People Reveal The Most Disturbing Disney Scenes That Should Come With A Caution
Disney films have been a beloved part of childhood for generations, with audiences of all ages enjoying animated and live-action movies. Whether someone is a baby boomer, Gen X, millennial, or from Gen Z or Gen Alpha, Disney’s iconic characters and magical storytelling have left a lasting impression.
These films are often associated with cherished memories of childhood, where characters like Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, and Simba brought joy and excitement to our screens. However, not all memories tied to Disney movies are entirely joyful.
Along with the laughter, love, and adventure, these films contain moments that have left viewers feeling unsettled or frightened. Many of these darker scenes remain vivid in the minds of those who experienced them at a young age.
Recently, a Reddit user named marcus_shitface initiated a discussion on a popular subreddit, posing the question: “What is the most disturbing Disney movie scene?” This prompted more than 1,400 responses from people eager to share the most unnerving moments from the Disney films they watched growing up.
Among the top responses were scenes well known for frightening viewers over the years. A standout mention was the notorious Judge Doom reveal scene in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
While a groundbreaking blend of live-action and animation, this film featured one particularly unsettling moment when Judge Doom’s true nature was revealed.
With his eerie, high-pitched voice and bulging cartoon eyes, it is no wonder this scene is etched in the memories of many as one of the creepiest in Disney history. Here are a few more scenes that stood out as the most commonly mentioned across the thread.
1. "When Clayton inadvertently hangs himself in Tarzan."
Disney2. Bambi
"Classic Disney movies? That one scene in Bambi, where the birds are trying to quietly hide in the bushes from the hunter stalking them. One of them begins to panic as he gets closer while her friends beg her not to try to fly. Eventually, she tries to flee, only to be shot down dead and land right in front of said friends."
Disney3. "In Tarzan, when the ape finds Tarzan, you see the crumpled corpses of his parents lying in the corner under some debris."
Disney4. he Hunchback of Notre Dame
"Quasimodo being roped, attacked, and humiliated in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. That was too much for a kid's movie. Just thinking about it after all of this time makes me feel sad, and I haven't watched it in ages."
Disney5. "The 'Hellfire' scene from The Hunchback of Notre Dame."
Disney6. Mulan.
"Specifically, the part where the guys are all singing about what kind of girl they are fighting for, and then all of a sudden, it just cuts to the village that was burnt to the ground. You find out that not only did the Huns wipe out the whole army, but they also slaughtered every man, woman, and child in the village. There are no more musical bits after this scene in the movie."
Disney7. The Great Mouse Detective
"Towards the end of The Great Mouse Detective, when they’re running up Big Ben, Professor Ratigan is growing increasingly more rat-like, running on all fours, fur bursting out of his tuxedo, etc. That and all the jumpscares from his bat henchman. Nightmare fuel."
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8. "It's a classic one: the scene where the Evil Queen transforms into the Old Hag in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs TRAUMATIZED me."
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9. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
"For me, it's the beginning of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, when Snow White runs into the woods and is terrified by the branches grabbing her clothes, thinking they were hands, and all the eyes around her watching her. I still get anxiety dreams resembling it sometimes, and I'm in my 30s now."
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10. "The little shoe going into the Dip in Who Framed Roger Rabbit."
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11. The Black Cauldron
"The Cauldron-Born from The Black Cauldron. The original version was so gruesome that they edited it down and reanimated segments, and it was still pure nightmare fuel. Also, not to mention, the Horned King being ripped to shreds, down to his bones, as he's sucked into the Cauldron at the end."
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12. "Fox and the Hound. When the old lady leaves Tod in the woods. Triggers my abandonment issues. I still can't watch.
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13. "In Fun and Fancy-Free, when Donald turns into a lunatic and grabs the axe off the wall."
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14. The Brave Little Toaster
"The Toaster's nightmare with the fireman clown was the part in The Brave Little Toaster that terrified me. When I was little, I would leave the room for that part."
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15. "In The Brave Little Toaster, when the air conditioner malfunctioned/blew up, his eyes and the fire. It scared me for years."
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16. "In Pinocchio, the donkey scene. It's been decades since I have seen it, and the streak is not coming to an end anytime soon."
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17. "In The Princess and the Frog, when Dr. Facilier gets dragged to hell by the spirits."
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18. "I'm nearly 40, and I still have PTSD from the fucking Walrus luring and eating the baby oysters in Alice in Wonderland. Fuck that."
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19. The Incredibles (2004)
"The scene in The Incredibles (2004) where Mr. Incredible logs into Syndrome’s computer and discovers that basically all the world’s superheroes have been systematically murdered by one man by luring them out to a secluded island and making them fight the Omnidroid. This is foreshadowed in an earlier scene, where Mr. Incredible and Frozone have a conversation about never seeing their old friends anymore. These people were their friends, who have now been wiped out one by one. Syndrome may be one of the most evil villains in the Disney universe."
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20. "The T-Rex mauling the Stegosaurus in Fantasia. Added bonus: If this wasn't enough kids, then get to see all the dinosaurs starve to death."
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21. The Black Hole
"When Maximillian killed Anthony Perkins' character by drilling through the book he was holding. Or when you learn what really happened to the crew of the U.S.S. Cygnus. The Black Hole is an effed-up trip that I shouldn't have watched at age 7."
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22. "I remember being creeped out by the scene in Hercules where he's diving into the River Styx to save Meg and ages rapidly while the souls swirl around him."
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23. "Dumbo getting drunk and hallucinating those weird multicolored eyeless elephants."
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24. The Lion King
"The ending of The Lion King, when the hyenas eat Scar alive. In his final appearance, they managed to make Ed, otherwise a comic-relief character, downright nightmarish."
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25. "I really hate the scene where the Wicked Stepsisters tear at Cinderella’s dress. It is mild in comparison to a lot of these, but it is also scarily realistic."
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26. "In Return to Oz, that scene of the hallway of served heads always creeped me out as a kid."
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27. Toy Story 3
And lastly, "Toy Story 3, when they’re all stuck in the incinerator, spiraling towards the fire, and all they can do is surrender to it and say their goodbyes…sheesh!"
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The unsettling nature of these scenes is a testament to Disney’s ability to create emotional depth in its films. While the company is primarily known for its cheerful and uplifting stories, it hasn’t avoided introducing darker themes and moments.
These scenes, though disturbing, often serve a purpose. They introduce young viewers to complex concepts like fear, loss, and morality in accessible yet impactful ways.
While these moments may have frightened audiences as children, they also helped shape their understanding of the world. For many, these scenes are a part of what makes Disney movies so memorable— they leave a lasting impression.
