The first sequences of Disney films, animated or live action are typically uplifting and inviting in tone. Whether they feature an introductory song number, establishing a lighter tone to the entire film, or not, most of the opening sequences in Disney features are quite light. It has been established through Disney’s earliest days of feature filmmaking, where the storybook opening is religiously utilized. The formula has since been broken and taken to new heights as Disney has made substantially more mature films. These mature and darker films establish themselves and their tone in the very first scenes.
It is that first scene which is integral to the overall tone of the film. That introduction gives the audience the feeling of the entire film, and it is important to establish that as soon as possible. Disney has done this with immense stride. There are a select few Disney films that have an established dark tone, but even darker opening sequences. Following the traditional castle logo, that may or not reflect the film’s theme itself, these scenes made their mark on Disney’s extensive filmography. They stand out for their boldness and deviation from the storybook. Here are those dark opening scenes.

8 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

The third in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series came with one of the more brutal of Disney’s opening sequences. At World’s End’s opening scene is perhaps one of Disney’s most intense because of its sheer hopeless presentation right from the first shot. The sequence shows the British Royal Army, as well as the East India Trading Company, putting the noose, quite literally, around piracy. Those either guilty firsthand or by association of piracy are shown to be hanged by the neck until dead.
However, when a young boy enters the scene (mirroring the first time we saw William Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl), it brings quite a shock. He is so small he needs a step stool to reach the hangman’s rope. However, when he sings the pirate’s song, Hoist the Colors, there comes a power struggle. While it does not end well for the boy or the dozens of pirates hanged, it is a strong opening sequence that established the film as one of Disney’s boldest.

7 Finding Nemo

There are those few great Pixar films and Disney movies that are defined by their opening sequence. Finding Nemo is one of those films. The opening features Marlin the clownfish see his entire family eaten by a predator fish. With only one child who survived, the grieving father and his overprotective nature are justified within the first few minutes. We saw the horrific events that ensued and the trauma the poor clownfish had to endure. It was one of the most shocking opening for Disney and Pirxar up until that point.

6 Up

Disney and Pixar’s UP features one of the most emotional opening sequences in film history. While it is longer than most openings, it is one streamlined narrative journey through time. The sequence is a love story and details the beginnings of adventures that never truly came to fruition. From the adventure of parenthood, to the journey through the clouds, none of their dreams ever came true. While Carl and Ellie never got to do either of those things together, the sequence gives Carl the reasons to embark on his quests alone.
Related: Top 10 Opening Scenes Of All Time, Ranked
The ending to Ellie’s story is immensely sad, and creates a certifiable tear-jerker within the first few minutes of the film itself. However, the score is what drives the emotions of the scene; it has its highs and lows, where we are forced to see and hear the harsh realities of life. This is quite a heavy toll to witness.. for a kids film.

5 Disney’s A Christmas Carol

While this film does begin with the storybook opening, the first image of Disney’s A Christmas Carol is that of a dead man in a casket. The man, Jacob Marley, was very dead indeed. The audience, who rarely see a dead body in these kinds of Christimas films, are not only exposed to that horrific image, but to see Ebeneezer Scrooge (played by Jim Carrey) actually steal the coins off the corpse establishes the character he will be. The scene is rather eerie and unsettling, and sets the tone for the rest of this darker interpretation of Charles Dickens’ Christmas tale.

4 Avengers: Infinity War

While this film is a perfect bridge from the critically acclaimed film Thor: Ragnarok, it is a far cry tonally. The first sequence of Avengers: Infinity War is the most intense out of all of Marvel Studios and Disney properties. There is brutal hostility, torture, and gut-wrenching violence. Thor and Loki are under the thumb of Thanos and The Black Order, who show no mercy. The MCU had been leading to Thanos as the big bad, and they did not disappoint. Thanos had to show his strength and brutality, which he did by proving triumphant over Thor, the Hulk, and brutally killing Loki. All of this within the first five minutes of the epic.

3 The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Disney’s animated adaptation of Victor Hugo’s tale ended up being one of the darkest films the studio had ever made. While the first scene of The Hunchback of Notre Dame has the exposition told through song, it is by no means in fairytale style. The orchestra is haunting and the story that is told is even darker. The story of Quasimodo’s beginning is filled with death and violence. To see his mother killed on screen by the evil Judge Frollo, established him as a relentless man. His motives and desires come to fruition, and he does not hold back from his faith and fear in God. The opening sequence gets all the necessary information out, but tells it through a dark overture.
Related: Disney in the ’60s and ’70s: The Most Underrated Years

2 The Black Cauldron

The prologue of The Black Cauldron tells a powerful tale surrounding death and introduces the even darker tone the film will present. Afterwards, it shows the protagonist Taran eager to be the warrior he had always wanted to be. While the old Dallben seems rooted in tradition and superstition, it is an interesting contrast of characters. One remains inside, with the other looking to the outside world, where it will soon be filled with the undead. This is one of the company’s darkest animated films, and has been an underrated Disney gem that begs viewing.

1 Return to Oz

There is nothing over the rainbow in this sequel to The Wizard of Oz. Disney went in the darker direction with this version of L. Frank Baum’s novels. Return to Oz can be quite disturbing at times, and the opening scene lacks magic and colorful exploration. What makes this scene so dark is its hopelessness. Dorothy is perceived to be mentally ill as she looks out into the world outside her four walls in Kansas. Her aunt and uncle seem to have no other choice but to look into electrotherapy to “save” her. Seeing this conflict is a rather dark introduction to these characters and grounds the story in our reality for a bit. However, once Dorothy does break into Oz itself, things take a strange turn.

Read Next

About The Author