Heartbreak always hits harder in children’s movies. Audiences expecting a feel-good story are sometimes shocked by unexpectedly heavy themes. But just because the content is intended for children does not always guarantee it will be a fun-filled adventure.

The sudden death of a popular character can shift the entire mood of a film. Themes such as abandonment or the loss of a friendship can turn any upbeat kids’ movie into a bittersweet one. While most movies for kids have happy endings, that does not mean the characters can always avoid tragedy. From classic animated Disney films to live-action book adaptations, many movies made for children are sure to make viewers cry.

UPDATE: 2024/09/14 16:18 EST BY BRIAN CRONIN

This has proven to be a very valuable resource of some of the saddest kids movies around. I’ve updated it to simply add five MORE notable kids movies that are quite sad (at least in parts).

30 The Last Unicorn Was a Bittersweet Tale of Mortality and Love

The Last Unicorn was nominally a Rankin/Bass film production, but the animation was actually done by a Japanese studio that later became famously known as Studio Ghibli. It was adapted from the beloved novel of the same name by Peter S. Beagle, who actually wrote the screenplay for the film.

The movie is about a female unicorn who discovers that she is the last of her species, and goes out on a quest to find out what happened to the other unicorns. Along the way, she is transformed into a human, and she falls in love with a prince, but in the end, she returns to being a unicorn, and saves her people. The film thoughtfully explores the idea of how mortality and human love is a bit of a curse for a unicorn, but it is one that she ultimately is fine with. It’s a challenging movie for kids, but it is so well animated and acted (Mia Farrow plays the unicorn) that it is a cult classic in its own right.

29 The Secrets of NIMH Proved That Children Could Still Enjoy a Depressing and Dark Story

Don Bluth was one of the most respected animators at Disney in the late 1970s/early 1980s, and he decided to become an independent filmmaker, and his first film done under Don Bluth Productions (the first film directed by Bluth period) was The Secrets of NIMH, an adaptation of Robert C. O’Brien’s Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH.

Bluth was adamant that children could handle a story that was depressing and dark, and that was what he wanted to achieve with this series, about a mouse, Mrs. Brisby, who moves heaven and earth to save her children when their home is endangered. What makes Brisby so compelling is that she isn’t some badass, she is a regular mouse, but her love for her children drives her into fantastical and horrific situations and coming through alive. It’s a wonderful story, but it is very dark at times. You certainly won’t forget this film if you watched it as a kid.

28 Sounder Was At Least Less Sad Than the Award-Winning Book It Was Based On

Something that you’ll see consistently throughout a number of these movies is that they were definitely major risks, commercially, as it is hard to pitch making a dark children’s movie. No one really wants to finance a project that involves sad children’s stories. Sounder was an award-winning children’s novel by William H. Armstrong that was released in 1969, but in the early 1970s, at the height of “Blaxplotiation” films, Hollywood didn’t think that a thoughtful story of the sad life of Black sharecroppers during the Great Depression would sell.

The movie was done on a small budget, and was smartly promoted through church groups and schools, and turned out to be a major hit, and the film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, and Paul Winfield and Cicely Tyson (as the parents in the film) became the first Black acting duo to be nominated Actor and Best Actress for the same film. The film is sad, but the book is even SADDER, with both the father and the beloved dog, Sounder, dying in the book, but living in the film (a dark children’s film about a dog where the dog LIVES? Shocking, we know).

27 An American Tail Put Fievel Through the Ringer

Don Bluth’s first independent venture, The Secrets of NIMN, didn’t do well at the box office, but became a hit on home video, and so Bluth was able to continue to make movies. Naturally, he continued to believe that children could handle dark subject matter, and so his next film was An American Tail, about a Russian Jewish immigrant family in America (made up of mice, naturally).

Young Fievel is separated from his family in New York City on the trip over, and is presumed dead. He survives being thrown overboard, though, and struggles as a young immigrant mouse in 1880s New York City. There is a classic song (that became a hit, along with the movie itself) called “Somewhere Out There” where Fievel laments being separated from his family, who he knows are out there…somewhere…where dreams come true. If you don’t tear up at that though, well, you might have some damage to your tear ducts.

26 Toy Story 3 Had Two Major Sad Moments

Most kid’s movies have one famous scene that people point to as THE sad scene. You’ll see later on the list that most of the movies listed have one REALLY NOTABLE sad scene, but the rest of the movie is pretty happy enough. That’s what makes Toy Story 3 stand out, as there is one terrifying/sad scene, and then they follow THAT up with a super poignantly sad scene, really throwing viewers for a loop.

The main setup for the movie is that Andy is leaving for college, and while he will take Woody with him, he plans on leaving the rest of his toys in his family’s attic. Andy’s mother accidentally believes that Andy intended to donate his old toys, and so she does so. Woody can’t convince the other toys that Andy DIDN’T mean to abandon them.

After a number of misadventures, the toys are accidentally left on a conveyor belt to be incinerated, and we get a horrifying scene where they all prepare for death…

Obviously, they all survive. Woody gets the toys back to Andy, but convinces him via a letter (that Andy assumes was written by his mother as “Woody”) to donate his toys to a little girl the toys had met during their misadventures named Bonnie. Andy gives the toys to Bonnie, plays with her a little bit, and leaves the toys with her, in an extremely poignant scene.

25 Matilda Was A Story of Loss and Neglect

Matilda Rating Scores

Matilda may have ultimately been a story of hope for the underdogs, the road to the young girl’s good fortunes was a harrowing one. In retrospect, Matilda was raised by neglectful parents who didn’t care for her at all, and her school life suffered because of Principal Trunchbull who harassed her constantly.

At just seven, Matilda had to deal with the worst of the world in her own home and school, while also dealing with her telekinetic powers. Even other characters like Ms. Honey had tragic pasts full of torture, which makes Matilda one of the most heartbreaking movies that may have been better for adults than children.

24 Marley & Me Was Chaotic And Funny Until It’s Time To Say Goodbye

Marley & Me Rating Scores

This movie begins deceptively well, as John and Jennifer decide to adopt a seriously misbehaved Labrador puppy that has all types of tricks up his sleeve. Marley is cute, cuddly, and mischievous, which makes this the perfect movie to tuck into with the whole family. Unfortunately, the ending is as dark as the beginning is funny.

As Marley ages, viewers get to see the sweet dog’s body break down and give up, even as he is helped by his family. His last years and moments are heartwrenching to watch, and perhaps a bit too sad for little kids to watch. The happy watch becomes gloomy in the end, leaving viewers with a heavy heart as the credits roll.

23 Watership Down Traumatized Entire Generations

Watership Down Rating Scores

Richard Adams’ book, from which Watership Down was adapted, has a reputation for being disturbing, which carried into the 1978 movie as well. It followed a group of rabbits as they escaped their destroyed warren, and set out to find a new home on the hill of Watership Down, but not without suffering immense loss and trauma beforehand.

The sweet, fluffy bunnies were subjected to quite a bit of violence and injury, which the film didn’t shy away from showing. It is said that Watership Down has traumatized entire generations of kids with its graphic imagery and animation.

22 Free Willy Was Emotional In Happy And Tragic Ways, Both

Free WIlly Rating Scores

From the start, Free Willy focused on the gloomy lives of both the Orca and twelve-year-old Jesse — one had been separated from their pd by whalers, and the other abandoned by his mother and forced to survive on scraps. When the two form an unlikely bond at the Northwest Adventure Park, its bound to be a recipe for tears and heartbreak.

Jesse saves Willy from death at the hands of the park owner, but to do so has to lose his friend forever. The last scene, where Willy swims off into the ocean and Jesse realizes its the last he’ll see of his friend, classifies as one of the saddest in movie history.

21 The Secret Garden Is Haunting and Cathartic

The Secret Garden Rating Scores

The Secret Garden has been adapted numerous times, and every movie moves audiences to tears. In the 1993 version, viewers see little Mary Lennox, freshly orphaned by unloving and neglectful parents, so scarred that she is unable to cry or show emotion. Sent to her uncle’s house, Mary gets no affection there either, left to her own devices.

In due course, she finds a beautiful hidden garden, but the home has even more secrets. Seeing Mary help Colin, her cousin, rise above his sickness and walk for the first time is an emotional and cathartic experience for anyone who has ever felt like they weren’t important or loved.

20 Dumbo’s Separation From His Mother Is Heartbreaking

Dumbo Rating Scores

Despite most of the film taking place in a circus, Disney’s Dumbo is far from whimsical. After Mrs. Jumbo tries to protect her son from human bullies, she is imprisoned by the circus owners. For the rest of the film, Dumbo must navigate his strange world without the help of his mother.

The most heartbreaking scene in the movie is when Timothy Q. Mouse helps Dumbo visit his mother during her captivity. Although the moment should be a happy one, the two aren’t able to properly see each other because of her restraints. Instead, they can only touch trunks until a tearful Dumbo must leave her again.

19 Flipper Reveals the Abuse of Marine Animals

Flipper Rating Scores

Flipper proves swimming with dolphins isn’t always a fun-filled ride. After Sandy forms a bond with a wild dolphin named Flipper, he discovers a network of marine life abuse perpetrated by the local fishermen.

If taking advantage of helpless animals wasn’t sad enough, Flipper becomes severely ill after toxic waste is dumped into the ocean. Sandy and his friends must race to save him while also trying to expose the greedy fishermen responsible. Although a movie with playful dolphins should feel like a back float, these aquatic mammals can’t seem to catch a break.

18 The Neverending Story Is Relentless With Character Deaths

The Neverending Story Rating Scores

The Neverending Storymight seem magical, but beneath its fantasy world is a sorrowful story. Atreyu must embark on a journey to save the Empress from an illness while a vengeful force known as the Nothing destroys everything in its path.

Artex, Atreyu’s horse and best friend, is killed in the swamp during the journey. In a very upsetting scene, viewers must watch Artex slowly drown while Atreyu desperately tries in vain to save him. Meanwhile, the Nothing continues to relentlessly consume everything it finds, including the film’s beautiful world and characters. Despite its fantastical story and lovable characters, The Neverending Story is a terrifying tale of death and destruction that many still haven’t recovered from to this day.

17 A Little Princess’s Story Is Rattled By War and Cruelty

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A Little Princess Rating Scores

Loosely based on Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel of the same name, A Little Princess follows little Sara Crewe, who is enlisted in a posh New York boarding school when her father enlists for the war. Initially treated like royalty with her father’s riches, when he perishes in battle, Sara is left penniless. Furthermore, Miss Maria Minchin, the greedy headmistress, confiscates Sara’s most treasured belongings then reduces the little girl to a servant in the school, doing her best to torture her in every way possible.

It was truly wrenching to see Sara, along with her friend Becky be treated horrifically in a school that they were meant to stay safe in. They are subjected to months of abuse by her supposed caretakers. Even though Sara does get her old life and her father back in the end, it is harrowing to see her get locked up, punished, and get treated like an adult instead of a child.

16 Charlotte’s Web Kills Off a Beloved Character

Charlotte’s Web Rating Scores

There are few animated deaths as sad as Charlotte’s in Charlotte’s Web. After repeatedly outwitting the humans to save Wilbur’s life, viewers must watch as their eight-legged hero ultimately succumbs to a natural death.

While beautiful and clever, the story is incredibly bittersweet with Charlotte’s passing. Wilbur is forced to cope with the sudden loss of his dear friend and work through his grief. What starts as a fun adventure becomes a tale that grapples with eventual mortality. Generations of children remember Charlotte’s tear-jerking farewell, which never manages to lose its sorrowful emotional impact.

15 My Girl Is Surrounded By Death

My Girl Rating Scores

My Girl starts out morbid from the get-go. The film centers on 11-year-old Vada Sultenfuss, who develops an obsession with death from her upbringing in a funeral home. Her fears about mortality worsen over time, as she wonders if she was responsible for killing her mother with her birth.

If that weren’t disturbing enough, Vada’s worst fears come true when her best friend, Thomas J., is killed by a swarm of bees. His death is incredibly upsetting, particularly when Vada witnesses his open casket wake and becomes distressed when he is not wearing his glasses. Despite some of its lighter scenes, My Girl is relentless with its tragic moments and its overarching themes of inevitable death.

14 Leslie’s Sudden Death in Bridge to Terabithia Is Jarring

Bridge To Terabithia Rating Scores

While most of Bridge to Terabithia consists of non-stop adventure and imagination, its magical moments come to a screeching halt when Leslie is found dead. The death of a child is already incredibly tragic, but Jess’ subsequent grieving is particularly painful to witness.

After Leslie’s passing, Jess must cope with an overwhelming feeling of survivor’s guilt, as his friend was killed while crossing a river to their special place. The tragedy of the situation pierces even sharper due to a moving performance by Josh Hutcherson. Despite its more playful moments, Bridge to Terabithia doesn’t shy away from tough concepts.

13 Audiences Are Still Scarred By the Death of Bambi’s Mother

Bambi Rating Scores

Bambi introduces audiences to the natural world through the eyes of its animals. This experience also includes the cruel nature of death. While much of the film features Bambi meeting new friends and exploring his home, he is abruptly forced to grow up following the death of his mother.

Despite its original release in 1942, the death of Bambi’s mother remains infamously disturbing to this day. The moments leading up to her fatal shooting by human hunters are intensely anxiety-provoking. Although her death occurs off-screen, Bambi’s eventual realization that he is alone in the world is absolutely devastating.

12 Up’s Opening Scenes Are Unexpectedly Heartbreaking

Up Rating Scores

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Up is known for its colorful animation and unique adventure, but it’s also recognized for one of the most heartbreaking opening scenes in Disney and Pixar’s history. After watching Carl and Ellie grow up and fall in love, Ellie eventually dies from an illness.

The scene is masterfully composed with emotional music, gorgeous animation, and no dialogue. Both children and adults found the sequence heartbreaking, as the experience of growing old is universally human. Even though the silent montage of this couple’s lives together is less than 10 minutes, it sets up a melancholy tone for the rest of the feature.

11 The Land Before Time Plunges Viewers Into an Unforgiving Pre-Historic World

The Land Before Time Rating Scores

The Land Before Time doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to the cutthroat nature of the dinosaurs. Almost as soon as the film begins, Littlefoot is forced to survive on his own after a Tyrannosaurus Rex kills his mother.

The scene is especially devastating when Littlefoot exchanges his final words with his dying mother before she passes. Furthermore, in a later scene, he mistakes his own shadow for his mother’s form. The joy fades from his eyes once more as he comes to terms with the hard truth that she is truly gone. The scene is enough to tug on anyone’s heartstrings and powerful enough to resonate for the rest of the movie.