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Top 10 Kid-Friendly Horror Movies


believe us when we say that kids love to

believe us when we say that kids love to get scared as much as anyone welcome to

get scared as much as anyone welcome to

get scared as much as anyone welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting

watchmojo.com and today we’re counting

watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten gateway

down our picks for the top ten gateway

down our picks for the top ten gateway horror movies for kids for this list

horror movies for kids for this list

horror movies for kids for this list we’re ignoring those films that feature

we’re ignoring those films that feature

we’re ignoring those films that feature sexuality and extreme violence and are

sexuality and extreme violence and are

sexuality and extreme violence and are instead focusing on those films your

instead focusing on those films your

instead focusing on those films your parents reluctantly agreed to let you

parents reluctantly agreed to let you

parents reluctantly agreed to let you watch that got you hooked on horror

watch that got you hooked on horror

watch that got you hooked on horror [Music]

[Music]

[Music] movies like goosebumps are not

movies like goosebumps are not

movies like goosebumps are not contenders here since they are intended

contenders here since they are intended

contenders here since they are intended for a younger audience

[Music]

[Music] number 10 poltergeist

the classic and iconic depiction of a

the classic and iconic depiction of a haunted house poltergeist may be a film

haunted house poltergeist may be a film

haunted house poltergeist may be a film by tobe Hooper the mind behind the Texas

by tobe Hooper the mind behind the Texas

by tobe Hooper the mind behind the Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Chainsaw Massacre

Chainsaw Massacre but it clearly takes most of its

but it clearly takes most of its

but it clearly takes most of its influence from producer Steven Spielberg

influence from producer Steven Spielberg

influence from producer Steven Spielberg his family-friendly style can be felt

his family-friendly style can be felt

his family-friendly style can be felt throughout as we get lots of

throughout as we get lots of

throughout as we get lots of heartwarming scenes and dramatic

heartwarming scenes and dramatic

heartwarming scenes and dramatic character building among the footage of

character building among the footage of

character building among the footage of ghosts skeletons and demonic televisions

ghosts skeletons and demonic televisions

ghosts skeletons and demonic televisions watching the Freeling family be

watching the Freeling family be

watching the Freeling family be terrorized by this poltergeist as its

terrorized by this poltergeist as its

terrorized by this poltergeist as its energy is drawn to their small kids taps

energy is drawn to their small kids taps

energy is drawn to their small kids taps into some seriously traumatizing

into some seriously traumatizing

into some seriously traumatizing childhood fears including clowns weird

childhood fears including clowns weird

childhood fears including clowns weird noises at the window and monsters in the

noises at the window and monsters in the

noises at the window and monsters in the closet

closet

closet [Music]

[Music]

[Music] okay

[Music]

[Music] although violence in the film is

although violence in the film is

although violence in the film is practically non-existent prepare to be

practically non-existent prepare to be

practically non-existent prepare to be up all night

number nine Little Shop of Horrors look

number nine Little Shop of Horrors look you’re a plant does this look inanimate

you’re a plant does this look inanimate

you’re a plant does this look inanimate to you Paul this bizarre musical horror

to you Paul this bizarre musical horror

to you Paul this bizarre musical horror hybrid maybe more slapstick comedy than

hybrid maybe more slapstick comedy than

hybrid maybe more slapstick comedy than a scare field thrill ride but this may

a scare field thrill ride but this may

a scare field thrill ride but this may trick adults into letting the younger

trick adults into letting the younger

trick adults into letting the younger kitties watch keep in mind that this was

kitties watch keep in mind that this was

kitties watch keep in mind that this was the 80s and a PG rating was easier to

the 80s and a PG rating was easier to

the 80s and a PG rating was easier to get the Audrey too is not a healthy girl

get the Audrey too is not a healthy girl

get the Audrey too is not a healthy girl strictly between us neither is the

strictly between us neither is the

strictly between us neither is the Audrey one adapted from the Broadway

Audrey one adapted from the Broadway

Audrey one adapted from the Broadway musical which was adapted from the Roger

musical which was adapted from the Roger

musical which was adapted from the Roger Corman dark comedy Little Shop of

Corman dark comedy Little Shop of

Corman dark comedy Little Shop of Horrors follows the story of Seymour and

Horrors follows the story of Seymour and

Horrors follows the story of Seymour and his mysterious bloodthirsty musically

his mysterious bloodthirsty musically

his mysterious bloodthirsty musically talented plant who grows to enormous

talented plant who grows to enormous

talented plant who grows to enormous sizes and requires more and more people

sizes and requires more and more people

sizes and requires more and more people to feed on feed me all night long that’s

to feed on feed me all night long that’s

to feed on feed me all night long that’s right miss emo well most of the violence

right miss emo well most of the violence

right miss emo well most of the violence and sexy comedy is implied in hilarious

and sexy comedy is implied in hilarious

and sexy comedy is implied in hilarious musical numbers this is still a classic

musical numbers this is still a classic

musical numbers this is still a classic monster movie I don’t know anyone who

monster movie I don’t know anyone who

monster movie I don’t know anyone who deserves to get chopped up and fed to a

deserves to get chopped up and fed to a

deserves to get chopped up and fed to a hungry plant number 8 an American

hungry plant number 8 an American

hungry plant number 8 an American Werewolf in London

another 80s horror classic seeing a

another 80s horror classic seeing a pattern here an American Werewolf in

pattern here an American Werewolf in

pattern here an American Werewolf in London

London

London finally delves into r-rated territory

finally delves into r-rated territory

finally delves into r-rated territory alright already

the film rental industry played a huge

the film rental industry played a huge part in getting kids hooked on horror in

part in getting kids hooked on horror in

part in getting kids hooked on horror in the 80s this entire generation of

the 80s this entire generation of

the 80s this entire generation of children had access to films like Friday

children had access to films like Friday

children had access to films like Friday the 13th and this werewolf shocker maybe

the 13th and this werewolf shocker maybe

the 13th and this werewolf shocker maybe it was director John Landis his

it was director John Landis his

it was director John Landis his reputation for comedies like Animal

reputation for comedies like Animal

reputation for comedies like Animal House and Blues Brothers that tricked

House and Blues Brothers that tricked

House and Blues Brothers that tricked families into showing this violent film

families into showing this violent film

families into showing this violent film to their kids but this nightmarish story

to their kids but this nightmarish story

to their kids but this nightmarish story of a young traveler who’s attacked and

of a young traveler who’s attacked and

of a young traveler who’s attacked and turned into a werewolf was revolutionary

turned into a werewolf was revolutionary

turned into a werewolf was revolutionary in its special effects and gruesomely

in its special effects and gruesomely

in its special effects and gruesomely violent dark humor this is Gerald

violent dark humor this is Gerald

violent dark humor this is Gerald Brinsley Gerald’s the man you murdered

Brinsley Gerald’s the man you murdered

Brinsley Gerald’s the man you murdered on a subway we thought it best for you

on a subway we thought it best for you

on a subway we thought it best for you not to see him as he’s a fresh kill and

not to see him as he’s a fresh kill and

not to see him as he’s a fresh kill and still pretty messy number 7 The Lost

still pretty messy number 7 The Lost

still pretty messy number 7 The Lost Boys look this isn’t a comic book saving

Boys look this isn’t a comic book saving

Boys look this isn’t a comic book saving these guys a boo-boo killers the 80s

these guys a boo-boo killers the 80s

these guys a boo-boo killers the 80s were a strange time for horror with many

were a strange time for horror with many

were a strange time for horror with many of its teen centric efforts becoming

of its teen centric efforts becoming

of its teen centric efforts becoming classics despite their our ratings your

classics despite their our ratings your

classics despite their our ratings your creature of the night Michael just like

creature of the night Michael just like

creature of the night Michael just like out of a comic book

out of a comic book

out of a comic book your vampire Michael one such teen

your vampire Michael one such teen

your vampire Michael one such teen horror film sees a young Jason Patrick

horror film sees a young Jason Patrick

horror film sees a young Jason Patrick being seduced into joining some no-good

being seduced into joining some no-good

being seduced into joining some no-good bad-boy gangsters but this isn’t your

bad-boy gangsters but this isn’t your

bad-boy gangsters but this isn’t your ordinary gang of la hooligans

ordinary gang of la hooligans

ordinary gang of la hooligans it’s a streetwise group of young

it’s a streetwise group of young

it’s a streetwise group of young vampires where you going star for a ride

vampires where you going star for a ride

vampires where you going star for a ride this is my

this is my

this is my let’s go The Lost Boys may have some

let’s go The Lost Boys may have some

let’s go The Lost Boys may have some over-the-top 80s violence but it’s

over-the-top 80s violence but it’s

over-the-top 80s violence but it’s clearly geared towards young teens the

clearly geared towards young teens the

clearly geared towards young teens the majority of the film is shown from the

majority of the film is shown from the

majority of the film is shown from the perspective of preteens Corey Haim and

perspective of preteens Corey Haim and

perspective of preteens Corey Haim and Corey Feldman and there’s no shortage of

Corey Feldman and there’s no shortage of

Corey Feldman and there’s no shortage of teen heartthrobs who make an appearance

teen heartthrobs who make an appearance

teen heartthrobs who make an appearance including a brilliant early performance

including a brilliant early performance

including a brilliant early performance by Kiefer Sutherland as the leader of

by Kiefer Sutherland as the leader of

by Kiefer Sutherland as the leader of the pack I think some of this might come

the pack I think some of this might come

the pack I think some of this might come be one of us

be one of us

be one of us number six The Sixth Sense mama Oh

dinner is not ready

dinner is not ready while the late 90s were becoming

while the late 90s were becoming

while the late 90s were becoming oversaturated with increasingly violent

oversaturated with increasingly violent

oversaturated with increasingly violent and repetitive slasher films breakout

and repetitive slasher films breakout

and repetitive slasher films breakout director M night Shyamalan brought the

director M night Shyamalan brought the

director M night Shyamalan brought the world a tense calculating ghost story

world a tense calculating ghost story

world a tense calculating ghost story that revitalized

that revitalized

that revitalized the horror genre for a new millennium

the horror genre for a new millennium

the horror genre for a new millennium with an eleven-year-old protagonist how

with an eleven-year-old protagonist how

with an eleven-year-old protagonist how scary could a movie be the affliction

scary could a movie be the affliction

scary could a movie be the affliction that young Cole suffers from is no

that young Cole suffers from is no

that young Cole suffers from is no laughing matter

laughing matter

laughing matter and although kids of the 90s would

and although kids of the 90s would

and although kids of the 90s would snigger while repeating the iconic

snigger while repeating the iconic

snigger while repeating the iconic revelatory line we can assure you that

revelatory line we can assure you that

revelatory line we can assure you that nobody was laughing during that tent

nobody was laughing during that tent

nobody was laughing during that tent scene in theaters

[Music]

[Music] with the violence at a minimum but

with the violence at a minimum but

with the violence at a minimum but tension high Shyamalan knew how to scare

tension high Shyamalan knew how to scare

tension high Shyamalan knew how to scare the pants off both young and old you

the pants off both young and old you

the pants off both young and old you don’t see each other they only see what

don’t see each other they only see what

don’t see each other they only see what they want to see they don’t get number 5

they want to see they don’t get number 5

they want to see they don’t get number 5 it makes our wounds and of choosing this

it makes our wounds and of choosing this

it makes our wounds and of choosing this Stephen King adaptation has the

Stephen King adaptation has the

Stephen King adaptation has the distinction of being a miniseries made

distinction of being a miniseries made

distinction of being a miniseries made for commercial broadcast television and

for commercial broadcast television and

for commercial broadcast television and therefore the filmmakers had no choice

therefore the filmmakers had no choice

therefore the filmmakers had no choice but to keep the blood swearing and

but to keep the blood swearing and

but to keep the blood swearing and sexuality to a minimum kiss me that boy

for this reason it’s become a cult

for this reason it’s become a cult favorite among kids trying to scare each

favorite among kids trying to scare each

favorite among kids trying to scare each other daring each other to watch the

other daring each other to watch the

other daring each other to watch the film or walk close to sewers hi Georgie

the story follows the victims and

the story follows the victims and survivors of an otherworldly being who

survivors of an otherworldly being who

survivors of an otherworldly being who terrorizes and kills children from the

terrorizes and kills children from the

terrorizes and kills children from the small town of Derry Maine taking on the

small town of Derry Maine taking on the

small town of Derry Maine taking on the form of Pennywise the clown it is

form of Pennywise the clown it is

form of Pennywise the clown it is responsible for nightmares around the

responsible for nightmares around the

responsible for nightmares around the world and instilling a fear of clowns in

world and instilling a fear of clowns in

world and instilling a fear of clowns in millions of underage viewers pili Hall

millions of underage viewers pili Hall

millions of underage viewers pili Hall number four child’s play hi I’m Chucky

number four child’s play hi I’m Chucky

number four child’s play hi I’m Chucky wanna play Chucky the good guy doll has

wanna play Chucky the good guy doll has

wanna play Chucky the good guy doll has become an easily recognizable horror

become an easily recognizable horror

become an easily recognizable horror icon and nearly every kid can identify

icon and nearly every kid can identify

icon and nearly every kid can identify him these same kids can probably also

him these same kids can probably also

him these same kids can probably also identify the exact moment they were

identify the exact moment they were

identify the exact moment they were traumatized for life by this 1980s

traumatized for life by this 1980s

traumatized for life by this 1980s classic hi I’m Chucky and I’m your

classic hi I’m Chucky and I’m your

classic hi I’m Chucky and I’m your friend to the end

friend to the end

friend to the end hi-dee-ho ha ha ha possessed by the

hi-dee-ho ha ha ha possessed by the

hi-dee-ho ha ha ha possessed by the spirit of serial killer Charles Lee ray

spirit of serial killer Charles Lee ray

spirit of serial killer Charles Lee ray Chucky seeks out a young innocent body

Chucky seeks out a young innocent body

Chucky seeks out a young innocent body that he can transfer his soul into and

that he can transfer his soul into and

that he can transfer his soul into and mercilessly kills anyone and everyone

mercilessly kills anyone and everyone

mercilessly kills anyone and everyone who gets in his way

thanks to its subject matter featuring a

thanks to its subject matter featuring a killer doll targeting a preschooler

killer doll targeting a preschooler

killer doll targeting a preschooler protagonist the film has become a rite

protagonist the film has become a rite

protagonist the film has become a rite of passage horror film for kids hello

of passage horror film for kids hello

of passage horror film for kids hello Andy

number three

number three jaws Jamar’s the fourth of July that we

jaws Jamar’s the fourth of July that we

jaws Jamar’s the fourth of July that we will be open for business Steven

will be open for business Steven

will be open for business Steven Spielberg’s first masterful blockbuster

Spielberg’s first masterful blockbuster

Spielberg’s first masterful blockbuster success is a testament to his talent as

success is a testament to his talent as

success is a testament to his talent as a visual storyteller this is not a code

a visual storyteller this is not a code

a visual storyteller this is not a code acident it wasn’t any propeller it

acident it wasn’t any propeller it

acident it wasn’t any propeller it wasn’t any coral reef and it wasn’t Jack

wasn’t any coral reef and it wasn’t Jack

wasn’t any coral reef and it wasn’t Jack the Ripper the simple story of a great

the Ripper the simple story of a great

the Ripper the simple story of a great white shark that terrorizes a quiet

white shark that terrorizes a quiet

white shark that terrorizes a quiet seaside town built up one of the most

seaside town built up one of the most

seaside town built up one of the most tense and suspenseful cinematic

tense and suspenseful cinematic

tense and suspenseful cinematic experiences ever to grace the big screen

experiences ever to grace the big screen

experiences ever to grace the big screen Oh boys I think he’s come back for his

Oh boys I think he’s come back for his

Oh boys I think he’s come back for his noon feeding an entire generation of

noon feeding an entire generation of

noon feeding an entire generation of moviegoers was afraid to swim in the

moviegoers was afraid to swim in the

moviegoers was afraid to swim in the ocean thanks to this flick even though

ocean thanks to this flick even though

ocean thanks to this flick even though filmmakers kept the horror and violence

filmmakers kept the horror and violence

filmmakers kept the horror and violence at a PG level

instead of relying on Gore jaws uses

instead of relying on Gore jaws uses cinematography music and dialogue to

cinematography music and dialogue to

cinematography music and dialogue to create a film that has kids covering

create a film that has kids covering

create a film that has kids covering their eyes the second the theme music

their eyes the second the theme music

their eyes the second the theme music comes on you’re gonna need a bigger boat

comes on you’re gonna need a bigger boat

comes on you’re gonna need a bigger boat number two arachnophobia dreaming

although the fear of spiders is not

although the fear of spiders is not limited to young people there’s a

limited to young people there’s a

limited to young people there’s a childlike Glee with which this throwback

childlike Glee with which this throwback

childlike Glee with which this throwback monster movie plays out come on we live

monster movie plays out come on we live

monster movie plays out come on we live in the country now it’s time to work

in the country now it’s time to work

in the country now it’s time to work through this irrational paralyzing

through this irrational paralyzing

through this irrational paralyzing terror it’s not irrational produced by

terror it’s not irrational produced by

terror it’s not irrational produced by Steven Spielberg this dark comedy

Steven Spielberg this dark comedy

Steven Spielberg this dark comedy imagines what would happen if a large

imagines what would happen if a large

imagines what would happen if a large and deadly spider from another country

and deadly spider from another country

and deadly spider from another country ended up in a quiet little town large

ended up in a quiet little town large

ended up in a quiet little town large spider webs appearing in farmhouses

spider webs appearing in farmhouses

spider webs appearing in farmhouses overnight mysterious deaths aggressive

overnight mysterious deaths aggressive

overnight mysterious deaths aggressive jumping spiders don’t bother calling the

jumping spiders don’t bother calling the

jumping spiders don’t bother calling the local exterminator they won’t be much

local exterminator they won’t be much

local exterminator they won’t be much help rock and roll the film relies

help rock and roll the film relies

help rock and roll the film relies heavily on our natural aversion to the

heavily on our natural aversion to the

heavily on our natural aversion to the creepy crawlies and successfully creates

creepy crawlies and successfully creates

creepy crawlies and successfully creates a feeling of nauseating dread without

a feeling of nauseating dread without

a feeling of nauseating dread without needing to resort to extreme violence a

moment’s peace before we unveil our

moment’s peace before we unveil our number one pick here are some honorable

number one pick here are some honorable

number one pick here are some honorable mentions

[Music]

[Music] Oh Patricia you kill her Oh watch number

Oh Patricia you kill her Oh watch number

Oh Patricia you kill her Oh watch number one gremlins what are they doing

one gremlins what are they doing

one gremlins what are they doing watching Snow White and they love it

watching Snow White and they love it

watching Snow White and they love it spielberg strikes again with another PG

spielberg strikes again with another PG

spielberg strikes again with another PG rated classic of 1980s for his influence

rated classic of 1980s for his influence

rated classic of 1980s for his influence can surely be felt throughout the decade

can surely be felt throughout the decade

can surely be felt throughout the decade and especially in the filmography of

and especially in the filmography of

and especially in the filmography of director Joe Dante

although Dante created many horror

although Dante created many horror classics that walk the line between

classics that walk the line between

classics that walk the line between family-friendly and adult dark humor

family-friendly and adult dark humor

family-friendly and adult dark humor like matinee and the burbs gremlins is

like matinee and the burbs gremlins is

like matinee and the burbs gremlins is undoubtedly his best effort at a

undoubtedly his best effort at a

undoubtedly his best effort at a drive-in inspired monster movie the

drive-in inspired monster movie the

drive-in inspired monster movie the teaches children a valuable lesson about

teaches children a valuable lesson about

teaches children a valuable lesson about taking care of your pets

taking care of your pets

taking care of your pets his name’s gizmo get he’s a Mogwai kids

his name’s gizmo get he’s a Mogwai kids

his name’s gizmo get he’s a Mogwai kids may be drawn to gremlins lulled into a

may be drawn to gremlins lulled into a

may be drawn to gremlins lulled into a sense of security by the cute Furby

sense of security by the cute Furby

sense of security by the cute Furby looking gizmo but they’ll come out

looking gizmo but they’ll come out

looking gizmo but they’ll come out entertained and afraid of innocent

entertained and afraid of innocent

entertained and afraid of innocent looking animals

with enough humor to balance out the

with enough humor to balance out the horror gremlins shouldn’t cause too many

horror gremlins shouldn’t cause too many

horror gremlins shouldn’t cause too many sleepless nights do you agree with our

sleepless nights do you agree with our

sleepless nights do you agree with our list

list

list what movie got you into horror films did

what movie got you into horror films did

what movie got you into horror films did you hear that

you hear that

you hear that I heard that what was it gonna be a lot

I heard that what was it gonna be a lot

I heard that what was it gonna be a lot of things for more entertaining top 10s

of things for more entertaining top 10s

of things for more entertaining top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe

published every day be sure to subscribe

published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com

you

you [Music]

”

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