The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Movie, 1996, The Disney Renaissance, Set in 1482
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is #9 of 20 in release order and #7 of 20 in chronological order in the Disney Animated Classics.
The story
Isolated in the bell tower of Notre Dame, Quasimodo longs to experience the world beyond the cathedral walls, despite the wishes of his stern guardian, the Judge of Paris Claude Frollo. His first venture into the city leads him to Esmeralda, a fearless Romani woman whose defiance of Frollo's tyranny draws her—and Quasimodo—into his dangerous obsession.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame recap
In Paris in 1482, Quasimodo, a deformed bell-ringer, has spent his life locked in Notre Dame by his guardian, the judge Claude Frollo, who took him as a baby after killing his mother. Frollo claims to protect him. Quasimodo's only friends are three gargoyles. During the Festival of Fools, Quasimodo sneaks out and is crowned king of fools, then humiliated by the crowd; the Romani dancer Esmeralda defends him. Frollo becomes obsessed with her. Esmeralda takes sanctuary in the cathedral, and Quasimodo helps her escape. Captain Phoebus, Frollo's soldier, defies him and joins Esmeralda. Frollo burns Paris to find her, and Quasimodo and Phoebus find her hiding place, the Court of Miracles, guided by a pendant she gave Quasimodo. Frollo follows them there and captures everyone, and Esmeralda is sentenced to burn.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame ending explained
Quasimodo saves Esmeralda from being burned at the stake, Frollo falls to his death from the cathedral, and Paris accepts Quasimodo. Quasimodo breaks his chains and swings Esmeralda into the cathedral, the gargoyles and citizens drive off the guards, and Frollo plunges into the molten lead. Esmeralda and Phoebus are together, and Quasimodo, given their blessing, walks out of the cathedral into the daylight, where the crowd that once mocked him cheers and lifts him up.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is streaming on Disney+ and YouTube (free) in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.0/10, Rotten Tomatoes 80%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Pocahontas, before Hercules.
- Chronological order: after Aladdin, before Pocahontas.
What to watch before The Hunchback of Notre Dame
In release order, 8 Disney Animated Classics essentials come before The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), from The Little Mermaid (1989) to Pocahontas (1995).
Cast
- Tom Hulce as Quasimodo (voice)
- Demi Moore as Esmeralda (voice)
- Kevin Kline as Phoebus (voice)
- Tony Jay as Frollo (voice)
- Charles Kimbrough as Gargoyle Victor (voice)
- Mary Wickes as Gargoyle Laverne (voice)
- Jason Alexander as Gargoyle Hugo (voice)
- Paul Kandel as Clopin (voice)
- Mary Kay Bergman as Quasimodo's Mother (voice)
- David Ogden Stiers as Archdeacon (voice)
- Gary Trousdale as The Old Heretic (voice)
- Corey Burton as Brutish Guard / Additional Voices (voice)
Directed by Kirk Wise, Gary Trousdale.