Death and loss are complex concepts, especially for young audiences. However, many children’s movies have explored these themes in poignant, accessible ways that ultimately help guide young viewers through their own emotions or experiences with grief.
As the father of four children and a big movie fan, I often turn to movies to help my children understand the complexities of life. Along the way, I’ve compiled a list of children’s movies that do a great job of teaching kids about death.
These 20 kids’ movies highlight loss in unique ways, creating worlds that range from dark and moody to vibrant and celebratory, and ultimately teach essential life lessons about death to even the youngest of audiences. I’ve included movies that will appeal to children of various ages, so there’s something for everyone.
Also, be sure to check out our list of kids’ movies that teach lessons about empathy.
Spoilers ahead…
The Lion King (1994)
The Lion King follows young Simba’s journey from a carefree cub to a responsible king, marked by adventure, self-discovery, and the heartbreaking loss of his father, Mufasa.
Mufasa—Simba’s wise and nurturing father whose untimely death leaves an irreplaceable void—is central to Simba’s coming-of-age, as his absence propels the young lion into a life filled with both sorrow and the promise of destiny.
How Death Is Presented: The film presents death with profound emotional gravity through the tragic loss of Mufasa, whose sudden demise underscores death as a natural yet excruciating part of the circle of life.
How The Lion King Teaches Children About Death: It teaches children that death is not merely an end but a transformative passage, encouraging them to grow through loss, assume responsibility, and cherish the enduring connections that bind all living beings.
Coco (2017)
Coco follows young Miguel, an aspiring musician, as he embarks on a magical journey into the Land of the Dead. Miguel’s journey is focused on uncovering his family’s long-hidden secrets and embracing his cultural heritage. Along this enchanting path, the film highlights the loss of Miguel’s beloved ancestors, whose lives, memories, and enduring influence shape his identity and keep his family’s legacy alive.
How Death Is Presented: In Coco, death is depicted as a vibrant, celebratory realm where the departed continue to influence the living, transforming loss into a joyful remembrance that honors family heritage.
How Coco Teaches Children About Death: It teaches children that death is a natural continuation of life, inspiring them to honor and remember loved ones while also understanding that the bonds of family persist after death.
Bambi (1942)
Bambi is a timeless story about a young deer growing up in the forest whose life is irreversibly changed by the sudden loss of his mother. The devastating death of his one and only primary caregiver and source of comfort marks a poignant turning point in his journey toward maturity.
How Death Is Presented: Death in Bambi is handled with delicate subtlety through the heart-wrenching loss of his mother. For many children, Bambi is one of their first introductions to tragedy in the form of loss.
How Bambi Teaches Children About Death: Bambi teaches children that while the pain of losing a loved one is profound, loss is a natural part of growing up, fostering empathy, resilience, and a deeper appreciation for life’s delicate balance.
Up (2009)
The Pixar movie Up masterfully tells the heartfelt story of Carl, an elderly widower who embarks on an unexpected adventure to fulfill a lifelong dream while carrying the cherished memory of his late wife, Ellie. The film poignantly captures the loss of Ellie—Carl’s beloved wife, partner, and best friend—whose absence profoundly shapes his emotional journey and quest for renewal.
How Death Is Presented: The film introduces death with tender poignancy through a montage of Carl’s life with Ellie, portraying her as the irreplaceable source of love and stability whose loss leaves a lasting impact.
How Up Teaches Children About Death: It teaches children that although losing someone dear can be deeply painful, the cherished memories and enduring love they leave behind can inspire new adventures and personal growth.
Big Hero 6 (2014)
Big Hero 6 follows Hiro, a young tech genius whose life is upended by a personal tragedy that propels him toward heroism and innovation in a futuristic city. Central to his grief is the loss of his older brother, Tadashi—a mentor, sibling, and guiding light—whose untimely death profoundly disrupts Hiro’s world.
How Death Is Presented: Death is introduced indirectly through the loss of Tadashi, whose role as both a mentor and beloved sibling makes his absence a powerful catalyst for Hiro’s emotional and heroic journey.
How Big Hero 6 Teaches Children About Death: It teaches children that even amid sorrow, grief can be transformed into strength and creativity, empowering them to channel loss into acts of courage and resilience.
Charlotte’s Web (1973/2006)
Charlotte’s Web tells the tender story of Wilbur, a young pig, and his unlikely friendship with Charlotte, a wise and caring spider who becomes a maternal figure on the farm. As the narrative unfolds, Wilbur faces the eventual loss of Charlotte—his nurturing friend and guide—adding a bittersweet depth to his journey of growth and understanding.
How Death Is Presented: Death is depicted as a natural part of the farm’s cycle through the gentle, inevitable loss of Charlotte, whose passing marks a poignant farewell to a beloved companion.
How Charlotte’s Web Teaches Children About Death: It teaches children that loss can deepen the value of cherished relationships, encouraging them to treasure memories and understand that partings, though sorrowful, are intrinsic to the cycle of life.
Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
Bridge to Terabithia centers on the imaginative friendship between two children who create a magical world, only to be confronted by a sudden, tragic event. The heart-wrenching loss of Leslie shatters this imaginative realm—Jess’s best friend and creative partner—whose unexpected death forces a confrontation with the harsh realities of grief.
How Death Is Presented: Death is portrayed in a raw, unfiltered manner through the sudden loss of Leslie, highlighting the profound emotional impact of losing someone irreplaceable in one’s life. This death may be too much for younger audiences, who may not understand precisely what happened to Leslie.
How Bridge to Terabithia Teaches Children About Death: It teaches children that expressing grief and treasuring memories are essential to healing and that even the deepest sorrow can eventually lead to personal strength and understanding.
The Land Before Time (1988)
The Land Before Time follows a group of young dinosaurs who, after losing their families, embark on a perilous journey through a prehistoric landscape. The profound loss of their parents and familial groups thrusts these young creatures into a harsh world, emphasizing the inevitable presence of loss in the natural order.
How Death Is Presented: Death is interwoven into the fabric of this ancient world through the stark absence of parental figures, underscoring the natural yet painful reality of survival.
How The Land Before Time Teaches Children About Death: It teaches children that loss, while challenging, cultivates resilience and the importance of forming new bonds, affirming that life continues even in the wake of tragedy.
Soul (2020)
Soul is a Pixar film that follows Joe, a middle school music teacher whose life takes an unexpected turn when he finds himself in a metaphysical realm between life and the afterlife. Although Joe does not face the death of a specific loved one, the film poignantly explores the loss of everyday moments and unfulfilled connections that silently shape his identity.
How Death Is Presented: Death in Soul is portrayed as a transformative transition rather than a definitive end, inviting viewers to reflect on the quiet losses that accompany everyday life.
How Soul Teaches Children About Death: It teaches children that every ending is part of a more significant journey, encouraging them to appreciate every moment and to understand that life’s essence extends beyond physical existence—even amidst subtle, everyday losses.
Lilo & Stitch (2002)
Lilo & Stitch is a heartwarming animated adventure that follows Lilo, a spirited young Hawaiian girl coping with the profound loss of her parents, who died tragically and left her in the care of her older sister, Nani. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Hawaiian culture, Lilo’s journey of overcoming loneliness is intertwined with her unexpected friendship with Stitch, a mischievous yet endearing alien experiment, as she learns to navigate grief and discover the true meaning of family.
How Death Is Presented: In Lilo & Stitch, death is subtly woven into the narrative through the quiet absence of Lilo’s parents—the primary figures of love and security in her life—whose loss casts a gentle, lingering shadow over her world. This tragic backstory, deeply felt by both Lilo and Nani, transforms the void of loss into a powerful impetus for forming new, unconventional bonds.
How Lilo & Stitch Teaches Children About Death: The animated movie teaches children that the pain of losing loved ones, though profound, can be a catalyst for resilience and growth. The film encourages young viewers to understand that while grief may alter life’s course, it also opens the door to unexpected connections, nurturing hope and the redefinition of family in a compassionate, supportive way.
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
Kubo and the Two Strings follows a young boy on a magical quest in a mythical world, where the power of storytelling helps him confront the pain of personal loss. His journey is deeply marked by the loss of his mother—a nurturing presence whose absence sets him on a quest to understand his past and reclaim his identity.
How Death Is Presented: Death is interwoven with myth and magic through the loss of Kubo’s mother, whose departure casts a long shadow over his life and propels his search for meaning.
How Kubo and the Two Strings Teaches Children About Death: It teaches children that memories and stories can transform grief into a legacy of courage, showing that even profound loss can inspire resilience and the discovery of inner strength.
Frozen (2013)
Frozen tells the story of two royal sisters whose lives are irrevocably shaped by the loss of their parents, setting them on individual paths toward self-discovery and emotional healing. The tragic absence of their parents—who were the pillars of love, guidance, and security—casts a lasting shadow over their lives and their quest for identity.
How Death Is Presented: Death in Frozen is introduced subtly through the quiet absence of parental figures, using gentle imagery and poignant musical cues to underscore their loss’s deep, enduring impact.
How Frozen Teaches Children About Death: Frozen teaches children that even amid profound personal loss, the bonds of family and memory provide the strength to heal, fostering resilience and the hope of new beginnings.
Finding Nemo (2003)
Finding Nemo is an adventurous underwater journey centered on Marlin, a cautious clownfish whose life is forever altered by a sudden tragedy. The story is driven by the loss of Marlin’s wife and most of their eggs—his closest family—leaving him to raise his only remaining son, Nemo, in an unpredictable ocean.
How Death Is Presented: Death is woven into the narrative from the outset through the profound loss of Marlin’s family, setting a poignant tone that underscores both vulnerability and the enduring power of love.
How Finding Nemo Teaches Children About Death: It teaches children that even in the face of irreplaceable loss, love and perseverance can guide one through life’s darkest currents, offering hope and resilience amidst grief.
The Iron Giant (1999)
The Iron Giant tells the story of a young boy, Hogarth, who forms an unlikely and deeply moving friendship with a colossal, gentle robot during a time of uncertainty. Their bond is forever marked by the robot’s self-sacrificial act—a profound loss that redefines their relationship and underscores the heavy price of protection.
How Death Is Presented: Death is portrayed through the giant’s noble sacrifice, emphasizing the bittersweet nature of letting go and the transformative impact of selfless love.
How The Iron Giant Teaches Children About Death: It teaches children that sometimes the most profound expressions of love are found in sacrifice, and that letting go, though painful, can be a courageous and transformative part of life’s journey.
The Tale of Despereaux (2008)
The Tale of Despereaux follows a courageous mouse who embarks on a perilous adventure in a fairy-tale kingdom, facing danger, rejection, and emotional isolation. His journey is tinged with the loss of familial warmth and acceptance—emotional voids that underscore his struggle to belong.
How Death Is Presented: Death is woven into the narrative as a symbolic absence of the love and acceptance Despereaux longs for, highlighting the deep emotional scars that loss can inflict even without a literal passing.
How The Tale of Despereaux Teaches Children About Death: It teaches children that the pain of loss, whether through physical absence or emotional isolation, can be met with courage and compassion, ultimately guiding them toward hope and renewed connection.
A Monster Calls (2016)
A Monster Calls explores the emotional journey of a young boy coping with his mother’s terminal illness as he encounters a mysterious creature who guides him through his turbulent emotions. The looming loss of his mother—his primary source of love, care, and security—casts a heavy shadow over his everyday life and inner world.
How Death Is Presented: Death is presented with raw honesty through the impending loss of his mother, depicted with evocative symbolism that captures the complexity of facing a beloved figure’s gradual departure.
How A Monster Calls Teaches Children About Death: It teaches children that while grief can be overwhelming, confronting difficult emotions head-on is essential to healing and understanding life’s transient nature.
The Little Prince (2015)
The Little Prince is an enchanting adaptation of the classic tale, blending imaginative wonder with reflective meditations on loss, memory, and the fading of cherished connections. The narrative hints at a deep-seated loss—a fading bond from a cherished relationship that once defined the protagonist’s early years, evoking bittersweet nostalgia.
How Death Is Presented: In The Little Prince, death is depicted with a gentle, reflective tone, symbolizing the quiet disappearance of treasured bonds and the inevitable end of childhood innocence.
How The Little Prince Teaches Children About Death: It teaches children that memories of lost connections continue to inspire and guide us, encouraging them to cherish every moment and understand that every farewell carries the seed of a new beginning.
Coraline (2009)
Coraline follows a curious young girl who discovers a hidden, parallel world that mirrors hers, forcing her to confront eerie challenges and unsettling changes. While the film does not center on the death of a specific loved one, it symbolically explores the loss of the comforting familiarity of her original family bonds as she is drawn into an alternate, more sinister reality.
How Death Is Presented: Death and loss in Coraline are portrayed in an abstract, haunting manner, using shadowy visuals and unsettling symbolism to evoke the fear of losing what is safe and familiar.
How Coraline Teaches Children About Death: It teaches children that facing the unknown and overcoming the fear of losing familiar comforts can lead to personal empowerment and growth, transforming apprehension into resilience.
James and the Giant Peach (1996)
James and the Giant Peach shares the journey of a young orphan whose life is transformed by an extraordinary adventure inside a magical peach. The loss of his parents profoundly influences the narrative—the sole source of familial love he ever knew—which leaves him with a profound sense of loneliness until unexpected friendships offer solace and healing.
How Death Is Presented: Death is subtly interlaced into the narrative through the quiet tragedy of losing his parents, setting the stage for a story where sorrow gradually gives way to wonder and hope.
How James and the Giant Peach Teaches Children About Death: It teaches children that even after profound loss, new relationships and adventures can mend a broken heart, turning grief into a journey toward renewed joy and connection.
Spirited Away (2001)
Spirited Away follows Chihiro, a young girl who is mysteriously transported into a magical realm where the rules of life and identity are constantly challenged. Her journey is marked by the symbolic loss of her familiar world and the painful separation from her parents, signifying a farewell to the safety and comfort of her past life. Studio Ghibli, the production study that created Spirited Away, is a master of storytelling, and it shows in every aspect of this movie’s storytelling.
How Death Is Presented: Death is not depicted as a direct event but is interwoven into the narrative through the loss of Chihiro’s old life, using allegory and transformation to convey the inevitability of change and parting.
How Spirited Away Teaches Children About Death: It teaches children that while leaving behind the familiar can be daunting, embracing change is a natural part of growing up and that every ending opens the door to new adventures and self-discovery.