The Tale of Despereaux

Small Mouse. Big Dreams.

2008 • 93 min • Adventure · Animation · Family

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Synopsis

Once upon a time... in the far away kingdom of Dor... lived a brave and virtuous mouse with comically oversized ears who dreamt of becoming a knight. Banished from his home for having such lofty ambitions, Despereaux sets off on an amazing adventure with his good-hearted rat friend Roscuro, who leads him, at long last, on a very noble quest to rescue an endangered princess and save an entire kingdom from darkness.

Our family guide

Best from age 6

Movie Knight Score

1033 reviews

62 Audience · 1033 · 100%

A tiny but brave mouse, Despereaux, dreams of chivalry and adventure. Banished for his unconventional spirit, he embarks on a quest with an unexpected rat companion, Roscuro, to rescue a princess and save a kingdom steeped in sorrow and darkness.

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

Heads up

A character faces banishment
Some sad themes, like loss and sorrow
Characters in peril from a villainous rat

What it models well

Courage in the face of adversity
Importance of forgiveness
Loyalty and friendship
Embracing one's unique qualities

Talk about it after

Overcoming fear to do what's right
The impact of sorrow and how to heal
Judging others by their actions, not their species
The power of hope and a positive outlook

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