Pinocchio (1940)
Kernel Score: 80% · 6,185 ratings · Rated G
Genres: Animation, Family, Fantasy
Released: 1940-02-23
Runtime: 88 minutes
Is Pinocchio worth watching?
Worth watching. A wooden puppet comes to life and must prove himself brave and honest. The animation is beautiful, and some sequences are properly scary, though the story is simple and moralising by modern standards.
Watch it if you
- love classic Disney animation
- want a fairy tale with real darkness
- are showing old classics to children
Skip it if you
- dislike old-fashioned moral lessons
- have young children scared by dark scenes
Best for: Family movie night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Pinocchio
- Stream: Disney+, Artiflix
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
When the gentle woodcarver Geppetto builds a marionette to be his substitute son, a benevolent fairy brings the toy to life. The puppet, named Pinocchio, is not yet a human boy. He must earn the right to be real by proving that he is brave, truthful, and unselfish.
Pinocchio parents' guide: all ages
Parents need to know that Pinocchio is a classic G-rated animated family film about a puppet who must prove himself brave, truthful, and unselfish to become a real boy.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Includes frightening scenes such as being swallowed by a whale and menacing villains, classic for the era.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official G rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Pinocchio
If you liked Pinocchio, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) — 91%: Del Toro's darker, richer take on the same story
- Fantasia (1940) — 84%: Classic animation made with great craft
- Alice in Wonderland (1951) — 81%: Another classic Disney fantasy full of strange characters
- The Little Mermaid (1989) — 89%: Disney musical about wanting to belong somewhere
- Coraline (2009) — 90%: Dark, imaginative animated fantasy
- Song of the Sea (2014) — 90%: Beautiful animated fairy tale with a gentle heart
Director
Cast
- Dickie Jones as Pinocchio / Alexander (voice) (uncredited)
- Cliff Edwards as Jiminy Cricket (voice) (uncredited)
- Christian Rub as Geppetto (voice) (uncredited)
- Evelyn Venable as The Blue Fairy (voice) (uncredited)
- Walter Catlett as 'Honest John' Worthington Foulfellow (voice) (uncredited)
- Mel Blanc as Gideon (hiccup) (voice) (uncredited)
- Charles Judels as Stromboli / The Coachman (voice) (uncredited)
- Frankie Darro as Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
- Don Brodie as Carnival Barker (voice) (uncredited)
- Marion Darlington as Birds (voice) (uncredited)
Pinocchio FAQ
Is Pinocchio worth watching?
Worth watching. A wooden puppet comes to life and must prove himself brave and honest. The animation is beautiful, and some sequences are properly scary, though the story is simple and moralising by modern standards.
Where can I watch Pinocchio?
In the US you can stream Pinocchio on Disney+ and Artiflix and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Pinocchio OK for kids?
Pinocchio is rated G. Fresh Kernels suggests all ages. Parents need to know that Pinocchio is a classic G-rated animated family film about a puppet who must prove himself brave, truthful, and unselfish to become a real boy.
What movies are like Pinocchio?
If you liked Pinocchio, try Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, Fantasia, Alice in Wonderland and The Little Mermaid.