10 Movies That Are Much Darker Than You Thought

Many movies aren’t as wholesome and lighthearted as people assume they are, and watching them closely reveals they can be surprisingly dark. This is especially true when it comes to children’s movies, as animation, comedy and music can gloss over some heavy themes. However, these elements can do the same in more mature movies in some circumstances, and people might forget about some darker moments.

Older movies like Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Breakfast Club can hide some darkness behind a glossy veneer of nostalgia. When people think of these classics, they often think about the fashion, the music or the actors. This ignores some distressing topics, like depression, trauma and isolation. Ultimately, it’s best to dispell any assumptions about a movie before judging it fairly, but this isn’t always easy.

10

The Breakfast Club (1985)

The Teen Movie Is R-Rated For A Reason

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8/10

The Breakfast Club

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Release Date

February 15, 1985

Director

John Hughes

Cast

Molly Ringwald
, Ally Sheedy
, Anthony Michael Hall
, Judd Nelson
, Emilio Estevez

Many people will probably remember The Breakfast Club as a nostalgic 1980s classic about unlikely friendships with an anti-authority streak, but John Hughes’ movies aren’t necessarily as wholesome as their reputations suggest. The Breakfast Club has an R-rating, and although this is partly because of the scene in which the characters do drugs together, the movie has plenty of dark themes.

Collage of The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller, and Christmas Vacation

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As the story progresses, the students thrown together in detention gradually start to open up to one another, and they reveal some troubling realities about their home lives. There are stories of peer pressure, family abuse, depression and even suicidal ideation. The Breakfast Club manages to get away with a lot of this heavy subject matter because it still has some charming dialogue and an upbeat resolve.

9

Zootopia (2016)

Zootopia’s Brightly Colored Visuals Hide A Story About Discrimination

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8.3/10

Zootopia

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Release Date

March 4, 2016

Director

Jared Bush
, Rich Moore
, Byron Howard

Cast

Octavia Spencer
, Bonnie Hunt
, Maurice LaMarche
, Idris Elba
, John DiMaggio
, Jason Bateman
, Alan Tudyk
, Nate Torrence
, Katie Lowes
, Ginnifer Goodwin
, Tommy Chong
, Shakira
, J. K. Simmons
, Jenny Slate
, Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister

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Zootopia initially appears to be a lighthearted Disney movie about anthropomorphic animals, and there are plenty of jokes about how different animals can represent different professions and character archetypes. This is merely the set-up, however, and Zootopia goes to some very dark places, using its cute and colorful appearance to make its social commentary more palatable.

Zootopia uses its cute and colorful appearance to make its social commentary more palatable.

Zootopia is a surprisingly relevant examination of xenophobia, racism and other forms of discrimination, with politicians manipulating the population of the city into believing that carnivorous animals are more dangerous than they really are. Zootopia 2 is coming in late 2025, and while fans can expect more fun animal-based humor, it’s also likely that there will be intelligent social commentary.

8

Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Taika Waititi’s Farcical Wartime Comedy Packs A Punch

Jojo Rabbit Movie Poster

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8/10

8.7/10

Jojo Rabbit

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Release Date

October 18, 2019

Director

Taika Waititi

Cast

Stephen Merchant
, Sam Rockwell
, Rebel Wilson
, Taika Waititi
, Alfie Allen
, Thomasin McKenzie
, Scarlett Johansson
, Roman Griffin Davis

It shouldn’t have been a surprise that a movie about Adolf Hitler and the Nazis is terribly dark, but the trailers and other promotional material for Jojo Rabbit sold it as a farce, with a young boy who runs around the German countryside with a silly version of Hitler as his imaginary friend. Taika Waititi’s track record in comedy movies also suggested that he would be taking an unconventional approach.

While Jojo Rabbit does have a playful tone, it also doesn’t shy away from its heavy subject. Waititi’s cartoonish version of Hitler isn’t the true villain of the story, but Jojo still finds evils lurking in every corner of his society, even though he starts out as a starry-eyed fanatic who treats the Hitler Youth like the Boy Scouts. The death of Jojo’s mother is the big turning point, and Jojo Rabbit‘s humor suddenly doesn’t seem sufficient to mask the darkness of the real history.

7

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Wes Anderson’s Movies Are Often Poorly Categorized

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9/10

9/10

The Grand Budapest Hotel

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Release Date

March 28, 2014

Director

Wes Anderson

Cast

Willem Dafoe
, Jude Law
, Edward Norton
, Jeff Goldblum
, Saoirse Ronan
, Adrien Brody
, Tilda Swinton
, Ralph Fiennes
, Tony Revolori

Wes Anderson’s movies are clearly defined by his idiosyncratic visual style, and his compositions give his stories a picture-book quality at times. This leads some people to wrongly assume that his movies are replete with whimsy and lighthearted fun, but many of them are about surprisingly heavy themes. The Grand Budapest Hotel seems especially playful, with its colorful alpine setting and eccentric characters.

The Grand Budapest Hotel‘s quirky charms are crushed under the soulless boot of a repressive political ideology.

The Grand Budapest Hotel‘s appearance shouldn’t deceive audiences for too long. Although it starts out as a joyous crime caper, the rise of a fascist regime suddenly springs from the background into the main storyline. Suddenly, all other considerations fall away, and The Grand Budapest Hotel‘s quirky charms are crushed under the soulless boot of a repressive political ideology.

6

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

Robin Williams’ Comedy Distracts From A Story About Divorce And Responsibility

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7/10

Mrs. Doubtfire

Release Date

November 24, 1993

Director

Chris Columbus

Cast

Pierce Brosnan
, Mara Wilson
, Robin Williams
, Sally Field
, Matthew Lawrence

In recent years, Mrs. Doubtfire has been reevaluated by some people, who have questioned how funny the idea of a man deceiving his ex-wife into spending more time with their children really is. This contemporary reading of the comedy highlights some of the darkness that often goes unnoticed in Mrs. Doubtfire. Even with a more generous view of the movie, appreciating it on its own terms, there’s a lot of heavy material that people might not remember.

Daniel thinks that he can breeze past his marriage troubles and the fact that his children are dealing with the divorce of their parents.

Robin Williams delivers one of his funniest performances in Mrs. Doubtfire, and this glosses over the fact that his character is an immature and unreliable husband and father who treats life like one big game, leaving his wife to pick up the slack. Younger audiences may see him as the cool parent, but his inability to take responsibility is a serious problem. He thinks that he can breeze past his marriage troubles and the fact that his children are dealing with the divorce of their parents, and this only compounds the issues until he finally learns some maturity, in his own way.

5

La La Land (2016)

The Throwback Music Is More Tragic Than Those Which Inspired It

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9/10

8.6/10

La La Land

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Release Date

December 9, 2016

Director

Damien Chazelle

Cast

Hemky Madera
, meagen fay
, J. K. Simmons
, Sonoya Mizuno
, Rosemarie DeWitt
, John Legend
, Ryan Gosling
, Finn Wittrock
, Ashley Caple
, Josh Pence
, Emma Stone
, Jason Fuchs

La La Land was heralded in 2016 as a throwback to the style of classic Hollywood musicals of the 1950s and 1960s. Musical movies haven’t gone anywhere, but the prevailing taste has undoubtedly shifted away from the era of Gene Kelly, Julia Andrews and Judy Garland. La La Land may adopt the same exuberant visuals as these old classics, but its setting and its tone are decidedly modern.

Unlike earlier musicals, love does not conquer all in La La Land.

La La Land‘s aspirational love story ultimately ends in heartbreak, and it’s the kind of heartbreak which feels rooted in 21st century concerns, as if there’s no room in the modern era for the hopeful and magical musicals of Old Hollywood. La La Land‘s ending leaves things on a bittersweet note, as both characters get what they want in their lives, but at the cost of their reckless love for one another. Unlike earlier musicals, love does not conquer all in La La Land.

4

Click (2006)

Adam Sandler’s Comedies Normally Remain Positive

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Click

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Release Date

June 23, 2006

Director

Frank Coraci

Cast

Adam Sandler
, Kate Beckinsale
, Christopher Walken
, David Hasselhoff
, Henry Winkler
, Julie Kavner
, Sean Astin
, Joseph Castanon
, Jonah Hill
, Jake Hoffman
, Tatum McCann
, Lorraine Nicholson
, Katie Cassidy
, Cameron Monaghan
, Jennifer Coolidge
, Rachel Dratch
, Sophie Monk
, Michelle Lombardo
, Jana Kramer
, Nick Swardson
, Sidney Ganis
, Michael Yama
, Mio Takada
, Eiji Inoue
, Toshi Toda

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Adam Sandler’s comedies are usually popular for their lighthearted humor, and they offer an escape for audiences. They often receive criticism from reviews which suggest they don’t offer anything substantial, even if this doesn’t put off most people. Click is slightly different. Anyone who hasn’t seen it might assume it’s just as goofy and simplistic as any of Sandler’s other movies, but parts of it wouldn’t feel out of place in a serious drama.

Anyone who hasn’t seen it might assume it’s just as goofy and simplistic as any of Sandler’s other movies.

Click has all the broad humor, slapstick and childish gags that Sandler’s other comedies from the same era have, but the story focuses on a man who doesn’t realize that his inaction and complacency are equivalent to allowing his life to pass him by. Click has a jarring tonal shift midway through, at which point the story becomes a dark meditation on time and regret. It’s not the most elegant movie, but it’s more thought-provoking than many people give it credit for.

3

Spirited Away (2001)

Miyazaki’s Fantasy Is More Dangerous Than It Looks

Spirited Away Movie Poster

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10

9.6/10

Spirited Away

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Release Date

July 20, 2001

Director

Hayao Miyazaki

Cast

Rumi Hiiragi
, Miyu Irino
, Mari Natsuki
, Takashi Naitô
, Yasuko Sawaguchi
, Tsunehiko Kamijô
, Takehiko Ono
, Bunta Sugawara

Spirited Away is often cited as Hayao Miyazaki’s greatest masterpiece, and its colorful, creative characters suggest that it’s a charming fantasy tale. While this is true, it’s also surprisingly dark. Anyone who has seen Spirited Away will know that it’s about much more than the magic of soot sprites, Haku and the other spirits in Yubaba’s bathhouse. Chihiro only meets all these creatures in the first place because her parents are transformed into pigs and she’s forced to work for her freedom.

Imagery-from-Spirited-Away-and-Toy-Story

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Spirited Away‘s ending is mostly positive, but it’s laced with the melancholy understanding that Chihiro is leaving her new friends behind forever, and that most of them may never escape the bathhouse. There are also some dark allusions to the reality of the spirit world peppered throughout the story, and many of the mysterious characters who cross paths with Chihiro seem to have tragic secrets.

2

Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961)

Breakfast At Tiffany’s Is Darker Than Its Style Suggests

breakfast at tiffany's poster

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8/10

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

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Release Date

October 6, 1961

Director

Blake Edwards

Cast

Audrey Hepburn
, George Peppard
, Patricia Neal
, Buddy Ebsen
, Martin Balsam
, José Luis de Villalonga

People who haven’t seen Breakfast at Tiffany’s will likely still be able to recognize its opening scene, in which Audrey Hepburn eats a croissant on the street outside Tiffany’s, wearing a black Givenchy dress as dawn breaks over the city. This somewhat melancholic image barely hints at the darkness in store. While Breakfast at Tiffany‘s may be most famous for its fashion, it’s a story about a woman struggling to deal with her childhood trauma and her bouts of anxiety and depression.

While Breakfast at Tiffany‘s may be most famous for its fashion, it’s a story about a woman struggling to deal with her childhood trauma.

Audrey Hepburn brings a lot of humor to her portrayal of Holly Golightly, but she also shows that the character’s flighty nature is a response to her troubled past and her inability to cope with her situation. Truman Capote’s novel goes into more detail, and the movie adaptation provides Holly with a happier ending, but it still shows that she married a much older man while still a teenager, and her unusual work puts her in danger. Mickey Rooney’s casting as Mr. Yunioshi is disturbing for completely different reasons.

1

The World’s End (2013)

Edgar Wright’s Sci-Fi Comedy Stands Out From His Other Movies

The World's End Movie Poster

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7.7/10

The World’s End

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Release Date

August 23, 2013

Director

Edgar Wright

Cast

Simon Pegg
, Nick Frost
, Martin Freeman
, Paddy Considine
, Eddie Marsan
, Rosamund Pike
, Pierce Brosnan
, David Bradley
, Darren Boyd
, Michael Smiley
, Steve Oram
, Reece Shearsmith
, Nicholas Burns
, Bill Nighy
, Thomas Law
, Zachary Bailess
, Jasper Levine
, James Tarpey
, Luke Bromley

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Edgar Wright’s Cornetto trilogy satirizes a different movie genre with each entry, and The World’s End pokes fun at sci-fi movies. While it has a lot in common with Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, it’s even darker than these movies. Shaun of the Dead‘s zombie apocalypse and Hot Fuzz‘s murderous cult feel dark in a pulpy way, but The World’s End has genuine pathos, and its tragic moments don’t feel tied to its sci-fi parody.

The World’s End follows a group of friends reuniting for a pub crawl, and their secrets are gradually revealed as the evening wears on. Gary’s alcoholism and isolation are so severe that he feels compelled to continue the night out despite a deadly alien invasion. This character detail is even more disturbing than any of the violent sci-fi action. Just when Wright’s fans thought they knew what to expect, he changed direction with his final movie in the Cornetto trilogy.