Top 10 Disney Movies That Break the 4th Wall

Oh hey, they’re talking to us! Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten Disney movies that break the fourth wall.

For this list, we’ll be looking at animated Disney films that explicitly break the fourth wall, which is when a film, TV show, or other medium, directly addresses and comments on its fictional nature. We’ll be excluding live action flicks as well as Disney-owned subsidiaries like Pixar or Marvel, so our apologies to Deadpool.

#10: “Pinocchio” (1940)

Disney has been breaking the fourth wall for a long time! Their second feature length animated movie, “Pinocchio,” opens with Jiminy Cricket singing “When You Wish Upon A Star” over the credits. The motion picture then cuts to Jiminy singing on top of a book titled “Pinocchio.” Yeah, you can probably tell where this is going! After finishing the song, Jiminy turns to the audience and introduces the story you’re about to watch. By framing “Pinocchio” as an old storybook, it helps the movie convey a suitable tone of fantasy and reinforces Disney’s penchant for adapting old stories for modern audiences.

#9: “Lilo & Stitch” (2002)

The fourth wall break in “Lilo & Stitch” comes during the dance at Mrs. Hasagawa’s fruit stand. The first instance occurs when Lilo gets Stitch to move his hips, and Stitch makes a sound to the audience. Both Lilo and Stitch also look at the viewers during their dance, almost as if they’re asking us to validate or praise their moves. And finally, a spotlight comes out of nowhere during the dance and shines on the couple, which is an obvious nod to theater. There doesn’t seem to be a deeper meaning behind this – it’s just Disney having some fun and adding to the movie’s lighthearted tone. After all, it is for kids!

#8: “Zootopia” (2016)

Breaking the fourth wall can also come in the form of cute meta-references and Easter eggs. This is the case for “Zootopia.” In the first instance, Chief Bogo tells Judy that “life isn’t some cartoon musical,” which of course references Disney’s history of producing cartoon musicals. It’s also a meta-reference to “Zootopia” itself, as it’s NOT a cartoon musical – it’s a computer-animated adventure without songs. In the second instance, Duke Weaselton is seen selling sketchy DVDs that are clear parodies of Disney movies and posters. He also points out that he has movies that haven’t been released yet, including Meowana and Floatzen 2, which are obvious nods to the then-upcoming “Moana” and “Frozen 2.”

#7: “The Aristocats” (1970)

“The Aristocats” has arguably one of the greatest endings in Disney history. Not only does it contain spectacular color changes and the always-catchy “Ev’rybody Wants to Be A Cat”, but it also features one of Disney’s best fourth wall breaks. After the cats finish singing their delightful tune, Lafayette tells Napoleon that it’s the end (of the song). Napoleon disagrees, only for the words “the end” to slide across the screen and slam into his face, prompting him to state that it’s the end (of the movie). It’s a great bit of humor and it comes as a huge surprise, especially considering that the rest of the film refrained from breaking the wall.

#6: “Robin Hood” (1973)

By contrast, this creative retelling of a classic made breaking the fourth wall one of its chief creative decisions. The movie opens with a wall break as Alan-a-Dale introduces himself and proceeds to act as the story’s narrator. It doesn’t get more fourth wall break-y than having a narrator! There are a few other instances throughout the motion picture, including the times Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham look directly at the camera (or, you know, the camera’s equivalent). Like “Pinocchio,” the narration helps establish the story’s mythic quality, and it adds a unique twist to the Robin Hood story - that and using animals in place of people! Disney sure knows how to make an old tale new again.

#5: “The Lion King” (1994)

“The Aristocats” may have one of the most creative fourth wall breaks in Disney’s filmography, but “The Lion King” has the funniest. It comes during Hakuna Matata, when Timon covers Pumbaa’s mouth before he says the word “farted.” Not only does Timon stop Pumbaa and say “not in front of the kids,” but he also gestures towards the camera and draws both Pumbaa’s and Simba’s attention towards their young audience. It’s a cute little moment that utilizes both meta and childish body humor - this unique concoction also helped make Timon and Pumbaa the breakout stars of “The Lion King.”

#4: “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” (1977)

This movie takes the art of wall-breaking to a whole new level. The film is obviously based on the classic works of A.A. Milne, and it utilizes its status as a storybook adaptation to huge creative advantages. Characters are repeatedly addressing and reacting to the narrator, and they even realize that they’re in the confines of a physical book. This is most evident when Tigger asks the narrator to help him escape from a tree. It’s a unique creative decision that showcases Disney’s penchant for enlivening old stories - while nonetheless honoring the legacy of A.A. Milne.

#3: “Moana” (2016)

“Moana” is full of fourth wall breaks, and each serves as unique forms of the convention. You’ve got characters addressing the audience, particularly Tamatoa, who tells us to look up what a decapod is and asks us for help during the post-credits sequence. You’ve also got Heihei looking into the camera right before screaming, almost as if he’s pleading to us for help. And finally, you have a meta-referential fourth wall break when Maui tells Moana that she shares all the hallmarks of a princess. The latter is particularly smart, as it both highlights Disney’s progression while acknowledging that they nonetheless have a proven formula. Disney knows what its audience is thinking, and they’re always one step ahead of them!

#2: “Aladdin” (1992)

“Aladdin” is chock full of hilarious and interesting fourth wall breaks. The first comes right at the beginning of the movie, when The Peddler greets the audience and is accidentally hit by the camera. If that wasn’t enough wall-breaking, he proceeds to tell the story of the lamp and our titular hero. The Genie is also a huge wall-buster. He whips out the movie’s script on numerous occasions, and he’s also the last thing we see when he literally lifts the screen for one last joke. To top it all off, a post-credits sequence has the Genie telling the audience that they were great. When it comes to the classic Disney movies, none are as self-referential and movie-like than “Aladdin.”

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Peter Pan” (1953)

“Hercules” (1997)

“The Great Mouse Detective” (1986)

“The Little Mermaid” (1989)

“Mulan” (1998)

#1: “The Emperor’s New Groove” (2000)

As self-referential as “Aladdin” is, nothing beats the sheer audacity of “The Emperor’s New Groove.” Kuzco breaks the fourth wall on numerous occasions, so much so that he literally argues with himself while narrating the movie! He also pauses the movie on one occasion to remind the viewers that he’s the protagonist. There’s also the scene where Yzma and Kronk see contour lines on the ground during a chase, and these lines are later referenced by Kronk after they beat Kuzco to the secret lab. “The Emperor’s New Groove” is a sadly overlooked entry in the Disney canon, despite all this fun wall-breaking. Underrated or not, it’s arguably one of the funniest Disney movies to ever be released.