2. The Incredibles (2004)
Pixar’s very own superhero movie is widely considered one of the greatest animated films ever made. The Incredibles really does deserve its plaudits, no one is denying that. However, it does one of the most terrible hidden messages imaginable, particularly for a family film.
The film starts with Mr. Incredible averting a disaster while distracted by a young fan. He rudely tells the boy to stop trying to be a hero because he doesn’t have any special powers. Predictably, that boy grows up to hatch a villainous plan, using his incredible inventions to trick the world into loving him.
Basically, The Incredibles asserts that if you aren’t born special, you should just give up. It’s a remarkably exclusionary message for a film aimed mostly at children, and it’s only made worse by the ending. The impostor is stopped and the REAL heroes are allowed to get back to work. Sorry, non-superpowered kids – looks like you’ll have to settle for mediocrity.