Swiss Family Robinson

G

Released Dec 21, 1960

2h 8m

Kids & Family

Adventure

List

82%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

78%

Audience Score

25,000+ Ratings

In this family film, the Robinson clan -- mother (Dorothy McGuire), father (John Mills) and their three sons, Fritz, Ernst and Francis -- flee the reign of Napoleon to start afresh in New Guinea. When their ship gets damaged en route, the family takes refuge on a deserted island. The Robinsons learn to live in the wild, have various adventures and build an impressive house in a tree. However, while island life is full excitement, the question of whether to return to civilization looms.

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Critics Consensus

Wholesome and energetic, the ingenious Swiss Family Robinson guides us through a thrilling adventure that leaves us wondering whether modern civilization is all it's cracked up to be.

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TIME Magazine

The Swiss Family Robinson, like most of Walt Disney's screen versions of the children's classics, is good Disney and bad culture.

Mar 9, 2009

Full Review

Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

Chock-full of exotic locations and animals, desert-island DIY ingenuity, and high-spirited excitement, with a poignant subplot involving the rivalry of the two elder sons.

Rated: B+

Feb 11, 2006

Full Review

Howard Thompson

New York Times

It's hard to imagine how the picture could be better as a rousing, humorous and gentle-hearted tale of family love amid primitive isolation and dangers.

May 10, 2005

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

As a tale of hardship and pioneer pluck, the tale is pure fantasy, but as entertainment its energetic and appealing.

Mar 12, 2022

Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

The famous 1813 novel by Johann Wyss has been turned into a fine adventure film under Walt Disney's supervision, although purists may resent the way the original narrative has been souped up with pirates and other innovations.

Oct 31, 2019

Full Review

Rachel Wagner

Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

This feels like a believable family, even if the treehouse is a little over the top.

Jun 27, 2019

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Kandy A

One of my favourite movies from my childhood, which I still enjoy today. Very wholesome and it removes me from the troubles of today.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/09/24

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Audience Member

Great adventure film that never gets old.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/05/24

Full Review

Russell H

It ages pretty well. The brothers sure do fight a lot.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/19/23

Full Review

Josh G

I adore this film it's fun, and full of adventure, just like nothing more to add.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/21/23

Full Review

Jacob B

While certainly a bit corny, not to mention feeling rather outdated nowadays thanks to more knowledge of how serious animal trafficking is and of course, the questionable depiction of Asians, Swiss Family Robinson is still a fun adventure film. Its acted well, the treehouse is one memorable set (seeing it made the memory of my going to the theme park version of it in Disneyland Paris back in 2012 come back to me), its well-shot and the action-packed climax is well-directed. Not everything clicks but on the whole, this is an enjoyable film. There's a reason why this is considered to be one of Disney's most iconic live-action films.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/30/23

Full Review

Denning F

The closeness as a family despite some minor drama, the struggle to survive and then the adventure of thriving and having fun in paradise make this movie wholesome and adventurous... just plain fun. The ingenuity and engineering and architecture will inspire viewers of all ages, the natural of Tabago (the island where the movie was filmed) it's waters, wildlife and scenery set an amazing scene that adds greatly to the movie. The adventures of the youngest brother Francis will relate well to 3-13 year old kids. The adventures of Fritz & Ernst & Roberta will speak to teens and the adventures of the parents will speak to today's parents. It's a movie for everyone and it is timeless. The movie has quite a lot of humor along with this adventure most commonly introduced through Francis' endless pursuit to add new animals to his collection, jabs at Ernst's self importance and of course the fun traps set for murderous pirates at the movie's climax. What I dont particularly like is Disney's placard it has now placed at the beginning of the movie. It apologizes for being insulting and racist. It's truly a stretch to call such a wholesome movie racist or culturally insensitive and is a smack in the face when more modern Disney movies are actually racist towards whites and unapologetically push to advance radical morally corruptive ideologies that likely will not stand the teat of time. My patience with Disney is running out. Searching for how the movie can be offensive I come up with 2 possibilities: 1. The Robinson Family started out intending to elp colonize New Guinea... but end beginning the colonization of what appears to be an uninhabited island. So... of you consider colonizing to be inherently racist... even if the area is uninhabited... then you will likely believe this movie to be racist. 2. The pirates. The pirates are either Asian or Pacific Islanders or costumed and given make up to appear that way. The pirates in this movie are a greedy and murderous bunch set on kidnapping & ransoming valuable hostages and killing those who are not. Given that the movie is set in Asia it makes sense that the pirates would be Asian. That pirates are depicted in a negative light would be seen as racist is dumbfounding to me. The movie depicts a tiny fraction of Asians, specifically Pirates as being wicked, and by no means is any way intended to communicate that these pirates are a stereotype for Asians. That connection is a stretch by today's hyper sensitive society that looks for offense where none was intended.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Ken Annakin

Director

John Mills

Father Robinson

Dorothy McGuire

Mother Robinson

James MacArthur

Fritz Robinson

Janet Munro

Roberta 'Bertie'

Sessue Hayakawa

Kuala, Pirate Chief

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Synopsis

In this family film, the Robinson clan -- mother (Dorothy McGuire), father (John Mills) and their three sons, Fritz, Ernst and Francis -- flee the reign of Napoleon to start afresh in New Guinea. When their ship gets damaged en route, the family takes refuge on a deserted island. The Robinsons learn to live in the wild, have various adventures and build an impressive house in a tree. However, while island life is full excitement, the question of whether to return to civilization looms.

Director: Ken Annakin
Producer: Walt Disney
Screenwriter: Johann David Wyss, Lowell S. Hawley
Distributor: Walt Disney Company Ltd. [gb], Buena Vista Pictures, Buena Vista Home Entertainment [br], Walt Disney Home Video [gb]
Production Co: Walt Disney Pictures
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 21, 1960, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Runtime: 2h 8m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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