Disney movies are some of the best-known and most beloved children’s films of all time, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their fair share of dark and emotionally resonant themes. Though kids are typically the target audience of the studio, many adults watch the projects either with their own children or because of their nostalgia for their childhoods. However, when revisiting some of these movies today, it’s shocking to see how many of them tackle such serious themes and grapple with some harsh realities of growing older and the losses we face.
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Not all of these films are different when viewed as an adult because they’re sad or tragic, but, more often than not, that is the case. There are some Disney movies with strange messaging. Though the studio churns out classics, this doesn’t mean all its movies have aged well. Despite this, these films have all connected with viewers, both young and old, for a reason, and push boundaries in terms of audience perception of what children’s movies can discuss. Grief, friendship, love, and compromise all play large roles in the stories of these movies.
10 Inside Out (2015)
Directed by Pete Docter
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8.7/10 Inside Out PGAnimationAdventureComedy
Pixar Animation’s Inside Out tells the story of a little girl named Riley and her emotions. Inside Riley’s mind exists the emotions that control her actions: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear. When Riley is forced to relocate to a new city, her emotions fall out of balance with disastrous results for the young girl’s life, prompting the five emotions to work together to help Riley through her troubles.
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*Availability in US Director Pete Docter Release Date June 19, 2015 Studio(s) Disney Writers Michael Arndt , Pete Docter , Meg LeFauve , Josh Cooley Cast Lewis Black , Mindy Kaling , Phyllis Smith , Amy Poehler , Bill Hader , Richard Kind , Kaitlyn Dias Runtime 95 minutes Franchise(s) Disney Expand
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For any audience member who moved during childhood, Inside Out is going to hit home. However, Pixar was smart to incorporate many other universal moments and experiences within the story, as Inside Out connects with everyone. Feeling joy, sadness, and all the other emotions in Riley’s head is something that everyone goes through. Additionally, learning that there can’t be happiness in life without moments of pain is a tough lesson, but this lesson is one everyone learns
The deterioration of her sense of self and the dysregulation she feels are painful but relatable parts of coming-of-age.
Though Inside Out 2 had a record-breaking streak at the box office and on streaming, the original movie shouldn’t be overlooked. While Inside Out 2 explored the pangs of early adolescence and how real and immediate those problems are, Inside Out‘s stakes are higher, as there’s a possibility that Riley could lose her ability to feel joy forever. The deterioration of her sense of self and the dysregulation she feels are painful but relatable parts of coming-of-age.
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Inside Out (2015) |
98% |
89% |
9 The Fox And The Hound (1981)
Directed by Ted Berman, Richard Rich, & Art Stevens
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6/10 The Fox and the Hound GAnimationAdventureDocumentaryDramaFamily
Dodo is an orphaned fox who was adopted by a lady after her mother was killed by a hunter. She grows up alongside Toby, a hound puppy, and the two become great friends. The problem is their different natures: one is a hunter and the other is supposed to be the prey.
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*Availability in US Director Ted Berman , Richard Rich , Art Stevens Release Date July 10, 1981 Writers Daniel P. Mannix , Larry Clemmons , Ted Berman , David Michener , Peter Young , Burny Mattinson Cast Mickey Rooney , Kurt Russell , Pearl Bailey , Jack Albertson , Sandy Duncan , Jeanette Nolan Runtime 83 Minutes
The friendship between Tod and Cooper is a touching tribute to love and acceptance for the first half of The Fox and the Hound, but their bonds are quickly tested. Nature versus nurture is an essential question in The Fox and the Hound, as the pair grow up and learn that their roles in life are as enemies. Though they both overcome the pressure put upon them to hate each other, by the end of The Fox and the Hound, it’s clear that their childhood friendship will never be rediscovered.
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As viewers age into adulthood, this is a difficult reminder of the relationships and people who have faded away because of time and circumstance. Though The Fox and the Hound is considered part of the Disney Dark Ages, it’s one of the bright spots within the era, even if it lives up to the moniker. The fairy tale happy endings that Disney came to be known for are nowhere to be found in The Fox and the Hound, even if Tod and Cooper come to a begrudging acceptance of their circumstance and separation.
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The Fox and the Hound (1981) |
75% |
78% |
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8 A Goofy Movie (1995)
Directed by Kevin Lima
A Goofy Movie GKids & Family
A Goofy Movie is an animated film from Disney, released in 1995, featuring Goofy and his teenage son Max. The storyline follows their cross-country road trip as Goofy attempts to bond with Max, who is reluctant to join him. The film explores themes of family, paternal love, and the challenges of growing up. Voiced by Bill Farmer and Jason Marsden, it offers a blend of humor, adventure, and heartfelt moments.
Director Kevin Lima Release Date April 7, 1995 Cast Bill Farmer , Jason Marsden , Jim Cummings Runtime 78 Minutes
It’s never easy for parents and children to connect, and it’s even more difficult when kids reach adolescence. These teenage years are a time when everything in the world is embarrassing. This is the conceit of A Goofy Movie, a film that could easily be written off as another animated romp without much to say, but that would be selling the project short. Throughout the film, all Goofy wants is to spend time with his son, Max, and earn his approval, but Max struggles to let his dad in and appreciate their time together.
The pitfalls of adolescence are prominent and frustrating, but the viewer easily empathizes with both Goofy and Max.
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A Goofy Movie is a silly and comedic feature, but it is also surprisingly poignant when revisited as an older viewer. It’s reminiscent of the time when audiences might have taken their parents for granted and not realized how much their caretakers wanted to connect and bridge the gap between them. The pitfalls of adolescence are prominent and frustrating, but the viewer easily empathizes with both Goofy and Max. Today, many audiences and critics have come to appreciate the nuances of the script.
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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
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A Goofy Movie (1995) |
59% |
71% |
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7 Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)
Directed by Duwayne Dunham
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey GAdventureComedyDrama
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey follows the adventure of three pets—a wise old Golden Retriever, a feisty American Bulldog, and a cautious Siamese cat—as they embark on a perilous journey across the wilderness to reunite with their owners. The 1993 family film captures their enduring friendship and determination amidst various challenges.
Director Duwayne Dunham Release Date February 3, 1993 Studio(s) Walt Disney Pictures Writers Caroline Thompson , Linda Woolverton , Jonathan Roberts Cast Michael J. Fox , Sally Field , Don Ameche , Robert Hays , Kim Greist , Veronica Lauren , Kevin Chevalia , Benj Thall Runtime 84 Minutes Expand
One of Disney’s best live-action projects, the 1993 Homeward Bound is actually a remake of the 1953 movie The Incredible Journey, but the updated film is considered the definitive version. There’s no question that most audiences understand the weight and tragedy of losing a pet, and Homeward Bound brings the animals’ perspective to life as a trio of pets race to find their family. Both an expression of unconditional love and the pain of coming-of-age, Homeward Bound achieves a lot in its runtime.
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Featuring iconic actors to voice the animals, like Michael J. Fox, Sally Field, and Don Ameche, Homeward Bound makes their emotional journey just as compelling as the humans’. The extreme lengths that the animals go to find their humans and get home are deeply affecting and remind older audiences of a time in their lives when a bond with an animal was one of the key parts of their development. With an uplifting ending, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey will have audiences crying tears of joy.
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Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) |
87% |
71% |
6 Brother Bear (2003)
Directed by Aaron Blaise & Robert Walker
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8/10 Brother Bear GAnimationAdventureFamilyFantasy
Brother Bear is an animated adventure from Walt Disney Pictures, released in 2003. The film follows Kenai, a young Inuit who is transformed into a bear as punishment for killing one. To regain his human form, Kenai must learn valuable lessons about nature and brotherhood. The voice cast includes Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Suarez, and Rick Moranis, with the film featuring music by Phil Collins.
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*Availability in US Director Aaron Blaise , Robert Walker Release Date October 23, 2003 Cast Joaquin Phoenix , Jeremy Suarez , Jason Raize , Rick Moranis , Dave Thomas , D.B. Sweeney Runtime 85 minutes
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Joaquin Phoenix lends his voice to the role of Kenai, the young man transformed into a bear in Brother Bear, an often overlooked part of Disney’s history. While not perfect, Brother Bear does engage and excite the audience visually, and the central relationship between Kenai and the young bear he befriends, Koda, not knowing that he is responsible for the death of Koda’s mother. Koda and Kenai are brought together by their mutual loss, as Kenai is reeling from the death of his brother at the hands of a bear, leading him to attack Koda’s mother.
It’s a nuanced bit of character development, and witnessing the way Kenai realizes that his new duty is to protect Koda connects deeply with older viewers.
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It’s an intense story, and though most of the narrative is a fun adventure through beautiful wilderness, Brother Bear is defined by the grief that drives its characters. Kenai’s journey is even more potent when watched as an adult, as not only must he grapple with the loss of his brother but also with the terrible acts he’s committed. It’s a nuanced bit of character development, and witnessing the way Kenai realizes that his new duty is to protect Koda connects deeply with older viewers.
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Brother Bear (2003) |
37% |
66% |
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5 Up (2009)
Directed by Pete Docter
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8/10 Up pgAdventureFamily
Pixar’s Up follows widower Carl (Ed Asner) who travels to South America with young wilderness explorer Russell (Jordan Nagai) by attaching thousands of balloons to his home after the bank threatens to foreclose on it. Discovering the legendary Paradise Falls, Carl meets his childhood hero, explorer Charles Muntz. However, Muntz isn’t the kind-hearted man Carl hoped he would be, and the grieving widower finds himself pitted against his former idol.
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*Availability in US Director Pete Docter Release Date June 11, 2009 Studio(s) Disney Writers Pete Docter Cast Ed Asner , Bob Peterson Runtime 96minutes Expand
One of the most emotional Pixar movies, and that’s a high bar, Up brings the audience to tears in only the first fifteen minutes of the project. While it’s deeply impactful to see Carl and his wife, Ellie, grow old together as a child, older audiences feel the full weight of their time together and Carl’s loss when she passes on. This makes the relationship that builds between Carl and Russell all the more emotional, as their quest for companionship and human connection defies generational gaps.
Related 10 Heartbreaking Moments In Disney & Pixar Movies That We’ll Never Forget
Disney and Pixar are both known for some emotionally devastating moments. Their saddest scenes can easily make fully grown adults shed a tear.
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Up is an interesting movie that takes an unexpected turn when Carl and Russell hit the skies and head to Paradise Falls, but even in its somewhat surreal story, there’s a touching emotional core. As viewers age, they might come to identify with Carl much more than they did as children and reflect on how life hasn’t turned out exactly the way their younger selves thought it would. However, Carl’s journey is also a reminder that it’s never too late to start over and have an adventure.
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Up (2009) |
98% |
90% |
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4 Bambi (1942)
Directed by James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, David Hand, Graham Heid, Bill Roberts, Paul Satterfield, Norman Wright, Arthur Davis, & Clyde Geronimi
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7/10 Bambi GAnimationDocumentaryDramaFamily
Bambi is one of Disney’s most iconic animated films that debuted in 1942. The movie follows a young deer named Bambi who grows up in a forest with his friend Thumper after his mother is killed. The film was directed by James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, and David Hand and was nominated for three Oscars.
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*Availability in US Director James Algar , Samuel Armstrong , David Hand Release Date August 14, 1942 Writers Felix Salten , Perce Pearce , Larry Morey , Vernon Stallings , Melvin Shaw , Carl Fallberg Cast Hardie Albright , Stan Alexander , Bobette Audrey , Peter Behn , Thelma Boardman , Janet Chapman
The tragic beginning of Bambi is one of the most notorious introductions to any Disney movie. Though Bambi is often cited as a seminal, heartwarming children’s classic, this fails to capture just how devastating the first few scenes are. Movies like Bambi are part of the reason that Disney earned a reputation for frequently killing off the parents of its protagonists. The fact that Bambi loses his mother at the beginning of his life is a traumatic moment, especially for such a purportedly light tale.
Bambi
stands out when compared to the studio’s later works, especially the films of the Disney Renaissance.
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As one of the best Disney movies not about princesses, Bambi stands out when compared to the studio’s later works, especially the films of the Disney Renaissance. In 1942, Disney was making surprisingly dark and serious content. Even though Bambi goes on to make friends and build a nice life for himself, this doesn’t change the fact that his early years are defined by the loss of his mother, which only becomes more obvious as an adult.
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Bambi (1942) |
91% |
73% |
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3 Big Hero 6 (2014)
Directed by Don Hall & Chris Williams
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8.7/10 Big Hero 6 PGAnimationActionAdventureComedyFamily
In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Big Hero 6, the child genius Hiro Hamada works with his brother Tadashi’s inflatable robot, Baymax, to assemble a superhero team in the fictional city of San Fransokyo. The titular group of geeky heroes, composed of Honey Lemon, Go Go Tomago, Wasabi, and Fred, help Hiro and Baymax take down a masked villain powered by nanobots.
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*Availability in US Director Don Hall , Chris Williams Release Date October 24, 2014 Studio(s) Disney Writers Don Hall , Jordan Roberts , Robert L. Baird , Daniel Gerson , Duncan Rouleau , Steven T. Seagle Cast Ryan Potter , Scott Adsit , Jamie Chung , T.J. Miller , Daniel Henney , Damon Wayans Jr. , Genesis Rodriguez , James Cromwell , Alan Tudyk , Maya Rudolph Runtime 1h 42m Expand
At its core, Big Hero 6 is a movie about healing from loss, and this overarching message becomes even more clear when watching the story unfold later in life. Though Hiro is a genius and prodigy, this doesn’t change that he’s also a young boy reeling from the loss of his brother, looking for any outlet to release his anger and devastation about what happened. As an adult, it’s easier to empathize with Hiro when he makes mistakes because his motivations are so clear and relatable.
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Though it’s packaged in a colorful and dynamic visual world, Big Hero 6 is a serious movie that doesn’t hold back from putting Hiro through intense situations as a child. Additionally, Baymax’s characterization, his robot companion, is even more emotional as an adult. Still comedic and enjoyable to watch, Baymax’s position as a caretaker and his undeniable goodness are incredibly moving, and it’s easy to see why Hiro’s brother left him something that would fulfill this role in his stead.
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Big Hero 6 (2014) |
90% |
91% |
2 Bridge To Terabithia (2007)
Directed by Gábor Csupó
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7/10 Bridge to Terabithia PGDramaFantasy
Bridge to Terabithia is an adaptation of the novel by Katherine Paterson which follows a group of children with challenging backgrounds who create their own fantasy realm to escape from the troubles of life.
Director Gabor Csupo Release Date February 16, 2007 Studio(s) Walden Media Writers David L. Paterson , Jeff Stockwell Cast Josh Hutcherson , AnnaSophia Robb , Robert Patrick , Zooey Deschanel Runtime 95 Minutes Expand
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Josh Hutcherson and Anna Sophia-Robb give amazing performances for actors so early in their careers in Bridge to Terabithia. Based on the novel by Katherine Paterson, Bridge to Terabithia is known as one of the most devastating children’s movies of all time, thanks to its tragic twist ending. Chronicling the power of friendship and the importance of self-acceptance, Bridge to Terabithia engages with the promise and excitement of creating a magical world to escape to as a child.
Related 10 Best Live-Action Children’s Fantasy Movies
Though animated movies are often cited as the best works of the fantasy genre for kids, there are many live-action films that are incredible.
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While Bridge to Terabithia is undeniably sad no matter what age viewers are when they watch it, revisiting it as an adult provides a larger sense of perspective. Understanding the impact that loss has on kids and the way it changes one’s life gives older audiences insight into how amazing it is that the characters are able to overcome their circumstances and treat each other with kindness. Combining both fantasy and coming-of-age elements, Bridge to Terabithia has become a timeless classic.
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Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
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Bridge to Terabithia (2007) |
85% |
70% |
1 WALL-E (2008)
Directed by Andrew Stanton
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7.8/10 WALL-E GAnimationAdventureFamily
Pixar’s WALL-E tells the story of the titular lone robot left alone on an uninhabitable Earth in the distant future. Tasked with cleaning away the endless mountains of the varied waste discarded by humanity before they left the planet, WALL-E spends his days collecting salvageable parts and items of interest. When he finds a plant, another robot arrives to collect the sample, taking WALL-E to the remnants of humanity, who have all grown morbidly obese through consistent inactivity while living in luxury on a space cruiser.
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*Availability in US Director Andrew Stanton Release Date June 27, 2008 Studio(s) Walt Disney Pictures , Pixar Animation Studios Writers Andrew Stanton , Pete Docter , Jim Reardon Cast Ben Burtt , Elissa Knight , Jeff Garlin , Fred Willard , John Ratzenberger , Kathy Najimy , Sigourney Weaver Runtime 98 Minutes Franchise(s) Disney Expand
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Like all the best Pixar movies, WALL-E takes an unexpected protagonist and makes him undeniably compelling and more human than many characters seen onscreen. These emotional elements are a large part of why WALL-E has remained so culturally and artistically important. Both a love story and a searing critique of the way humans are treating the planet, WALL-E is much more than a typical children’s film and asks the audience to think about the narrative.
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Though he only says a few words throughout the entire runtime, WALL-E is one of Disney’s most compelling protagonists, making it doubly emotionally affecting watching him try to make some sense of a world falling apart around him. Today, looking back at WALL-E, the commentary it makes about consumerism and climate change is more relevant than ever. While there is a bleak element of the story, the ultimately hopeful and uplifting message at the end of the movie helps encourage the audience to take action rather than stew in devastation.
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WALL-E (2008) |
95% |
90% |