September and October are the perfect months for kids to watch spooky movies and TV shows. As Halloween approaches, the airwaves flood with festive favorites like “Hotel Transylvania” and “Hocus Pocus”—especially during Freeform’s annual 31 Nights of Halloween. These films bring plenty of chills and thrills to younger audiences, making them ideal for families.
But of course, kids raised on “Five Nights at Freddy’s” and Creepypasta may want something with a little more edge that’s still age-appropriate. That’s why we compiled this list of the best scary kids movies that deliver spine-tingling terrors and a dash of ghoulish giggles.
“Coraline” (2009)
“Coraline” is more than scary—it’s on our list of the most disturbing moments in kids films.
If you’re unfamiliar, this movie follows its title character as she explores her family’s new house. Her parents are too busy to pay attention to her, but she finds temporary comfort in her newly discovered Other Parents instead.
Nearly every scene in this film is so upsetting, it’s guaranteed to produce weeks of nightmares.
Where to watch “Coraline”
“Ghostbusters” (1984)
“Ghostbusters” is a great introduction to scary movies for kids, blending ghoulish elements with humor. Its opening library scene is one of the film’s more frightening moments, making it the perfect test for gauging whether kids can handle PG-rated thrills. If they can, they’ll experience a story packed with sarcastic comedy and paranormal shenanigans, which continue in the film’s sequels.
Should “Ghostbusters” be too much, we recommend Walt Disney’s “Lonesome Ghosts” as an alternative. The cartoon short delivers plenty of supernatural antics but on a tamer level. —Taylor Kujawa, CableTV.com Sports Editor
Where to watch “Ghostbusters”
“Goosebumps” (2015)
R. L. Stine’s books are a staple for any kid interested in scary stories.
The 2015 “Goosebumps” movie attempted to recapture the magic of the book series by unleashing a bunch of Stine’s characters on a small town. But beyond reproducing the books, it told a new story about the author himself, as played by Jack Black.
If you’re looking for a fresher and more episodic take on the franchise, check out the 2023 “Goosebumps” TV series on Disney+. Or, visit our expanded “Goosebumps” watch guide to see where every R.L. Stine adaptation is streaming.
Where to watch “Goosebumps”
“Gremlins” (1984)
“Gremlins” may look like a cozy Christmas movie, but don’t be fooled. Once you get this movie wet, it turns into a terrifying monster.
This 1984 film will probably give your kids a healthy fear of puppets. We wouldn’t blame them if they wanted to turn it off twenty minutes in (I certainly did, a couple of decades ago).
Where to watch “Gremlins”
“Wendell & Wild” (2022)
“Wendell & Wild” is this generation’s “Coraline.” It has that same stop-motion charm, plus performances by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele as the titular demon brothers, Wendell and Wild. They star opposite Lyric Ross, who plays a juvenile delinquent named Kat. The two demons appear to Kat in a dream, telling her about their plans to revive the dead with the powers of supernatural hair cream.
Where to watch “Wendell & Wild”
“The Haunted Mansion” (2003)
“The Haunted Mansion” hit theaters at the height of Walt Disney Pictures making movies based on theme park rides. While nothing beats the attraction, the 2003 film tells a thrilling story made memorable by its fantastic set design and effects. One of its most terrifying scenes involving zombies awakening in a mausoleum might be too intense for some children. But fortunately, Eddie Murphy is on hand to poke fun at every fright with his quick-witted humor.
If you want more grim grinning ghosts, we highly recommend “Muppets Haunted Mansion”. The 2023 “Haunted Mansion” reboot is also worth checking out, though it’s much longer and a bit darker. —Taylor Kujawa, CableTV.com Sports Editor
Where to watch “The Haunted Mansion”
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“The House with a Clock in Its Walls” (2018)
At some point between “Goosebumps” and “Goosebumps 2”, Jack Black found time to film “The House with a Clock in Its Walls”, a movie for those who like their Halloween frights to be a bit weird.
The story follows Lewis, a curious orphan sent to live with his eccentric Uncle Jonathan (Jack Black). But there’s something ticking in the walls of his new house (can you guess what?), and it’s up to Lewis to solve the mystery.
This movie dips more into the creepier side of Halloween but is still mostly aimed at families. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you when this kids movie gives you more nightmares than you bargained for.
Where to watch “The House with a Clock in Its Walls”
“Monster House” (2006)
Haunted houses are a horror staple. In “Monster House”, there’s no monster lurking in the dilapidated house across the street—the house is the monster. Or so it would seem.
The dialogue in this movie hasn’t aged well since 2006, the peak of Edgy Kid Humor, but it still has its charms.
“Monster House” stars Mitchel Musso (“Hannah Montana”) and Sam Lerner (“The Goldbergs”), for anyone reaching for their phone to google how they recognize the voices.
Where to watch “Monster House”
“Nightbooks” (2021)
Producer Sam Raimi (“The Evil Dead”) takes a stab at children’s horror in this Netflix film.
“Nightbooks” follows a young boy named Alex who finds himself trapped in the home of an evil witch (Krysten Ritter of “Jessica Jones” fame). To survive, he has to tell scary stories, something that he previously loved doing.
This movie definitely leans into the horror factor, so make sure your kid is fully on board before picking this one for family movie night.
Where to watch “Nightbooks”
“Over the Garden Wall” (2014)
It may not technically be a movie, but you can’t have a list of the best scary Halloween movies for kids without at least mentioning “Over the Garden Wall”.
This musical miniseries is one part spooky, one part atmospheric, and one part froggy. It may not be as terrifying as some other items on this list, but it has its haunting moments that will have you coming back year after year.
Where to watch “Over the Garden Wall”
“ParaNorman” (2012)
Laika, the film studio responsible for “Coraline”, returned in 2012 to make “ParaNorman”, a gorgeous stop-motion film about a boy who can talk to spirits.
What follows is a gripping tale about ghosts, zombies, and witches, making this movie a perfect choice for fans of “Coraline” and the spooky season itself.
Where to watch “ParaNorman”
Olivia Bono loves entertainment, and she’s never going to shut up about it. Here at CableTV.com, you’ll find her writing about the wild world of streaming. Her specialty is animation—you can find much of her work at our anime hub page. Olivia previously wrote for the Cornell Daily Sun, where in addition to television, she reviewed movies, albums, and video games. Outside of work, she loves to listen to audiobooks, make art, and spend time outdoors.
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