Scary Movies · Classic Films · Fantasy · 80s Movies · Parental Guidance
Top 5 Family Classics That Are Scarier Than You Remember
Movie Knight Editorial Team ·
Thinking of showing the kids a movie from your childhood? You might want to re-watch it first. These five beloved "family" films are packed with moments that are genuinely scary.
Certain family classics from the '70s and '80s are remembered for their wonder but contain surprisingly intense and frightening material. These films pushed the boundaries of the PG rating with dark themes, unsettling creature designs, and genuine peril that can be shocking to modern family audiences.
Before the PG-13 rating was created in 1984, the gap between G and PG was vast, and many filmmakers used that space to explore darker fantasy. The result is a collection of beloved movies that are also responsible for more than a few childhood nightmares. This list revisits the scariest of the bunch.
Choose tonight’s movie
Quick picks
- Watership Down
- The Dark Crystal
- Gremlins
- Return to Oz
- Labyrinth
Movie Knight guide
The full list
No. 1
Watership Down
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Not For Young Kids
Watership Down
A band of rabbits flees their doomed home and faces brutal dangers in search of a new one. This animated film is famous for its mature themes, featuring bloody fights between animals, character deaths, and frightening, surreal visions. This film works best for kids 12 and up.
No. 2
The Dark Crystal
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Puppet Nightmare
The Dark Crystal
A gentle Gelfling must restore a magical crystal to save his world from the monstrous, vulture-like Skeksis. The grotesque villains, menacing insect-like Garthim, and a scene of a character's life force being painfully drained are famously frightening. This film works best for kids 10 and up.
No. 3
Gremlins
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Creature Feature
Gremlins
A cute Christmas present spawns a horde of destructive monsters that terrorize a small town on Christmas Eve. This film blends comedy with horror, featuring frequent jump scares and scenes where the mischievous creatures are destroyed in violent ways. This film works best for kids 9 and up.
No. 4
Return to Oz
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Dark Fantasy
Return to Oz
Dorothy returns to an Oz that has been conquered and ruined, its citizens turned to stone by a new set of villains. The film is known for its surreal, unsettling imagery, including the terrifying Wheelers and a witch with a collection of interchangeable heads. This film works best for kids 8 and up.
No. 5
Labyrinth
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Goblin King's Realm
Labyrinth
A teenager must navigate a dangerous maze to rescue her baby brother from the charismatic and intimidating Goblin King. While a fantasy musical, it contains surreal creatures, moments of intense peril, and a villain who is both alluring and threatening. This film works best for kids 8 and up.
Before you press play
A note for parents
The PG rating was much broader in the early 1980s, encompassing films that would likely receive a PG-13 today. Films like Gremlins and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom were so intense that they directly led to the creation of the PG-13 rating in 1984. Always preview these classics if you're unsure about their suitability for your children.
Questions parents ask
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