The Great Mouse Detective

London's crime-fighting ace on his most baffling case!

1986 • 74 min • Animation · Family · Mystery · Crime · Adventure

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Synopsis

When the diabolical Professor Ratigan kidnaps London's master toymaker, the brilliant master of disguise Basil of Baker Street and his trusted sidekick Dawson try to elude the ultimate trap and foil the perfect crime.

Our family guide

Best from age 6

Movie Knight Score

1827 reviews

100 Reviewers · 1 · 51%
71 Audience · 1826 · 49%

In Victorian London, a brilliant mouse detective and his loyal assistant embark on a thrilling mystery to find a kidnapped toymaker. They must outsmart the cunning Professor Ratigan and his henchmen to save the day, leading to a grand adventure. It’s a classic tale of good versus evil in a charming miniature world.

Violence & peril: 3/10
Language: 1/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 1/10
Romance & sensuality: 0/10
Scary moments: 4/10

Heads up

Some peril and chase sequences
A menacing villain who can be intense
Mild cartoon violence like falls and bumps

What it models well

Problem-solving and deduction
Friendship and teamwork
Bravery in the face of danger

Talk about it after

How Basil uses his clever mind to solve puzzles
The importance of helping others in trouble
Why Ratigan’s plans were ultimately doomed

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Great Mouse Detective. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

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Top billed cast

Director: Ron Clements, John Musker, Burny Mattinson, David Michener • Crew: Matthew O'Callaghan, Peter Young, Ron Clements, John Musker, Steve Hulett, Mel Shaw, David Michener, Vance Gerry, Burny Mattinson, Bruce Morris

Trailers & clips

Basil Loses Hope - Official Clip

The Great Mouse Detective - 1992 Reissue Trailer (35mm 4K)

The Great Mouse Detective - 1999 VHS Trailer #1

The Great Mouse Detective (1986): Theatrical Trailer [RAW Open Matte 35mm Scan]

Reviewer notes

Recommended
The "Moriarty" inspired "Ratigan" is a nasty piece of work! He kidnaps a toy-maker with a view to making toy that will embody this evil genius with the power to dominate the world! Needless to say, this piques the interest of the formidable sleuthing team that is "Basil" and "Dawson" and so in best "Holmes/Watson" tradition they must examine every detail and follow every trail if they are to find and thwart their ...
Geronimo1967, TMDB Community