There is nothing more fun than settling in to watch a horror movie with a cozy blanket and some popcorn. But sometimes you don't want to be too scared. If you are a parent looking for the best horror movies for tweens, it can be hard deciding what is and is not okay for them to watch.
It can be difficult to find movies that are scary, but not too scary. It's tough finding a balance between scary kid movies and horror movies for teens.
Here is the scoop on the 10 best horror movies for tweens to watch!
1. ParaNorman
ParaNorman is one of the best horror movies for tweens. It is more scary than your average spooky children's movie, but not so scary that your tweens will have nightmares.
ParaNorman tells the story of Norman, a young boy who can see and speak to the dead. When a curse on his town comes true, Norman must fend off zombies and find the courage to break the curse!
ParaNorman is full of great writing, engaging characters, and plenty of paranormal activity! This scary movie for kids is also a good introduction to other paranormal movies like The Sixth Sense.
You will want to watch ParaNorman for Halloween every year!
2. Jaws
Jaws is the perfect horror movie for tweens who are just getting into the horror genre. It is a classic horror movie about a shark terrorizing the beach in small town during the busy summer season.
In efforts to protect beachgoers the police chief, a scientist, and an old captain set out to hunt down the shark.
With mild violence and one big jump scare, Jaws is a must-see for anyone interested in horror movies! Jaws is one of the more scary movies for tweens on this list, but it is a classic they will never forget!
3. Goosebumps
Goosebumps is a movie based on the R.L. Stein book series. The film follows Zach, a boy upset about moving to a new town.
He befriends his neighbor Hannah, and discovers that her dad is the famous author R.L. Stein. One day Zach accidentally lets out all of Stein's famous monsters into the real world!
This movie is wonderfully spooky and funny! Fans of the "Goosebumps" book series will also love seeing these famous monsters come to life. Goosebumps is a great introduction for scary movies kids will enjoy.
It is also a great introduction into the monster movie genre so one day your tweens can watch A Quiet Place. or Stephen King's It.
4. Coraline
Coraline is a perfect example of the best horror movies for tweens! This film is a spooky story about family and adventure.
When Coraline's family moves into a new home, she discovers a parallel world similar to her own. What first appears to be the dream life she wants eventually turns into a nightmare Coraline can't escape.
Coraline is directed by Henry Selick, director of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. With enchanting music and characters, this stop motion animated movie perfectly balances whimsy and scary.
5. The Witches
The Witches follows a young boy who goes to live with his grandmother. They encounter a group of beautiful women, who turn out to be witches who hate children!
Featuring Academy Award Winners Anne Hathaway and Octavia Spencer, The Witches is a spooky good time!
6. Monster House
In Monster House, a group of friends are certain that a house in the neighborhood is a living evil creature. The only problem is that no adults believe them!
The kids want to protect unsuspecting trick-or-treaters from the haunted house, so they must work together to destroy it! Monster House is the perfect Halloween film.
7. The Addams Family
Everyone's favorite spooky family is back in The Addams Family! Join Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley, Wednesday, Grandma, and Uncle Fester in a creepy story of family.
The Addams family live their spooky lives in isolation, until a TV host decides that they are ruining her perfect neighborhood. The incredible voice cast includes Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Finn Wolfhard, Nick Kroll, and many more!
8. Gremlins
Gremlins in another classic horror film that any tween will enjoy. Few horror films take place during the winter holiday season, but Gremlins lets you enjoy both Halloween and Christmas!
A father buys his son a Christmas gift, a strange creature the son names Gizmo. However, he does not follow the special care instructions like do not expose Gizmo to bright light, keep him away from water, and do not feed him after midnight.
When one of these rules are broken, Gizmo multiplies until the entire town is overrun by gremlins!
9. Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters is one of the most legendary Halloween movies! The story follows a group of scientists who lose their jobs and start a paranormal investigation business.
During their ghost exterminations, they discover a gateway into a demon world and must save the city form evil. Comedy legends Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Rick Moranis, and many others help make this hilarious and spooky movie great!
10. Frankenweenie
Frankenweenie is a twist on the classic story of Frankenstein. The Tim Burton film follows a young Victor Frankenstein and his beloved dog Sparky. After Sparky passes away, Victor manages to bring his dear pet back to life!
When Victor's classmates start using his project to bring other animals back to life, they create monsters! This kids scary movie is an awesome introduction into other classic black and white films like Frankenstein.
11. Beetlejuice
Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, and Winona Ryder star in this supernatural comedy. It follows Lydia Deetz after her family moves into a new home. The house is haunted by the previous owners who want Lydia's family to leave.
They enlist the help of Beetlejuice, a spirit, to help them scare the Deetz family out of their home.
12. Halloweentown
If your kids love Halloween, they'll love this movie! It's a story about a girl who discovers she comes from a family of witches. She follows her grandmother to the spooky land of Halloweentown, and they must work together to protect it from evil!
The film stars Kimberly J. Brown and Debbie Reynolds. Watch them as they try to stop both the destruction of their town and learn the importance of family.
This story only gets better with each installment, so be sure to check out Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge , Halloweentown High , and Return to Halloweentown.
13. The Nightmare Before Christmas
This is a classic that many parents would want to introduce to their children. The movie features Jack Skellington growing tired of Halloween and falling in love with Christmas. It stars Danny Elfman and Catherine O’Hara . This is another movie that you can enjoy along with your family or friends!
Plan the perfect movie night at home with blankets, lights, popcorn, snacks, and more!
As a parent, it is of course your decision what movies are appropriate for your tweens, but we are here to help. For kids ages 10-13, these scary movies are all a great place to start if they show interest in scary kids movies! What are some of the other best horror movies for tweens? Comment below!
For more movie scoop check out Top 12 Best Camping Horror Movies and Top 50 Marvel Cinematic Universe Quotes Of All Time!
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