Spooky movies to enjoy with the whole family
Looking for the best scary movies for your kids? Something spooky to watch that is suitable for the whole family? We have the full lowdown on alternative horror movies for those who don't like to be too scared!
Watching scary movies with your kids
Finding a scary movie for your children to watch can be a harder task than you might originally think. You don't want to have them grappling with some freakishly scary psychological themes that will give them nightmares, but on the other hand a lot of children are drawn to scary movies and want a little jump or exciting scary tingle to add to the excitement!
This list is full of recommendations for movies that really hit the spot between primary school age children up to young teens. They aren't all PG or U so make sure you check before you watch with little ones. You know your children best, some kids can handle blood but not suspense and some will run at the sight of ghosts. We have tried to add rating notes where possible to give you a better idea about what these movies might contain!
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Rated: PG (some scary sequences, and for language)
Practical Magic
Rated: 12 (some violence, intense thematic elements and sensuality)
Casper
Rated: PG (mild language and thematic elements)
Halloweentown
Rated: U (very mild violence, mild intense scenes)
Frankenweenie
Rated: PG (moderate gore and violence, thematic elements, scary images and action)
The Lost Boys
Rated: 15 (moderate violence, gore, mild sexual references, language)
Goosebumps (2015)
Rated: PG (scary and intense creature action and images, and for some rude humour)
The Witches (2020)
Rated: PG (scary images/moments, language and thematic elements)
Shaun of the Dead
Rated: 15 (zombie violence/gore and language)
Ghostbusters (1984)
Rated: 12 (mild sexual references, profanity, smoking and mild intense frightening scenes)
Hotel Transylvania
Rated: U
The Corpse Bride
Rated: PG (some scary images and action, and brief mild language)
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Rated: 12A (moderate sexual scenes, mild violence and gore, smoking, mild language)
Teen Witch
Rated: U (mild language, very mild nudity)
Beetlejuice
Rated: 15 (mild sexual references, moderate violence and gore, language, smoking and moderate intense scenes)
Coraline
Rated: PG (thematic elements, scary images, some language and suggestive humour)
Warm Bodies
Rated: 12A (zombie violence and some language)
The Addams Family Values (1993)
Rated: PG (macabre humour, mild suggestive references, moderate violence - no gore, some mild intense and frightening scenes)
Witches of Eastwick
Rated: 18 (strong sexual references, mild violence and gore, strong language and some mild drug references)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Rated: 12 (suggestive sex scenes, no nudity, comic vampire violence and drug references)
The World's End
Rated: 15 (includes mild sexual references, nothing seen. Moderate violence - comedic blue blood. Strong language)
The Haunted Mansion
Rated: PG (frightening images, thematic elements and language)
Monster House
Rated: PG (scary images and sequences, thematic elements, some crude humor and brief language)
Ernest Scared Stupid
Rated: U (moderate scary/intense slightly jumpy moments)
Muppets Haunted Mansion
Rated: PG (moderate frightening and intense scenes, mild violence)
Little Shop of Horrors
Rated: PG (mature thematic material including comic horror violence, substance abuse, language and sex references)
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