Top 20 Saddest Disney Deaths of All Time

#20: Leslie Burke

Bridge To Terabithia (2007)

Jess Aarons is a quiet sixth grader, overlooked by his father and mistreated at school. That all changes when he meets the spirited new kid Leslie Burke. The two form an unlikely bond and escape their troubles in the magic kingdom called Terabithia. They embark on many adventures until one day changes everything. After seeing her perfectly happy and carefree, Jess returns home to devastating news: Leslie died while trying to cross into their imaginary world. The guilt overwhelms Jess in both realistic and disturbing ways. For a family film, this is a grim reminder of our mortality. But we expect no less from what's considered one of the saddest Disney movies of all time.

#19: Lilo & Nanis Parents

Lilo & Stitch (2002)

While on-screen deaths can be powerful, seeing how they affect the living can be just as impactful. By the time the movie begins, some time has passed since the deaths of Lilo and Nani's parents. We never get to see them, but their absence looms large. Nani is stretched thin, trying to hold down a job while also stepping into the role of parental guardian. As much as she tries, she's more of a loving sister than a guiding role model. Lilo, meanwhile, feels isolated and adrift, trying to make sense of her broken family. Their grief lingers in every scene, and it becomes even more heartbreaking when the sisters face separation.

#18: Henry

The Good Dinosaur (2015)

While not among Pixar's best, The Good Dinosaur has a surprisingly poignant and emotional blow. The movie begins with Henry, an Apatosaurus father, trying to teach his timid son Arlo how to be strong. Although he's a bit harsh, he knows when to be compassionate, and Arlo clearly loves him for it. Their bond was odd but sincere, which makes Henry's death all the more devastating. After reassuring his son on a stormy day, the two are caught in the path of a flash flood. With no time to escape, Henry hurls Arlo to safety, and is swept away in an instant. The death is shockingly abrupt, but what deepens the sorrow is the affection he showed only moments ago.

#17: Hector Barbossa

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)

This pirate captain remains a favorite among Pirates fans. Once a ruthless villain, he evolved into one of the saga's greatest heroes. In his final appearance, he allies himself with Jack Sparrow to defeat the vengeful ghost Salazar. In the process, he learns that the brilliant astronomer Carina is his long-lost daughter. He later reveals his identity in the final battle, giving his life to save hers. The arc may be a bit cliché, but Geoffrey Rush elevates the moment with warmth and sincerity. For a pirate who's always chased treasure, his final act protecting the one thing he truly valued felt like a perfectly tearful goodbye.

#16: King Agnarr & Queen Iduna

Frozen (2013) Frozen 2 (2019)

These movies have many hard-hitting moments. Olaf's death in particular felt sudden and gut-wrenching. His calm acceptance of impending death is enough to make us cry, even if he comes back. At its heart, this series is a tale of two sisters shaped by the trauma of losing their parents. That loss is first felt in Frozen's Do You Want to Build a Snowman?, where we see just how much Anna and Elsa depended on them. Then the tragedy deepens in Frozen 2 when the sisters find their shipwreck. They learned that Agnarr and Iduna died searching for a way to help Elsa control her powers. What's even sadder is that Anna and Elsa see a haunting vision of their final embrace before they drowned.

#15: Pedro Madrigal

Encanto (2021)

At the start of the film, Mirabels grandmother, Alma, tells the story of how the Madrigal family came to be. She recalls how she and her husband Pedro were forced to flee their home. The magical Encanto was born to protect them, blessing their family with extraordinary gifts. But we learn that there's a more painful truth behind the story. In a later, far more emotional flashback, we see young Almas raw reaction to Pedro's death. Though his murder isn't shown, her grief is overwhelming so profound that she barely notices the miracle forming around her. The scene's emotional honesty caught many viewers off guard, refusing to sanitize Alma's pain. It's powerful enough to move anyone to tears.

#14: The Supers

The Incredibles (2004)

This moment is unique in that it doesn't focus on one death, but many. When Mr. Incredible breaks into Syndrome's lair, he uncovers an evil plan fifteen years in the making. We learn that a robot has been secretly eliminating dozens of superheroes. Based on Bob's reaction, he seemed to personally know many of the victims. We don't get to meet these characters, but the revelation, underscored by Michael Giacchino's music, haunts us nonetheless. What began as a fun homage to the superhero golden age suddenly turns dark and tragic, as the implication of a mass murder hits us with an unexpected weight.

#13: Héctor Rivera

Coco (2017)

This Pixar film is a heartfelt tribute to Mexico's Day of the Dead. While it celebrates the beauty of the afterlife, death still plays a part in the film's most heartbreaking moments. The revelation that Héctor was murdered rather than having abandoned his familyis the films emotional peak. For most of the story, Miguels family believed that Héctor left them and died forgotten. In truth, he was poisoned by Ernesto de la Cruz, who stole Héctors music to become famous. This shattered Héctor's family, leaving him to spend decades trying to reunite with his wife and daughter, Coco. While Coco's eventual death was bittersweet, the implications of her father's loss are much more impactful.

#12: Wilden Lightfoot

Onward (2020)

While this fantasy film is full of magical spells and dragons, at its core is a road trip about two sons who want to spend time with their dad. When we first meet Ian and Barley Lightfoot, their father Wilden has long since passed. His absence is a sore subject among their family, and the tragedy only gets sadder. By the third act, Ian is able to recast a spell that resurrects Wilden for only a few moments. Although he hoped to meet his father for the first time, he lets his brother have that honor. It's a deeply moving scene, especially for those who have wished for one last conversation with someone they've lost.

#11: General Lis Troops & The Villagers

Mulan (1998)

In a film that doesn't have main character deaths, Mulan finds emotional weight in the horrors of war. During the upbeat A Girl Worth Fighting For number, the tone suddenly shifts when Mulan and her unit come across a burned village. There, they find that the Imperial Army has been wiped out, along with the entire village population. Among the dead is Shang's father, General Li. Although he had little screentime, it's clear Shang admired him and sought to earn his pride. This jarring scene is a harsh turning point for both Shang and the audience. It wouldn't have worked nearly as well if it didn't contrast with the film's lighthearted first half.

#10: Sitka

Brother Bear (2003)

This may not be one of the most beloved Disney films, but that doesnt mean it doesnt pack an emotional punch. Kenai, Denahi, and Sitka are three brothers living in a post ice-age world who have to work hard for survival. At the beginning of the film, the siblings hunt down a bear that steals food from them, and during the combat that ensues, Sitka gives his life in order to protect his siblings. Its only the fact that Sitkas spirit lives on in Brother Bear that makes this death one of the more manageable.

#9: Kerchak

Tarzan (1999)

At the beginning of Tarzan, the character of Kerchak actually seems more poised to be an antagonist than anything else. He doesnt take to Tarzan like his mate Kala does and is reluctant to give him his respect. Until the very end, there is conflict between these two. But when Kerchak is mortally shot by Clayton, its clear that he and Tarzan have always been family. He calls Tarzan his son in his final moments and honors him by calling him the king of the gorillas. Wipe those tears away, this is only going to get worse!

#8: Tala

Moana (2016)

Moanas grandmother is one of the most important people in her life, and she gives her granddaughter much inspiration in the beginning of the film. It soon becomes clear that Gramma Tala is very sick, and despite the villagers trying everything in their power, it doesnt look like theyre going to save her. Despite the fact that this death doesnt even take place on screen, its still very emotional. Like Sitka, though, Tala continues to be present throughout the film as her soul takes on a different form.

#7: Coral

Finding Nemo (2003)

This opening scene is totally underrated as one of the bleakest to ever take place in a Disney film. Clownfish Marlin and Coral are horsing around in their reef when all of a sudden danger strikes in the form of a barracuda. Choosing to attempt to protect her eggs rather than save herself, Coral ultimately meets a grim end alongside all of her unborn children - except one. This intro serves to show how important Nemo is to his father as the only egg to survive the attack. Pretty dark stuff for a family movie!

#6: Tadashi Hamada

Big Hero 6 (2014)

As one of Disneys more modern animated films, older fans may not be familiar with the story of Big Hero 6. Hiro and Tadashi Hamada lost both of their parents when they were young. Thats what makes it even more devastating when Tadashi, the elder of the two brothers, is suddenly killed when he runs into a burning building to save his mentor, Professor Callaghan. While his death is sudden and shocking, the even more heart-wrenching scene is when Baymax later shows Hiro footage of Tadashi in an attempt to cheer him up.

#5: Bing Bong

Inside Out (2015)

Anyone with a nostalgia for the wonder of childhood will surely be affected by this scene from Inside Out. Considering Bing Bong is merely a figment of Rileys imagination, its really saying something about how terribly sad this scene is that it makes it this high on our list. Bing Bong has to sacrifice himself by remaining in the memory dump, eventually fading from Rileys mind forever. Bing Bongs final words to Joy are take her to the moon for me, and we cant even watch this scene without getting choked up.

#4: Ray

The Princess and the Frog (2009)

Theres a reason why Disney pretty much never kills off the animal sidekicks in their animated films - its just way too hard to bear witness to. Ray is a scrappy yet romantic firefly who helps Tiana and Prince Naveen along on their happily ever after. The scene in which he is crushed by Doctor Facilier is both totally shocking and completely devastating. You imagine that this tough little bug will bounce right back, but sadly he does not. His funeral is possibly even worse, though at least he finally gets to be with his one true love.

#3: Bambi's Mother

Bambi (1942)

Disney definitely has a thing with killing off the protagonists parents, and 1942s Bambi may just be the originator of this trope. The entire plot of the film is based on the death of Bambis mom, which takes place early in the story. You might remember how upsetting this was to watch as a kid, because you werent quite used to the harsh facts of life yet. This death takes place off-screen, so its not the moment itself that is truly awful, but rather Bambis reaction when he realizes that his mom isnt right behind him.

#2: Mufasa

The Lion King (1994)

You knew this one was coming. Whats the worst part of this death scene? Is it Mufasa desperately trying to save Simba? Is it the look in Mufasas eyes as he sees his own brother throw him to his death? Is it Simba trying to wake his dad up after the King has fallen and crawling under his paw? Or it is Scar making Simba believe that his fathers death was actually his fault? All of this comes together to create a scene that imprinted on our childhoods and is still just as difficult to watch today.

#1: Ellie

Up (2009)

If you saw the trailers for Up before it came out in 2009, you probably went into the theatre expecting a whimsical romp featuring a crotchety old man, an obnoxious kid, and a cute dog. So when this movie opened with one of the most heartbreaking montages in all of film history, you may not have been emotionally prepared. Carl and Ellies melancholic love story and Ellies subsequent death are hard to handle for adults even more than for children. So we totally forgive you if you fast forward this one when rewatching.

Would any of these movies improve if they deleted their saddest character death? Give us your take in the comments below.