

Find the one that matches your family's sensibilities, throw these on at a sleepover and let the jumps (and giggles) commence!

As always, your mileage may vary when it comes to scares: Some kids can handle blood but can't stand intense suspense, while others are fine with those frights but turn and run at the idea of ghosts. They're mostly PG, though some are PG-13 (and others were made before the PG-13 rating existed, and would probably get that rating if it came out today). Our favorites below hit that sweet spot for elementary schoolers to tweens and teens. The best scary movies for kids offer those doses of adrenaline without being too violent, too shocking or too gory.

And on the one hand, it can be good for them to get a little tingle down their spines: they get taken out of their comfort zones, they get to grapple with frightening ideas in a relatively controlled and safe environment and, if you're into it, it's fun! On the other hand, you don't want to be up with them all night, searching under beds and in closets for monsters. Just like adults, some kids are drawn to scary movies.
