The 15 Saddest Disney Movies, Ranked

Disney is understood for tugging at heartstrings. It is a main cause why so most of the studio’s movies have persevered over the a long time. So many individuals keep in mind watching these motion pictures as youngsters and studying concerning the tragedy of dying or connecting somewhat too intently to a household in disarray. Many Disney movies, and by extention Pixar Animation productions, happen in fantastical worlds, however they do not sugarcoat harsh realities.

Happily, the saddest Disney motion pictures do not actually get on the extent of one thing like “Manchester by the Sea,” the place it turns into insufferable to observe at a sure level. Disney movies a minimum of finish on an uplifting be aware, proving that regardless of how unhappy life will get, there’s all the time a silver lining. Nonetheless, the next motion pictures may be robust to get by means of, particularly in the event you’re at some extent in life the place you possibly can actually relate to shedding a mother or father or going by means of a pet’s dying. Better of luck making it by means of this listing with out tearing up just a bit. 

Listed below are the saddest Disney motion pictures, ranked by how a lot they make us cry.

“Encanto” firmly stays one of many best films of 2021 with its dazzling musical numbers written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Nevertheless, regardless of “We Do not Speak About Bruno” changing into a viral hit, it is easy to neglect simply how tragic the story is. “Encanto” is all about generational trauma, which is gleaned first-hand through the scene the place a younger Mirabel Madrigal (Stephanie Beatriz) goes to obtain her magical reward, solely to get nothing. Mirabel continually looks like she’s letting down her household, despite the fact that she’s achieved nothing unhealthy in any respect. 

In reality, whenever you dig deep into “Encanto,” the movie’s all about intergenerational trauma. All of the Madrigal relations really feel damaged and never adequate as a result of the calls for of Alma (María Cecilia Botero) are too excessive. That is one thing many of us can relate to, and sadly, many relations who put these sorts of expectations on their family members do not be taught the identical lesson Alma does by the tip. 

Nobody needs to see animals in peril. There’s a complete website where people can check whether an animal dies all through a movie’s runtime earlier than they even put it on. Happily, not one of the principal three pets perish in “Homeward Certain: The Unbelievable Journey” die, however that does not imply you will make it out emotionally unscathed. 

Our three furry heroes — Likelihood (Michael J. Fox), Sassy (Sally Discipline), and Shadow (Don Ameche) — get misplaced and try to search out their manner residence. The plot alone makes it troublesome to observe, however issues actually come to a head through the climax when Shadow injures his leg after falling right into a mud pit. He tells the others to go on with out him, and it is soul-crushing to see an outdated canine virtually meet such a miserable finish. Shadow will get out of the bind all proper, but it surely’s a great reminder that our pets love us greater than we might ever think about. We simply need what’s greatest for them, which makes the concept Shadow would die away from his household all of the extra heartbreaking. 

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” remains one of Disney’s most daring movies. It goes locations no different Disney movies dare tread, like calling out hypocrisies and cruelties current inside organized faith. Decide Claude Frollo (Tony Jay) kills Quasimodo’s (Tom Hulce) mom and reluctantly raises her youngster, preserving him locked away from the remainder of civilization. All Quasimodo needs to do is really feel like he belongs, however he is denied even that. 

The movie’s unhappy as a result of Frollo’s machinations are all too actual, with him even searching for to commit a genocide towards the Romani inhabitants of Paris. Frollo others Quasimodo by continually making him really feel like there isn’t any place on this planet for him, which he accomplishes by having his guards humiliate Quasimodo through the pageant. Quasimodo has each proper to really feel hatred towards humanity, and nonetheless, the look of distress on his face when he believes Esmeralda (Demi Moore) has died) is insufferable. Speaking gargoyles apart, it is a brutal movie to endure. 

Seeing as it is a movie all about dying, it is comprehensible for Pixar’s “Coco” to make the listing of saddest Disney motion pictures ever. You’d want a coronary heart product of stone to not tear up when Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) sings to his great-grandmother, Coco (Ana Ofelia Murguía), to get her to recollect her long-dead father. 

Demise is of course a heavy material, however “Coco” will get to the center of one thing way more existentially terrifying: the concept sometime we’ll all be forgotten. The movie reminds us not simply to not solely admire our family members whereas they’re nonetheless with us however to proceed speaking about them lengthy after they’ve handed away. “Coco” confronts the tragic actuality of dying in a much more nuanced manner than many kids’s movies try. Life should not be consumed with fearing dying however by dwelling in a manner the place our household and pals will wish to proceed telling our tales. 

Pixar has confirmed “Coco 2” is on the way, but it surely’s arduous to think about the sequel hitting all of its emotional beats as successfully as the primary. 

“Brother Bear” takes the expression, “Stroll a mile in my sneakers,” and delivers heartbreaking profundity. Kenai (Joaquin Phoenix) begins the movie with a hatred towards bears so immense that he kills one. However when he all of the sudden will get reworked right into a bear, he varieties a bond with the younger cub Koda (Jeremy Suarez) and realizes the bear he killed was Koda’s mom.

This results in the film’s most emotional second when Kenai, consumed by guilt, confesses to Koda what precisely occurred to his mother. It is the sort of betrayal that actually has no manner of getting higher, however Kenai tries, deciding to remain a bear to take care of Koda as recompense for what he is achieved. Many Disney movies sort out dying, however few go so far as “Brother Bear,” which sees our protagonist immediately accountable for it. In a manner, “Brother Bear” is so unhappy as a result of it is like seeing the hunter from “Bambi” come to phrases with the actual fact he is brought on a lot ache.

Many “Inside Out” ideas were left on the cutting room floor, however perhaps it is for one of the best. What we’re left with is a nuanced look into the way it’s essential for everybody to really feel unhappy from time to time. It is no shock it is one of many saddest Disney motion pictures as a result of it is a story about how we should not attempt to really feel completely happy if we’re genuinely not feeling it. 

In an virtually meta manner, the movie forces viewers to confront unhappiness on a number of events. There’s one thing devastating about watching Riley’s (Kaitlyn Dias) imaginary pal Bing Bong (Richard Form) keep behind and be forgotten in order that Pleasure (Amy Poehler) and Disappointment (Phyllis Smith) can escape. Boy, Pixar actually needs to drive residence the concept being forgotten is simply as unhealthy as dying itself. Then there’s Riley’s confession to her dad and mom the place she’s lastly allowed to interrupt down and cry. It is unhappy however lovely to observe her dad and mom consolation her. Disney motion pictures may be unhappy, however hopefully, we really feel higher after realizing many others have felt the identical manner we do. 

You must undergo numerous distress to get to the eventual completely happy ending of “Dumbo.” As a result of titular character’s large ears, he is the supply of a lot ridicule, and when his mom stands up for her child, she’s locked away. This results in one of the vital heartbreaking moments in Disney historical past the place she sings “Child Mine” to her youngster, with the 2 solely in a position to get shut sufficient to wrap their trunks round each other. 

It is miserable to see Dumbo undergo a lot abuse, however a minimum of at first, there was a semblance of solace that he had his mother by his aspect. When that is taken away, the film turns into virtually insufferable to observe. “Dumbo” is certain to hit residence for youngsters who’ve ever felt ostracized over one thing that they had no management over. “Dumbo” turns into even sadder when you grow to be a mother or father and understand there’s solely a lot you are able to do to guard your youngsters from the awfulness of the world. 

One of many saddest moments in any Pixar film trumps virtually every part Disney Animation has achieved. It is par for the course for a lot of Disney protagonists to have a lifeless mother or father (or a minimum of a lifeless liked one). It serves because the catalyst for a lot of plots and drives residence the purpose that at some point we’ll all be on our personal. However “Discovering Nemo” opens with Marlin (Albert Brooks) unable to avoid wasting his companion and lots of of their eggs, all besides little Nemo.

It is maybe the quickest tonal whiplash one can obtain. One minute Marlin’s joking round, and the following, he is left to confront the actual fact the huge household he was trying ahead to has been eaten by a barracuda. That unhappiness informs every part going ahead, as a result of any mother or father would swim throughout the ocean to be reunited with the final reminder of every part they’ve misplaced. Identical to it is each child’s concern to lose their dad and mom, it is each mother or father’s concern to lose their kids. 

Many Disney movies see a mother or father die offscreen. It does not make it any much less tragic, however there’s nonetheless one thing gut-wrenching about watching Simba (Matthew Broderick) lose his father, Mufasa (James Earl Jones), in entrance of him. We have gotten to know Mufasa drastically up up to now within the movie as he guides his son to be an amazing ruler at some point. After all, Simba assumes that will not occur for some time, however life has a humorous manner of throwing you into the deep finish whenever you least anticipate it. 

What makes Mufasa’s dying all of the extra miserable is that Simba blames himself initially. It was naturally all orchestrated by his scheming uncle Scar (Jeremy Irons), however Simba comes of age believing he is accountable, sending him into the “hakuna matata” life-style to keep away from fascinated by his previous errors. Mufasa’s death broke the rules of Disney animation to an extent. Characters have died earlier than, but it surely normally happens early within the movie earlier than the viewers varieties any emotional attachment to the deceased. However Mufasa turned a father determine to all of us earlier than departing.

There comes a time in everybody’s life once they should say goodbye to infantile issues. It simply normally is not offered in media as terrifyingly as in “Toy Story 3.” There is a tinge of unhappiness all through your entire movie, as Andy (John Morris) hasn’t performed together with his toys shortly and is making ready to go away for faculty. Woody (Tom Hanks) and his friends wind up in a daycare and finally a dump. 

The ending of “Toy Story 3” hits you within the feels not as soon as however twice. The primary comes when our principal toys are being pulled towards an incinerator and relatively than attempt to escape, they be part of palms and settle for their fates. They could be saved ultimately, however they have been totally keen to be destroyed, so long as they may do it as pals. Regardless of surviving, the following intestine punch comes when Andy decides to donate his playthings to younger Bonnie (Emily Hahn), realizing she’ll admire them in a manner he cannot anymore. Nobody can keep younger eternally, however perhaps we will make the world somewhat extra bearable for the following era. 

Anybody who learn “Bridge to Terabithia” for varsity knew they have been in for heartbreak when Disney tailored it right into a 2007 movie. Everybody else was strolling right into a lure, particularly contemplating the film’s advertising and marketing made it seem like a enjoyable fantasy journey flick. All these sequences are merely a part of the youngsters’ imaginations, constructing the world of Terabithia. The story’s all about two pals — Jess (Josh Hutcherson) and Leslie (AnnaSophia Robb) — creating a spot the place they’ll belong exterior of the troubles of faculty and household. 

However when Leslie ventures to Terabithia with out Jess, she hits her head on a rock and dies. A toddler dying is all the time tragic, however there’s the added layer of how simply avoidable it might’ve been. Jess blames himself for ditching Leslie, realizing that he might’ve maybe gone for assist and saved her. However all he can do is keep on her reminiscence realizing he was the pretty much as good of a pal as Leslie might’ve requested for. The film exhibits that regardless of how a lot we attempt to escape the hardships of life, they will all the time discover a technique to resurface.

Whereas we’re as regards to unhappy books tailored into unhappy motion pictures, it is not possible to miss Disney’s “Outdated Yeller.” The 1957 movie recounts a household taking in one of the best, most loyal canine there ever was — Outdated Yeller. He is an enormous asset to the Coates household till at some point he fights off a rabid wolf, contracting rabies himself. It is unhealthy sufficient realizing Outdated Yeller goes to die, however Travis (Tommy Kirk, who also starred in “The Shaggy Dog”), realizing it is the suitable factor to do, decides to place the canine out of his distress and shoot the pooch himself. 

The rationale “Outdated Yeller” stays a quintessential “unhappy film” is that most individuals’s first brush with dying is by way of a pet. Children might need to undergo the dying of a canine, cat, or one thing else and understand that nothing lasts eternally. Such a second marks a turning level in anybody’s life the place they grow to be conscious of how fleeting life may be. “Outdated Yeller” goes the additional mile by having Travis develop up in additional methods than one. Travis does the accountable factor by placing Outdated Yeller down for his personal well-being, despite the fact that it is robust emotionally on him. 

No listing of the saddest Disney motion pictures can be full with out “Bambi.” It is the movie that launched many to the idea of dying, and it is nonetheless impactful all these a long time later. A part of this stems from how random the large dying feels. In the future, Bambi (Donnie Dunagan) is out discovering meals together with his mom (Paula Winslowe) when a hunter approaches. Bambi manages to flee, however his mom is not as fortunate. 

It is a gradual, painful revelation, as Bambi comes out of hiding, calling for his mom within the snowfall. Because the viewers, we all know what to anticipate, and ready for Bambi attain the identical revelation is heart-wrenching. It solely will get worse as we expertise déjà vu later within the movie when a hearth overtakes the forest and Bambi himself suffers a gunshot wound (albeit surviving). In a wierd manner, “Bambi” is the perfect Mother’s Day movie, because it exhibits simply how essential mothers are in all of our lives, even once they go away us far too quickly. 

Pixar has garnered a fame for making motion pictures way more complicated and nuanced than people sometimes anticipate out of kids’s media. Nowhere is that higher exemplified than the start of “Up.” We’re launched to 2 youngsters — Carl (Jeremy Leary, later Ed Asner) and Ellie (Elie Docter) — and mainly get a montage of life’s best hits, each joyful and tragic. The “Up” montage went through numerous changes, however ultimately, we get to see Carl and Ellie marry and repair up a home. Then, there are moments just like the pair receiving the information that Ellie has miscarried.

The montage climaxes with Ellie’s dying. Granted, she had an extended life, but it surely does present how each human being is full of such profound complexities. Everybody experiences triumphs and defeats, and it is easy to permit the latter to warp you into one thing bitter, which is what Carl is as soon as the montage is over. However as an alternative of regretting what was taken from you, you could find the enjoyment {that a} new journey is all the time across the nook. 

Many Disney motion pictures have a tragic scene, however “The Fox and the Hound” simply makes you wish to sit down and bawl your eyes out all through its whole runtime. There’s the sophisticated friendship between Tod the fox (Mickey Rooney) and Copper the hound canine (Kurt Russell). They meet once they’re youthful and vow to stay pals, even realizing that’ll be not possible, as Copper’s skilled to hunt and kill foxes. It might appear to be Tod is a minimum of protected by Widow Tweed (Jeanette Nolan), however quickly, she turns into unable to take care of him and leaves him within the woods for his personal well-being. 

Demise is all the time unhappy, however “The Fox and the Hound” hits on different themes which are simply as unhappy, like pals being saved aside merely resulting from their upbringing. There’s additionally the concept of abandonment, as Tweed driving away from Tod stays one of the vital heartbreaking scenes in any Disney movie ever. Nobody can escape dying, however Tod and Copper might’ve stayed pals had individuals been somewhat extra compassionate and understanding. Copper protects Tod ultimately, and the movie provides us one closing intestine punch: The 2 give each other a closing look that permit’s everybody know that, despite the fact that they might be pressured to remain aside, they will discover methods to have one another’s backs.