When Disney Goes Dark
When you think of Walt Disney Studios, you're most likely to think of wholesome movies that are perfect for showing the kids. Well, not all of them. These are the "scariest" Disney films that might be too much for the little ones to handle.
The Black Cauldron (1985)
1985's The Black Cauldron certainly flipped the script on Disney fans who have naturally associated the studio with heartwarming, feel-good movies. Its elements of pure horror and dark fantasy certainly toe the line and still have the potential to frighten young audiences.
Walt Disney, The Black Cauldron (1985)
The Black Cauldron (1985)
The film follows the nefarious plans of one of the scariest Disney villains—the Horned King—who wants to take over the world using a magical cauldron. However, not all is lost. Brave protagonists, including a swineherder and princess, hope to stop him and save the day.
Walt Disney, The Black Cauldron (1985)
Escape To Witch Mountain (1975)
1975's Escape to Witch Mountain might not be the scariest film on this list, but it certainly has some disturbing elements that are sure to creep under a viewer's skin.
Walt Disney, Escape To Witch Mountain (1975)
Escape To Witch Mountain (1975)
Adapted from an Alexander H Key novel, this is a fantasy sci-fi story with a villain seeking to take advantage of two young siblings. But contrary to the promise of the title, witches aren't featured in Escape to Witch Mountain.
Walt Disney, Escape To Witch Mountain (1975)
Escape To Witch Mountain (1975)
Perhaps even more unsettling is the way the film investigates the truth of the human condition—that people will go so far as to harm children just to reach their own selfish goals.
Walt Disney, Escape To Witch Mountain (1975)
Fantasia (1940)
1940's Fantasia is one of the most unique Disney productions. Even though it's still a musical, it's also quite experimental. Beautiful but dark, it presents a series of eight stories—but some are far scarier than others.
Fantasia (1940)
Perhaps the darkest section of Fantasia is "Night on Bald Mountain". Though it is undoubtedly a masterpiece, it follows the wicked demon Chernabog as he sets out to obliterate a village. Paired with an intense classical score, this segment is utterly mesmerizing and downright creepy.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
1993's Hocus Pocus is the perfect Disney film to watch on Halloween. Though infused with a healthy dose of comedy, the roots of this story are pretty terrifying. Not only is it about witches, but these particular witches have no problem taking the lives of children as a means of holding onto their youth.
Walt Disney, Hocus Pocus (1993)
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Many parents choose not to show Hocus Pocus to their kids until they're a bit older. After all, it was initially intended for a slightly older demographic and it was David Kirschner who first came up with the idea. Considering Kirschner went on to produce the Child's Play films, it's no wonder Hocus Pocus is much scarier than the typical Disney film.
Walt Disney, Hocus Pocus (1993)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
1993's The Nightmare Before Christmas began with a poem by Tim Burton, so it's no wonder that it has such dark undertones. This stop-motion film follows a main character named Jack Skellington, who looks exactly as his name sounds.
Walt Disney, The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
As the King of "Halloween Town," Jack Skellington stirs up all kinds of trouble after he discovers "Christmas Town"—and sets out to take control of the holiday. With some haunting musical numbers written by Danny Elfman and an overall gothic atmosphere, this Christmas/Halloween movie is a delicious, but slightly scary, treat.
Walt Disney, The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Pinocchio (1940)
Perhaps some of the scariest Disney films are the ones that aren't necessarily scary on the surface. For instance, 1940's Pinocchio is about a wooden puppet that comes to life. But though the puppet Pinocchio becomes animate, he isn't a real boy yet.
Pinocchio (1940)
In order to become a real boy, Pinocchio must prove that he is "good". If he fails, however, a horrible fate potentially awaits him: He might be transformed into a donkey and stranded on Pleasure Island forever.
The overall message of what constitutes a good person and a bad person—as well as who has the right to a “real” life—might be the most unsettling aspect of this story.
Tower Of Terror (1997)
1997’s Tower of Terror was the very first Disney film to be inspired by a Disney theme park attraction. Starring Kirsten Dunst and Steve Guttenberg, this scary mystery revolves around a journalist named Buzzy and his niece who investigate a strange incident dating back to 1939.
Walt Disney, Tower Of Terror (1997)
Tower Of Terror (1997)
In 1939, five guests at the Hollywood Tower Hotel mysteriously disappeared, and their ghosts wind up haunting the abandoned hotel. As Buzzy and his niece try to get to the bottom of this mystery, they get closer and closer to uncovering the dark truth.
Walt Disney, Tower Of Terror (1997)
The Watcher In The Woods (1980)
1980's The Watcher in the Woods certainly isn't a common film in the average person's Disney rotation. Starring one of Hollywood's greatest, Bette Davis, this film appeals to a young adult audience with its mature, horror elements.
Walt Disney, The Watcher In The Woods (1980)
The Watcher In The Woods (1980)
The premise of this film revolves around a family who moves into a new home. However, things take an ominous turn when their landlady makes a disturbing revelation: One of the new tenants' young girls looks very much like her own daughter Karen, who mysteriously disappeared three decades prior.
Walt Disney, The Watcher In The Woods (1980)
Don't Look Under The Bed (1999)
1999's Don't Look Under The Bed is a made-for-tv horror fantasy that centers on a classic monster—the Boogeyman. Though it was meant to be only a little bit scary, its visuals ended up being quite intense. It also played off of a very real fear that many children experience—that something dangerous is hiding beneath their beds.
Walt Disney, Don't Look Under The Bed (1999)
Don't Look Under The Bed (1999)
According to the film's director, Kenneth Johnson, "There were a number of meetings where we'd talked about the tone and what [Disney] wanted it to be—scary but not too scary. That's the bar we kept trying to find. Everybody thought we had hit it until they started getting derogatory mail after it aired".
Walt Disney, Don't Look Under The Bed (1999)
The Adventures Of Ichabod And Mr Toad (1949)
There are two stories to enjoy in 1949's The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad. These include, "The Wind in the Willows” and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". However, the latter has an unsettling premise.
Walt Disney, The Adventures Of Ichabod And Mr Toad (1949)
The Adventures Of Ichabod And Mr Toad (1949)
Though "The Wind in the Willows" is your typical fun-loving Disney Tale, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" features a very chilling antagonist—the infamous Headless Horseman, who is a pumpkin-headed ghost. Though the creepy subject matter is dealt with quite lightly, there's one fairly scary fight scene.
Walt Disney, The Adventures Of Ichabod And Mr Toad (1949)
The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996)
1996's The Hunchback of Notre Dame had to take Victor Hugo's very dark story and whip it up into something that could appeal to children and have a warm and fuzzy happy ending. It succeeds on both fronts, but it still can't get away from its dark themes—especially the horrific life of the protagonist, Quasimodo.
Walt Disney, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996)
Born with physical deformities, Quasimodo lives his life hidden in the bell tower of Notre Dame Cathedral and yearns to be a part of society.
The film's villain is Quasimodo's cruel caretaker Frollo, who is a Minister of Justice with a mean streak of religious fanaticism. Many people consider him to be one of the scariest Disney villains of all time.
Walt Disney, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
Snow White And The Seven Dwarves (1937)
The very first fully animated Disney film was 1937's Snow White And The Seven Dwarves, and some of its best scenes are downright scary—not to mention the overall story of a murderous queen trying to murder her beautiful stepdaughter because she's the "fairest one of all".
Walt Disney, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Snow White And The Seven Dwarves (1937)
The scene where Snow White flees the palace—running through the forest and into the unknown—is nightmarish to watch as the branches and animals seem to twist around her.
Walt Disney, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Snow White And The Seven Dwarves (1937)
Perhaps even more terrifying than Snow White's initial escape is the creepy transformation of The Wicked Queen into a haggard crone—and her dastardly poison apple scheme.
Though this dark fantasy gets a happy ending, the antagonistic forces that threaten Snow White's life throughout the film are extremely disturbing.
Walt Disney, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Bambi (1942)
For the most part, 1942's Bambi is an utter delight, following the life of a deer living in a forest among his fellow creatures. However, there is one particular scene that is especially harrowing and scary for children (and adults, for that matter)...
Bambi (1942)
Bambi does not shy away from the most heart-breaking realities in life—loss and grief. In one scene, a hunter throws the young deer's life into chaos when he shoots its mother. Bambi is left all by himself, crying out for his mother in the saddest voice imaginable.
The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
Though 1990's The Rescuers Down Under is a sequel to 1977's The Rescuers, the stakes in the film seem much higher and scarier, with some scenes making you feel as though you're watching a suspense thriller rather than a children's animated film.
Walt Disney, The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
In the film, the mouse agents Bernard and Miss Bianca have an important mission: They have to rescue a little boy named Cody. Taken by a ruthless poacher who hopes to catch a golden eagle, Cody finds himself in a chilling situation.
Walt Disney, The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
Thanks to the brutal nature of the film's villain, the poacher Percival C McLeach, The Rescuers Down Under is a fast-paced rollercoaster ride, with some nail-biting chase scenes. Though this may be one of the lesser-known Disney movies, it's a viewing experience that most adults can get behind as well.
Walt Disney, The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
1983's Something Wicked This Way Comes follows two young boys and their chilling experience with a strange carnival that arrives in town. The carnival, led by a sinister character known as Dr Dark, tempts the townspeople by offering to fulfill their wishes. The film takes a dark turn in the second act which makes this one of Disney's scariest productions.
Walt Disney, Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
On the Rotten Tomatoes website, the critics consensus is a sure reflection of the film's inherent spookiness: "True terror and typical Disney wholesomeness clash uncomfortably in Something Wicked This Way Comes".
Walt Disney, Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
The Haunted Mansion (2003)
2003's The Haunted Mansion, starring Eddie Murphy, is a fantastic blend of horror, the paranormal, and comedy. It follows a realtor and his family who find themselves locked in a mansion that's teeming with ghosts.
Walt Disney, The Haunted Mansion (2003)
The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Similar to Tower of Terror, a Disney theme park attraction inspired The Haunted Mansion. Though its plot is undeniably terrifying, the infusion of comedy definitely knocked its scary factor down a peg.
20 years later, in 2023, a rebooted version of the film hit theaters, but was a flop at the box office.
Walt Disney, The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Return To Oz (1985)
The Wizard of Oz surely had its dark moments—but compared to its twisted sequel Return to Oz, it was extremely tame. This second installation follows Dorothy in the magical land of Oz once again, but she finds the world in a dreadful state—taken over by Nome King and Princess Mombi. But that's not all.
Walt Disney, Return to Oz (1985)
Return To Oz (1985)
In this sequel, Dorothy gets a whole new crew of sidekicks, but this time, the creatures are far more unsettling. For instance, one is a pumpkin-headed man. Even the general atmosphere and tone of the film is gloomy.
When it finally hit theaters, it did poorly—and the critics certainly had something to say about it.
Walt Disney, Return to Oz (1985)
Return To Oz (1985)
The overwhelming consensus of the critics was that Return to Oz was too scary for children. Dave Kehr of the Chicago Reader said, "It's bleak, creepy, and occasionally terrifying," while another review called the film "a horror show flying under the banner of family entertainment".
