Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

You might even say it glows!

1964 • 52 min • Animation · Family · Adventure · Fantasy

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Synopsis

Sam the snowman tells us the story of a young red-nosed reindeer who, after being ousted from the reindeer games because of his glowing nose, teams up with Hermey, an elf who wants to be a dentist, and Yukon Cornelius, the prospector. They run into the Abominable Snowman and find a whole island of misfit toys. Rudolph vows to see if he can get Santa to help the toys, and he goes back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. But Santa's sleigh is fogged in. But when Santa looks over Rudolph, he gets a very bright idea...

Our family guide

Best from age 4

Movie Knight Score

667 reviews

100 Reviewers · 2 · 51%
74 Audience · 665 · 49%

Rudolph, a young reindeer with a shiny red nose, is shunned but finds companionship with an elf who wants to be a dentist and a prospector. They embark on an adventure, encountering a Abominable Snow Monster and a land of misfit toys. Ultimately, Rudolph

Violence & peril: 2/10
Language: 1/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 1/10
Romance & sensuality: 0/10
Scary moments: 3/10

Heads up

The Abominable Snow Monster can be a bit frightening for very young children.
Rudolph and Hermey are initially treated poorly for being different.

What it models well

Embracing differences
Friendship and loyalty
Helping others

Talk about it after

Why are some characters mean to Rudolph at first?
How does Rudolph's difference become a strength?
What does it mean to be a misfit?

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

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Top billed cast

Director: Larry Roemer • Crew: Romeo Muller, Robert L. May

Trailers & clips

Exploring the Animation Of The Holiday Classic

"Shiny! I'd even say it glows!" Preview

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

Reviewer notes

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
Honestly, I don't really know if it deserves the high praise it gets or not. And, just as honestly, I can't really tell for sure. It's not that the movie is confusing in any way. It was just, well, it came out when my dad (rest his soul) was 12. And, at least until recently, it was on the air every year since.…
GenerationofSwine, TMDB Community

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
This program is of course a Christmas classic. I don’t even know how young I was when I first watched it, or have any idea how many times I have seen it since. The music is fun and the story cute even in its lack of depth. But of course it is aimed at children, to watch as children, with children, or as an adult remembering childhood.…
Peter McGinn, TMDB Community