10 Disney Villains Who Went Beyond Evil

The amount of destroyed childhoods caused single-handedly by Scar in incalculable. The Lion King was the highest grossing animated film for the longest time, with children falling in love with it for the beautiful visuals, the catchy soundtrack and the exuberant characters. But there’s also one particular scene which never leaves a dry eye in the house and it is of course Mufasa’s untimely death.

In this retelling of Hamlet with lions, Scar longs to be an all-powerful King but the position is even further out of his reach after the birth of his nephew Simba. But this won’t stop him from working his way to the top and he devises a wicked plan to overthrow his brother Mufasa and his nephew for the throne and…well, you know the rest.

Scar tricks Simba into waiting in a deep gorge for a ‘surprise’ in which he is met with a deadly stampede. He leaves Mufasa to save his own son before then watching his brother struggle up the gorge’s edge. Scar looks his brother dead in the eye and coldly whispers “long live the king” before letting him fall to his death.

It’s a dark, chilling moment which catches all audiences off guard in first viewing. We are only left to see the cold dead body of the King on the ground whilst Simba tearfully cries for help. Without even a little bit of sympathy, Scar leads his nephew into believing it was his fault for his own father’s death before banishing him and sending for the Hyenas to have him killed.

Scar was obviously a shady character from his first appearance but this moment just solidifies what a vengeful monster he is amongst the kingdom. A sadistic murderer, a betrayer and even after he did become ruler, he was a terrible leader who led all the animals to starvation.