There’s a long history of children’s movies that are unexpectedly dark, but there are films that have been advertised as family-friendly or others that upon second viewing, truly stunned viewers. Learning the real message of certain films can take away some of that magical feeling that you felt when first watching. Or perhaps you went to see your favorite pop star at the time in what appeared to be a fun road trip story that ended up being Crossroads.
Even films that were advertised as horror films have been found to have far more sinister meanings than the main plot would have you believe. For some films, that makes them more interesting as we mature and revisit them, and with others, it makes you question why your parents ever let you see them. We aren’t trying to take away the charm of some of these films, but rather shine a light on films that may not be quite as wholesome or as simple as we all initially thought. So here is a list of films that are darker than you ever realized.
10 ‘Lilo and Stitch’ (2002)
Lilo & Stitch
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Set as a quirky, animated film about a strange alien coming to a Hawaiian town, Lilo & Stitch is yet another film for children that touches on some incredibly dark topics. Much of the film’s plot is centered around Lilo being potentially taken from her sister’s care by Child Protective Services after her parents pass away. Most films for kids shy away from topics such as that, but Lilo & Stitch goes for it while still managing to delight and make you laugh. That is part of what makes it such a timeless film and the darker elements are what help to create real emotional moments for its characters.
Loss of Parents
Oddly enough, most animated or kids’ films are centered around the loss of parents. From The Lion King to Bambi, it has become its own genre of film. Despite some of the dark elements in the film, Lilo & Stitch has been wildly successful, spawning multiple spinoffs and a live-action version coming to theaters in 2025.
9 ‘Never Been Kissed’ (1999)
The 1999 teen romance film, Never Been Kissed, stars Drew Barrymore as an undercover journalist posing as a teenager for a news story. The film sees Barrymore reliving her high school days, now more sure of herself than she was as an actual high school student. But where the film turns dark is in its main romantic relationship. Barrymore’s character, Josie Geller, falls for her teacher and her teacher inexplicably falls for a girl who he believes to be a teenager.
Problematic Relationship
The film is saved by Barrymore’s standard charm and wit, but the relationship remains in question twenty years later. Still propped up as one of the pivotal romance movies of the ’90s, it is important to question the depiction of the relationship between her and her teacher. While she was technically in her twenties, the fact that her teacher thought she was in high school, puts the film under a troublesome light.
8 ‘The Breakfast Club’ (1985)
The Breakfast Club
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The Breakfast Club is one of the most iconic films of the 1980s and serves as a perfect time capsule of that generation. The film has held up for its realistic depiction of teenage anxieties and relationships but has some darker themes and elements that would make it a more challenging film if it were to come out today. In the film, there are mentions of suicide, sexual harassment, and parental abuse. Molly Ringwald has even come out to speak on how troubling the film is today.
Coming of Age in the ’80s
While society has gained a better understanding of many of these sensitive topics, some of the relics of the past such as The Breakfast Club have become referendums on a more problematic culture. There is a particular scene Ringwald recounts with the John Bender character as he hides under her desk, that speaks loudly about the troubling ways in which female characters have been harassed in movies of the past. While still a pivotal movie of the time and one that has endless touching and heartfelt moments, it is hard not to look back on some of the dark elements that still exist within it.
7 ‘Chicken Run’ (2000)
Chicken Run
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A popular claymation film, Chicken Run was groundbreaking at the time for its technical prowess and engaging storytelling. But what viewers probably didn’t expect to see in this children’s film were thoughts on factory farming, captivity, and allusions to the Holocaust.
Dark Themes
Part of what makes Chicken Run stand out is how it was able to manage these heavy topics while remaining fun and endearing for viewers. For a G-Rated film though, it is surprising to see and hear some of the elements that the film touches on. While many of the themes will most likely go over a kid’s head, a rewatch of the film as an adult will have audiences questioning everything they thought they knew about their beloved film.
6 ‘Crossroads’ (2002)
Crossroads
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- Release Date
- February 15, 2002
- Rating
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 99 Minutes
- Cast
- Dan Aykroyd, Zoe Saldana, Kim Cattrall, Britney Spears, Taryn Manning, Anson Mount
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Comedy
In what was marketed as a teen-girl road trip comedy, Crossroads is a far darker movie than fans ever expected. Britney Spears was at the height of her popularity and for the girl penned as America’s sweetheart, the film came as a shock to fans and parents upon its release. The film focuses on a group of estranged friends but explores darker elements when it is revealed that one of the characters is pregnant as a result of sexual violence.
Not Your Average Teen Flick
While critically panned at the time, it has been well-regarded recently for its exploration of darker topics and for Spears’ talent as an actress. One of the other stars Zoe Saldana, recalled the film as beautiful when looking back on it 20 years later. While it may not have hit the light tone it marketed itself as it is still worth a watch for fans looking for a more layered teen drama.
5 The Sound of Music (1965)
Not often do family films depict the rise of Nazism but that is exactly what The Sound of Music did in 1965. Centered around the real-life Von Trapp family the film has numerous iconic musical numbers performed by the legendary Julie Andrews. But amidst all the song and dance is the ever-pressing rise of the Nazi Army which makes it easily one of the darkest kids films out there.
A Dark Depiction
The five-time Academy Award-winning film is representative of a time when the impacts of World War II were still being felt by the world at large. So it only made sense for the feature film to depict one of the darkest moments in human culture with a series of songs and dances. Still heartwarming, it is hard to imagine a film pulling off the same level of drama in the family genre.
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4 ‘The Shining’ (1980)
The Shining
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Often considered to be one of the greatest if not, the greatest, horror films of all time. This would lead many to question why it is included in this list. But for the unsuspecting fan, The Shining is even darker than it may appear. It was pointed out shortly after the film’s release that the film is a metaphor for the genocide of Native Americans in the U.S. At the beginning of the film it is mentioned that the Overlook Hotel was built on a Native American burial ground along with consistent imagery throughout the film that points to this theory.
Countless Fan Theories
Aside from the imagery and allegory to Native American genocide, The Shining has produced endless fan theories. In regard to the history of displacement of Indigenous people in America, Kubrick is said to have conducted months of research on Native American culture before creating the film, as told in the documentary, Room 237. Just when people thought The Shining couldn’t get any scarier, it proves itself once again as one of the most chilling movie experiences of all time, even if the creator of the story, Stephen King, says otherwise.
3 ‘Pretty Woman’ (1990)
Pretty Woman
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A rom-com centered around a wealthy businessman buying the affection of a beautiful prostitute is yet another dark setup that oddly works. Pretty Woman provides an unexpected depiction of class and culture and the dark elements are easy to overlook due to the performance of its star, Julia Roberts.
A Dark Backstory
The original script for Pretty Woman was a much darker and grittier story than what eventually appeared on the screen. It depicted themes of addiction and left Roberts’ character stranded and alone in the end. Luckily for fans, executives stepped in to make the film more upbeat, but it still offers the type of dark romance that is rarely seen on screen. With all that said, it is still one of Julia Roberts’ best films.
2 ‘Beetlejuice’ (1988)
Beetlejuice
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The original Beetlejuice film was given only a PG rating when it first came out in 1988 and was mostly advertised to children. For a film revolving around the topic of death, that rating comes as a serious surprise. The film’s characters are killed in a shocking car crash in the first act and the film touches on an endless string of dark topics that seem questionable for kids.
Questionable Rating
Even without the strangely low rating, Beetlejuice still remains a dark film, even as it adds elements of humor and song. With comedy titans Catherine O’Hara and Alec Baldwin, the film is able to remain fairly grounded and was such a success that it lit up the screen once again as a sequel, starring Jenna Ortega. Only this time, it appears with a slightly higher rating of PG-13. Sneaking in conversations of death and reincarnation is something only director Tim Burton can do so easily and is what makes the film so rewatchable, especially as an adult.
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1 ‘The Santa Clause’ (1994)
Tim Allen’s charming holiday tale, The Santa Clause, is synonymous with holiday cheer. But the way the film starts is incredibly dark. It begins with Tim Allen’s character accidentally killing the actual Santa Claus before having to take on his position as the jolly Saint Nick. The film also depicts themes of child labor in The North Pole and how divorce can affect a family.
Down Goes Santa
Tim Allen makes up for the loss of Santa by doing a commendable job as his replacement in the original 1994 film and its subsequent sequels. For children of the ’90s, Tim Allen is the closest thing to a real-life Santa Claus, but the way he gets the job in the film is a serious tearjerker.