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Robin Hood

Play trailer Poster for Robin Hood G Released Nov 8, 1973 1h 23m Kids & Family Adventure Animation Play Trailer Watchlist
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58% Tomatometer 31 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
An amiable rooster called Alan-a-Dale (Roger Miller) tells stories and sings songs of the heroic Robin Hood (Brian Bedford) and his trusty sidekick, Little John (Phil Harris), in this animated animal-themed adaptation of the legendary story. When evil Prince John (Peter Ustinov) deputizes the Sheriff of Nottingham (Pat Buttram) to collect unreasonable taxes from the animals of Sherwood Forest, Robin, Little John and the other merry men wage a lighthearted battle against their evil foes.
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Robin Hood

Robin Hood

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Critics Consensus

One of the weaker Disney adaptations, Robin Hood is cute and colorful but lacks the majesty and excitement of the studio's earlier efforts.

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Critics Reviews

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Alan R. Howard The Hollywood Reporter The washed-out, muted colors are a mistake, and if Robin Hood is sometimes hilarious, it has little memorable magic. Nov 29, 2018 Full Review Ian Nathan Empire Magazine Foxes with bows and arrows. What could be better than that? Rated: 4/5 Nov 4, 2009 Full Review TIME Magazine Even at its best, Robin Hood is only mildly diverting. Nov 4, 2009 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy A dull and disjointed retelling. Rated: 1.5/4 Sep 8, 2023 Full Review Mat Brunet AniMat's Review (YouTube) Robin Hood is an enjoyable animated feature that has some of the essence of a classic Disney film to ensure that its viewers can have a good time. Rated: 7/10 Aug 18, 2023 Full Review Carson Timar ButteredPopcorn While the film might not be perfect, Robin Hood is one of the more underrated Disney efforts. Blending imagination with technical ability, the film is entertaining and rewarding. Apr 13, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mitch B I loved the story and found it fun in a lazy afternoon kind of way. It's not the greatest movie ever and it's kind of boring at times, but the fact tha tis is, causes it to be kind of charming. Love it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/10/25 Full Review L. F One of my all time favourite Disney films! I definitely had a confusing crush on fox Robin Hood as a child... Moving on from that, the film has a layered storyline which moves at the perfect pace. There are some absolutely heartbreaking moments, balanced well with the film's comedic and romance elements. Great characters and the voices are all spot on. Brilliant! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/02/25 Full Review Trevor M Disney’s Robin Hood (1973) is, somewhat paradoxically, one of the most traditional and yet most unconventional portrayals of the legendary outlaw. I grew up with this film—one of the many Disney staples of my childhood—so nostalgia undoubtedly colors my perception. But with each rewatch over the years, new layers have come into focus, revealing just how unique this adaptation really is. As a child, I wasn’t conscious of its nuances beyond memorizing every line and singing every song. Now, as an adult who’s seen countless versions of the Robin Hood tale, I can appreciate what sets this one apart. This isn’t the story of a brilliant warrior or a revolutionary aiming to overthrow Prince John. There’s no band of Merry Men—just Little John. Robin isn’t a master strategist or a fearless rebel. He’s a playful, lovestruck trickster who just wants to goof off in the woods with his friends and girlfriend. But he can’t, because the world around him is suffering under the weight of cruel authority. His “superpower” isn’t archery or cunning; it’s empathy. He helps because he cares, and that often gets overlooked in other adaptations. Notably, the film avoids the grand monologues and soaring declarations about justice that so often accompany heroic narratives. Robin’s heroism is subtle and small-scale—at least when he’s not scamming tax collectors or leaping off rooftops. He only engages in a few real fights, and he loses them all. His victories come from helping people escape and outwitting the system, not through brute force or direct confrontation. I also noticed something about this adaptation in particular that was very usual: Robin Hood is barely in it. Sure, he is talked about quite a bit, but there actually isn't that many scenes with the titular hero in it. We spend a tremendous amount of time with the common people and their struggles, his reason for being in the story in the first place, and I think that's something that other versions get woefully wrong. Just as in the Rami Spider-Man movies, showing the people the hero is protecting is incredibly important and makes you invest so much more. And in perhaps the most surprising twist of all, Robin Hood doesn’t actually defeat Prince John. Neither does Little John, nor Maid Marian. No one does. They simply endure until King Richard returns and restores order. It’s an unusually passive resolution for a story about a folk hero—but it got me thinking. In 2025, it’s hard not to see parallels between Prince John’s aristocratic buffoonery and the modern American oligarchy. Watching the film again, I found myself more drawn to paying attention to Prince John, who arguably gets more screen time than Robin himself. While he fits the mold of a typical Disney villain (minus the catchy theme song), he’s portrayed as utterly pathetic. All of his cruelty stems from insecurity and jealousy. He knows his brother is more beloved—probably had bigger inauguration crowds, too—so he surrounds himself with sycophants who flatter him to his face but clearly despise him. There’s a moment late in the film where Prince John has taken all the money, imprisoned everyone, and sits atop his hoard of gold—furious, petty, and miserable. His obsession with Robin Hood, with being liked, with control, has led to complete ruin. It's a scene that feels oddly relevant today as our own orange tyrant mercilessly imprisons and taxes in the form of tariffs. And yet, the movie’s closing message is not one of revolution, but resilience. It doesn’t advocate for armed rebellion or fiery speeches. Instead, it suggests that sometimes, all you can do is help the people around you. Fighting injustice doesn’t always mean taking up arms—it can mean standing beside someone who’s been falsely accused, breaking the rules to offer aid, or simply keeping hope alive until the tide turns. I didn’t expect this movie—or this review—to go in this direction, but here we are. If it’s been a while since you last saw Robin Hood, I highly recommend revisiting it with fresh eyes. There's something unexpectedly profound hidden beneath the animal antics and catchy tunes—something well worth rediscovering. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/29/25 Full Review Stephen C Funny in 1 hour and 23 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring the late Phil Harris as Little John the bear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/19/25 Full Review Kauã L It's not a great animated show, but it's worth watching and having some fun. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/04/25 Full Review Nicholas B Robin Hood (1973) is a charming four-star animated adventure that I really enjoyed. With its memorable characters, catchy music, and lighthearted storytelling, it brings a fun twist to the classic tale. Robin Hood and Little John’s antics, combined with the lovable animation style, make it a delightful and nostalgic watch that still holds up today. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/25/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Robin Hood

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Movie Info

Synopsis An amiable rooster called Alan-a-Dale (Roger Miller) tells stories and sings songs of the heroic Robin Hood (Brian Bedford) and his trusty sidekick, Little John (Phil Harris), in this animated animal-themed adaptation of the legendary story. When evil Prince John (Peter Ustinov) deputizes the Sheriff of Nottingham (Pat Buttram) to collect unreasonable taxes from the animals of Sherwood Forest, Robin, Little John and the other merry men wage a lighthearted battle against their evil foes.
Director
Wolfgang Reitherman
Producer
Wolfgang Reitherman
Screenwriter
Ken Anderson, Ken Anderson, Larry Clemmons
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co
Walt Disney Pictures
Rating
G
Genre
Kids & Family, Adventure, Animation
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 8, 1973, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 6, 2013
Runtime
1h 23m
Sound Mix
Stereo
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