27 Movies That Are So Traumatizing, People Are Still Thinking About Them

    These movies gave us nightmares.

    Recently, journalist Anne Gaviola asked her followers, "What movie traumatized you as a kid?"

    What movie traumatized you as a kid?

    And people had some really great responses! Here are some of the best:

    1. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

    The Child Catcher, a man with a carnival hat and cloak, stands outside his horse and carriage

    @AnneGaviola Believe it or not, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! I was terrified of the Child Catcher.

    2. 101 Dalmations

    Cruella De Vill, a scrawny woman in a fur coat, points her cigarette holder at something offscreen

    @AnneGaviola 101 Dalmatians, the original Disney cartoon, I was so traumatized by Cruella DeVil that my dad invented her sister , Kindella, who rescued all the dogs, I was about 4.

    3. Old Yeller

    Old Yeller and a young boy look at something together

    @AnneGaviola Sounds silly but “Old Yeller” traumatized me as a little kid when I saw it as probably a 6 or 7 year old. I was so sad and never watched the movie again for probably 30 years until I had kids.

    4. The Exorcist

    A woman, with a her eyes rolled back, floats above her bed with her arms outstretched

    @AnneGaviola The Exorcist - still haven’t gotten over it!

    5. Jaws

    A man with glasses and a cigarette in his mouth looks at camera as a shark jumps up behind him

    @AnneGaviola Jaws I used to think sharks could get anywhere after that. Swimming pools, the bath tub, lakes, rivers, creeks, and of course, the ocean. At a pool party at my uncle’s house, I couldn’t understand why everyone was so happy. I thought Jaws was coming any second.

    6. Alien

    A slimy alien covers a man's face

    @AnneGaviola Alien. Specifically, this scene. I was 8 when the movie came out, still young when it ran on tv for the 1st time. I was reminded of what I learned about childbirth; THAT scene cemented my decision to never be pregnant. [Gif: A guy writhing in pain as an alien burst out of him.]

    7. Bambi

    Bambi cuddles with his mother in a forrest

    8. The Wizard of Oz

    Dorothy, the Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man look on in wonder at something

    @AnneGaviola The Wizard of Oz--specifically, The Wicked Witch of the West

    9. Return to Oz

    A young girl sits in a dark room on a makeshift thrown

    @AnneGaviola The only answer to this is Return to Oz

    10. Poltergeist

    A young blonde girl stares in shock while sitting next to a scary clown doll

    11. The Blair Witch Project

    A man stares at a stone wall

    @AnneGaviola Why has no one said this already?! 😲

    12. Dumbo

    Dumbo, who's dressed like a baby, stands on a plank in the middle of flames

    @AnneGaviola Dumbo. Seeing how Dumbo's mom was treated absolutely devastated me and kept me up at night crying about animals forced to work in the circus. Absolutely broke my heart and I never forgot it. I've hated the Ringling Brothers since I was a small child.

    13. Children of the Corn

    A young creepy girl with long braids and a sharp weapon walks through a cornfield

    14. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

    A woman nervously bites her nails as another woman, who looks ill, looks on at her

    @AnneGaviola Robert Aldrich’s What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? starring Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.

    15. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

    The cast glides down Willy Wonka's chocolate river in a boat

    @AnneGaviola The tunnel scene from 1971's Willy Wonka movie

    16. The Birds

    A woman is attacked by lots of tiny birds

    17. Watership Down

    A rabid dog carries a bloody rabbit in its mouth

    @AnneGaviola Watership Down. My parents thought, it's a cartoon about rabbits!! Left us in the basement to watch. Little did they know... little did they know. Haunted me for years. Watched it recently and I could feel the anxiety build up!

    18. The Neverending Story

    Atreyo, a young boy, pets Falkor, a gigantic Luckdragon

    @AnneGaviola Neverending Story. The scene with the horse. 😭

    19. The Witches

    A terrifying witch wearing jewelry and lipstick stares at something offscreen

    @AnneGaviola Still struggling to come to terms with the fact The Witches was supposed to be a kids' film.

    20. The Ring

    Samara stands in a dirty dress with her hair in front of her face in a dimly lit room

    21. Pet Sematary

    Zelda laughs maniacally

    @AnneGaviola Pet sematary, the original. Didn't help that I was attacked by a barn cat after watching it.

    22. The Truman Show

    Truman touches the cloud wall at the edge of the set

    @AnneGaviola "The Truman Show" Legit thought there were cameras everywhere and I was the star of the show for a bit thereafter. (~9 years old) Little did I know the future that would soon be upon us...

    23. Night of the Living Dead

    A group of dead people creepily walk through the grass

    @AnneGaviola Original "Night of the Living Dead".. The ending..this guy😭 (I was 7yrs old)

    24. The Thing

    The Thing gnarls menacingly

    @AnneGaviola The Thing. I watched that when I was like 10 years old and I was afraid of dogs for a solid month. wtf were my parents thinking

    25. It

    A close up of Pennywise in creepy clown makeup staring menacingly at camera

    26. Psycho

    Marion drives with a determined look in her eye

    @AnneGaviola Psycho. I made sure I always had a clear shower curtain after seeing it. 🔪

    And finally...

    27. The Lion King

    Simba runs away from a wildebeest stampede

    @AnneGaviola The Lion King. Mufasa’s death scene had me in bits. I was only a kid and had never really thought about death. It still gets me now.

    What movies scarred you as a child? Let us know in the comments!