Top 10 Gruesome Movie Moments We All Saw as Kids (And We Turned Out Fine)
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at violent, disturbing, and/or grisly scenes that traumatized us at a young age. Possible spoilers ahead! Did we forget a memorably gruesome moment? Let us know in the comments below.
#10: Flying Monkeys
“The Wizard of Oz” (1939)
It might be one of the first films a child watches, but parts of “The Wizard of Oz” never fail to stir up bad memories. The flying monkeys make a big entrance as the Wicked Witch of the West’s private army. After all, they’re monkeys with wings that are sent to harm the heroes. Are we not supposed to be scared of them? This isn’t even mentioning the part later in the movie when they rip Scarecrow to shreds. There’s something about their menacing shape and attitude that can’t be denied, making us all fearful that they’ll swoop down and attack at any moment.
#9: Boat Scene
“Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” (1971)
Taking his group on a boat, Willy Wonka journeys down the chocolate river into a mysterious tunnel. This includes hallucinations, flashing lights, and the chaotic performance of Gene Wilder. It’s an intense and psychedelic experience that feels like sensory overload for children. As a kid, you were probably grossed out by the imagery as much as you were wondering about Wonka’s behavior. The terrified passengers beg to be let off the ride as their screaming tour guide freaks them out. Considering that the rest of this movie is a fun musical, this disturbing scene likely shocked many viewers into having bad dreams.
#8: The New Parents
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“Coraline” (2009)
From the mind of Neil Gaiman, this animated tale about finding another universe isn’t all fun and games. Coraline encounters two adults who are her alternate parents - and have a very creepy look. With their dead eyes, the mom and dad seem part of a nightmarish reality. Imagine being a kid and having your family replaced by lifeless and robotic beings? The heroine comes up against an existential threat to her ordinary life that could easily scare any child. She also has to listen to her new father’s music, showing the extent of his bizarre transformation. With some surreal imagery, this menacing scene makes us feel lucky that we never found ourselves in a parallel world.
#7: Spiders Attack
“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” (2002)
When Harry Potter and Ron Weasley venture into the Forbidden Forest, they encounter the giant spider Aragog. Things become even more tense as the monster’s children begin to appear. If you didn’t have arachnophobia as a kid, this might’ve started it. You probably reacted just like Ron as the many-legged creatures surrounded him. The boys’ escape by car can’t come soon enough, with a few close calls putting the duo in danger. This also inspired our younger selves to think twice about sneaking out into the woods. The haunting scene still makes viewers of all ages curl up with terror, even more so than the hero’s encounter with a basilisk.
#6: Sid’s Room
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“Toy Story” (1995)
When Woody and Buzz Lightyear end up in an unfamiliar house, they have no idea that it’s going to have these kinds of creepy sights. They find themselves in the villain Sid’s room and discover his fondness for mutating toys. You can’t help but check underneath your bed after seeing this sequence. With baby doll heads on mechanical spiders, these creations feel more at home in a haunted house. Adding in some mood lighting and shadows, the heroes and the audience watching them are almost equally scared by the room. The villain’s treatment of his possessions likely had you creeped out by twisting childhood memories into horrible images.
#5: T. Rex Escape
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“Jurassic Park” (1993)
Once the electric fence turns off, a T. Rex in “Jurassic Park” decides to interrupt the main tour group. Director Steven Spielberg builds up this moment with all the tension and fear of a horror film. The massive creature nearly tears apart a car before being distracted in a terrifying scene that’s too intense for kids. Gennaro escapes to a bathroom hut, but he’s eventually gobbled up by the dinosaur. It’s a quick and horrifying meal that viewers get to witness in all its glory. Along with all of the dramatic buildup, kids watching might be scarred by witnessing the mighty jaws chomp a man. After watching this movie, our dinosaur phase came with worries that the same thing could happen to us.
#4: Pleasure Island
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“Pinocchio” (1940)
After being tricked into going to Pleasure Island, Pinocchio finds himself living it up in a lawless paradise without knowing the truth about the place. The extent of this island’s secret is shown as other children are turned into animals and sold into slave labor. The hero and his friend Lampwick think they can have fun, but they also get turned into donkeys in a disturbing reveal. It’s shocking for its time, but hammers home the serious consequences that come with listening to strangers. Seeing the fate of the other unlucky kids, young viewers were probably twice as scared about not listening to their parents. The transformation itself evokes body horror movies from David Cronenberg, making us all worry about the same fate.
#3: Saying Goodbye
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“Old Yeller” (1957)
Traumatizing doesn’t begin to describe this Disney movie. The live-action tale about a boy and his dog doesn’t hold back in its finale. After the dog Yeller is bitten by a rabid wolf, the family must make a decision about his fate. It’s the kind of decision that would completely wreck any family, putting young viewers into a bad headspace. Travis finally decides that it must be him that puts down the pet. Ahead of its time, this emotionally complex turn has the hero take a gun and finish the job. You don’t see many kids films trying to replicate this violent moment. Giving “Old Yeller” its sad reputation, this scene comes with a brutal finish that hasn’t lost any power all these years later.
#2: Death of Mufasa
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“The Lion King” (1994)
“The Lion King” continues Disney’s trend of killing off parents in a devastating scene. Scar has a chance to save his brother Mufasa, but instead he assists the king’s fall into a stampede. The evil uncle ferociously sends his brother to his death without any remorse. Watching this as a kid, the entire moment is only made worse by Simba’s scream. Since that this scenario would be a nightmare for a child, it makes the sequence that much more traumatic to watch when you’re little. The young hero then has to inspect his dad’s body, bringing home the weight of the dramatic and awful death.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Pink Elephants, “Dumbo” (1941)
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Artax’s Death, “The NeverEnding Story” (1984)
The Beloved Horse Can’t Make It Out of the Swamp in a Devastating Moment
Hanging in the Jungle, “Tarzan” (1999)
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Judge Doom, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” (1988)
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Dr. Facilier’s Demise, “The Princess and the Frog” (2009)
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#1: Face Melt
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“Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981)
For most of this adventure film, director Steven Spielberg crafts amazing chases for the ark. The Nazis then make the mistake of opening it. This unleashes spiritual forces, taking down the villains and melting their faces. You probably looked away like Indiana Jones the first time you saw these bad guys go down. We don’t blame you either, as there’s not much blood to speak of in the rest of the movie. It’s only in the sequel that they try to top this moment with a heartbreaking turn from “Temple of Doom.” The special effects emphasize the destruction, haunting your nightmares for years to come.
