The best horror movies that aren’t too scary to watch with your kids

If you are looking for a Halloween movie to watch with your kids but don’t want to traumatize them with it Chainsaw massacre in TexasHere are the best scary-but-not-too-scary–Scary Movies You Can Stream Now. This isn’t toothless Pablum; I tried to find films that had enough real horror to be interesting, but not so much that they would scar someone for life. Like everything with children, it depends on the taste and sensitivity of your individual child.

Coraline (2009)

Based on the children’s book by Neil Gaiman, Coraline leaves a timeless message with children: Be careful what you wish for. The discovery of a strange door in the title protagonist’s new home leads to an eerie mirror world that initially seems better than real, but ultimately proves to be frightening. It’s not particularly scary, but it might be too much for children under 10 (especially the creepy button eyes).

Where to stream: Roku, Tubi, Apple TV+

The witches (1990)

There is a newer, exaggerated version of The witches available on Max, but I like the 1990 adaptation much better. It doesn’t get much better than the combination of Roald Dahl’s story, Jim Henson’s puppetry, Nicolas Roeg’s direction and Anjelica Huston’s villainous performance. The witches strikes the perfect kid-friendly horror tone: it’s made for kids, but it’s not condescending to them and it doesn’t try to sugarcoat the horror. However, it may be too disturbing for children under 10 years old.

Where to stream: Criterion Channel

Goose flesh (2015)

“Ermahgerd, Gersberms!” In this meta version of the insanely popular Goosebumps series of tween horror novels, the young hero accidentally releases all of the villains from author RL Stine’s Goosebumps books into the real world. Kids who read Stine’s books will love depictions of the ghouls and ghouls of the books’ monsters, although the film relies more on slapstick humor and action than the quieter, scarier books. Goose flesh is a better film than one might expect.

Where to stream: Prime

The Corpse Bride (2015)

In this story of a marriage between a living man and a dead woman, it’s all about the atmosphere – the goth-o-meter is turned up to 11. It’s very Tim Burton, and Burton’s infectious affection for all things spooky makes even the scariest ghoul endearing. Despite all the skeletons, The Corpse Bride is a story about love and family, and the scariest characters are ultimately the living.

Where to stream: Max

Ghostbusters (1984)

For Halloween, you can’t beat this iconic 1980s comedy/horror film. Watch out Ghostbusters is an annual October tradition in our house and we don’t want to hear about sequels or reboots. The PG-13 rating is well-deserved for some genuinely scary bits – the special effects that bring the creepy librarian and hellhounds to life are still creepy – and some pretty adult situations and racy humor.

Where to stream: Starz

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)

The relevant part of this two-in-one feature film is the comic retelling of Washington Irving’s novel Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The Adventure of Ichabod and Mr. Toad follows a lanky, superstitious schoolmaster in colonial America who is gradually scared out of his wits by a “Headless Horseman” who may be his romantic rival Brom. The sequence where Ichabod is chased by the Horseman is a classic of horror filmmaking, and the film’s conclusion sums things up in a “everything’s okay” way, which should reassure little ones. Plus, Mr. Toad is a great, non-scary palate cleanser.

Where to stream: Disney+

Hocus pocus (1993)

Kids will love this playful take on the Halloween spook, and adults will love watching stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy chew through the scenery as the three witch sisters. Hocus pocus offers just enough thrills to be fun, but there’s nothing overly scary, and the script’s rare double entenders are likely to go over young people’s heads.

Where to stream: Disney+

The nightmare before Christmas (1993)

Director Tim Burton is the master of scary but not too scary films, and this stop-motion ode to the joy of the dark and macabre is his best work. If you’re raising a little goth student, you’re contractually obligated to show it The nightmare before Christmasa wonderfully spooky musical where the holidays of Halloween and Christmas collide.

Where to stream: Disney+

Frankenstein (1931)

If you have a child who has the patience to handle the slower pace of early talkies, Frankenstein will reward that patience with a deeply relatable main character and some slightly creepy moments. Even though the film was made almost 100 years ago, children still see themselves in The Monster because he himself is like a child – a child made of corpses and murdering people.

Where to stream: Peacock, Criterion Channel

Coco (2017)

There are many skeletons Cocobut it’s not a scary movie. This Day of the Dead story takes viewers (and its main character) across the border from the world of the living to the land of the dead, where stylish sugar skull skeletons populate a world parallel to our own. Instead of frightening and tragic, in CocoDeath is portrayed as something we should accept without fear, a message that adults could probably use too. But be careful: since this is a Pixar film, it will make you cry.

Where to stream: Hulu, Disney+, Fubo