The horror genre is not normally associated with family entertainment. Since its inception in the early days of cinema, horror movies have been giving nightmares to people across the globe. Nowadays, jump scares, taboo-breaking themes, and blood and gore are just some tropes commonly associated with the genre. Not exactly the makings for ideal Saturday afternoon-viewing with the family. However, that’s not to say every horror movie is entirely inappropriate.
By toning down some of the previously mentioned aspects and focusing more on an entertaining story or even incorporating some comedic elements to soften the blow, there are plenty of horror movies out there that are suitable for people of all ages and of all dispositions. Below are nine of the best movies that incorporate elements of the horror genre, but are perfectly suitable for the entire family.
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9 Hotel Transylvania
Sony Pictures Animation
Admittedly, you’d be hard-pressed to call Hotel Transylvania a horror movie at all — it’s far more of a comedy — but that’s not to say that this 2012 Adam Sandler-led animation isn’t chock-a-block full of classic horror tropes, characters, and references. This huge box office hit proved to be so popular it has since spawned a further three sequels. Kids and parents can expect to see appearances from beloved horror icons including the Invisible Man, Frankenstein, Quasimodo, a werewolf, and, of course, Dracula. Younger viewers will be dazzled by the frenetic humor and dazzling animations, while adults are sure to get a kick out of the many gags paying homage to classic horror movies in history.
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8 Casper
Amblin Entertainment
Casper features a fantastic cast, including Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman, Cathy Moriarty, and Eric Idle, and features the voices of Joe Nipote, Joe Alaskey, Brad Garrett, and the introduction of Malachi Pearson in the title role. The film follows Casper, who peacefully haunts a mansion in Maine, and after a specialist moves in to communicate with Casper, along with his daughter Kat (Ricci), Casper develops a somewhat complicated relationship with these new occupants. A few scares to keep the young’uns on their toes with plenty of humor to keep the whole family smiling from ear to ear, the movie was a hit at the box office, but unfortunately the other Casper movies could never quite recapture the magic.
7 Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Allied Artists Pictures
It’s fair to say that what was shocking and scary in 1956 often pales in comparison to what is considered shocking and scary by today’s standards, but Invasion of the Body Snatchers never really relied on traditional scare tactics. As long as they’re able to get past the black and white and a few dated effects, children will enjoy Invasion of the Body Snatchers as a fun and slightly creepy family-friendly sci-fi horror, even today. Scratch beneath the surface and there’s a whole lot more going on: one of the best political allegories ever committed to film, the movie was in fact largely ignored at the time of its release, but has later gone on to be widely considered an iconic and highly influential entry into the sci-fi and horror genres.
6 The Nightmare Before Christmas
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Is it a Halloween movie? Is it a Christmas movie? The debate rages on, but one thing remains certain: The Nightmare Before Christmas is a beloved family-friendly stop motion animation horror classic. Based on a story by Tim Burton and directed by Henry Selick, The Nightmare Before Christmas became a standard for stop-motion in which Selick’s direction, paired with Burton’s tone of voice, made for an instant classic. The story of Jack the Pumpkin King followed his attempt at taking over Christmas after falling into a crisis surrounding his role as King of Halloween Town. The animation utilized by Selick alongside some classic musical numbers made The Nightmare Before Christmas a memorable film and a triumph for both parents and children alike as it’s gone on to develop a cult-like following over the years since its release.
5 Beetlejuice
Warner Bros. Pictures
Probably the king of creating creepy horror movies that fall somewhere in family entertainment and revolting scare-fests, the 1988 horror comedy Beetlejuice lands ambiguously between the two. The movie is certainly not an all-out horror and there’s enough zaniness and fun to appeal to older kids, but there’s a couple of gross out gags and questionable jokes that some parents might find to be inappropriate for their kids. Regardless of your parenting tactics, there’s no denying that the movie was an absolute blast with Michael Keaton chewing the dark and twisted scenery in every scene he appears, making for one of the greatest horror comedies of all time.
4 The Witches (1990)
Warner Bros.
Based on Roald Dahl’s fantastically twisted children’s book of the same name, The Witches was definitely created as a family film despite being undeniably frightening. The witches disguise themselves as ordinary, everyday people, and they specifically target children. We’re told of one poor child who was cursed to spend the rest of her life trapped inside a painting, aging gradually until finally disappearing a few years earlier. Is this why our parents warned us about talking to strangers? The fear factor goes into overdrive, though, when the witches reveal their true form, thanks to Jim Henson for some disgustingly impressive prosthetic work. The long noses, rotting teeth, balding scabby heads and maniacal cackling is enough to give anyone nightmares. Again, it is definitely a movie intended for all ages…
3 Gremlins
Warner Bros
Alongside Tim Burton, Joe Dante is another iconic director known for working in the horror genre without feeling the urge to resort to gallons of blood and guts in every film. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with a bit of gore, it can limit the audience appeal, putting off those of a more sensitive disposition. For a more family-oriented experience, Dante is responsible for some of the finest, including The Burbs, Matinee, and, of course, the 1984 smash hit Gremlins. Gremlins manages to blend some dark humor with some zany creature feature antics to create a blast of a horror flick that, while arguably a tad disturbing at times, is more or less suitable for a family get-together.
2 The Addams Family (1991)
Orion Pictures
This Addams Family adaptation perfectly captures the macabre, gothic vibe, and humor that cartoonist Charles Addams envisioned when his drawings first jumped of the pages of the New Yorker in 1938. It’s creepy, funny, and entertaining all at once. The film follows the eccentric titular family as they reconnect with what they believe to be a long-lost relative and was a huge financial hit. The film was particularly praised for its top-notch performances which truly propels the playful horror. For her role as the iconic Morticia, Anjelica Huston was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.
1 Jaws
Zanuck/Brown Company
“You’re gonna need a bigger boat” is one of the most iconic movie lines in history, taken from one of the most iconic movies in history. After watching a relentless great white shark ravage a beach of tourists and engage in a full-on battle with a boat and its crew, it wasn’t really a bigger boat people wanted, though; they wanted to steer well clear of any open water all together. In fact, Jaws and the notion of a vengeful rogue shark spurred a national phobia of the sea, sharks and a genuine drop in beach tourism. Activists have spent many years since making a concerted effort trying to educate people to understand and respect the role sharks play in the oceans and the earth’s ecosystem. While this movie is understandably considered by some as one of the scariest movies of all time, it was actually Hollywood’s very first ‘summer blockbuster’ and was intended to be a treat for the whole family. Its reliance on suspense and tension instead of all out gore does make it more accessible for the young ones, just don’t expect them to go for a swim straight after.
