Halloween is just around the corner, and there’s no better way to get into the spooky spirit than by watching some scary movies! But if you’re looking for films that are more thrilling than gory, and more creepy than outright terrifying, then PG-13 horror movies are the perfect choice. These flicks deliver plenty of chills and suspense without the excessive violence and adult content of R-rated horror.
To help you plan the ultimate Halloween movie marathon, we’ve rounded up the 22 best PG-13 scary movies of all time. From supernatural thrillers to sci-fi chillers, monster flicks to psychological mind-benders, there’s something on this list for every type of horror fan. So grab some popcorn, dim the lights, and get ready for a hauntingly good time with these top-notch PG-13 Halloween movies.
1. Insidious (2011)
Insidiousis a supernatural horror film that launched a hugely successful franchise. The movie follows a couple, played by Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne, who move into a new home with their three children. But when their young son Dalton falls into a mysterious coma, the family begins experiencing terrifying paranormal events. They soon learn their house is haunted by malevolent spirits that want to claim Dalton’s body.
What makes Insidious so effectively scary is how it builds an unsettling atmosphere through creepy visuals and spine-chilling sound design rather than relying on cheap jump scares. The disturbing images of the demonic spirits and the iconic scene of the red-faced demon will linger in your mind long after the credits roll. Insidious proves a horror film doesn’t need buckets of blood and gore to be truly terrifying.
2. The Ring (2002)
A remake of the Japanese horror classic Ringu, The Ringbecame a box office smash and pop culture phenomenon when it was released in 2002. The film centers on a cursed videotape that causes anyone who watches it to die seven days later. Journalist Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts) investigates the urban legend of the tape after her niece dies under mysterious circumstances. Rachel watches the nightmarish tape herself and receives a phone call telling her she has seven days to live. In a race against time, she tries to uncover the tape’s origins and break the curse before her time is up.
The Ring is a slow-burn psychological horror film that creates a pervasive sense of dread and unease. The haunting, surreal imagery from the cursed video is instantly iconic, from the lone well in the field to the unforgettable sight of the ghostly Samara crawling out of the TV. With its moody cinematography, unsettling score, and masterful building of suspense, The Ring is a modern horror classic that will make you think twice about watching any unmarked VHS tapes.
3. The Sixth Sense (1999)
The Sixth Sensewas a cultural phenomenon when it came out, wowing audiences with its mind-blowing twist ending. The supernatural thriller stars Bruce Willis as child psychologist Malcolm Crowe, who begins treating a troubled young boy named Cole (Haley Joel Osment). Cole confides in Malcolm that he has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. As Malcolm helps Cole deal with his terrifying visions, he starts to uncover a shocking secret of his own.
The Sixth Sense is a rare horror film that is as emotionally powerful as it is scary. The relationship between Malcolm and Cole is the heart of the movie, with Willis and Osment both delivering incredible, heartfelt performances. When the film is not making your hairs stand on end with its well-crafted scares and creepily designed ghosts, it is tugging at your heartstrings with its poignant story of a lost little boy. The famous line “I see dead people” and the jaw-dropping final twist have cemented The Sixth Sense‘s place in pop culture history.
4. A Quiet Place (2018)
A Quiet Placeis a post-apocalyptic horror film with a unique hook – the world has been taken over by vicious monsters that hunt by sound, so the human survivors must live in complete silence to avoid being killed. The movie follows the Abbott family – father Lee (director John Krasinski), mother Evelyn (Emily Blunt), and their children – as they silently scavenge for supplies and try to find a way to fight back against the monsters that stalk their every move.
A Quiet Place is a masterclass in suspense, using the absence of sound to create almost unbearable tension. Every creaking floorboard or stifled cough could mean instant death. Krasinski skillfully builds dread through long, nerve-wracking scenes of complete silence. But the film is as much a human drama as it is a horror flick, focusing on the emotional toll of living under constant threat and the lengths parents will go to protect their children. With its clever premise, expert use of sound (and lack thereof), and stellar performances, A Quiet Place is an instant horror classic.
5. Lights Out (2016)
Based on a viral short film of the same name, Lights Outtaps into one of our most primal fears – the terror of what lurks in the dark. The film centers on a malevolent supernatural entity known as Diana who can only attack in the darkness. A young woman named Rebecca (Teresa Palmer) tries to save her little brother from Diana’s clutches while uncovering the dark secret behind the entity’s connection to their mentally ill mother.
Lights Out takes a simple, universal fear and turns it into a terrifying movie monster. Diana is a formidable villain – her spindly silhouette and jerky movements glimpsed in the darkness will send shivers down your spine. The film makes you afraid to turn off the lights, delivering creative, hair-raising scares that prey on our fear of what goes bump in the night. But underneath the thrills and chills, Lights Out also offers a sensitive portrayal of mental illness and the way it can haunt a family.
6. Poltergeist (1982)
A classic of the haunted house subgenre, Poltergeistfollows the Freeling family as their suburban home is invaded by malicious ghosts. At first the spirits seem playful, especially to five-year-old Carol Anne (Heather O’Rourke). But the ghostly activity takes a terrifying turn as the spirits abduct Carol Anne into a supernatural dimension, forcing her parents to enlist the help of parapsychologists to get her back.
Poltergeist is a rollercoaster ride of thrills and chills, delivering iconic scares like the evil clown doll and the skeleton-filled swimming pool. The pioneering special effects still hold up today, with the climactic rescue mission into the ghostly other side remaining a visual highlight. But beyond the eye-popping visuals and heart-stopping scares, Poltergeist works because of its emotional core. We care about the Freeling family and their fight to stay together against the evil forces threatening to tear them apart. It’s this human element that makes Poltergeist a horror classic.
7. The Others (2001)
An old-fashioned gothic ghost story, The Othersstars Nicole Kidman as Grace Stewart, a mother raising her two photosensitive children alone in a dark, fog-shrouded mansion on the English coast in the aftermath of World War II. When three mysterious servants arrive at the house, strange events begin to occur. Grace becomes convinced the mansion is haunted as she tries to protect her children from the increasingly sinister paranormal happenings.
The Others is a slow-burn horror film that creates an eerie, unsettling atmosphere through its misty cinematography, shadowy interiors, and use of silence and stillness. Rather than relying on graphic shocks, the scares come from what is glimpsed in the periphery or lurking in the dark corners of the frame. Kidman gives a tour-de-force performance as a mother struggling to maintain her sanity as she unravels the mystery of the house. The film builds to a stunning final twist that recontextualizes everything that came before it, making it prime for a rewatch.
8. Cloverfield (2008)
Cloverfieldkicked off a unique sci-fi horror franchise told through “found footage” from characters’ video cameras. The film takes place on the night a gigantic monster attacks New York City. We experience the chaos and destruction through the lens of one group of friends’ camcorder as they try to escape the city while the military battles the rampaging creature and its vicious parasites.
Shot in a gritty, realistic handheld style, Cloverfield makes you feel like you are there on the ground during a catastrophic monster attack. The film keeps the creature hidden for most of its runtime, building suspense through glimpses of a massive tail or the earth-shaking thud of gigantic footsteps until the beast is finally revealed in all its horrific glory. With its ground-level perspective and visceral depiction of an apocalyptic event, Cloverfield is an intense, pulse-pounding thrill ride that breathes new life into the giant monster genre.
9. The Conjuring (2013)
The Conjuringlaunched a sprawling supernatural horror universe, but none of the subsequent films have surpassed the sheer terror of the original. Based on the alleged real-life case files of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), the film depicts the Warrens’ attempts to help the Perron family, who are being terrorized by a malevolent presence in their farmhouse.
The Conjuring is a masterfully crafted old-school haunted house movie, full of memorably terrifying moments like the clapping game and the hide-and-seek scene. Director James Wan knows how to wring maximum tension out of long, drawn-out shots, making you hold your breath as you scan the frame for any hint of movement. The film also benefits greatly from the gravitas of Wilson and Farmiga’s performances as the Warrens. The Conjuring*is a modern horror classic that made audiences afraid to go home and hear things go bump in the night.
10. Drag Me to Hell (2009)
After directing the Spider-Man trilogy, Sam Raimi returned to his Evil Dead roots with the gleefully gonzo horror flick Drag Me to Hell. Alison Lohman stars as Christine, a loan officer who forecloses on the house of an elderly woman, who retaliates by placing a curse on Christine. She becomes haunted by a powerful demon called the Lamia who torments her for three days before literally dragging her to hell.
Drag Me to Hell is a rollercoaster ride of a movie, mixing genuine scares with Raimi’s signature blend of splatstick humor and gross-out gags. The film is a showcase for Raimi’s kinetic visual style, with quick cuts, dutch angles, and his iconic “Raimi cam” putting the audience right in the middle of the frenzied action. Lohman makes for a likable and sympathetic scream queen, and her battle against the Lamia grows increasingly manic and unhinged, culminating in an eye-popping final confrontation. Drag Me to Hell is a wild, thrilling blast of horror comedy from one of the modern masters of the genre.
11. The Ring Two (2005)
A sequel to Gore Verbinski’s remake of The Ring, The Ring Twosees the return of Naomi Watts as journalist Rachel Keller. Having survived her encounter with Samara and the cursed videotape, Rachel moves to a small coastal community in Oregon with her son Aidan. But Rachel’s attempt at a quiet new life is shattered when a local teenager dies of mysterious circumstances and Aidan begins exhibiting strange behavior. Rachel soon discovers Samara’s evil spirit has returned with a vengeance.
While not as scary or tightly crafted as its predecessor, The Ring Two still delivers some memorable spooky visuals and a few good jolts. The film expands on the lore behind Samara and her origins, as Rachel races to uncover the dark secrets of the ghostly girl’s past in order to save her son. Watts is once again a compelling lead, and the rainy Pacific Northwest setting provides an appropriately gloomy atmosphere for all the supernatural shenanigans. The Ring Two is a solid if not spectacular sequel that should satisfy fans of the first film.
12. Mama (2013)
Produced by Guillermo del Toro, Mamais a chilling ghost story about two young girls, Victoria and Lilly, who disappear after their father kills their mother and then himself. Five years later, the girls are found living feral in a cabin in the woods and are put in the custody of their uncle Lucas and his girlfriend Annabel. But as the girls adjust to their new life, a jealous supernatural entity follows them from the woods, one they call “Mama.”
Mama is a stylish and scary film that makes the most of its simple premise. The feral girls are effectively creepy, skittering around on all fours and communicating in animalistic grunts and moans. The ghostly Mama is a terrifying figure, with her flowing hair and jerky, unnatural movements. Director Andy Muschietti (who would go on to helm It) crafts some nail-biting set pieces, including a hair-raising scene involving a closet and another with a nerve-wracking cliff-side confrontation. Mama is a spooky and atmospheric ghost story with a strong emotional core.
13. The Grudge (2004)
An American remake of the Japanese horror hit Ju-On, The Grudgefollows a similar story of a curse born of a violent death that infects all who come into contact with it. Sarah Michelle Gellar stars as an American nurse living in Tokyo who unwittingly becomes the latest victim of the curse after entering a seemingly abandoned house. As the curse spreads to those around her, Sarah races to find a way to lift it before it claims her life.
The Grudge is a creepy and unsettling film that creates an oppressive atmosphere of dread. The pale-faced ghosts with their wide staring eyes and gaping mouths are the stuff of nightmares, and their appearances are accompanied by a skin-crawling death rattle noise that will send shivers down your spine. Gellar makes for a sympathetic protagonist, and the Tokyo setting gives the film a unique flavor. The Grudge is a solid remake that captures the skin-crawling terror of the original.
14. The Haunting (1999)
A big-budget remake of the classic 1963 film, The Hauntingstars Liam Neeson as Dr. David Marrow, who invites three insomniacs to stay in the notoriously haunted Hill House as part of a sleep study. But the study is actually a front for Marrow’s investigation into the house’s dark history. As the guests, including the emotionally fragile Eleanor (Lili Taylor), explore the cavernous mansion, they begin to experience terrifying supernatural phenomena.
The Haunting is a visually stunning film, with incredible production design that brings the ominous Hill House to vivid life. The CGI effects, while a bit dated now, are still effectively creepy, particularly the nightmarish faces that emerge from the walls and carpets. Taylor gives a powerful performance as a woman slowly unraveling under the influence of the house’s malevolent spirits. The Haunting is a flawed but entertaining haunted house flick with style to spare.
15. The Skeleton Key (2005)
The Skeleton Keystars Kate Hudson as Caroline, a hospice nurse who takes a job caring for an elderly man in a decaying Louisiana plantation home. As she explores the old house, Caroline discovers a hidden room filled with paraphernalia related to Hoodoo, a form of folk magic. She becomes convinced the house is cursed and that the secret to lifting the curse lies in the mysterious room.
The Skeleton Key is a moody Southern Gothic thriller with a great sense of atmosphere. The Louisiana bayou setting is appropriately creepy, and the dilapidated plantation house is a character in itself. Hudson makes for a likable heroine, and Gena Rowlands is great as the secretive mistress of the house. The film delves into the rarely explored world of Hoodoo, and the rituals and spells add an intriguing layer to the mystery. The Skeleton Key builds to a clever and surprising twist ending that will make you want to immediately rewatch the film.
16. The Messengers (2007)
The Messengersfollows the Solomon family as they move from the big city to a run-down sunflower farm in North Dakota for a fresh start. But their new home holds dark secrets, and their teenage daughter Jess (Kristen Stewart) soon becomes plagued by terrifying visions of ghostly figures. As the supernatural activity escalates and the visions grow more violent, the family begins to uncover the dark history of the farm and the evil forces that haunt it.
The Messengers is a moody and atmospheric horror film that makes good use of its isolated farm setting to create a sense of dread. The sunflower fields that stretch as far as the eye can see are at once beautiful and ominous, hiding untold horrors. Stewart, in an early role before her Twilight fame, makes for a compelling scream queen, and the rest of the cast is solid as the family under supernatural siege. The film delivers some effectively creepy visuals and a few good scares. While it doesn’t break any new ground, The Messengers is a competently crafted ghost story.
17. 1408 (2007)
Based on a short story by Stephen King, 1408stars John Cusack as Mike Enslin, a cynical author who writes books debunking allegedly haunted locations. Mike’s latest project takes him to the Dolphin Hotel in New York City, where room 1408 is rumored to be cursed. Ignoring the warnings of the hotel manager (Samuel L. Jackson), Mike insists on staying in the room. Once inside, he finds himself trapped in a nightmare of terrifying visions and inexplicable phenomena.
1408 is a psychological horror film that traps the viewer inside the hellish hotel room along with Mike. Cusack carries the film with a frantic, unhinged performance as a man slowly losing his grip on reality. The horrors of room 1408 start subtly, with the radio turning on by itself or a painting changing, but they escalate to full-blown nightmarish hallucinations. The film keeps you guessing as to what is real and what is in Mike’s mind. With its claustrophobic setting and mind-bending scares, 1408 is a surreal and unsettling horror experience.
18. The Uninvited (2009)
A remake of the Korean horror film A Tale of Two Sisters, The Uninvitedcenters on Anna (Emily Browning), a troubled teenage girl who returns home from a mental institution after the death of her terminally ill mother. Anna is alarmed to find her father Steven (David Strathairn) engaged to her mother’s former nurse Rachel (Elizabeth Banks). As Anna is visited by ghostly visions warning her about Rachel, she begins to suspect her new stepmother is harboring sinister intentions.
The Uninvited is a stylish and twisty psychological thriller with horror elements. The film keeps the viewer off-balance, blurring the lines between reality and Anna’s possibly delusional perceptions. Browning gives a compelling lead performance, and Banks is chilling as the too-perfect Rachel, her icy exterior hinting at the darkness beneath. The ghostly apparitions are used sparingly but effectively, adding to the unsettling atmosphere. The Uninvited builds to a shocking final twist that will make you rethink everything you’ve seen.
19. The Possession (2012)
The Possessionis a supernatural horror film loosely based on the allegedly true story of the dybbuk box, a wine cabinet supposedly haunted by a malevolent Jewish spirit. Jeffrey Dean Morgan stars as Clyde, a recently divorced father who buys an antique wooden box at a yard sale for his younger daughter Em (Natasha Calis). Em becomes obsessed with the box and begins exhibiting increasingly disturbing behavior. As strange occurrences plague the family, Clyde seeks the help of a Jewish rabbi to uncover the box’s dark history.
The Possession is an effectively creepy film that puts a Jewish spin on the typical possession horror story. The dybbuk box is a unique and unsettling horror movie object, and the film mines fresh scares from Jewish folklore. Calis gives a chilling performance as the possessed Em, transitioning from sweet to sinister on a dime. The film delivers some genuinely skin-crawling moments, like the scene of Em calmly munching on moths or the unnerving climactic exorcism. The Possession is a solid supernatural shocker with a novel cultural twist.
20. The Haunting of Molly Hartley (2008)
The Haunting of Molly Hartleyfollows the titular teenage girl (Haley Bennett) as she starts at a new school after surviving a near-fatal attack by her deranged mother. As Molly tries to fit in and navigate the social scene, she is plagued by terrifying visions and a sense that something sinister is after her. Molly soon learns the shocking truth – her parents made a pact with the devil before she was born, and now that she’s turning 18, the devil is coming to collect her soul.
The Haunting of Molly Hartley is a competently crafted if unremarkable supernatural thriller. Bennett makes for a sympathetic lead, selling Molly’s mounting terror as her 18th birthday approaches. The film delivers a few effective scares, particularly in Molly’s nightmarish hallucinations. The premise of a Satanic pact is intriguing, though the film doesn’t fully develop its mythology. The Haunting of Molly Hartley is a decent if forgettable entry in the teen horror genre.
21. The Fog (2005)
A remake of John Carpenter’s 1980 horror classic, The Fogtakes place in the coastal town of Antonio Bay, which is about to celebrate its 100th anniversary. But as a dense fog rolls in off the sea, the town is beset by ghostly figures seeking revenge for the dark secret upon which Antonio Bay was founded a century ago. It’s up to a group of townspeople, including charter boat captain Nick (Tom Welling), his girlfriend Elizabeth (Maggie Grace), and local radio DJ Stevie (Selma Blair), to uncover the truth and save their town from the vengeful spirits in the fog.
The Fog is an atmospheric if unnecessary remake that fails to live up to the original. The film has strong production values, with the titular fog providing an appropriately eerie and claustrophobic backdrop for the ghostly happenings. But the scares are lacking, with an overreliance on cheap jump scares over genuine dread. The talented cast is wasted on thinly written characters, and the mythology behind the ghosts’ origins is muddled. The Fog is a slick but soulless retread that pales in comparison to Carpenter’s classic.
22. Wind Chill (2007)
Wind Chillstars Emily Blunt and Ashton Holmes as two college students sharing a ride home for the holidays who take an ill-advised shortcut down a remote country road. After their car breaks down, they find themselves stranded in the snowy wilderness, miles from help. As night falls and temperatures plummet, the pair discover they are not alone. Ghostly figures appear in the darkness, and they soon learn the road was the site of several grisly murders. Trapped in their car by the freezing cold and menacing spirits, the students must confront the road’s dark history if they hope to survive the night.
Wind Chill is a small-scale but effectively chilling horror film that makes the most of its simple premise and limited setting. Blunt and Holmes have good chemistry as the bickering students forced to rely on each other in their fight for survival. The snowy landscape is eerily beautiful but also isolating and dangerous, adding to the pervasive sense of dread. The ghostly figures glimpsed in the rearview mirror or out in the snow are genuinely unnerving. With its claustrophobic atmosphere and creeping tension, Wind Chill is an underrated gem perfect for a dark and stormy night.
These 22 PG-13 horror movies prove that you don’t need buckets of blood and guts to deliver effective scares. From ghost stories to monster movies, psychological thrillers to supernatural shockers, there’s a wide range of chilling cinematic experiences suitable for teen audiences and above. So the next time you’re in the mood for a good fright without the hardcore violence of R-rated horror, give one of these terrifying PG-13 flicks a try. Just don’t blame us if you have trouble sleeping afterwards!
