16 Movie Scenes We Watched As Kids That Traumatised Us
The movies we watch as kids growing up stay with us long into adulthood — and so does the trauma.
Some family movies might seem like they’re happy and wholesome on the surface, but they have a dark underbelly. On one side there are the films that are deceiving like The Land Before Time and Homeward Bound, which contain surprisingly devastating moments. Then there’s films like Labyrinth and The NeverEnding Story, which are actually just thinly veiled horror movies. I said what I said.
Whether you grew up in the ’90s or the ’00s, there’s a handful of scenes in movies we all watched growing up that will still trigger any well-balanced adult to this day. Get ready for a horrifying walk down childhood trauma memory lane.
16 movies scenes we watched as kids that traumatised us:
#1. The Land Before Time, Littlefoot’s Mum Dies
This still hurts. At the beginning of the movie, Littlefoot’s mum is killed after she protects the baby dino from an attack by the Sharptooth. As she passes away, she tells a sobbing Littlefoot: “Let your heart guide you; it whispers, so listen closely.” Absolutely tragic.
#2. The NeverEnding Story, The Horse Scene
Since I saw this scene as I kid, I’ve chosen to never watch this movie again. It is nothing short of horrific, as Atreyu’s horse Artax gets sucked into the Swamps of Sadness and disappears forever. The look of fear on the horse’s face still absolutely wrecks me.
#3. Toy Story, Sid’s Bedroom
There’s a bunch of sad scenes across the four Toy Story films, but I’m personally most traumatised by Sid and his bedroom filled with Franken-toys pieced together from different body parts. I still imagine seeing that baby doll attached to robotic legs in my bedroom when I have sleep paralysis.
#4. Fox & The Hound, Old Lady Abandons Fox
This movie is overall just very upsetting but the scene that stuck with me the longest is when Fox is adopted by Widow Tweed, only for her to abandon him in the woods when he’s fully grown. The look on his face after she leaves him behind is an emotional gut-punch.
#5. My Girl, Thomas J’s Death
Do I need to explain this? Haven’t we suffered ENOUGH? ICYMI this traumatic childhood memory, Vada’s best friend Thomas J gets stung by bees and after having an allergic reaction…he dies. The funeral scene where she approaches his coffin and yells about him not wearing his glasses will haunt me forever.
#6. Free Willy, Willy Cries Out For His Family
I find this entire movie deeply traumatising from beginning to end — to watch such a beautiful creature confined to a tiny pool is heartbreaking. But the scene which absolutely ends me is when Willy starts calling out to his family and his family living in the ocean wail back in reply. MY EMOTIONS.
#7. Matilda, Matilda Hides In Trunchbull’s House
Make no mistake, Matilda is a movie that should only be watched by adults. From the chocolate cake scene, to Miss Trunchbull locking kids in cupboards, it’s just so scary. The one scene that stuck with me long after the credits started to roll was when Matilda is stuck in the house and Miss Trunchbull is hunting her. This shit is so much scarier than ghostface in Scream.
#8. Up, Ellie’s Death
The start of Up includes possibly some of the most upsetting moments ever put to film. The love story of Carl and Ellie flashes before our eyes, as we watch them fall in love, lose their child, grow old together, only for Ellie to then die, leaving Carl a broken man. What are you doing to me, Pixar?
#9. Babe: Pig In The City, The Dog Scene On The Bridge
This absolutely underrated sequel might serve up loads of joyful moments, but I will never forgive the movie for the scene where the pit bull gets his chain tangled on a bridge and ends up hanging from his neck while dangling underwater. Thankfully, he gets free but I did not sign up for this.
#10. Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, The Bonkers Boat Scene
What the hell was happening in the boat scene and why do I always return here in my darkest nightmares? Willy Wonka takes the golden ticket winners on a boat tour of his chocolate factory and all of a sudden the boat goes into a tunnel and it becomes a fever dream. Was that a chicken getting its head cut off? Was any of this necessary for a movie about enjoying the taste of chocolate? I demand answers.
#11. The Witches, The Grand High Witch Takes Off Her Face
If you’ve seen this movie, you know the scene. I still can’t wrap my head around how this was considered OK to show children. It is legit nightmare fuel.
#12. Now and Then, Storm Drain Scene
Now and Then was essentially Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants for kids who grew up in the ’90s and while most of the movie is heartwarming and wholesome, there’s a scene where Samantha falls down a drain during a storm and Teenie can’t reach down to save her. In the end, it’s the town recluse ‘Crazy Pete’ who rescues Samantha but watching her struggle against the gushing water while Teenie screams and cries for her best friend is beyond traumatic.
#12. Labrinyth, The Junk Lady Muppet Scene
There’s a lot of traumatising stuff in Labyrinth, between babies being stolen by a goblin king, and so many horrifying muppets. But the scene where Sarah is lured into her own bedroom by the Junk Lady Muppet and then covered with her possessions (about to become a Junk Lady herself?!) is still just super unnerving.
#13. Coraline, Every Scene
This entire movie was a straight-up horror film and everyone who has watched it needs an immediate exorcism.
#14. Homeward Bound, Shadow Gets Stuck In A Hole
This scene is responsible for at least 60% of my tears as a kid. Sweet, elderly dog Shadow is crossing an old railroad and falls into a deep hole. While his buddy, Chance, tries to encourage him to climb out, Shadow says he’s too old and eventually gives up. He tells his friends to go on without him. Thankfully, in the final minutes of the film, Shadow hobbles over the hill to be reunited with his owner, Peter.
#15. Jumanji, Robin Williams Sinks Into The Floor
I am, of course, referring to the original film and not the reboots — which are far less scary. First Alan’s turn means the floor becomes quicksand and he sinks through the floorboards, then he gets stuck in the floor and it’s equally horrifying. Oh, and spiders appear. No thank you.
#16. The Lion King, Mufasa’s Death
There is simply nothing sadder than Mufasa’s death on The Lion King — and I’m talking about the original cartoon, as the live-action failed to show the same emotions. Nothing can ever hurt as much as watching Simba try to wake his father while softly weeping.
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Thanks for all those years of trauma. I will never be OK.
