Top 10 Disney Endings that Don't Mean What You Think

Top 10 REAL Meanings Behind Disney Endings

These House of Mouse finales had hidden depths. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 REAL meanings behind Disney Ending.

For this list we’re looking at Disney animated films that have ambiguous endings or ones that mean something entirely different when viewed as an adult. And since this is a topic about endings a spoiler warning is in effect.

#10: “Ralph Breaks the Internet” (2018)

The first “Wreck it Ralph” dealt with issues like identity and self-acceptance, and the sequel addressed similarly mature themes. Ralph has settled into a new status quo and is loving life, but the same can’t be said for his best friend Vanellope. She wants to grow and change, and Ralph’s fear of being abandoned grows into a literal monster. Only when Ralph lets go of his insecurities, as painful as it may be and lets his friend go. The film’s final scenes illustrate that sometimes those we love may choose a different path than we do, and we need to accept that and realize it doesn’t mean they love us any less.

#9: “The Rescuers Down Under” (1990)

“Rescuers Down Under” was a radical departure for Disney, as it was both the first sequel and abandoned Disney’s signature musical format. This isn’t the only way it was different, however, with the directors drawing inspiration from Hayao Miyazaki films for some of its most recognizable sequences. Like many of Miyazaki’s films, “The Rescuers Down Under” ends with a message about the power of nature and how it needs to be protected. However, the message isn’t as heavy-handed as in other 90s films - such as 1992’s “FernGully: The Last Rainforest”. So for many young viewers, it was just a sequel movie set in Australia.

#8: “Peter Pan” (1953)

“Peter Pan” has become the poster child for those that refuse to grow up or let go of their childhoods. Some have even interpreted the meaning of the film as being that we lose our sense of imagination and wonder when we grow up, however the truth is a little more complex. In the end the Darlings choose to leave Neverland and the Lost Boys in order to grow up, returning to their parents. While growing up and losing innocence is tragic, it’s a difficult thing we all must do, and that struggle into adulthood makes us into fully formed people.

#7: “The Little Mermaid” (1989)

The film that ushered in the Disney renaissance, “The Little Mermaid” began an unrivaled period of critical and commercial success for the animation studio. Those that saw the classic film as children have reexamined it with a critical eye later in life, some finding Ariel’s character journey problematic, coming to the conclusion that Ariel sacrifices everything for a dreamy man. While the original ending of Hans Christian Anderson’s fairy tale certainly seems to support that reading, director Ron Clements smartly adjusted the original story’s ending where Ariel died to save the prince. With the new ending in the film the story becomes a metaphor for discovering your own voice and following your dreams.

#6: “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” (2001)

While “Little Mermaid” began the Disney renaissance, “Atlantis” arrived just after the period of prosperity had come to a close, and was considered a box office disappointment and a critical flop. Over the years however “Atlantis” has earned a reputation as a cult classic as its original audience that saw it as children came to understand the deeper themes associated with it, particularly its last act. While the highly motivated Rourke is seen as a positive figure through most of the film, his greed and corruption is revealed in the finale. His traitorous turn and demise serve as an anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist commentary at the film’s conclusion.

#5: “Coco” (2017)

The initial version we hear of “Remember Me” in “Coco” is an upbeat fun song, but one centered on its singer’s, Ernesto de la Cruz’s, vanity. Over the course of the film the audience learns that de la Cruz murdered Hector his partner and Miguel’s great-great grandfather, to steal his songs. Hector’s original slower version was written for his daughter Coco, and the song’s new context gives the film a new perspective as well. The tear-inducing ending where Miguel plays the song to a now near-death Coco shows us that memory has true power and rather than being shallowly adored by many, it’s better to be truly loved and remembered by even just one person.

#4: “Finding Nemo” (2003)

By the very nature of the film, “Finding Nemo” is sure to elicit different responses from children and their parents, with children relating to the lost Nemo, and parents relating to Marlin. In fact the film is much more of a cautionary tale for parents than children, as Marlin’s overprotectiveness and tendency to shelter Nemo is what causes him to become lost in the first place. In the end Marlin learns not to be a helicopter parent, giving Nemo more freedom and trusting him, a lesson he learns from the absentminded but empathetic Dory.

#3: “Up” (2009)

For most of “Up” we follow Carl Fredrickson attempting to bring his home, which represents his departed wife, to the beautiful Paradise Falls. Trying to honor her memory, and the promise that Carl and Ellie made when they were children, he even speaks to the house as if it was his wife. Throughout the film he goes out of his way to protect the items in his house, even abandoning his new friends to protect it. However, he can only truly honor Ellie by learning that friends are more important than possessions, and that our memories shouldn’t stop us from moving forward.

#2: “Zootopia” (2016)

The incredible animations and adorable anthropomorphic animals of “Zootopia” made the movie a hit with both kids and parents. But it was also an allegory about racism and prejudice. The film ends on a hopeful note, with the savage animals cured, and Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde working together. However, even though it’s a happy ending, it doesn’t mean that Zootopia is a perfect animal utopia - prejudices don’t change overnight, and the message is more about us being aware of them and doing our best to change them and bridge the divide.

Before we reveal our tip pick here are a few honorable mentions;

“The Princess and the Frog” (2009)

“Mulan” (1998)

“Tarzan” (1999)

“Aladdin” (1992)

“Beauty and the Beast” (1991)

#1: “Alice in Wonderland” (1951)

This classic Disney film has been interpreted a number of ways over the years with the “All just a dream” ending misread by many. While some have interpreted Alice’s journey as an allegory for a hallucinogenic drug trip, or devoid of meaning altogether, the movie actually dealt with Alice having to make her way through a world where nothing made sense and no one believed her. Alice is able to wake from the absurd dream after standing up for herself when she’s put on trial by the mad queen and wakes back up in the real world, having grown - in more ways than one - while in Wonderland.