Movie · 1999 · Animation, Family, Adventure · 1h 28m · G · English
Curator score: 6.9/10 (873K ratings)
An immortal legend as you've only imagined.
Overview
Tarzan was a small orphan who was raised by an ape named Kala since he was a child. He believed that this was his family, but on an expedition Jane Porter is rescued by Tarzan. He then finds out that he's human. Now Tarzan must make the decision as to which family he should belong to...
Ratings
Curator score: 6.9/10
IMDb: 7.3/10
Letterboxd: 3.73/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Metacritic: 80
TMDB: 7.4/10
Director
Chris Buck, Kevin Lima
Production
Walt Disney Pictures, Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc., Walt Disney Feature Animation
Cast
Tony Goldwyn, Minnie Driver, Glenn Close, Alex D. Linz, Rosie O'Donnell, Brian Blessed, Nigel Hawthorne, Lance Henriksen, Wayne Knight, Taylor Dempsey, Sherry Lynn, Bob Bergen, Rodger Bumpass, Lily Collins, Jim Cummings, Debi Derryberry, Jason Marsden, Chris Sanders, Aria Noelle Curzon, Danny Mann
Where to watch
Disney Plus
Curator Review
Verdict
A lively, emotionally direct Disney adventure with standout animation, strong jungle action, and an iconic soundtrack that does a lot of the heavy lifting. It’s especially rewarding if you like heartfelt family stories, kinetic set pieces, and late-90s Disney spectacle.
Best for
families and kids
fans of classic Disney animation
viewers who love big soundtrack-driven movies
adventure stories about identity and belonging
people who enjoy expressive, fluid animation
Skip if
you want a very faithful or complex adaptation of Tarzan
you prefer musicals where characters sing their own emotions on screen
you dislike broad comedy sidekicks or sentimental storytelling
you want a darker, more adult jungle adventure
Overview
Tarzan is one of Disney’s most visually athletic animated films, with a sense of motion that still feels unusually dynamic. The vine-swinging, tree-top chases, and animal movement give it a physical energy that makes the jungle feel alive rather than just decorative.
Worth noting
Its biggest calling card is the soundtrack, which gives the movie a propulsive emotional pulse even when the script stays fairly simple. The story is familiar, but the central conflict between found family and human identity lands cleanly, and the film’s warmth keeps it accessible for all ages.
Bottom line
It’s not the deepest Disney feature of the era, and some viewers will wish the characters had more room to sing their own feelings. But as a piece of family adventure cinema, it’s polished, heartfelt, and memorable in exactly the ways that made 90s Disney so durable.
Top Letterboxd reviews
vi (5★) · 5983 likes
phil collins ain't have to go so hard on that soundtrack
shay (4★) · 2049 likes
tarzan slapped gorilla cheeks before he met jane
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change my mind
Crampy Joe (5★) · 1976 likes
My entire childhood was a lie. Today I found out that Terk is female. You don't understand what I'm going through right now.
maggie (5★) · 1814 likes
i hope disney knows they'll never peak higher than they did in the 90's
James (Schaffrillas) (3.5★) · 1800 likes
Ok maybe kinda good actually, but still not as great as it could have been if the characters got to sing through their emotions instead of Phil goddamn Collins doing it