Tarzan (1999)

UNKNOWN

Various

84%

PG-13

Loading…

RT Critics’ Score: 89% (UNBIASED)
RT Audience Score: 75%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 4 nominations

Click to Stream

Critics Consensus

Disney’s Tarzan takes the well-known story to a new level with spirited animation, a brisk pace, and some thrilling action set-pieces.

Audience Consensus

Tarzan is a wild ride that will have you swinging from the vines with excitement. Disney’s animated adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic novel is a perfect blend of romance, adventure, and humor. The characters are beautifully animated, and the story is both touching and thrilling. Kids will love the fast-paced action, while adults will appreciate the film’s more mature themes. Tarzan is a must-see for anyone who loves a good adventure, and it’s sure to leave you feeling like the king of the jungle.

Storyline

Following his parents’ death in Africa, John Clayton has been be raised by an ape, was known by the name Tarzan, but eventually left Africa and for his parents’ home in England, along with the woman he fell in love with and married, Jane Porter. He is asked by Belgian King Leopold to go to Africa to see what he has done there to help the country. Initially, he refuses. But an American, George Washington Williams, wants him to accept so he can accompany him. He says that Leopold might be committing all sorts of atrocities to achieve his goal, like slavery. Clayton agrees and his wife insists that she accompany him because she misses Africa. When they arrive, a man named Rom, who works for Leopold, attacks their village and captures Tarzan and Jane. With Washington’s help he escapes and sets out to rescue Jane by going across the jungle. Washington joins him despite being told that he might not make it.

Production Company(ies)
Twentieth Century Fox,

Distributor
American International Pictures

Release Type

Filming Location(s)
Gabon

MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence, some sensuality and brief rude dialogue

Year of Release
2016

Technical Specs

Color:

Color
Sound mix:

Datasat Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos Auro 11.1
Aspect ratio:

2.35 : 1
Runtime:

1h 28m
Language(s):

English, Lingala, French
Country of origin:

United States
Release date:

Release Date (Theaters): Jun 18, 1999 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013

Genre(s)

Keyword(s)
starring Tony Goldwyn, Glenn Close, Minnie Driver, Rosie O’Donnell, Wayne Knight, Brian Blessed, directed by Chris Buck and Kevin Lima, written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tab Murphy, Bob Tzudiker, Noni White, Henry Mayo, David Reynolds, Jeffrey Stepakoff, Ned Teitelbaum, produced by Bonnie Arnold, musical, G, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Nell Minow, Lisa Alspector, Geoff Andrew, Jeff Millar, Bob Longino, Peter Stack, Rachel Wagner, James Plath, Felix Vasquez Jr., Tim Brayton, Annlee Ellingson, Phil Collins, MPAA rating, Disney, Tarzan, jungle, gorilla, British expedition, love, civilization, hunter, orphaned, Kala, Tantor, Clayton, Professor Archimedes, soundtrack, animation, action set-pieces, adventure, comedy, drama, romance, family, childhood, identity, acceptance, Pocahontas, John Smith, marketable character arcs, forgettable, poignant, funny, thrilling, heartwarming, touching, memorable, voice cast, Lance Henriksen, American International Pictures, Deep Canvas, CG artists, 3D space, painterly, traditional painting, visual effects, sound mix, surround, SDDS, DTS, Dolby

Box Office Details

Worldwide gross: $356,700,357
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $439,632,678
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 345
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 47,942,495

US/Canada gross: $126,643,061
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $156,087,391
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 497
US/Canada opening weekend: $38,527,856
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $47,485,527
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 250

Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $180,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $221,849,741
Production budget ranking: 64
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $119,466,086
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $98,316,850
ROI to date (est.): 29%
ROI ranking: 1,246

Cast & Crew

Tony Goldwyn

Glenn Close

Minnie Driver

Rosie O’Donnell

Wayne Knight

Tarzan

Kala

Jane Porter

Terk

Tantor

Tony Goldwyn – Tarzan (voice)
Glenn Close – Kala (voice)
Minnie Driver – Jane Porter (voice)
Rosie O’Donnell – Terk (voice)
Wayne Knight – Tantor (voice)
Brian Blessed – Clayton (voice)
Chris Buck – Director
Kevin Lima – Director
Bonnie Arnold – Producer
Edgar Rice Burroughs – Writer
Tab Murphy – Writer
Bob Tzudiker – Writer
Noni White – Writer
Henry Mayo – Writer
David Reynolds – Writer
Jeffrey Stepakoff – Writer
Ned Teitelbaum – Writer

Chris Buck

Edgar Rice Burroughs

Bonnie Arnold

Director

Writer

Producer

Director(s)
Chris Buck, Kevin Lima

Writer(s)
Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tab Murphy, Bob Tzudiker, Noni White, Henry Mayo, David Reynolds, Jeffrey Stepakoff, Ned Teitelbaum

Producer(s)
Bonnie Arnold

Film Festivals

Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 4 nominations

Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Nell Minow

Lisa Alspector

Geoff Andrew

Jeff Millar

Bob Longino

Common Sense Media

Chicago Reader

Time Out

Houston Chronicle

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

TARZAN
All Critics (105) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (93) | Rotten (12)
Kids will be drawn to Disney’s fast-paced version.

December 28, 2010 | Rating: 4/5

Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
The stylized physiques and movements of the characters in this exciting animated musical-romance-adventure are at once realist and fantastic.

November 13, 2009

Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
No classic, but very enjoyable.

June 24, 2006

Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Simply a smashingly well-done example of animated storytelling.

July 21, 2005

Jeff Millar
Houston Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
It’s both a little scary and a lot funny, and kids will no doubt lap it up.

February 21, 2004

Bob Longino
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
So far, the most entertaining film of the year.

June 18, 2002 | Rating: 4/4

Peter Stack
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
It isn’t perfect but there is a lot to like in Tarzan.

May 7, 2019 | Rating: B

Rachel Wagner
rachelsreviews.net
There’s nothing Broadway about this Edgar Rice Burroughs adaptation, but the wow factor is still there.

August 14, 2014 | Rating: 8/10

James Plath
Movie Metropolis
A great treatment of the original novel, and one I revisit constantly.

August 11, 2014

Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
The most legitimately touching Disney feature of the 1990s.

December 4, 2009 | Rating: 8/10

Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy
Just as Disney animation has become increasingly impressive, so have Disney animated films become increasingly adult.

October 18, 2008

Annlee Ellingson
Boxoffice Magazine
Highly enjoyable, great looking animated adventure that combines its touching storyline with plenty of wit and style.

September 2, 2008

Jon Fortgang
Film4…

Plot
Following his parents’ death in Africa, John Clayton has been be raised by an ape, was known by the name Tarzan, but eventually left Africa and for his parents’ home in England, along with the woman he fell in love with and married, Jane Porter. He is asked by Belgian King Leopold to go to Africa to see what he has done there to help the country. Initially, he refuses. But an American, George Washington Williams, wants him to accept so he can accompany him. He says that Leopold might be committing all sorts of atrocities to achieve his goal, like slavery. Clayton agrees and his wife insists that she accompany him because she misses Africa. When they arrive, a man named Rom, who works for Leopold, attacks their village and captures Tarzan and Jane. With Washington’s help he escapes and sets out to rescue Jane by going across the jungle. Washington joins him despite being told that he might not make it.

Trivia