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Hercules

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Hercules

G

Released Jun 14, 1997

1h 32m

Kids & Family

Adventure

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

114 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Disney tackles Greek mythology in this animated feature. Hercules (Tate Donovan), a son of gods, was snatched as a baby by Hades (James Woods) and forced to live among mortals as a half-man, half-god. Now a teenager, Hercules needs to perform a rite of passage on Earth to prove himself worthy of living with the gods on Mount Olympus. With his plucky satyr sidekick, Philoctetes (Danny DeVito), along for the ride, Hercules must learn how to use his strength to defeat a series of evil creatures.

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Critics Consensus

Fast-paced and packed with dozens of pop culture references, Hercules might not measure up with the true classics of the Disney pantheon, but it's still plenty of fun.

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Jami Bernard

New York Daily News

Disney has found a Grecian formula that promises to be an Olympic-sized hit.

Rated: 4/4

Dec 18, 2024

Full Review

Jeff Strickler

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Bursting with action and over-the-top goofiness, it's the most energetic animation to come out of Disney since Aladdin.

Rated: 5/5

Dec 18, 2024

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Deborah Peterson

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

In the galaxy of Disney movies, it's near the top but not among the greatest like Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and the original 101 Dalmatians. Still, a good-but-not-great Disney is Olympian fields ahead of the competition's best.

Dec 18, 2024

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Marshall Fine

Gannett News Service

Dazzling the eye, pleasing the ear, tickling the funny bone -- these are all the things you'd want from a musical comedy. And Hercules delivers, big time.

Rated: 4/4

Dec 18, 2024

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Sean P. Means

Salt Lake Tribune

Hercules has it all: fun for the kids, a nice object lesson or two, and enough humor to keep the grown-ups entertained. The Disney lightning strikes again.

Rated: 3.5/4

Dec 18, 2024

Full Review

Philip French

Observer (UK)

It's clever, empty, imaginatively drawn, more for adults than kids, and yet further evidence that the great American public is no longer thought capable of responding to anything beyond the present moment and their own backyard.

Dec 18, 2024

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Nicholas B

Hercules is an outstanding five-star animated adventure that I absolutely love. With its vibrant animation, witty humor, and unforgettable music, it brings a unique and energetic take on Greek mythology. Hercules' journey of self-discovery is inspiring, and the fantastic cast of characters—especially Hades—adds so much charm. A bold, fun, and endlessly entertaining Disney classic!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/25/25

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Roger L

Top-notch, buttery smooth Disney animation on par with Sleeping Beauty. Sadly the story and jokes feel forced.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/08/25

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Virginie M

Ce fulm est un bijoux, que ce soit artistique que dans sa manière d'avoir revue le mythe pour l'adapter à tout type d'âge. Il y à un nombre incalculable de référence a la mythologie grec, a la pop culture. Le méchant et charismatique, tout les personnages sont attachant de Hercule en passant par Megara, Pegase... je ne peu que conseiller ce film devenue culte avec le temps.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/06/25

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Cameron L

Definitely not one of the best Disney movies, in fact, I think it's the weakest of The Disney Renaissance movies, but however, it still packs a funny ass villain Hades (James Woods), zany animation style that appeals

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/25

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André M

Like Hades and comedy

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/15/25

Full Review

Kevin P

A fun reimagination of the classic Greek myth with a bizarre choice of artistic choices that surprisingly work well. James Woods as Hades is easily the best part, but the rest of the cast are also very likable and the whole story weaves together at a brisk pace. It’s not my favorite Disney movie, but it’s definitely a lot better than what I expected.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/25

Full Review

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Ron Clements

Director

John Musker

Director

Tate Donovan

Hercules

Josh Keaton

Young Hercules

Roger Bart

Young Hercules (singing)

Danny DeVito

Philoctetes

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Synopsis

Disney tackles Greek mythology in this animated feature. Hercules (Tate Donovan), a son of gods, was snatched as a baby by Hades (James Woods) and forced to live among mortals as a half-man, half-god. Now a teenager, Hercules needs to perform a rite of passage on Earth to prove himself worthy of living with the gods on Mount Olympus. With his plucky satyr sidekick, Philoctetes (Danny DeVito), along for the ride, Hercules must learn how to use his strength to defeat a series of evil creatures.

Director: Ron Clements, John Musker
Producer: Ron Clements, Alice Dewey Goldstone, John Musker
Screenwriter: Ron Clements, Irene Mecchi, John Musker
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Adventure, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 14, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $99.1M
Runtime: 1h 32m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

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