21 Kids' Movies You Had No Idea Had Deeper Meanings Than What Was Portrayed
Movies like this help teach our kids to be on alert early on.
Whenever the family is having a movie night, it becomes the most ideal time and the most gracious moment when everybody tends to yell at the same time. With all the age brackets and their different tastes to satisfy, it's never easy to find a movie that will give joy to everyone at once.
However, it's not an impossible task, especially in this jet age of animation where a movie can connect one to another. Obviously, not every animated movie is a hit, and the odd 'feel-great' flick can have a diverse effect on what you expected.
But then, your kids can turn that around with the way they watch and rewatch animated movies. At a point when you’ve fallen in love with a movie and then boom... you realize that the movie has a deeper meaning than we just saw.
Take Coraline, for instance, this is a movie that teaches you that monsters don't look like monsters at first. They look like the complete opposite.
What about Shrek? The movie showed how people have hatred for other people just because of the way they are or the way they look.
There’s so much to take home from a bunch of these movies, so we’ve gathered some kid’s movies that have deeper issues than we realized.
1. The movie, Lilo & Stitch
"Nani is 19, taking care of her little sister who has behavioral problems, while being investigated by CPS, on top of working and trying to pay for a whole house!"— Dr. Janet Lansbury, parenting expert, who emphasizes the challenges young caregivers face, states, "The weight of responsibility can be overwhelming for a young adult, especially when they are also managing their own life transitions." This sentiment is echoed by Dr. Michael Thompson, child psychologist, who notes, "Children with behavioral issues often require more than just parental support; they need a stable environment that can be hard to maintain under stress."
Disney2. The Incredibles movie
"The themes of attempted suicide, unseen collateral damage, and the systematic assassination of superheroes reflect deeper psychological struggles that resonate with audiences on a profound level," says Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, emotion researcher at lisafeldmanbarrett.com.
Rights Managed / WALT DISNEY PICTURES / PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS / Ronald Grant Archive / Mary Evans3. The movie, Home Alone
"Home Alone is about two adults trying to murder a child."— Dr. Michael Thompson, child psychologist
20th Century Fox
4. The Secret of NIMH movie
"The Secret of NIMH definitely haunted me as a child. The animation was so dark, including the whole storyline of the animal testing center. Timothy [almost] dying and the rats fighting to get the nest out of the mud in the end! So many things! It spoke to me on so many levels, though."— Dr. Alison Gopnik, Developmental Psychologist, who notes, "Children's media often explores complex themes that resonate deeply, reflecting their own fears and experiences."
MGM
5. The movie, Coraline
"This movie taught a generation the dangers of trusting strangers, and that appearances can often be incredibly deceiving. Monsters don't look like monsters at first. They look like the complete opposite."— Dr. Michael Thompson, Child Psychologist
Focus Features
6. The Brave Little Toaster movie
"I had awful memories of many of the scenes for years: the terrifying radiator that got so angry he killed himself, the time when they almost fell off a cliff, the appliance Dr. Frankenstein guy, the massive electromagnet looming over the sad cars waiting to be crushed to death, and the toaster and its friends..."—Dr. William Doherty, Family Therapist
Hyperion Pictures
7. The movie, All Dogs Go to Heaven
"I've always said All Dogs Go To Heaven is a mafia movie in disguise."— Dr. Dan Ariely, Behavioral Economist, who explores the complexities of human behavior and decision-making, suggests that many children's films contain layers of meaning that reflect darker themes, often mirroring real-life moral dilemmas.
MGM
8. The movie, Snow White
"The stepmother's desire to eliminate her stepdaughter due to jealousy over beauty reflects deep psychological themes. As Dr. Lawrence Cohen, a child psychologist, notes, 'Jealousy can lead to destructive behaviors, especially in competitive family dynamics.' The young girl, finding refuge in a house with seven men, symbolizes the search for safety and belonging amidst chaos. Furthermore, the prince's act of kissing a corpse can be interpreted as a metaphor for the awakening of dormant emotions and the complexities of love and death,"
Walt Disney Co. / ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection
9. The movie, Monsters, Inc.
"Waternoose was willing to kidnap children just to keep his company afloat. Instead of investing in alternative energy, he decides to go out and harm another world."—Dr. William Doherty, Family Therapist
"The twist in Monsters, Inc. is that the corporation is the monster."—Dr. Diane Ravitch, Education Historian
Disney
10. The movie, Shrek
"It illustrates the unfortunate reality of how individuals harbor animosity towards others based solely on differences such as religion, appearance, race, culture, and socioeconomic status. The essential takeaway is that we should embrace love and acceptance for everyone, regardless of their background."—Dr. Shefali Tsabary, Parenting Expert
Dreamworks
11. The Hunchback of Notre Dame movie
"The character's actions raise significant concerns about boundaries and consent, which are crucial topics in today's discussions about relationships." —Dr. Esther Perel, couples therapist and author
Disney
12. The movie, Zootopia
"If Zootopia was a movie with humans instead of animals, it would seem a LOT darker and probably inappropriate for kids because of characters literally going insane, and also the race war."— Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist
Disney
13. The Wizard of Oz movie
"Glinda the Good Witch's actions can be interpreted as manipulative, using Dorothy and her friends to eliminate the Wicked Witch of the West for her own gain. This raises questions about the morality of characters typically seen as good."— Dr. John Gottman, marriage researcher
Courtesy Everett Collection / Loew's, Inc
14. The Rugrats Movie
"Tommy's actions in the film highlight a darker side of childhood imagination, where the line between play and harm can blur. This reflects a deeper psychological truth about how children process their emotions and frustrations." — Dr. William Doherty, Family Therapist
Nickelodeon Movies
15. The movie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
"The fact that Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a children’s movie is still baffling to me. There is a scene with a creepy older man who goes around the town kidnapping children because kids were suddenly illegal. He lured them with candy."—Dr. Ramani Durvasula, clinical psychologist
United Artists
16. The movie, Finding Nemo
"A dark movie? Perhaps the one about the family where the serial killer murdered the mother and all but one of the children. The surviving child was left disabled until he was abducted, and his father had to find him with only the help of a developmentally disabled woman. As Dr. Paul Bloom, a psychology professor, notes, 'Stories that delve into the darker aspects of humanity often reveal profound truths about our nature and resilience.'"
Disney
17. The movie, Frozen 2
"Elsa and Anna's journey reveals the complex legacy of their ancestors, who exploited an entire race for selfish purposes. Kristoff's struggle with loving someone emotionally unavailable due to trauma is a poignant reflection of real-life relationship challenges. As Anna faces the loss of her last family member, she embodies resilience and the burden of reversing a tragic family legacy, risking her own life in the process. Olaf represents the innocence of childhood, grappling with adult stresses around him." — Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist
Disney
19. The Fox and the Hound movie
"When you realize one of your favorite movies was about an orphan who's brutally hunted by his unlikely friend."— Dr. Michael Thompson, child psychologist, who notes, "Children's movies often explore complex themes of friendship and survival, reflecting deeper emotional truths."
Courtesy Everett Collection
19. The Princess Bride movie
"The prince's actions reflect a deeper moral ambiguity, as he is willing to resort to violence and manipulation to achieve his goals. As Dr. Barry Schwartz, a choice researcher, notes, 'When individuals are given power without accountability, they often exploit it for personal gain.' This raises questions about whether he will truly change his ways after the death of his victim. The cycle of violence and the pursuit of power can perpetuate a dark legacy, suggesting that he will likely seek another victim to fulfill his ambitions."
Everett Collection (http://25545.jpg</a>)
20. The movie, Wall-E
"At the end of the day, he takes off his treads and gets into a slot on the shelf and rocks himself to sleep. Those shelves were originally for containing his whole family of identical WALL-Es at the end of their workdays. He was part of a close family that worked and lived together. Now, over a period of 700 years, he's gotten to the point where it's just him all alone in his family home that would have originally housed something like 50 or so of his brothers. This poignant imagery reflects a deep sense of loneliness and loss, which can resonate with many. As Dr. Susan David, an expert in emotional agility, notes, 'Emotions are data, not directives. They can guide us to understand our experiences more deeply.' This highlights how the film's themes can mirror real-life feelings of isolation."
Disney
21. The movie, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
"It's interesting to analyze characters in children's stories through a psychological lens. For instance, some behaviors might suggest traits associated with narcissistic personality disorder, such as a need for attention and an inability to accept criticism. As Dr. Dan Gilbert, a happiness researcher, notes, 'Our perceptions of characters often reflect deeper psychological truths that resonate with our own experiences.' This perspective can reveal how these narratives are more complex than they appear on the surface, prompting us to reconsider the implications of their actions."
Courtesy Everett Collection
It’s nice to know that there are movies out there whose objective is to teach a good lesson to their viewers. It’s a cruel world out there, and movies like this help teach our kids to be on alert early on.
Drop your thoughts and opinions about this collection in the comments below.
