So you love horror movies, and you want to impart that love to your children. But how? What’s the right way to introduce the horror genre to your kids? Do you toss them into the deep end with Alien or some Friday the 13th or A Nightmare on Elm Street? Do you ease them into it with A Nightmare Before Christmas or Hocus Pocus?
Truthfully, there is no wrong way…except maybe a former colleague of mine who showed his children Drag Me to Hell, and then used the scary old lady as a deterrent for bad behavior claiming she would come to the house and take them away.
Anyhow, here are ten films to be a gateway for your children toward the horror genre, by introducing horror elements, but keeping it light (slightly), and towing that line between scary and interesting, just enough to keep your kids coming back for more.
1. Goosebumps (2015)
Jack Black is R.L. Stine, and all his stories have been written to keep the supernatural at bay. But, of course, some nosy neighborhood kids can’t leave well enough alone and they unleash the stuff of R.L. Stine’s nightmares on their small town. It’s light. It’s spooky. It’s got enough action to keep the kids engaged, and a few laughs to make sure they’re not too scared.
2. The Lost Boys (1987)
This movie is one you need to show your kids twice. Once when they’re a brand-new teenager, as they’ll love Sam and the Frog brothers bringing justice to the band of vampires that are terrorizing the coastal town of Santa Carla. And then again when they’re a few years older to appreciate the journey of Michael trying to make it with a mysterious girl who seems to have four creepy friends and one odd kid. This movie is fun. It’s got action,memorable lines, and a classic ending.
3. Coraline (2009)
Here’s the deal. This is on the list because it creeped the hell out of my oldest daughter, when she was younger. The spider mom scared her so much, we couldn’t even mention the name of the movie until she was 17 years old. Granted, this turned her away from the genre. But hey, horror ain’t for everyone. Admittedly, stop-motion animation can be creepy, but in a good way as Coraline struggles with moving to a new home, and unwittingly confiding in an evil entity looking to eat her and her family.
4. Gremlins (1984)
How can we not have this movie on the list? In fact, this whole list could be horror films from the 80s. The decade was full of adventure films and its popularity bled into the horror genre. This is where Gremlins sits. The small town of Kingston Falls is overrun by gremlins after Billy stupidly fed his pet Mogwai, Gizmo, after midnight. Way to go, Billy! And these gremlins are out for mayhem and the occasional attempted murder. The gremlins die badly, but their puppets, so the shock value on your children is slim…hopefully.
5. The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018)
Jack Black returns…on this list with another horror comedy, as Uncle Jonathan to his ten-year-old nephew Lewis, who recently lost his parents in a car accident. There is an evil demon looking to turn back the world to a darker time, and it’s up to Lewis to save the day by first letting go of his grief. Family-friendly horror from the steady directing hand of Eli Roth. What?! Check out the Forgotten Cinema podcast HERE.
6. The Monster Squad (1987)
Why this film has never been remade is beyond me? A band of kids are the only ones who can stop the Avengers of the Universal Horror Monsters from taking over the world. You’ve got Dracula, The Mummy, Gill-Man, the Wolfman and Frankenstein all in the mix. It’s classic 80s adventure mixed with classic movie monsters. Is it a perfect movie? No. But it’s fun. And you and your kids will be saying “Wolfman’s got nards” for days after you watch.
7. Monster House (2006)
Remember when motion-capture animation was all the rage in the early 2000s? Enter Monster House, the story of a possessed home looking to eat people. You read that right. The trouble with animated films that dip into the horror genre, is that it’s harder for them to really bring that scare factor. But that’s not the case with Monster House. It’s got laughs, for sure, but it also has the scares, and makes you think twice about those crotchety neighbors on your block. Maybe they have good reasons to keep kids off their lawns.
8. Poltergeist (1982)
This one could have your 13-year-old running to hide under their covers. Pick your scare here: Is it the tree grabbing the kid? The floating graves in the unfinished pool? The maggots on the chicken?! The guy RIPPING HIS FACE APART?! Maybe that was just me as a kid. Still, this movie is awesome, and it does scare the crap out of you, but it’s about a family surviving together. And when the dad shoves the TV out of their hotel room at the end of the movie, you can’t help but cheer knowing you would’ve done the exact same thing.
9. Krampus (2015)
Despite coming out in 2015, Krampus has its roots firmly set in the 80s. This film deals with the battle many families struggle with during the holiday season: Remembering the true spirit of Christmas, but also dealing with each other. You don’t pick your family, and when an evil Santa and his minions come for you, can you count on your family to keep you safe? The humor and horror is mixed wonderfully in this film, which has turned it into annual holiday in my home.
10. Jaws (1975)
Any chance to make a list of movies you should watch; I’m going to add Jaws. (There was no way to fit Raiders of the Lost Ark into this list, so here we are.) But seriously, Jaws is a horror movie. It’s just so well-made, that you fail to realize you’re watching a story about a serial killer (the shark) being hunted after going on a murder spree. And it’s a great way to introduce horror elements to your child, without dipping too deep into the genre. Plus…it’s a great film and everyone should watch it.
Honorable Mentions
When I was building this list, I asked a few friends of mine to give me their suggestions. Here are the ones that didn’t make the big list, but still are deserved of your attention. I’m sure we’ve missed a few, so let me hear it.
ParaNorman, E.T., Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Gate, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Freaked, The Halloween Tree, Trick ‘r Treat, Trilogy of Terror, The Blob (’58), Silver Bullet, Frankenweenie, The Addams Family (1 & 2), Beetlejuice, Arachnophobia, Ghostbusters.
About the Michael Field
I’ve been telling stories my whole life, on film sets, behind microphones, on the page, and in late-night writing sessions that stretch until morning. From short films and feature scripts to podcasts, digital series, and novels, I’m drawn to characters who wrestle with identity, legacy, and the choices that define them.
Over the years, I’ve directed more than a hundred shorts, co-created the Forgotten Cinema podcast, and written scripts that blend pulp adventure, supernatural mystery, and human drama. My novels carry that same mix of heart, danger, and imagination, expanding my storytelling into new mediums and audiences. But at the center of it all is one simple thread: I believe stories are how we connect, how we remember, question, laugh, and imagine. Check out my personal website for more.
Storytelling isn’t just my career; it’s the way I move through the world.
To read Michael’s other articles, CLICK HERE.
Recommended Reading: The Origins of Horror: When Did We Start Scaring Each Other on Purpose?
