Hunchback of Notre Dame

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
Dracula 60% 58% Dracula Watchlist The Phantom of the Opera 90% 84% The Phantom of the Opera Watchlist The Sheik 79% 56% The Sheik Watchlist A Woman of Paris 93% 75% A Woman of Paris Watchlist Flesh and the Devil 94% 84% Flesh and the Devil Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All The Hunchback of Notre Dame photos

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 15th-century Paris, Jehan (Brandon Hurst), the evil brother of the archdeacon, lusts after a Gypsy named Esmeralda (Patsy Ruth Miller) and commands the hunchback Quasimodo (Lon Chaney) to capture her. Military captain Phoebus (Norman Kerry) also loves Esmeralda and rescues her, but the Gypsy is not unsympathetic to Quasimodo's condition, and an unlikely bond forms between them. After vengeful Jehan frames Esmeralda for the attempted murder of Phoebus, Quasimodo's feelings are put to the test.
Director
Wallace Worsley
Screenwriter
Edward T. Lowe Jr., Perley Poore Sheehan
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal Pictures
Genre
Drama, Horror, Romance
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 2, 1923, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 7, 2015
Runtime
1h 33m
Most Popular at Home Now