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The scariest season of them all is finally upon us – the nights are longer, the weather is colder, and the scents of candy corn fill the air. Whilst October is the month for all things, gory, violent, and terrifying, it’s also a season for family activities – trick or treating, pumpkin carving, and, of course, cozy nights in watching something spooky.
While horror is typically a cinematic genre aimed at audiences on account of its graphic and disturbing content, there are plenty of scary movies kids can watch as well to be included in the seasonal experience. From dark animated adventures to spooky comedies perfect for the whole family, these kid friendly horror movies are worth keeping an eye out for as Halloween rapidly approaches.
Updated on July 03, 2025, by Ryan Heffernan:
While October presents many movie fans with a fantastic excuse to revisit their favorite horror films as Halloween approaches, it goes without saying that the vast majority of horror classics are in no way acceptable for young viewers. That being said, there are plenty of scary movies for kids that provide pleasant family entertainment while offering some great thrills as well.
13’The Spiderwick Chronicles' (2008)
While it may be more at home as a children’s fantasy adventure,The Spiderwick Chroniclesdoes engage in horror ideas as well as the story evolves. It focuses on three young siblings as they move to their relative’s derelict estate where they discover magical creatures roam the grounds, some of them being more dangerous than others.
Based on the books byHolly BlackandTony DiTerlizzi, the film excelled as an enchanting and warm-hearted journey rich with imaginative flair and good humor. Its implementation of horror elements was deft as well, helping to make the film thrilling for young viewers when it needed to be without ever crossing the line of being too scary. It also helps that it features some of thecoolest kids in horror moviesthat kids can look up to.
Watch on Prime Video
12’Hotel Transylvania' (2012)
Count Dracula (Adam Sandler) and his daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez) live in a monsters-only hotel in Transylvania – a safe haven for creatures formally persecuted by human beings. On Mavis’ 118th birthday, she is allowed to finally leave the castle and explore the human world. However, when a plot to keep her safe goes completely awry, human Johnny (Andy Samberg) finds himself inside the walls of the castle.
As a fun spin on classic horror characters and tropes which also had a surprisingly genuine romantic core to boot,Hotel Transylvaniahit all its marks as a fun-filled, animated adventure that allowed adults - particularly horror fans - to enjoy themselves as well. The delightfully silly family flick has spawned a larger franchise as well in the years since its initial release.
Watch on Hulu
11’Casper' (1995)
When Carrigan Crittenden (Cathy Moriarty) finds out that her father has left his life’s earnings to charity instead of her, she is enraged. With the help of her lawyer, she discovers a map that appears to point to a treasure hidden within his manor. They travel to the dilapidated home only to find it haunted by a family of Ghosts. Undeterred, they hire a paranormal therapist James Harvey (Bill Pullman), who moves in with his daughter Kat (Christina Ricci) and plans to convince the ghosts to leave the home.
Casper (Malachi Pearson), the youngest and friendliest ghost in the group, befriends Kat and shows her all the secrets of the Crittenden manor – including a machine that can allegedly bring the dead back to life. Between the less-friendly ghostly trio haunting the manor, Carrigan’s scheming, and her father desperately trying to contact her deceased mother – Kat must make some hard decisions to help those around her and do the right thing inCasper. Aside from imparting important lessons, it was a revolutionary film for its time, asCasperwas the first fully CGI leadto ever grace the big screen.
Watch on Netflix
10’Addams Family Values' (1993)
Unbeknownst to thescarily cute horror movie coupleGomez (Raul Julia) and Morticia Addams (Anjelica Huston), their newly hired nanny Debbie Jellinsky (Joan Cusack) is a serial killer, who purposely seduces rich bachelors and kills them off to inherit their fortune. Debbie has her sights set on Gomez’s brother Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd), who quickly falls for her charms. In a true manipulative fashion, Debbie isolates Fester from his suspicious family and plots to kill him in various ways – failing each time.
As usual, it is up to Gomez, Morticia, and their wonderfully weird family to rescue him and show him her evil ways inAddams Family Valuesand it ends up being a darkly hilariously good time.
9’Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark' (2019)
Set in the 1960s,Scary Stories to Tell in the Darkfollows three friends Stella (Zoe Colletti), Auggie (Gabriel Rush), and Chuck (Austin Zajur) living in the fictional town of Mill Valley. When they explore a local haunted house on Halloween night, they find a book of horror stories that was allegedly written by a young girl who died by suicide after being accused of witchcraft. Stella takes the book home and begins to see stories magically appear across the previously blank pages. What’s even more terrifying though, is that the horrifying events written in the book are beginning to become true – and the children of the town are going missing one by one.
While missing children and haunted houses may seem intimidating,Scary Stories to Tell in the Darkisn’t actually too scary. With parental supervision, it’s a great way to introduce older kids to the genre without completely terrifying them.
8’Monster House' (2006)
As an animated haunted house adventure,Monster Housemeshed classical horror ideas with an inviting sense of fun to be an underrated family flick perfect for Halloween. It follows three tweens who, upon learning a house in the neighborhood is possessed, seek to nullify the threat before it can attack unsuspecting trick-or-treaters on Halloween.
For little kids, the film has an ability to evoke genuine thrills and age-appropriate scares for a fun experience while its eagerness to engage with genre tropes playfully makes it worthwhile for adults as well. It also managed to toe the line betweenhaunted house horror and monster moviewith intriguing results.
7’The Witches' (1990)
Based onRoald Dahl’sfamous children’s book,The Witchesfollows eight-year-old Luke (Jasen Fisher) as he moves to the UK with his Grandmother Helga (Mai Zetterling) following the death of his parents. When they vacation near the coast of Bournemouth for the summer, they stumble across a convention of witches masquerading as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Luke spies on the witches' meeting and discovers that they are plotting to use a magic potion in sweet shops across the world to turn children into mice, making them easier to kill. With the help of Helga and his new friend Bruce, Luke must come up with a plan to stop the witches and save children everywhere.
The Witchesis remembered today as a campy and definitely not too scary entry in the genre. It was praised for its incredible special effects make-up that transformed its actors into horrendous characters. Of course, this is a bit dated today and takes away from any chance of the film being horrifying.
6’The House with the Clock in its Walls' (2018)
FilmmakerEli Rothis something of a master of horror, a gore maestro who usually revels in visually sickening violence. That made 2018’sThe House with the Clock in its Wallsall the more impressive as a wonderfully fun children’s horror that thrived on the back of starringperformances from the ever-spectacularJack BlackandCate Blanchett.
It follows a young orphan who moves in with his Uncle Jonathan (Black) where he learns his uncle and his neighbor and best friend Florence Zimmerman (Blanchett) are practitioners of magic. From that enchanting premise, a breathtaking adventure develops rich with fantasy allure and mild horror thrills perfect for young viewers wanting to be involved with the excitement of the spooky season.
Watch on Fubo
5’Sleepy Hollow' (1999)
Tim Burton’s gothic romance/horrorSleepy Hollowis perfect for older children and teens. FeaturingJohnny Deppas Ichabod Crane, it follows the investigation into a number of murders in the village. The locals tell Ichabod that the bodies of several men have been found with their heads missing, and they believe it is the work of the Headless Horseman.
With the help of his love interest - a wealthy heiress - and the orphan of one of the murderer’s victims, Ichabod must investigate whether there really is a supernatural twist to the killings or if there is little more than a sinister joke at play. With Burton’s trademark gothic visual divinity and an eerily creepy atmosphere,Sleepy Hollowis one of the more spooky or scary movies kids can watch.
Watch on Max
4’Gremlins' (1984)
When struggling inventor Randall Peltzer (Hoyt Axton) finds an adorable and mysterious creature in a Chinatown antique store, he convinces the owner’s grandson to sell it to him as a gift for his son Billy (Zach Galligan). The child warns Randall that he should remember three important rules: do not expose the creature (a Mogwai) to light; do not let it come in contact with water; and above all, never feed it after midnight. Billy names the Mogwai Gizmo, and before long the two become the best of friends, but when Billy’s friend Pete accidentally spills water over Gizmo, the reason for the rules soon becomes clear.
Gremlinsis often calleda Christmas horror film, but is fun for the family all year round. It has become something of a cult classic over the years, and is perfect for nostalgic adults and curious children to dive into during the spooky season.
