8 Pixar Movie Moments That Took a Serious Turn

      Pixar films have consistently tackled significant questions about life.

      This includes some rather weighty themes.

      Here are eight scenes from Pixar movies that took a serious turn.

      Hopper's Gruesome End in A Bug’s Life

      The conclusion of A Bug’s Life – Credit: Pixar

      Hopper, the bullying grasshopper, serves as the primary villain in A Bug’s Life, one of Pixar’s early successes.

      He’s unlikable: he demands food from the innocent inhabitants of Ant Valley and generally exhibits bullying behavior.

      Yet, even he doesn’t deserve his horrifying fate — being fed to baby birds.

      The Adult Joke in Toy Story 2 (1999)

      Stinky Pete proposes an inappropriate quid pro quo in Toy Story 2. – Credit: Pixar

      Toy Story 2 is a beloved classic, filled with charming insights about childhood and friendship.

      However, it also features a mature joke that the decision-makers ultimately deemed too inappropriate.

      A “blooper reel” that was initially included in the end credits of Toy Story 2 was modified during the #MeToo movement to cut out a joke in which Stinky Pete (Kelsey Grammar) attempts to entice two twin Barbies by saying, “Y’know, I’m sure I could get you a part in Toy Story 3.”

      The Scream Extractor in Monsters Inc. (2001)

      We love Monsters Inc., but was this really necessary? – Credit: Pixar

      Monsters Inc. starts with a somewhat dark premise: the monsters’ lifestyle relies on the screams of the children they scare. The situation lightens with the twist that the monsters are actually more frightened of the kids than vice versa.

      However, it escalates when Boo is strapped into a device called a Scream Extractor designed to maximize her terrified screams.

      Fortunately, Sully (John Goodman) rescues her in one of the most satisfying moments in the Pixar films.

      The Barracuda Incident in Finding Nemo (2003)

      Yes, Finding Nemo goes there. – Credit: Pixar

      We can understand any parent wanting to skip the intense beginning of Finding Nemo, where Nemo’s mother, Coral, and all his soon-to-hatch siblings are consumed by a barracuda. Ouch.

      This horrific event sets the tone for the rest of the film, where Nemo’s father, Marlin, attempts to face his various (understandable) fears of the ocean.

      Finding Nemo continues a longstanding, somewhat troubling trend of beginning Disney and/or Pixar movies with a mother’s death.

      Finding Nemo, Yet Again (2003)

      Sharks about to revert in Finding Nemo. – Credit: Pixar

      At one point, Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) stumbles into a 12-step meeting for sharks trying to overcome their bloodlust.

      There’s nothing grim about seeking help, so kudos to the sharks.

      However, things turn dark when the sharks relapse and go on a feeding frenzy.

      The Jumper Rescue in The Incredibles (2004)

      A scene in The Incredibles that may shake your trust in people. – Credit: Pixar

      Mr. Incredible steps away from superhero work — for a time — after he saves a man attempting to end his life by jumping off a building, only for the man to sue him afterward. “You didn’t save my life, you ruined my death!” the ungrateful survivor tells Mr. Incredible.

      The grim newsreel-style footage adds to what is arguably one of the most intense sequences in Pixar’s films.

      This is in addition to the insurance company where Mr. Incredible works exploiting the elderly. Dark.

      The Incinerator Scene in Toy Story 3 (2010)

      Credit: Pixar

      In Toy Story 3, Buzz, Woody, and the others face the end of Andy’s childhood and their uncertain future.

      However, the situation reaches a low point when they find themselves in an incinerator, seemingly facing their doom.

      They are saved in the end, thankfully, but the incinerator scene evokes as much terror as any Scream Extractor in Monsters Inc.

      The Heartbreaking Loss in Up (2009)

      Ellie and Carl in Up. – Credit: Pixar

      The opening scenes of Up include a poignant and heartbreaking portrayal of Ellie experiencing a miscarriage.

      “I remember watching it for the first time and, naturally, crying,” said Patrick Lin, the director of photography for Up. “In fact, I cried three times during production.”

      This moment likely goes over children’s heads but would resonate deeply with parents.

      If you found this article enjoyable, you might also like our list of 11 Stunning Pixar Movie Jokes Aimed at Adults.

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      Main image: Toy Story 3. All images by Pixar.