You Will Never See 1 Disney Movie on Disney+

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Disney+ boasts an impressive collection of movies and TV shows, including nearly all of Disney’s beloved films, from recent releases to timeless classics. It’s a dream come true for Disney fans! However, despite having access to almost its entire film library, there’s one Disney movie you’ll never find on the streaming service. While historically significant, Disney has chosen not to make it available and doesn’t want to promote it.

Released in 1946 and produced by Walt Disney with distribution by RKO Radio Pictures, Song of the South was a musical film combining live action and animation. It drew its story from the Uncle Remus tales – a series of African American folktales first collected and published in 1881 by Joel Chandler Harris. While the film was initially successful and even won an Academy Award in 1947 for the song “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah”, it has always been criticized for how it depicts African Americans. Because of this controversy, Disney has never released the film on home video in the United States, and it’s not available on Disney+ either – and it likely never will be.

Song of the South Has Been Criticized As Being Racist From the Very Start

Disney’s Song of the South tells the story of young Johnny, who goes to stay with his grandmother at her plantation after the Civil War. There, he becomes friends with Uncle Remus, a worker on the plantation, who shares traditional African American folktales about Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Fox, and Br’er Bear. Johnny learns valuable life lessons from these stories, helping him navigate his experiences. However, both the original Uncle Remus stories and the Disney film have been criticized for their depiction of plantation life. Critics point out that they romanticize a system built on slavery and reinforce harmful stereotypes about African Americans, overlooking the painful reality of enslaved people’s lives.

Upon its release, the film faced criticism for how it portrayed Black characters. Some viewers felt the movie didn’t clearly show that the Civil War was over, potentially implying the characters were still enslaved. Critics also pointed out that the Black characters were depicted as overly submissive and spoke with exaggerated accents, which reinforced harmful stereotypes. The NAACP, while acknowledging the film’s artistic merit, publicly protested its depiction of slavery, arguing it glorified a painful past.

Even after eighty years, the same criticisms of the film still apply. The Black characters are portrayed as exaggerated stereotypes that perpetuate racism. It’s also deeply problematic how the film seems to idealize slavery and life on plantations. For example, Uncle Remus is shown as happy and kind, even while telling stories to white children who are likely the descendants of his former owners. This suggests that a life of servitude, where he lacked basic rights and opportunities, was somehow positive.

Other Problematic Disney Films Have Been Added With Disclaimers — But That Won’t Work For Song of the South

While Song of the South isn’t the only Disney film with problematic content, its issues are far more significant than those found in movies like Dumbo. Dumbo included some outdated and offensive stereotypes, which Disney now acknowledges with a content warning. However, a simple disclaimer wouldn’t be enough for Song of the South. Unlike Dumbo, where the problematic parts are limited to a few characters or scenes, Song of the South is fundamentally based on prejudiced depictions of African Americans and a romanticized view of the post-Civil War South. Because the film’s very foundation is rooted in prejudice, it’s unlikely Disney will ever release it on its streaming platform.

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2026-02-11 19:14