22 Scary Movies for Kids That Won't Keep Them Up All Night
Turn off the lights and turn on one of these horror movies for the family.
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Pop some popcorn and gather up the family. It's movie night! You may have made your way through the best animated movies on Netflix and the best classic kids movies. And on this particular night, you might not be in the mood for funny family movies. Sometimes you just want to turn off the lights and watch a things-that-go-bump-in-the-night scary movie—one that will have you checking under the bed before you go to sleep (if you dare!).
A note: Make sure to check the movie ratings before you press play. You know your kids best, and you don't want to be sitting up with them as a result of nightmares thanks to a movie selection that is too scary. Remember that movie ratings have changed over the years. The PG rating of today is not the same as the PG rating of the 1980s (PG-13 wasn't introduced until the mid-1980s), so you might be surprised to find some older PG movies have more bad language and suggestive themes than you're comfortable with. Check sites like Common Sense Media to see age-specific reviews or, to be certain, watch the movie first without kids to judge appropriateness. Now, on to our list of scary horror movies appropriate for (most) kids.
Arachnophobia (1990)
If the tagline "Eight legs, two fangs, and an attitude" doesn't get you excited to watch, nothing will. This scary movie starring Jeff Daniels is full of creepy crawlies and plenty of laughs.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Jack Skellington inhabits Halloweentown and Christmastown in this animated Tim Burton movie that's perfectly creepy any time of year.
Beetlejuice (1988)
A classic with an all-star cast (Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara) will have you laughing faster than you can say "Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!"
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Billy Crystal and John Goodman star as Mike and Sully, two of the best monsters in the scare factory, who help a tiny human who wanders into their world.
Frankenweenie (2012)
Sparky, a normal family dog, transforms into Frankenweenie through an extraordinary set of circumstances. This is a remake of a 1984 Tim Burton short by the same name.
Casper (1995)
Bill Pullman and Christina Ricci star in this movie about the friendliest of ghosts, but this film will still have you on the lookout for things that go bump in the night.
The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Eddie Murphy stars in this movie based on the theme park ride from Disneyland and Magic Kingdom.
Coraline (2009)
This stop-motion movie stars Dakota Fanning in the title role as a young girl who finds a secret door in her home that takes her to an alternate world, complete with a parallel family and Other Mother (Terry Hatcher).
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (2005)
Master of horror Tim Burton takes you to a spooky Land of the Dead inhabited by a zombie bride (voiced by Helena Bonham Carter). Johnny Depp plays Victor, the groom trying to find his way back to the Land of the Living.
Ghost Patrol (2016)
Two kids and their pet dog join forces to form Ghost Patrol and investigate a haunted house.
Ghostbusters (1984)
Who ya gonna call? Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray star in this classic comedy. Ghostbusters: Afterlife, due in theaters in 2021, finds many of the original actors reprising their roles.
Goosebumps (2015)
Jack Black stars in this adaptation of the R.L. Stine books. Keep the fun going with a double-feature and follow it up with Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween.
Gremlins (1984)
Gizmo and Stripe will take you straight back to the 1980s. Don't forget: Never feed them after midnight!
Jaws (1975)
This one is best saved for the older kids, but it's a must-see (especially if a trip to the beach is not in your near future!). Nothing gets the heart pumping like that theme song.
Little Monsters (1989)
Brian (Fred Savage) confronts the creepy monsters under his bed and ends up making some new friends!
Monster House (2006)
The scary house on the block has taken on a personality of its own in this animated film.
The Boxtrolls (2014)
Orphan Eggs teams up with a new friend to save The Boxtrolls, box-shaped creatures who live beneath the city, from extermination.
The Goonies (1985)
Kids of the 1980s will be yelling "Hey you guys!" when this one comes on. A group of kids find a treasure map and then set off on an unforgettable adventure.
ParaNorman (2012)
Norman can speak to the dead and must summon his abilities to help his fellow townspeople.
The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018)
Jack Black stars as a magician who unlocks a world of witches and wizards in a movie based on a 1973 novel by the same name.
Katie Bowlby is Digital Director at Country Living, where she covers pop culture news including country music, Yellowstone, and all things HGTV, plus gift guides and product reviews. She has been with Country Living for more than 11 years. Before that, she worked for Southern Living. The Indiana University grad also stitches up the cross-stitch pattern for every issue of the magazine.
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