Top 10 Disney Movies That Led to HUGE Lawsuits

#10: “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015), “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014) & “Beauty and the Beast” (2017)

All these “special effects” weren’t so unique, after all! The case is a bit complicated, though, so try and stay with us. In 2017, VFX firm Reardon LLC claimed their cutting-edge facial-capture technology had been stolen by rival companies. They then argued Disney purposefully contracted the plagiarized software in order to save money on special effects. As a result, Reardon felt entitled to a portion of the profits for the affected films. Considering “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and “Beauty and the Beast” made over 3 billion dollars combined, Disney wasn’t eager to share the wealth. Their lawyers got on it, and the case was settled behind closed doors in 2024.

#9: “Frozen” (2013)

Everyone loves Olaf. He’s cute, funny, optimistic… and also the face of one of Disney’s chilliest lawsuits. And all before “Frozen” even hit theaters! The film’s trailer alone held enough evidence for filmmaker Kelly Wilson to argue copyright infringement. She was convinced Disney used her short film, “The Snowman,” as an influence for Olaf. The Mouse House tried to “Let It Go,” but unfortunately, it didn’t work as well in the courtroom as it did for Elsa. After two failed attempts to get the case thrown out, the movie studio finally settled with Wilson in an undisclosed deal in 2015. Talk about a frosty finale!

#8: “The Lion King” (1994)

How do you file a defamation suit for a movie about cartoon animals? Easy. You file it on behalf of the animals themselves. Seriously. Soon after “The Lion King’s” debut in 1994, a biologist allegedly raised concerns over the film’s unflattering portrayal of hyenas. They felt the carnivore’s vilification would negatively affect their public perception and harm conservation efforts. This wasn’t just a passing thought, either. They went all the way to the courts with this. While the case didn’t go forward - meeting the burden of proof when representing a fictional animal is hard - it does make you think. Maybe Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed got the short end of the stick.

#7: “Zootopia” (2016)

The world met Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and the rest of the animal kingdom in 2016’s hit animated film. But, if screenwriter Gary Goldman is to be believed, Disney had been kicking around the idea for “Zootopia” years before that. Specifically, kicking it around with him. Goldman went in front of a judge asserting he’d previously pitched a version of “Zootopia” to Disney, and that they’d stolen the ideas to make their own version. Goldman cited themes, character designs, and even actual dialogue that seemed to be lifted directly from his work. However, the judge wasn’t convinced, and dismissed the case in 2017.

#6: “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (2016)

Over two decades after his death, Peter Cushing returned to the galaxy far, far away through the power of next-gen CGI. Grand Moff Tarkin’s cameo was a treat for the fans. But, ended up being a major headache for the studio. While Disney reportedly earned the blessing of Cushing’s estate, there was another party involved: Tybur film studios. The company was run by one of the actor’s old friends, Kevin Francis. He produced a contract from the 90s purportedly giving him a say in the use of Cushing’s likeness. Despite the increasingly complex situation surrounding the use of CGI doubles, a London judge found enough evidence to send the case to trial.

#5: “Inside Out” (2015)

Emotions were high after this movie came out, and we don’t mean the ones in Riley’s head! After seeing the way “Inside Out” made us all cry, Denise Daniels submitted a formal lawsuit contending Disney had ripped off her idea. It was a kids show about, you guessed it, anthropomorphic emotions. She pitched the series to multiple Disney executives in the late 2000s, and given that “Inside Out” began early pre-production in 2009, the timeline made sense. Not that it mattered to the courts. They found Daniels’ ideas too vague to warrant any kind of patent protection, and dismissed the case soon after.

#4: “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise (2003-)

At this point, it’s a tale as old as time: writers pitch a script to Disney, they pass, and then make a film with eerie similarities to the abandoned idea. What’s more, this is literally a franchise about pirates. It’s only natural there’s some double-crossing going on! Of note, this case didn’t just involve the first film. No, A. Lee Alfred II and E. Ezequiel Martinez Jr. felt their ideas were sprinkled throughout all of the billion-dollar franchise. After five long years of legal back-and-forth, the case settled for an undisclosed amount in 2022. But, something tells us these writers got their share of the buried treasure.

#3: “Frozen 2” (2019)

Not even music is safe from the dreaded threat of copyright! Some things never change. Ironically, that’s also the name of the song in question. Songwriter Daniel Grigson believed “Frozen II’s” toe-tapping opener shared a few too many similarities with his own single, 1999’s “That Girl.” He pointed specifically to the chorus, melody, and chord progression. While there is an undeniable resemblance, Grigson failed to meet the burden of proof in the actual courtroom, and the judge ended up throwing the case out. Still, that’s two-for-two on “Frozen” films going to court. Fingers crossed that “Frozen 3” fares better. Then again, some things really don’t change!

#2: “Moana” (2016) & “Moana 2” (2024)

If Moana thought saving her island was hard, now she’s up against a 10 billion dollar lawsuit. You heard that right. Billion, with a b. It has a high price-tag because this suit goes all the way back to “Moana’s” origins. Animator Buck Woodall says he pitched a story about a surfer on a Polynesian island back in the 2000s, and by using vast portions of his work for the princess film, the company kept him out of billions in potential profits. Not just from the movie’s box-office, but also the lucrative merchandising. Woodall has a lot to gain here. But, that’s also why Disney won’t be making it easy for him.

#1: “Black Widow” (2021)

After years on the company’s good side, Scarlett Johansson finally put her foot down when Disney released “Black Widow” in theaters and on streaming at the same time. The actor cited a breach in her contract guaranteeing an exclusive theatrical window. She also claimed the release strategy undercut the movie’s box-office, robbing her of lucrative bonuses. Disney tried to save-face by blaming the low theater attendance on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But, the judge didn’t buy it, and the case was resolved in Johansson’s favor. While the settlement number has never been officially released, rumors put it in the range of 40 million dollars. Lesson learned - hell hath no fury like an Avenger scorned.

Which of these lawsuits deserves an appeal? Let us know what you think in the comments below!