16 Scary Movies for Teens & Tweens

This sci-fi comedy about a secret government agency that monitors alien life on Earth is more funny than scary, but some of the thrills might be too much for younger kids. Once your kids are ready for it, it makes a crowd pleasing family movie for Halloween that is great for a wide range of ages!

Alexandra F. said:  Johnny Depp is absolutely incredible as the quirky and hilarious Captain Jack Sparrow in this live action movie based on the iconic ride at the Disney parks. An epic adventure story featuring pirates, magic curses, and plenty of sword fights, this is a super fun and well-done film, and a favorite movie for my 13-year-old. There are a fair amount of violent and other gruesome scenes (think rotting, animated skeletons) that would probably make it too scary for many younger kids, but perfect for tweens and up. Though a bunch of sequels have been made, this first one is far and away the best.

A troubled young boy who can see and communicate with the dead seeks help from a child psychologist grappling with his own personal struggles.

Alexandra F. said:  We introduced our teenagers (15 and 17) to this movie earlier this year, and they loved it! They were kept completely in suspense throughout the whole movie, and it has such a creepy vibe as to make it perfect for Halloween.

In Ghostbusters, a team of scientists takes on mischievous ghosts haunting New York City. Packed with humor and memorable moments, it’s a fun Halloween movie for older kids and teens.

Kelly R said:  Ghostbusters does seem to have an ageless appeal, but you might want to consider saving this Halloween movie for tweens and teens given the amount of racy content. The 1980s CGI makes a lot of it more silly than scary.

In this film adaptation of the spooky book (adjusted for a happier ending much to the dismay of Roald Dahl), a boy discovers a convention of witches and tries to thwart their plans to turn children into mice. Anjelica Huston is superb as the Grand High Witch. This was the last film that Jim Henson worked on, and the incredible makeup and puppetry might be scary for younger viewers.

Kelly R said:  Older kids will be better able to appreciate and understand the humor in this dark comedy based on the Roald Dahl book about witches who want to turn the world's children into mice. Some intense scenes and scary imagery might be a bit much for younger ones.

The Spiderwick Chronicles brings to life a hidden world of magical creatures discovered by three siblings in their great-uncle’s mysterious estate. Packed with adventure, suspense, and just the right amount of spooky fun, it’s a thrilling family Halloween movie.

Dawn Denning said:  When the Grace family moves into a creepy, rundown mansion in the middle of nowhere they are urged to leave by the amazing creatures that inhabit it. The kids are submerged into a world of faeries and fantasy while investigating all the strange accidents that keep happening while living in their amazing new home.

Shila said:  This is a good entry-level pick if you're looking for scary movies for tweens. Jack Black plays a warlock living in a house that torments him with creepy sounds and other wicked mysteries. His 10-year-old nephew comes to live with him, and can't help but be curious as to what's really driving this phenomenon. This funny and creepy adventure is best geared towards older kids and tweens who can appreciate a few scares here and there.

Kelly R said:  Scarier than your standard Disney fare, Hocus Pocus is one of those classic family Halloween movies that's a favorite for all ages. A trio of witches are accidentally returned to life, and wreak havoc on the town of Salem as they try to become immortal. I'd say that tweens are right in the sweet spot for this one, especially if you'd prefer that your kids are older for some of the more mature themes.

Beetlejuice is a dark comedy where a recently deceased couple hires a mischievous "bio-exorcist" named Beetlejuice to scare away the new, living inhabitants of their former home. Despite the PG rating, Beetlejuice is best for teens due to language, scares and adult content.

Shila said:  This is a gentle entry into horror movies for teens and tweens, as long as they're ok with spiders! In Arachnophobia, one killer spider mutates by the plenty into an even more dangerous species and threatens the human community. The concept is scary, yes, but there is humor and many scenes are a little over-the-top and silly too. This is an epic pick for a creepy, yet fun Halloween movie night!

The newest film adaptation of The Witches, Roald Dahl's classic book, stars Anne Hathaway as the Grand High Witch trying to carry out a dastardly plan to turn the world's children into mice.

Kelly R said:  The creepy CGI in the film was a little too scary for my elementary schooler, so I'd recommend it as one of those Halloween movies for kids that's best saved for age 10 and older (depending on your child!).

Jaws might be an older movie, but it still totally works — even for teens who think they’ve seen it all. The suspense builds so well that everyone ends up holding their breath, and by the end, you’ll probably have the whole family swearing off the ocean for a while.

Signs builds slow, eerie tension as a family on a remote farm starts noticing strange happenings that point to something extraterrestrial. It’s more about suspense and mystery than jump scares, making it a great choice for teens just getting started on scary movies.

Tremors follows a pair of handymen who discover their quiet desert town is being hunted by huge underground monsters. It’s a mix of suspense, laughs, and 90s charm...creepy enough to keep tweens and teens on edge but fun enough that they can’t stop watching.

Gremlins starts off like a cozy Christmas movie, then takes a wild turn when a bunch of mischievous little creatures wreak havoc on a small town. It’s spooky, funny, and just the right mix of creepy and ridiculous for tweens and teens.