When thinking of family movies, it will generally spark happy memories. The term “family movie” says it all. It’s a type of movie that is supposed to be a good time for all ages. Many of us most likely remember trips to Blockbuster (if you’re old enough to remember when they were around) or trips to the library after school to find the perfect movies to watch over the weekend. Our childhood movies are some of our happiest memories.

Usually, they are our happiest memories, that is. Not every movie meant for the family is light-hearted and carefree. Some family films go through disturbing or traumatizing moments before the happy ending, such as the scene in Dumbo where his mom is cradling him in her trunk while locked up in a circus car. Meanwhile, some family movies end on rather sad, dark notes. Here are some family movies with dark endings sure to leave you distraught.

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8 The Fox and the Hound (1981)

     Buena Vista Pictures 

Disney definitely has a long track record of sad or disturbing moments in their movies, even through the multiple eras the studio has gone through. Most of Disney’s films finish out with a happy ending. However, 1981’s The Fox and the Hound didn’t make the happy ending cut. Tod and Copper grow up being best friends, but as Copper is raised to be a hunting dog, specifically to hunt foxes, their friendship is put to the ultimate test. In the end, Tod saves Copper from a bear attack after Copper was stalking Tod. Copper then protects Tod from his owner Amos. The movie ends with a parting glance between the two, knowing they can never be friends again.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

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7 My Dog Skip (2000)

     Warner Bros.

My Dog Skip is about a young boy, Willie Morris, growing up in 1940s Mississippi with his beloved dog, Skip. His Jack Russell Terrier becomes loved by Willie’s whole town and no matter what hardships they face, Skip remains protective of his boy. Their story ends with Willie going off to college, and Skip is visibly older. After Willie hears of his best friend’s passing, and his parents tell him where they buried him, Willie delivers his final line; “For he really lay buried in my heart.” This provokes instant tears for many.

6 Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

     Buena Vista Pictures Distribution 

When Bridge to Terabithia came out, there was probably not a single kid that was not absolutely distraught when they left the theater. For most of the movie, it’s just two best friends, Jess and Leslie, imagining a fantasy world that helps them escape from the real-world troubles their families were facing. It’s magical and fun and filled with hope. Until Jess learns that Leslie died while trying to reach their magical woodsy hideout in a rainstorm and is left riddled with pain and grief. Even though Jess invites his little sister to their hideout in the end, Jess’ immense suffering after losing his best friend lingers over the movie’s final moments.

5 All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)

     United Artists & MGM/UA Distribution Company

Now, the title of the movie itself kind of implies that it is going to deal with death in some way. However, a kid is probably not going to make that correlation without a parent’s warning. All Dogs Go to Heaven follows a German Shepard named Charlie B. Barkin who was killed by his business partner in 1930s New Orleans. He skips heaven for a shot at revenge but winds up sacrificing himself for a little girl who can talk to animals. He makes one final appearance as a ghost to say goodbye to her before heading to heaven. For a family movie, this story deals with a lot of death and corruption.

4 What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

     Matalon Teper Ohlsson

Starring both a young Johnny Depp and a young Leonardo DiCaprio, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape set us up for a dark ending. Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp) is a young man struggling to take care of his disabled brother and his morbidly obese mother in their small Midwestern town. Gilbert is an older brother, a father figure, a caretaker, and a blue-collar worker all in one. It would be an incredibly stressful burden to bear for anyone, but especially someone who is still young as well. Obviously, when their mother passes away and Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio) finds her, it’s heartbreaking. Although, Gilbert officially becoming the sole caretaker of the Grape family despite whatever his dreams may be for himself is also kind of depressing. He loves his family and will do anything for them, but it’s not really a happy ending.

3 Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

     Studio Ghibli

Perhaps one of the less happy movies under Studio Ghibli, Grave of the Fireflies takes place in war-torn Japan during World War II where a brother and sister are separated from their parents after a bomb drops. As they wander through their war zone country scrounging for food, they find entertainment in watching fireflies. Although it is shown in the opening of the movie that the brother dies of starvation in a train station, you don’t necessarily know that in the final scenes of the movie, the sister will die of starvation as well and their spirits will board that train shown in the beginning. Even with a film that deals with a subject as serious as this, the ending is still dark and upsetting.

2 Old Yeller (1957)

     Buena Vista Distribution

This list probably could not be made without mentioning Old Yeller. A tale about a young boy living on a Texas ranch with his mother and younger brother in the 1860s who reluctantly adopts a stray mutt who winds up on their property. The boy eventually grows to love the dog over time. Sounds like a nice, family-friendly movie right? Wrong. If you somehow don’t know the tale of Old Yeller, it is not a happy ending. This boy grows to love this sweet dog, only for him to be killed and taken from him in the end.

1 My Girl (1991)

     Columbia Pictures

My Girl a heartfelt coming-of-age story about a little girl who lost her mother at birth, but befriends a boy in her neighborhood. They become best friends and are pretty much inseparable. They even share an innocent kiss at one point. Everything seems to be looking up for the two best friends until he unexpectedly suffers a fatal allergic reaction to a bee sting. There isn’t a lot that could be worse for a young child than to learn that their best friend in the world is gone forever.