Movies that are PG or G-rated sometimes are overlooked because of what they imply: a lack of seriousness, connotations with being childish, and the absence of various elements, such as violence, nudity, and profanity, that many viewers enjoys watching. However, not only are these movies are more inclusive in the sense that the whole family can watch them together, they can also prove that explicit content is not always necessary in creating a good movie. Perhaps the hardest genre to pull this off in, though, is horror, which is so often considered inappropriate for kids because of its inherently frightening content and tendency toward gore.
However, horror is a genre that doesn't have an age limit: some people have loved scary stories since they were very little, and numerous book series (from Goosebumps to Bone Chillers) have kids as their primary demographic. There are various well-made kid-friendly horror movies that can include an audience which usually doesn't go for more hardcore horror. Some are animated or stop-motion classics, such as Corpse Bride and Frankenweenie — both by a director that has a great body of work for children, Tim Burton. There are the '80s classics, which created one of the largest catalogs for PG-rated horror movies, from The Lost Boys to (arguably) Ghostbusters.
PG or G-rated horror movies are fun for the whole family, and when well-produced and creatively directed, can even frighten a seasoned horror fan, if only for a moment. If you'd like to watch some horror movies with your kids this October, here are some of the best that were rated PG or G. (Additionally, there are countless classic horror movies prior to the '60s, when the R rating debuted, that are appropriate for kids, from the great horror movies of the '50s to the timeless Universal monster movies of the '30s).
8 Twilight Zone: The Movie
The '80s were definitely a peak in producing PG and G horror movies, which is partly why the MPAA eventually felt it necessary to create a PG-13 rating. The popular anthology series The Twilight Zone led to a movie in 1983, Twilight Zone: The Movie, which was produced and directed by four greats — John Landis (An American Werewolf in London), Joe Dante (The Howling), George Miller (the Mad Max movies), and Steven Spielberg (who will appear a few times on this list).
The movie follows the anthology structure of the series, with four different stories that remake classic episodes from the original series. The film has all the best qualities of the series: intriguing storylines, captivating tone, and the perfect mix of sci-fi, humor, and horror. The production was considered cursed, but the film remains a classic.
7 Gremlins
Speaking of Joe Dante, the great horror director had a huge hit with the Christmas-themed Gremlins, though if you want another cute Christmas movie, this is not the one for you. Set on a happy holiday but without the easy-going quality found in those wintry stories, Gremlins is a must-watch for any horror fan. Directed by Dante and produced by Spielberg, the story is a fun and increasingly horrific watch. After a young man receives a strange gift for Christmas, a small animal that is not quite anything he has ever seen, it appears that this will be the best holiday ever. That is, until the few conditions the animals have (not to be fed after midnight, can't touch water, etc.) are not followed, and everything turns into mayhem.
6 Monster House
Monster House is probably one of the most horrifying animated movies that are PG-rated. The animation is dark, and the themes are heavy. However, if the viewer is looking for some good scares and doesn't mind denser subjects such as trauma and loss, this is the perfect pick. Three friends think that the mysterious house on the street is actually a living thing: a monster. With Halloween approaching, they will venture into a journey that will be a lot darker than they ever expected.
5 Beetlejuice
Don't say his name three times! The strange narrative that could have only been created by Tim Burton's mind is a horror story unlike any other. The strong imagery (that would later become a staple from the director), the song choices, and the performances create a unique world that is just as inviting as creepy. The movie has a light and fun quality that's sometimes lacking in other Burton productions.
Beetlejuice doesn't take itself extremely seriously, and that eases the frightening situations that appear on the screen; plus, Michael Keaton's brilliant performance is both hilarious and creepy in equal measure. When a family comes to move into a new house, everything seems perfect. That's until things take a gloomy turn, and ghosts are only the beginning of what they will find between those walls.
4 The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Nightmare Before Christmas is a sentimental and not terrifying story accompanied by a killer soundtrack by Danny Elfman. The Tim Burton and Disney collaboration is one of the best stop-motion films ever made, and one that weirdly works for both Halloween and Christmas. The Halloween imagery combined with this heartfelt story about finding yourself is probably one of the most cherished works by Burton. Jack, the skeleton, is the king of Halloween. He feels unfulfilled with his role, but all of that changes when he finds out about another holiday: Christmas. He decides to take action and become the new ruler of Christmas, Santa Claws.
3 Poltergeist
Another 80s classic, Poltergeist is a milestone for supernatural horror movies. The long buildup, the family drama, and the innovative jump scares (the toy clown still haunts people's dreams) enhance why this movie is so good. Also, famed director Tobe Hooper and produced Steven Spielberg prove that a genuinely unnerving horror film can be PG (even if it would most certainly be rated PG-13 if that MPAA rating had existed at the time); everyone can watch this supernatural horror story together. When a family moves to a new house, what could go wrong? But when spooky things start to happen, they will discover that the house (and the place it was built) has a dreadful history.
2 Coraline
'Be careful what you wish for' is a timeless lesson explored by Coraline. The Neil Gaiman novel adaptation is one of the most disturbing watches from the author, even if it is a PG film. The stop-motion movie is colorful and full of life, but that doesn't stop how scary things quickly get; even if there isn't explicit horror, the atmopshere and imaginative character design gradually escalates into pure dread. The soundtrack adds a lot to this narrative, and it’s the type of story that stays with the viewer long after the movie is done. When Coraline moves to a secluded mansion, she is completely miserable until she finds a secret passageway that leads to another world, where her 'other parents' are a lot nicer than her real ones — or so they seem.
1 Jaws
The 1975 film Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg, has become nothing short of a classic. The movie received a PG rating back when it was released, and some say that it would receive a PG-13 or even R rating if today's classification system was used; this is mostly due to the gore and explicit violent scenes. Either way, the movie still has a PG rating and is a part of cinema history for its boldness, wonderful characters and dialogue, and amazingly tense atmosphere. After a brutal shark attack occurs on a beach in New England, a political and intense war begins when some want to close the beach while others want it open for the public.