Top 10 Disney Movies With a Disturbing Backstory

Top 10 Disney Movies with a Disturbing Backstory

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Disney films with a serious dark side.

#10: The Beast’s Curse

“Beauty and the Beast” (1991)

The devil’s in the details when it comes to this animated Disney classic. We’re speaking specifically of how the Prince in “Beauty and the Beast” is transformed into this titular self. The 1991 film version contains a beggar woman who curses the Prince, but “La Belle et la Bête” adds a sexual twist. The OG fairytale includes a literal fairy, and it’s this fairy that serves as a guardian for the Prince after the deaths of his parents. This fairy actually grooms the Prince as a romantic interest, but she ends up turning him into the Beast because he spurns her advances. This definitely wouldn’t have flown with Disney then, or now.

#9: The Real Snow Queen

“Frozen” (2013)

The inherent darkness present within most classic fairy tales is fairly well-known at this point. Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen” is no different, although at least both the Disney version and its source material include happy endings. The differences here involve the journey, and the adult themes of death and humanity. The Devil himself actually appears in the Hans Christian Andersen tale, creating a mirror that, when eventually shattered, creates shards of hate that embed themselves within the people’s eyes. The Snow Queen isn’t a hero in this story, either, instead imprisoning a boy named Kai, leaving it up to the boy’s best friend, Gerda, to mount a rescue.

#8: Disney-fied For the Win?

“The Fox and the Hound” (1981)

Disney’s 1981 adaptation of the 1967 novel by Daniel P. Mannix changed a LOT from the source material. This may be a good thing, however, if we’re being honest, because we don’t feel that Mannix’s original manuscript would’ve made for a good children’s film. For starters, the friendship at the core of Disney’s version doesn’t last too long in the book, with Tod and Copper primarily being at odds. There’s also a lot of depressing death to be found in Mannix’s novel, including Chief the Hound, Tod, and even Copper himself… at the hands of Master, no less. Sure, Disney’s “The Fox and the Hound” has some tense moments, but we’re honestly glad they changed things up.

#7: Pan’s Darkness

“Peter Pan” (1953)

We don’t really need to tell you guys the problematic nature of both the original “Peter Pan” novel as well as Disney’s 1953 film adaptation. Much has been made about the film’s song “What Made the Red Man Red?” and its depiction of indigenous peoples. Additionally, the “Peter Pan” archetype is often portrayed in a negative light with regard to immature and arguably toxic masculinity. That said, the original play and novel feature Captain Hook getting devoured by that devious crocodile, while it’s also heavily implied that Pan utilizes lethal force to “thin out” his Lost Boy horde.

#6: A Prince’s Burden

“Tangled” (2010)

The finales of both “Rapunzel” and “Tangled,” like “Frozen” and “The Snow Queen,” wind up happily resolved. However, the Prince in the OG by the Brothers Grimm certainly has a tough time of it, after being tossed from Rapunzel’s tower by the wicked witch. He’s blinded by the fall, and it isn’t until the Prince is finally reunited with Rapunzel (guided by her singing), that her tears restore his sight. It’s all a bit more harrowing, and we struggle to think of how the Disney team could have thought up a song highlighting these dark events that Mandy Moore could’ve performed.

#5: Mythology & Murder

“Hercules” (1997)

Did anybody really think that the Disney version of Hercules and his Labors could possibly approach the violent and sexualized original myths? The gods of Mount Olympus are constantly siring children with (and without) the consent of their partners, and Hercules was no exception. Zeus and Hera are portrayed as a loving couple and supportive parents in Disney’s film, but the Greek myths make it a point to underline Zeus’ frequent infidelity. Hera was also jealous of Hercules’ entire existence and made it a point in the myths to make attempts on his life. After all, Hercules was a constant reminder of her philandering husband.

#4: Misbehaving Children

“Pinocchio” (1940)

Here’s a question: what did you take from Disney’s 1940 adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s “The Adventures of Pinocchio?” Did the themes of honesty ring out to you? Of a father’s love? Collodi’s Pinocchio is, in all honesty, a pretty bad boy. He winds up killing the cricket character, and gets both himself and his father, Geppetto, tossed in jail. Collodi meant his “Pinocchio” as a primer of what NOT to do for its audience of children and their parents. There was little in the way of tenderness or understanding here, but instead, a cautionary tale of fear to keep naughty, misbehaving kids in line.

#3: No Happy Endings

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1996)

On one hand, we get it: Claude Frollo is one of literature’s great villains, and we want Quasimodo to exact some vengeance for all of his mistreatment. That said, the original manuscript from Victor Hugo’s “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame” does showcase Frollo in a semi-sympathetic light during its onset. However, Esmeralda is also depicted as a teenager, yet Frollo also lusts after her in a fashion similar to the Disney version. Frollo winds up having her killed after she spurns his advances. Quasimodo murders him in retaliation and dies of a broken heart alongside Esmerelda’s corpse.

#2: Colonialism Allegories & Shere Khan’s Motivations

“The Jungle Book” (1967)

Disney’s adaptation of English author Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” was probably the first time many young audiences were exposed to the man’s work. Kipling was born in British India, and it was living under these circumstances that provided a huge influence on his art, including his “Jungle Book” duology, as well as a poem titled “The White Man’s Burden.” Disney’s “The Jungle Book” presents characters and imagery that mirror Britain's own colonialist approach to Indian rule, while Kipling’s source material further explains Shere Khan’s motivations against humanity. He’s scared and angry after an altercation when he was younger left him with physical and emotional scars.

#1: History vs. Reality

“Pocahontas” (1995)

Disney’s “Pocahontas” was largely criticized, even at the time of its initial release, for its historical inaccuracy. The story of the real-life Pocahontas is unfortunately one of colonial violence, tragedy, and injustice. She was known as both Amonute and Matoaka in her tribe, and she was younger than ten when a nearly thirty-year-old John Smith entered her village under a pretense of aggression. Her husband was eventually murdered, her life traded for a copper pot. The historical Pocahontas was essentially kidnapped, Anglicized, and utilized as a political tool. It should be said that there is evidence that Pocahontas (now named Rebecca) eventually came to love her English husband, John Rolfe, but the cinematic love story between her and Smith is unequivocally false.

Did any of these stories shock you? Let us know in the comments!