Among the wholesome, uplifting stories Disney movies have provided audiences over the years, there are numerous emotional moments that fans will never forget. These scenes also have a lasting effect on viewers, especially if the issue isn't resolved by the conclusion.
Heavy topics such as grief, loss, or even trauma are prevalent throughout multiple Disney productions, particularly in older films. Moments such as a loved one's death or two characters' parting can be jarring if audiences are used to Disney's happy-go-lucky musical movies. However, heartbreaking moments are still necessary for storytelling, as evidenced by several sad Disney movies.
Updated on July 26, 2023, by Ajay Aravind: Disney films aim to be wholesome. They touch on topics like love and family, so viewers can relate. However, they also delve into more serious themes, like death or abandonment. Since viewers usually go to Disney for cute content, the sad moments hit harder. As such, we've updated this list with more of the saddest Disney movies out there.
20 Frozen
Frozen successfully subverted the damsel-in-distress princess trope that had been plaguing Disney for decades by making the protagonist overpowered. However, Elsa is unwilling to exploit her incredible ability because she's terrified of making a mistake and hurting Anna. This decision might make sense to Elsa, but Anna is dejected by her sister's long-term absence. Viewers can vicariously feel Anna's loneliness and lack of connection, which forms the sad crux of the entire movie. Elsa chooses to flee Arendelle after her powers are accidentally exposed, leaving both Anna and the audience even more upset than before.
19 Lilo & Stitch
At first glance, it's difficult to notice the sadder undertones in Lilo & Stitch. The primary theme is "family", or "ohana" in Hawaiian, but fans can easily identify the realities behind not-so-common family dynamics. Lilo and Nani are still grieving over their parents' death when their lives take a drastic turn. Nani's forced to forgo college or a potential surfing career to find a job, while Lilo's eccentric behavior gets her bullied or in trouble. It's painful to watch the sisters deal with their grief, which causes more tension in their household. That said, they're definitely some of the best-written Disney characters.
18 Finding Nemo
Like Up, the most heartbreaking moments in Finding Nemo take place during the movie's first ten minutes. The delightful life created by Marlin is destroyed when a barracuda discovers his home. Although he tries to save his wife, she rushes to protect her eggs. As a result, Marlin loses both his partner and dozens of potential children. Despite having recovered from such a tragic loss, Marlin faces further hurdles after his son Nemo disappears. He spends the rest of the movie hunting for his missing son, a feeling that any parent can relate to. At least Finding Nemo ends on a better note than it started with.
17 Brother Bear
Even after Kenai transforms into a talking bear, his friendship with Koda makes Brother Bear a wholesome buddy film. Unfortunately, the feeling doesn't last long. Around the first half of the film, both Kenai and the viewers discover that he had killed Koda's mom. When Kenai confesses his crime, Koda's grief is simply too much to deal with. The small, adorable cub runs away crying, a scene only made worse by the heartbreaking musical arrangement. Although Koda and Kenai reconcile in the end and Kenai chooses to stay with him forever, it's very difficult to digest Koda's initial reaction to the news.
16 Pocahontas
Few people would describe Pocahontas as a sad Disney movie, but that's exactly what it is. Delving past all the pleasant moments of frivolity and music scattered throughout the film, fans eventually recognize the morose aspects of the story. Modern viewers already know how much Native Americans suffered under colonial administrations, so watching a rose-tinted version of events doesn't necessarily sit well. In addition, John Smith and Pocahontas never get the opportunity to fulfill their romantic affection for each other. Interestingly, the real Pocahontas left her tribe for England, where she married a man named John Rolfe.
15 The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is considered one of Disney's darkest films, as it's loosely based on Victor Hugo's 19th-century novel. Literature buffs will know that he's famous for writing some of the most tragic stories ever put to the page. Religion is one of The Hunchback of Notre Dame's central themes, but other heavy concepts are sprinkled throughout the film — the battle of good vs. evil, the gray areas of morality, and even racism. Disney pulled no punches in this movie, from the discrimination against the Romani people to the emotional abuse Quasimodo faces at the main villain's hands. Claude Frollo is unquestionably one of the most disliked Disney villains.
14 The Good Dinosaur
The Good Dinosaur is, unfortunately, an underrated Pixar film. Regardless, the movie has some somber undertones as it deals heavily with grief and learning to process the feeling at a young age. Through his pain, the protagonist also matures and learns empathy. Timid Arlo loses his father Henry in a flash flood, leaving him stranded with a feral child named Spot. The Good Dinosaur sets Henry up as a positive role model in Arlo's mind, making his death all the more shocking and heartbreaking. In addition, Arlo begins to understand the pain of loss as he grows closer to Spot, who has also lost his parents.
13 Brave
The 2012 film Brave is a tale about mother-daughter relationships wrapped in a Scottish folk tale, so obviously it has very emotional moments. Merida and Elinor start the film unable to agree on anything. However, after Elinor transforms into a bear by mistake, the girl does everything to change her back. The saddest moment of the film takes place during the climax, when Merida realizes she has failed her task and Bear Elinor looks at her with animal eyes full of sadness. Even though Elinor returns to her original form in the end, fans can't help but feel the horror of Merida losing her mother in such terrible circumstances.
12 Coco
Disney and Pixar's Coco was always going to tug at the heartstrings as it danced around a topic as final as death. A family that's banned music may not seem like the most exciting concept, but Coco took this premise and ran with it. Plenty of Coco's tragic moments elicited intense emotional reactions from audiences. An example is when Miguel discovers his great-great-grandfather, Hector, was poisoned by the man he admires. Another standout is when Coco's spirit gradually begins to leave her body, only for her strength to return upon hearing Miguel sing "Remember Me." Coco is packed with such joyful and tear-jerking moments.
11 Dumbo
Despite Dumbo's happy ending, it's definitely one of the saddest Disney movies. It covers topics such as bullying and discrimination, and highlights the general controversies surrounding the treatment of circus animals. Originally named Jumbo Jr., "Dumbo" is a derogatory nickname created by the other female elephants. His large ears are the primary cause of ridicule since they hamper his balance and everyday capabilities. During a performance, Dumbo's mother intervenes after a group of clowns picks on him, but she's deemed "mad" and locked in a cage separate from the others. It's a heartbreaking moment, even if there are other uplifting scenes in the movie.
10 Bridge To Terabithia
Unarguably one of the saddest films ever, Bridge to Terabithia follows the friendship between Jess and Leslie, two 12-year-old kids who find comfort from their difficult lives in each other. Together, they create an imaginary world to escape to, but things don't last long enough for them to find the solace they so desperately need. In a shocking twist of events, Leslie dies in an accident on a solo journey to Terabithia. Since the movie's main lesson is that life can be difficult, viewers expect Jess and Leslie's friendship to face hardships. However, the end of the film is a bitter reminder that life isn't always fair.
9 The Lion King
Harcore Disney fans will know that The Lion King drew inspiration from Shakespeare's Hamlet. A king is murdered by his brother, who usurps the throne, motivating his son to seek revenge. Disney was sure to include its light-hearted spin, but the overall premise, notably Scar's plan to take over Pride Rock, is a very dark implication. The Lion King was the first modern-day Disney film to depict death and the resulting trauma. Most young viewers will remember the jarring scene of Mufasa's death and Simba's futile attempts to wake him up. It's one of Disney movies' most unforgiving and hard-to-watch scenes that will stick with audiences forever.
8 The Fox And The Hound
The Fox and the Hound cuts deep regarding forbidden friendships and disturbing the natural order. After losing his mother, a fox cub named Tod befriends a hound puppy named Cooper. The two constantly get into trouble and, despite being told they'll become future enemies, they swear they'll remain friends. It's perhaps the most devastating foreshadowing in a Disney movie. Tensions and misunderstandings inevitably escalate, and the two find themselves on opposite sides. Tod is eventually left behind in the forest, his second time experiencing abandonment. On a strangely positive note, the Disney version has a much happier ending than the original novel.
7 Luca
Luca, Alberto, and Giulia's friendship in Luca makes viewers believe this film is a cute, summer flick about childhood nostalgia. However, it's also quite sad on many levels. For example, Alberto is an energetic, free-spirited kid, but his backstory reveals he was abandoned by his father, so he hates loneliness. Moreover, the movie is a metaphor for being different and deviating from societal norms. Having two kids, Luca and Alberto, deal with this concept makes it a bittersweet film. By the end, all sea monsters become members of Portorosso's society. However, before this happens, they face a lot of discrimination.
6 Inside Out
A movie focused on a young girl's emotions will always be a rollercoaster, but Inside Out had a way of standing out. Most of the movie occurs inside her mind, where her emotions, Joy, Disgust, Sadness, Fear, and Anger, react to her experiences. Riley has to adapt to a new environment, negatively affecting her memories and triggering unexpected mood swings. A catastrophe occurs, resulting in Joy and Sadness having to restore order to Riley's memories. Along the way, the two encounter Riley's childhood imaginary friend, Bing Bong. His appearance ends in one of Inside Out's saddest moments when he must sacrifice himself so Joy can escape on the wagon rocket.
5 Encanto
Underneath all of its colorful visuals and catchy musical numbers, Encanto is much sadder than audiences think, especially for adults. The story centers on the generational trauma felt throughout the Madrigal family. The story is told from Mirabel's perspective, so viewers see first-hand the source behind her unhappiness despite her efforts to keep her true feelings suppressed. There are quite a few emotional moments sprinkled throughout Encanto, from Abuela remembering her husband's murder to Mirabel feeling heartbroken upon seeing Antonio's new gift. It's not just Mirabel suffering under pressure, and it's heartbreaking to watch.
4 Big Hero 6
The beginning of Big Hero 6 involves the tragic death of Tadashi Hamada, who is crushed by debris during an explosion in a fire. It occurs barely at the beginning of the film, but Hiro's future path is essentially determined by his big brother's death. Since Hiro is only a 14-year-old boy, losing his only brother leaves him morose and depressed. The story could have taken really dark turns after this point, but Baymax serves as a comforting presence for the mourning Hiro. Although his journey is initially fueled by revenge, Hiro soon realizes that he needs to deal with his grief on his own terms.
3 Bambi
Bambi is often regarded as one of the saddest Disney movies, and for good reason. Halfway through the film, Bambi's mother is shot and killed, forcing the young deer to face the realities of man and his wrath. If that's not sad enough, the once peaceful forest has been ravaged by extensive forest fires, resulting in some of the most chaotic and disturbing scenes in children's media. Bambi excels at making the audience care for its characters and story, building up a false sense of security before ripping those feelings out as part of a larger, environmentalism-based message.
2 Toy Story 3
While Jessie's backstory in Toy Story 2 is incredibly sad, Toy Story 3 tugged on some heartstrings. Toy Story movies have fun and heart all rolled into an entertaining package, primarily due to their animated toy characters. However, the audiences' emotional investment over the years made the sad moments harder. Toy Story 3 not only has an emotional farewell between the toys and Andy, but they also have a near-death experience with an impending inferno. It was a moment that left no dry eyes in the theaters upon the movie's initial release. Both moments offered different takes on the inevitable finality within this iconic series.
1 Up
While there are plenty of Disney movies where a character grieves a loved one's death, the first ten minutes of Up were undeniably devastating. The montage of Carl and Ellie's lives, growing up, falling in love, getting married, enduring a miscarriage, and working together until Ellie's death is emotionally devastating. Up then moves to Carl, a shell of his former self, as a grumpy and curt old man. Although most of Up is fun and upbeat, his lingering sadness and regret over Ellie's absence are prevalent throughout the story. This feeling resonates with audiences enough to feel the pain he's tried so hard to bury.