Ranker FilmList RulesVote up the classic films appropriate for kids and teens that will teach them to love and respect horror movies.
It's perfectly natural to want to share your interests with your kids, but what if you're a horror buff with a stockpile of Hitchcock, Craven, Carpenter, and Cronenberg sitting in your DVD shelf or filling your digital library? While something like The Exorcist is a venerable classic of the horror genre, its graphic violence and language make it inappropriate for young children. That doesn't mean, however, that there aren't plenty of classic horror movies appropriate for kids as thier first scary movies. You can consider these films horror movies for beginners. When the days of Halloweentown and Hocus Pocus have passed, and your kids are craving something a little more substantial, these films strike a middle ground. They're intellectually meaty movies that play on deep-seated psychological fears, but do so without an overemphasis on violence or foul language.
When it comes to finding horror movies for teens or tweens, go for good and subtly scary films. The Others is a frightening film about a haunted cabin deep in the woods, but it's a quiet, slow movie without too much violence. While there's some questionable language in The Sixth Sense, the film's focus on the importance of parent/child communication make it a great film to start a dialogue with your own kids. These are just a few classic horror films without bad language kids can watch without getting too, too terrified, and that adults can enjoy as well.
Remember to use your discretion. Only you can know for sure what will and will not upset your child, but browse this list for some suggestions. Then, make sure to cast your vote for the best movies to get kids into the genre!
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1,361211Gremlins
Steven Spielberg, Corey FeldmanReleased: 1984
Directed by: Joe Dante
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1,147278Poltergeist
Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth WilliamsReleased: 1982
Directed by: Tobe Hooper
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1,048348The Sixth Sense
Bruce Willis, Mischa BartonReleased: 1999
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
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884392Arachnophobia
John Goodman, Brandy NorwoodReleased: 1990
Directed by: Frank Marshall
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784469The Others
Nicole Kidman, Christopher EcclestonReleased: 2001
Directed by: Alejandro Amenábar
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786518Killer Klowns from Outer Space
Christopher Titus, John VernonReleased: 1988
Directed by: Stephen Chiodo
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600529World War Z
Brad Pitt, Matthew FoxReleased: 2013
Directed by: Marc Forster
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586516Anaconda
Jennifer Lopez, Ice CubeReleased: 1997
Directed by: Luis Llosa
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544500Cloverfield
Odette Annable, Lizzy CaplanReleased: 2008
Directed by: Matt Reeves
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517476Disturbia
Shia LaBeouf, Viola DavisReleased: 2007
Directed by: D. J. Caruso
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601575The Grudge
Sarah Michelle Gellar, KaDee StricklandReleased: 2004
Directed by: Takashi Shimizu
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527529Warm Bodies
Teresa Palmer, John MalkovichReleased: 2013
Directed by: Jonathan Levine
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523548The Village
Bryce Dallas Howard, Sigourney WeaverReleased: 2004
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
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460495The Woman in Black
Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán HindsReleased: 2012
Directed by: James Watkins
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41446410 Cloverfield Lane
John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth WinsteadReleased: 2016
Directed by: Dan Trachtenberg
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309436Fire in the Sky
James Garner, Robert PatrickReleased: 1993
Directed by: Ron Lieberman
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324488Red Riding Hood
Amanda Seyfried, Gary OldmanReleased: 2011
Directed by: Catherine Hardwicke
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317508Ouija
Daren Kagasoff, Matthew SettleReleased: 2014
Directed by: Joseph McGinty Nichol, Stiles White
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289543The Wicker Man
Christopher Lee, Britt EklandReleased: 1973
Directed by: Robin Hardy
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