Mulan
G
Jun 18, 1998
Animation · Brisk 88 minutes that never drags between musical numbers and action.
Solid crowd-pleaser
7.7/10
IMDb
91%
Fresh
72
72/100
Metacritic
🎬
7.9/10
TMDB
The brief
Disney's Mulan hits that sweet spot where genuine emotion meets crowd-pleasing spectacle, anchored by Ming-Na Wen's fierce vocal performance that never feels like she's just reading lines. The film moves with surprising urgency for a Disney musical, balancing intimate family drama with epic war sequences that actually feel consequential. Eddie Murphy's dragon sidekick Mushu could have derailed everything but instead adds perfectly timed comic relief without undercutting the stakes. Perfect for anyone who wants their Disney films to have real bite alongside the songs and sentiment.
empowering
martial arts spectacle
family duty
war epic
coming-of-age
chinese culture
musical adventure
The verdict
If you want a Disney animated film that balances genuine emotional stakes with spectacular action sequences and doesn't talk down to its audience, this is essential viewing. If you prefer your animated musicals lighter and more whimsical without the war drama, you might find this more intense than expected.
Watch with
- 👨👩👧👦 Perfect family movie night choice
- 🧒 Great for introducing kids to diverse stories
- ⚠️ Skip if you're not in mood for musical numbers
Heads up
- War battle sequences with sword combat (moderate)
- Avalanche scene with implied casualties (brief)
- Family honor themes may feel heavy (implied)
Credits
- Director
- Tony Bancroft
- Cast
- Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, BD Wong, Miguel Ferrer, Harvey Fierstein, Freda Foh Shen, June Foray
Official synopsis
To save her father from certain death in the army, a young woman secretly enlists in his place and becomes
