Walt Disney Studios is not just a well-known studio for creating heart-touching magical movies which make the audience instantly fall for. Still, it is also an expert in making the scariest movies that fascinate the audience to the point where they start craving for more, any surprisingly intense Disney movie results from some out-of-the-box creativity and imagination.
Even our childhood favorites are filled with some kind of darkness and spookiness which makes them so unique and interesting. The dark themes are in huge demand, especially among young viewers who find this genre thrilling.
The Disney has its own set of dedicated audiences who regularly consume all the content Disney has to offer, as nothing compares to the unique Disney animation, which adds a lot of charm to the storyline. So, in case you have been looking for major horror movies created by Disney, here is a list of 20 scariest Disney movies for all the daredevils out there.
20 Scariest Disney Movies:
20. Don’t Look Under the Bed (1999)
- Director: Kenneth Johnson
- Writer: Mark Edward Edens
- Cast: Erin Chambers; Eric “Ty” Hodges II; Robin Riker; Steve Valentine
- IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: No ratings
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus
About Don’t Look Under the Bed:
This Disney film might sound a lot spookier just by the name itself. Don’t Look Under the Bed is a popular Disney horror movie that follows the life of a young teenage girl named Frances Bacon McCausland, who is practical and logical.
Strange activities have been going on for the past few days, and she is somehow connected to all of them. Later, we realize that Boogeyman has carried out all the quirky things. This is one of the most spooky Disney movies that will satisfy all your horror cravings.
19. Return to Oz (1985)
- Director: Walter Murch
- Writer: L. Frank Baum
- Cast: Nicol Williamson, Jean Marsh, Piper Laurie
- IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 54%
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus
About Return to Oz:
This Disney film is enough to make you scream out of excitement and horror. It follows the life of a girl named Dorothy. A mysterious girl helps her out of the dangerous psychiatrist experiment. Eventually, she returns to Oz in order to fight against a ruthless witch and the evil King who are causing severe damage to the place.
This dark fantasy Disney movie is one of the best cult classics by Walt Disney Productions. It was not a commercially successful movie, as it made a box office collection of $11.1 million. Even though the movie performed terribly at the box office, it received an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects.
18. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
- Director: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
- Writer: Tab Murphy
- Cast: Tom Hulce, Demi Moore, Tony Jay
- IMDb Rating: 7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 72%
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus
About The Hunchback of Notre Dame:
This Disney animated film follows the life of a deformed bell ringer named Quasimodo who needs to escape the shackles of a ruthless government minister to help one of his closest friends, a gypsy dancer. This is one of those Disney animated feature films that was produced at the time of the Disney Renaissance. This animated classic is regarded as one of the darkest Disney animated movies as it seeks to present a highly mature topic in front of the audience.
The subject matter included in the movie includes genocide, lust, sin, infanticide, damnation, and antiziganism. This is one of the best Disney films to make you think out of the box. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is sure to entertain you with its spectacular storyline and well-crafted characters.
17. Mr. Boogedy (1986)
- Director: Oz Scott
- Writer: Michael Janover
- Cast: Richard Masur, Mimi Kennedy, Benjamin Gregory, David Faustino
- IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: No ratings
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus
About Mr. Boogedy:
This is one of those horror films by Walt Disney Television that you can watch with your whole family. This Disney Channel original movie follows the life of the Davis family, who shifts to the city of Lucifer Falls, which is located in New England. They soon realize that the ghosts from the colonial period surround or haunt the place.
This film also tells you how exciting the horror genre was at that time. The special effects stand out in this movie which is enough to give you nightmares for years. This is one of the best scary movies by Disney. This movie is based on real-life events, in case you aren’t excited to watch this movie right now!
16. Hocus Pocus (1993)
- Director: Kenny Ortega
- Writer: David Kirschner, Mick Garris
- Cast: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy
- IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 39%
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus
About Hocus Pocus:
Hocus Pocus is an interesting Disney classic that follows three quirky witches who are resurrected after three hundred years. They are determined to take revenge and start a reign of terror after a young boy with curious personality moves to Salem. The popular trip of hilarious witches played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, was adored by the viewers.
Their stunning chemistry makes this goofy movie a lot more entertaining. Hocus Pocus is one such movie that is rediscovered every year by its viewers, especially at the time of Halloween, increasing home media sales of this legendary movie. You will be happy to hear that a sequel is scheduled to release on the Disney Plus streaming service on September 30, 2022.
15. Fantasia (1940)
- Director: James Algar, Wilfred Jackson, Norm Ferguson, Ben Sharpsteen
- Writer: Joe Grant, Dick Huemer
- Cast: Leopold Stokowski, Deems Taylor
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus
About Fantasia:
Walt Disney Productions will always have our respect for creating a masterpiece like Fantasia, which will always be the reason for fascination for all the movie buffs out there. This animated musical film has a series of eight animated segments, which are blended with a piece of classical music.
The movie was re-released after the soundtrack was modified and adjusted, making it the 23rd-highest-grossing film in the United States. The entire movie has been beautifully animated and very well directed, making it one of the greatest gems of Disney.
14. The Black Hole (1979)
- Director: Gary Nelson
- Writer: Jeb Rosebrook; Bob Barbash; Richard Landau
- Cast: Maximilian Schell, Anthony Perkins, Robert Forster, Joseph Bottoms
- IMDb Rating: 5.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 40%
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus
About The Black Hole:
The Black Hole movie follows a research unit that discovers a missing ship heading towards the black hole, as directed by a mysterious scientist. The research unit members are forced to solve the mystery behind the strange occurrence. This epic movie began its development way before the Star Wars movie and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
A space-set smash heavily inspired the final project by George Lucas. Star Wars fans adored this movie on another level. The Black Hole is one of the greatest animated films in movie history.
13. Pinocchio (1940)
- Director: Hamilton Luske
- Writer: Ted Sears
- Cast: Cliff Edwards, Dickie Jones, Christian Rub, Walter Catlett
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus
About Pinocchio:
It might appear to be just a regular kid’s animated movie, but this movie has the perfect level of intensity and creepiness, which makes this movie so unique. Pinocchio follows the life of a puppet who is carved by Geppetto, an old Italian woodcarver. He takes the help of Jiminy Cricket, his assigned conscience, to prove his capabilities to become a real boy.
This movie is over-the-top entertaining for young viewers as it has a little bit darker tone, which further elevates the storyline. Pinocchio was the second creation of Disney after the major success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which was released in the year 1937. A theme park ride in Walt Disney World has been dedicated to this iconic movie.
12. Return to Halloweentown (2006)
- Director: David Jackson
- Writer: Max Enscoe, Annie DeYoung, Juliet Giglio, Keith Giglio
- Cast: Sara Paxton, Joey Zimmerman, Judith Hoag, Lucas Grabeel
- IMDb Rating: 5.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: No ratings
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus
About Return to Halloweentown:
This Halloween classic is one of the greatest Disney classics to enjoy every Halloween. This movie follows a young girl named Marnie who is admitted to the prestigious Witch University of Halloweentown. She soon realizes the witches and the wizards shouldn’t use magic within the school premises.
She also needs to tackle the dark force as it tries to control her. This Disney Channel original movie is the final movie of the Halloweentown franchise. This Disney film was a major success as it received 7.5 million views.
11. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
- Director: Henry Selick
- Writer: Tim Burton
- Cast: Danny Elfman; Chris Sarandon
- IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus
About The Nightmare Before Christmas:
This Christmas story has probably amused people of an entire generation. The movie follows a scary being from Halloween Town named Jack Skellington, who is mesmerized by the magical vibe of Christmas. He gets influenced by Christmas to the point where he ends up capturing Santa Claus.
This is one of the best Disney titles that people will remember for generations to come. The Nightmare Before Christmas will always be ready to excite you, even though the plot is based around the cheerful festival of Christmas. The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of the best movies by Tim Burton.
At first, Disney released the movie via Touchstone Pictures because they believed it was way too dark for children. The film is a cult classic, with a group of dedicated fans obsessing over the movie. This is one of the best original Disney channel movies.
10. Freaky Friday (2003)
- Director: Mark Waters
- Writer: Mary Rodgers
- Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis; Lindsay Lohan; Harold Gould, Chad Michael
- IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus
About Freaky Friday:
Freaky Friday is a popular scary movie by Walt Disney Pictures. The film follows a mother-daughter duo named Tess and Anna, who don’t share a sweet relationship like most mothers and daughters.
Their world is turned upside down when their souls are switched, and they are forced to rely on each other. The movie is based on a novel of the same name written by Mary Rodgers. This is one of the most creative Disney movies that presents a unique perspective in front of the audience.
9. Dragonslayer (1981)
- Director: Matthew Robbins
- Writer: Hal Barwood, Matthew Robbins
- Cast: Peter MacNicol, Caitlin Clarke, Ralph Richardson, John Hallam
- IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus
About Dragonslayer:
Dragonslayer is a thrilling movie about a young man who has been tasked with killing a dangerous dragon. The dragon has been feasting on young girls from a neighboring Kingdom.
8. Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge (2001)
- Director: Mary Lambert
- Writer: Paul Bernbaum and Jon Cooksey & Ali Matheson
- Cast: Debbie Reynolds, Kimberly J. Brown, Judith Hoag, Daniel Kountz
- IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: No ratings
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus, Amazon Prime
About Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge
This exciting movie follows a young witch and her loving grandmother who work together to stop the evil warlock’s son from creating destruction in the world.
7. Tomorrowland (2015)
- Director: Brad Bird
- Writer: Damon Lindelof; Brad Bird; Jeff Jensen
- Cast: Britt Robertson, George Clooney, Raffey Cassidy, Thomas Robinson
- IMDb Rating: 6.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 50%
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus, Amazon Prime
About Tomorrowland:
This science fiction adventure movie follows an inventor Frank and an inquisitive teenager Casey, who decide about finding the secrets of Tomorrowland. This movie is a surprise hit, even though the movie was a commercial failure.
6. Halloweentown High (2004)
- Director: Mark A.Z. Dippé
- Writer: Paul Bernbaum
- Cast: Debbie Reynolds, Kimberly J. Brown
- IMDb Rating: 6.1/10
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus, Amazon Prime
About Halloweentown High:
The entire franchise of Halloweentown feels like a roller coaster ride with thrilling twists and turns along with a series of exciting adventures. This movie follows Marnie in a magical world who is persuading the Halloweentown council that nothing bad will happen to the children, but she ends up welcoming a major problem into their lives.
5. Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
- Director: Jack Clayton
- Writer: Ray Bradbury
- Cast: Jason Robards; Jonathan Pryce
- IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 59%
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus
About Something Wicked This Way Comes:
This scary movie follows a wicked circus in a small American town that is known to take advantage of the people through a demonic proprietor. This dark fantasy element makes it stand out from the rest of the other movies.
4. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
- Director: Clyde Geronimi, James Algar, Jack Kinney
- Writer: Erdman Penner; Winston Hibler
- Cast: Eric Blore, J. Pat O’Malley, John McLeish
- IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus
About The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad:
This animated film is based on the popular “The Wind in the Willows”. This is one of the best movies on Disney Canon. This Disney version will forever continue to amuse the audience for decades.
3. The Black Cauldron (1985)
- Director: Ted Berman, Richard Rich
- Writer: Ted Berman, Vance Gerry, Joe Hale, David Jonas
- Cast: Grant Bardsley, Susan Sheridan, Freddie Jones
- IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 55%
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus
About The Black Cauldron:
This scary looking, visually stunning movie follows Taran and his friends, who set out to find the black cauldron that has the extraordinary ability to create a massive army of unbeatable soldiers. The movie’s animation is just gorgeous. The voice cast did an amazing job of enhancing the visual experience.
2. Lion King (1994)
- Director: Rob Minkoff, Roger Allers
- Writer: Brenda Chapman, Barry Johnson, Andy Gaskill, Kevin Harkey
- Cast: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones
- IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus
About Lion King:
Lion King is one such movie that deserves no introduction. Amidst all the heartfelt scenes and sappy encounters of this iconic movie, there are still some scary scenes filled with disturbing violence that strike the viewers hard.
1. Escape to Witch Mountain (1975)
- Director: John Hough
- Writer: Alexander H. Key
- Cast: Eddie Albert, Ray Milland, Donald Pleasence, Kim Richards, Ike Eisenmann
- IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 74
- Streaming Platform: Disney Plus, Amazon Prime
About Escape to Witch Mountain:
This science fiction film is one of the most popular movies of the Witch Mountain series. The movie follows the life of two mysterious children with magical powers who a suspicious millionaire is chasing. The movie is based on a novel of the same name written by Alexander H. Key.
