Movie · 1964 · Comedy, Family, Fantasy · 2h 19m · G · English
Curator score: 8.5/10 (600K ratings)
The fairest of them all...the funniest of them all!
Overview
In turn of the century London, a magical nanny employs music and adventure to help two neglected children become closer to their father.
Ratings
Curator score: 8.5/10
IMDb: 7.8/10
Letterboxd: 3.93/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Metacritic: 88
TMDB: 7.5/10
Director
Robert Stevenson
Production
Walt Disney Productions
Cast
Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns, Hermione Baddeley, Karen Dotrice, Matthew Garber, Elsa Lanchester, Arthur Treacher, Reginald Owen, Ed Wynn, Reta Shaw, Arthur Malet, Jane Darwell, James Logan, Don Barclay, Alma Lawton, Marjorie Eaton, Marjorie Bennett, Doris Lloyd
Where to watch
Disney Plus, BroadwayHD
Curator Review
Verdict
A buoyant, impeccably crafted family fantasy with memorable songs, crisp comic timing, and a surprisingly sharp emotional core about work, care, and family repair. Its charm is timeless, even when its sentiment is old-fashioned.
Best for
families looking for a classic all-ages movie
viewers who love musical numbers and practical effects
fans of warm, whimsical fantasy with a gentle moral center
people interested in iconic studio-era craftsmanship
Skip if
you want modern pacing or contemporary jokes
you dislike sentimental family stories
you prefer fantasy with darker stakes or more complex mythology
you are not in the mood for a very polished, highly theatrical musical
Overview
Mary Poppins is one of the great studio-era crowd-pleasers: bright, elegant, and engineered to feel effortless. The songs are durable, the performances are immaculate, and the blend of live action, animation, and effects work still has a special kind of magic that newer films often chase but rarely match.
Worth noting
What gives it staying power is that it is not just sugar. Beneath the whimsy is a pointed story about a family held together by routine, status, and emotional distance, with the children and their father all needing to relearn how to connect. The film’s playfulness makes that transformation feel light, but the stakes are real.
Bottom line
It can feel a little tidier and more paternalistic than modern viewers may expect, and some of its worldview is very much of its time. Even so, the energy, invention, and sheer confidence of the filmmaking make it easy to see why it remains a touchstone for family entertainment and movie musical craft.
Top Letterboxd reviews
tru (4★) · 3691 likes
mary poppins will overthrow capitalism
clownhead (4.5★) · 3512 likes
VOTES FOR WOMEN (STEP IN TIME)
Paddington · 3137 likes
Mary Poppins has a wonderful hat and such excellent manners. I imagine her bag is very good at holding sandwiches.
sophie (4.5★) · 3093 likes
julie andrews is the prettiest person to walk this earth
fran hoepfner (4★) · 1630 likes
love these two horny service workers and their multidimensional affair