Man, kids movies are sad. Check out 19 depressing Disney moments. RIP Bambi’s mom!
Bambi’s Mom Dies
Look, I don’t care who you are. Bambi’s mom’s death is probably THE SADDEST MOMENT EVER in Disney history. Ever. Followed SUPER closely by…
Mufasa’s Death in The Lion King
OMG! BABY SIMBA! BABY SIMBA TEARS! And then he crawls up next to his dead dad after his Uncle Scar tells him it’s all his fault and he carries that guilt around FOR YEARS. Or at least through Hakuna Matata.
Ariel Loses Eric to Ursula
When Ariel sits down and cries big ol’ jumbo sized tears over losing Eric (and her voice…AND HER LIFE…) it’s super sad. SUPER. Especially since…
King Triton Wrecked Ariel’s Grotto
King Triton, Ariel’s overprotective dad, wrecked her grotto and statue of Eric and basically forbade her from liking human stuff, which, of course, is what sent her to Ursula in the first place.
Lewis Visits the Orphanage
In Meet the Robinsons, Lewis travels back in time and watches his mother leave him on the orphanage steps. He almost stops her but then doesn’t and watches her walk away.
The King and Queen Die in Frozen
Geez, Disney. What’s with the dead parents? Anna and Elsa’s parents die in Frozen, and Anna sits outside Elsa’s door begging for her sister to comfort her. That’s sad, but then we see…
Heartbroken Elsa
Elsa sitting inside her frozen bedroom afraid to comfort Anna or be comforted because she might freeze everybody and she’s scared of herself and alone and man is this sad.
Baby Mine from Dumbo
Ugh. The moms and kids and Disney trope is a recipe for sadness. Dumbo and his mom are separated and she cuddles him in her trunk and rocks him while he cries. Ugh Ugh Ugh. TEARS.
The Almost End of Wall-E
Wall-E literally almost gives his life to save the entire world and then when he lives he can’t remember his best friend and maybe romantic interest Eva and THAT IS SO SAD. (But then he does sort of remember her. We think. So happy.)
The Beast Dies
Belle goes home to save her sick and dying father and then the town attacks the Beast and Belle realizes she loves him and it’s too late because he’s dead. STAB US IN THE HEART.
Todd and Copper
Look, Todd and Copper’s friendship was sad straight out of the gate because we just KNEW there was NO WAY that was gonna last. And when they had to stop being friends it still crushed us. AND THEN…
Widow Tweed Abandons Todd
The widow Tweed, who raised Todd from a baby, abandons him in the woods to fend for himself. HE’S A DOMESICATED FOX, WIDOW TWEED! Way to curse him to death!
Carl and Ellie on Up
Carl and Ellie. CARL AND ELLIE. ALL THE SOBBING.
The Stepsisters Ruin Cinderella’s Dress
Those stepsisters were ugly inside AND out. The mice made a lovely dress for Cinderelly and then Anastasia and Drucilla literally ripped it from her body to stop her from going to the ball. Joke’s on them though. Fairy godmother trumps evil, ugly stepmother any day of the week.
Snow White Dies
Snow White is THE cautionary tale in not taking food from strangers. When those dwarves gather around her lifeless body? Oh man. Even Grumpy sheds a tear.
The Incinerator in Toy Story 3
These toys have been through the wringer. Tossed out by Andy when he outgrew them, fighting off an angry Lotso Huggin Bear, and then the incinerator. If they’re dying, they’re doing it together.
Old Yeller
It doesn’t really get more depressing than having to shoot your own dog.
Nemo’s Mom Dies
Marlin loses his wife and almost all of his children in a barracuda attack and is able to save Nemo. Until, you know, he LOSES Nemo and has to find him. (Another dead parent.)
Maleficent
Maleficent isn’t actually a raging witch UNTIL the man she loves doesn’t love her and CUTS OFF HER WINGS. He breaks her heart AND takes her ability to fly.