The second Disney's 1928 animated short film Steamboat Willie—marking the first official appearance of Mickey Mouse on-screen—entered the public domain, several filmmakers jumped at the opportunity to turn this beloved character into a horror icon.
Multiple Mickey Mouse horror movies were announced, starting with the 2024 film The Mouse Trap. Later this year, we'll also get Screamboat with David Howard Thornton, but there's a third Steamboat Willie horror movie in the mix. Keep reading to learn more about all of the different Mickey Mouse horror movies that are in the works or have already been released.
Screamboat
This is the most popular Steamboat Willie horror movie right now. An upcoming comedy-slasher releasing in theaters in April, Screamboat has gained notoreity because of its silly creature design and the fact it starts Terrifier's own David Howard Thornton, who is no stranger to donning heavy prosthetics and makeup to terrorize us all as murderous characters. He's best known for playing Art the Clown in all three Terrifier feature films, but he's also played an evil version of the Grinch in The Mean One.
A Staten Island ferry turns into a slaughter playground when a demonic mutant mouse emerges from the bowels of the ship to wreak (mini) havoc on the passengers. Allison Pittel, Amy Schumacher, and Jesse Posey star, with appearances by Tyler Posey and comedians Brian Quinn and Joe DeRosa. Iconic Events Releasing will release Screamboat in theaters for a limited time starting on April 2.
I Heart Willie
This Mickey Mouse movie is some kind of freaky torture movie where Mickey harvests the skin of his victims and is also weirdly... hot? He's got a six-pack anyway and he's shirtless frequently so I guess it's like a horror-Mickey and thirst trap-Mickey. Interesting.
Released in theaters for "one night only" this past February, there's no easy way to watch I Heart Willie right now, but I imagine it will be released on digital platforms and/or physically at some point later this year.
The Mouse Trap
The Mouse Trap was the first of the Steamboat Willie horror movies to get released. As this is the only one that received a wide release on VOD, it's the only one on this list I've been able to see thus far and I have to say, it was disappointing.
I wasn't expecting much from this public domain horror movie but The Mouse Trap felt like it was hardly even trying. Mickey isn't even on-screen much. "Mickey" is an arcade manager who becomes hypnotized after watching a copy of Steamboat Willie and starts killing off a group of people trapped inside the building.