8 Scary Movies for Kids on Netflix

Want some teen angst and girl power mixed in with your spooks? This could be just the movie for you. Set on Halloween night, a teenage girl named Kelly (Tamara Smart) is forced to babysit a little boy named Jacob instead of attending a party. While she’s babysitting, Jacob is kidnapped by the minions of the Boogeyman (Tom Felton). Kelly, soon joined by a secret society of babysitters, must fight the Boogeyman and his monsters to get Jacob back before his mom returns home. This movie, with its suspense and fantasy violence, was definitely meant to frighten, but tweens and up should still be entertained with this fun and spooky flick.

Hearing that Nightbooks was produced by Sam Raimi of Evil Dead fame might just clue you into how seriously scary this Netflix original film is. Nightbooks is about a young boy named Alex who becomes trapped in the apartment of an evil witch (played by Krysten Ritter) and must write her a scary story each night to stave off her killing him.

While trapped in her magical traveling and ever-expanding apartment, Alex meets a fellow prisoner (a slightly older girl named Yasmin) and the two join forces to try and escape the witch. With themes of child abuse and some objectively terrifying monsters, Nightbooks may be too dark for some kids, but it can be a great—and seriously terrifying—intro to horror for others.

Based on the classic kids’ book series by R.L. Stine, 2015’s Goosebumps starring Jack Black does more than just replicate one of the series’ many scary stories. Instead, the movie has Black playing a fictionalized version of Stine who, when the monsters from Goosebumps escape from their books, must join forces with his daughter and their neighbor to save their hometown. Nostalgia with a fresh twist keeps this a fun and spooky Halloween choice.

If you miss the early-aughts Disney Channel Halloween movies, The Curse of Bridge Hollow will help scratch that Halloweentown itch. A science teacher father (Marlon Wayans) moves his family, including his teenage daughter (Priya Ferguson), to a Sleepy Hollow-esque town. Hijinks ensue when an ancient spirit causes the town’s Halloween decorations to come to life, and the Halloween-hating dad has to face reality and fight back. The perfect combination of hilarious and haunting.

Parents looking for a spooky, imaginative film for their older kids should check out Wendell & Wild. Created by the same minds behind The Nightmare Before Christmas, this stop-motion adventure is filled with dark fantasy elements and quirky characters. The story follows Kat, a rebellious teen, who seeks help from two mischievous demon brothers, Wendell and Wild, as she navigates the land of the living. Together, they try to solve a supernatural mystery, battling both personal demons and real ones along the way.

Gnome Alone is a fun, family-friendly animated movie best suited for kids aged 7 and up. It tells the story of Chloe, a young girl who moves into a new house and quickly discovers that it’s not an ordinary home. The garden gnomes in her yard are actually protectors of the house, fighting off tiny creatures called Troggs that are trying to invade and destroy everything. Chloe teams up with the gnomes to battle these mischievous monsters and save her new neighborhood. With its blend of action, humor, and heart, Gnome Alone offers just the right amount of adventure for elementary and middle-school-aged kids.

Hubie Halloween is a lighthearted horror-comedy, perfect for families with older kids and teens (around 10 and up) who enjoy spooky fun without too many real scares. Starring Adam Sandler, the movie follows Hubie Dubois, a quirky and good-hearted but often ridiculed man who makes it his mission to keep his town of Salem safe every Halloween. Despite his neighbors’ lack of respect, Hubie finds himself in the middle of a real mystery when strange disappearances start occurring, and it’s up to him to figure out what’s going on.

Spookley the Square Pumpkin is a sweet, not-so-scary animated movie, perfect for younger kids aged 3 to 7. The film centers around Spookley, a square-shaped pumpkin who feels out of place among his perfectly round peers in the pumpkin patch. When a storm threatens the farm, it’s Spookley’s unique shape that saves the day, teaching everyone that being different is something to celebrate.