The NeverEnding Story (1984)

• 7.3/10 (via IMDb)
• FSK 6

The main storyline of the film is dark, which becomes increasingly evident and philosophical towards the end of the film. The NeverEnding Story tells the story of a grieving 10-year-old trying to save a decaying fantasy world from vanishing into a void of pure nothingness – light fare indeed.

The scene where Atreyu, the protagonist’s loyal horse, is literally swallowed by sadness has probably broken many child souls. The horse sinks into death while the boy desperately pulls on the reins and sobs uncontrollably.

All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)

• 6.7/10 (via IMDb)
• FSK 0

In the first 10 minutes of the film, a shepherd dog named Charlie is murdered by a rival gangster bulldog. And the scene is pretty disturbing for kids: The bulldog makes sure that Charlie is so drunk that he can hardly stand. His murderer takes him to the end of a dock and blindfolds him with the hint that they have a surprise for him. This surprise is a car that they push over a hill, hitting him at high speed and throwing him into the water. It is unclear whether Charlie died from drowning or the impact, but that probably does not matter to the horrified children at that moment.

As if that weren’t scary enough, Charlie is sent back to Earth after his brief visit to heaven. Attached is a ticking clock that counts down the minutes of his life and is constantly in danger of breaking.

You’re welcome, dear children, have you ever thought about your own mortality?