We all love to indulge in the nostalgia of re-watching our favorite childhood movies. But as we do, we often stumble upon jokes that clearly weren't meant for our younger selves.
As it turns out, those sneaky writers and animators have been sneaking in adult humor to kids' movies for years - probably in an attempt to keep the parents entertained after being dragged to the movie theater.
After rewatching some of our favorite classics, here are 17 of the sassiest adult jokes that may ruin your favorite children's movies forever.
In the sequel to the beloved Pixar original, Buzz Lightyear showcases an amusing physical reaction when Jessie the cowgirl impressively jumps across Andy's room in order to to save the day.
After watching on as Jessie showcases her athletic skills, his wings suddenly pop out automatically, indicating his "excitement". This subtle adult innuendo serves as a comedic touch for parents, hinting that Buzz might be more than just a little impressed with Jessie and just can't help the physical reaction.
A blink-and-you-miss-it moment during Prince Eric's wedding has sparked countless debates among fans. The lower portion of the bishop's robe appears to sport a noticeable bulge, suggesting a certain level of, ahem, excitement. While some argue it's merely his knee, others believe it's a cheeky addition by the animators.
The name of the diminutive antagonist in the first "Shrek" film cleverly disguises a playful adult joke. Lord Farquaad's name, when pronounced quickly, sounds like a certain unkind phrase, making parents smirk while it goes over the heads of younger viewers. Give it a go and see if you can hear it...
Marty the Zebra, voiced by the hilarious Chris Rock, delivers a line that plays with words brilliantly. Instead of dropping a curse word when things go awry, he shouts the initials of "Oh, sugar honey iced tea!"—a creative acronym that spells out something far less child-friendly.
Lord Farquaad's Cheeky Moment In The SheetsBack to the little villain of Shrek now, and the scene that shows Farquaad lying in bed asking the magic mirror to repeatedly show him the princess he selected to marry.
It all seems pretty innocent, right? That is until the covers raise slightly and Farquaad has an embarrassed look across his face... you see where this is going right?
Pixar sneaks in another subtle nod for adults when Lightning McQueen meets two flirtatious female cars, Mia and Tia, who flash their "headlights" at him. This wink at car anatomy humorously mirrors a real-life scenario that adult viewers might find themselves chuckling at.
During a scene where characters are sleeping in the jungle, Kronk's tent is noticeably pitched over his pelvic region—a clear innuendo that'll have adults smirking at the playful visual gag.
Zootopia: A “Breaking Bad” ReferenceIn a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, two characters named "Woolter and Jesse" are shown dealing with a blue substance. This is a clear nod to the popular series Breaking Bad, a reference only older viewers would understand.... we hope.
Aladdin and the King of Thieves: Genie's Quick WitIn the underappreciated sequel movie, an earthquake occurs during Aladdin and Jasmine's wedding. This causes the fun-loving Genie to quip: "I thought the Earth wasn't supposed to move until the honeymoon" - a clear joke referencing the couple's wedding night activities. It's a brief, comedic touch only the adults would pick up on.
When Hercules mentions that he hasn't "been around much since the play Oedipus", he comments that he "thought it was a comedy."
Given that Oedipus is a tragedy about a man who unwittingly kills his father and marries his own mother, this dark joke is clearly meant for adults... in particular, those familiar with Greek plays, as this gag still goes over my head.
During one scene, Mr. Copperbottom comments that "making the baby’s the fun part!"
Now, given that he's a robot and not a human, he's referring to actually assembling his newborn robot from a kit. However, there's no doubt there were plenty of adult non-robots who chuckled at this line in the movie theater.
The Cat in the Hat: That’s No Ordinary Garden ToolIn a scene involving gardening equipment, The Cat, played by Mike Myers, finds himself facing a hoe. He reprimands it by calling it a "dirty hoe" before playfully giving it a kiss. I don't think this dual-meaning joke needs any further explanation.
After Nemo is captured by P. Sherman, he learns that the volcano in his fish tank is humorously named "Mount Wannahockaloogie." The playful name, when said aloud, sounds suspiciously like a cheeky euphemism for "wanting to hock a loogie" - a crude term for spitting.
When Linguini struggles to confess a secret to Colette, he awkwardly starts with, "I have this tiny..." leading her eyes (and the audience's attention) downward. The suggestive implication is all in the comedic timing, and it's masterfully done - even if it does fly over the heads of children.
A sharp economic joke surfaces when Gru enters a bank with a sign that reads "Formerly Lehman Brothers." Referencing the real-world financial crisis, it's a sophisticated jab aimed squarely at adult viewers. Lehman Brothers Inc was founded all the way back in 1847, but was forced to declare bankruptcy in 2008.
It certainly is a hilarious jab at the global financial industry.
The Road to El Dorado: Bush AnticsThere's a moment in this film where the two main characters, Miguel and Tulio, are found in some bushes. Their heads pop up, and the positioning and expressions hint at some very non-PG activities. Though children might just think they're goofing around, adults likely caught the underlying implication.
Rugrats Movie: Dr. Who?The name of the frequently mentioned pediatric psychologist, “Dr. Lipschitz”, becomes a lot funnier when pronounced quickly.
This tongue-in-cheek naming surely had parents giggling at the play on words, suggesting the doctor might not know as much as he claims - considering he's always chatting... nonsense.
So, it turns out there's a lot more kids movies out there that are more aimed towards adults than you first thought. No doubt you'll certainly be keeping an eye out now that you're the one watching the movies with your little ones.
