Greetings, Spooks and Ghouls! Halloween is approaching, so it’s time to create the ultimate list of PG 13 Halloween movies. Halloween is the best holiday for people like me, fans of horror and fantasy. That’s why this list is extra special, designed for ultimate fans of horror and fantasy, featuring movies that you won’t believe are rated PG-13. We advise you to prepare your Jack O’ Lanterns, Harry Potter floating candles, Hocus Pocus Punch, Candy & Caramel Apples, Pumpkin Pie, Apple Bread, Caramel Corn, and Candy Corn. Let’s creep through so you can find the movie that’ll send chills down your spine this Halloween.
The Ring [2002]
Photo Credits: DreamWorks Pictures
“Old but scary gold” is how kids from the 90s and early 2000s would describe it. Even today, it’s still so frightening when I watch it, and I can’t believe how this remade Japanese horror movie is rated PG 13. You’ve probably seen it parodied in other movies like Scary Movie 3 or shows like The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror XXXII (Dead Ringer). The story of The Ring is based on an urban legend: there’s a VHS tape, and if you watch it, you’ll die in seven days. This might sound like spam emails or SMS messages, but trust me on this one—it’s super creepy and scary.
Photo Credits: DreamWorks Pictures
The way the girl appears and emerges from the TV will send chills down your spine. At the time, it was so frightening that some parents forbade their kids from watching it. There was even a theory that you could travel to the other side of the world through the TV, but that’s a different topic. What makes this movie so special is that it’s based on an urban legend from Japan. Just imagine how bizarre and eerie that can be. So, if you want a wet floor beneath your TV and a dark-haired demon ghost girl to join you this Halloween, don’t skip “The Ring.”
The Others [2001]
Photo Credits: Dimension Films
“The Others,” unlike other PG 13 Halloween movies, has won many awards. The storytelling in this movie is spectacular, and the cast is great too, with Nicole Kidman as the main protagonist. The haunted house is what typical Halloween movies are about, along with the kids who see ghosts and a creepy mother. This movie will show you that you don’t need any nudity, blood, and gore to make your hair stand on end. Goosebumps will cover your body when you see the faces of the people who walk around the house. Even the mother’s name, Grace, is connected with the main plot and has a horrifying effect when I remember the ending.
Photo Credits: Dimension Films
Nicole Kidman wasn’t the only good thing in this movie; the kids, Nicholas (James Bentley) and Anne (Alakina Mann) were also impressive. To help the child actors concentrate and feel scared, the director Alejandro Amenábar used spooky music while they were filming with Nicole Kidman. This is the type of movie that will make you think about life, death, and Grace. So, if you want an afterthought, you should watch or rewatch this old but gold one.
Rosemary’s Baby [1968]
Photo Credits: Paramount Pictures
For those who enjoy movies about cults, this one is for you. Since most cult-themed movies are rated R and my personal favorite is “The Empty Man,” this one sets the gold standard. “Rosemary’s Baby” has that Scooby-Doo spooky element in it, which includes hidden doors, creepy creatures, and even some people in power. But unlike Scooby-Doo, which teaches us that all people are monsters, “Rosemary’s Baby” teaches us that there are spooky and scary monsters in this world. The movie doesn’t show a lot of scary things, but it’s creepy as hell.
Photo Credits: Paramount Pictures
The best part of these “old school” horror movies is truly excellent, and Mia Farrow acted fabulously alongside John Cassavetes. For those of you who didn’t know, the movie was directed by Roman Polanski. The story is about a couple, Rosemary and Guy, who moved to NYC, and Rosemary is pregnant; you didn’t see this coming, did you? The director did a great thing with this movie by not using any fancy monsters, as it seems, for the most part, that Rosemary is just crazy and paranoid. If you’re not a fan of horror movies but would like to get scared this Halloween, then this one is for you.
The Sixth Sense [1999]
Photo Credits: Buena Vista Pictures
If you’re old enough to remember which game used the most memorable quote from The Sixth Sense, “I See Dead People,” as a cheat code, I’ll have to disappoint you and tell you that you’re probably over 30 now. Now, this movie isn’t as scary as it is creepy, and it does include some scenes where a ghost of a dead lady appears covered in blood, but nothing too bloody or gory. There are some dead people here and there hanging around the school, but again, it’s all part of one of the best movies from the ’90s. At some moments, you won’t believe how this movie made it on the list with other PG 13 Halloween movies, as it features some gross scenes.
Photo Credits: Buena Vista Pictures
Now, the connection that the boy, Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), shares with child psychologist Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis), is amazing. Their bond and acting are just out of this world, and it’s, for once, great roles where Bruce didn’t play a version of a badass-diehard-hero. There’s also a great subplot with Dr. Malcolm’s wife that gets resolved satisfyingly at the end of the movie. We’ve spoiled enough, so if you want a high-quality Halloween movie, check this one out; it’s worth your time.
The Boogeyman [2023]
Photo Credits: 20th Century Studios
You’d probably be wrong if you thought that Stephen King’s book adaptations can’t make it onto the list of PG 13 Halloween movies, but you’d be mistaken; deadly mistaken. This is probably one of the better adaptations of the book. The Boogeyman is not a children’s story, but it’s based on one, and it’s a genuine Halloween special. Imagine if the other Boogeyman stories were regular The Simpsons episodes; this one is like a Treehouse of Horror-type episode. The Boogeyman in this universe is a disgusting monster that feeds off the sorrow of people who have lost someone, like a child or a mother, as it’s presented in the movie.
Photo Credits: 20th Century Studios
Now, the story of this movie follows the Harper family, sisters Sadie and Sawyer, and their therapist father Will. They’re all struggling to overcome the grief caused by the death of Will’s wife and his daughter’s mother. The creepiest character in the movie is Lester Billings, who warns Will of the presence of the Boogeyman. Another eerie character is Rita, the wife of Lester Billings, who is hunting the monster. It was both fun and scary to watch a family fight the monster, but overall, it’s a very dark and emotional film. If you’re a fan of Stephen King, you’ll appreciate this adaptation.
The Skeleton Key [2005]
Photo Credits: Universal Pictures
The Skeleton Key has a pretty dark and creepy tone to it. It’s one of the rare good PG 13 Halloween movies that focuses solely on voodoo magic and its use. Caroline Ellis (Kate Hudson), a good-hearted nurse living in New Orleans, quits her job at the hospital once she realizes how poorly the hospital treats its patients. She finds a job advertisement in the newspaper that states “Seeking Hospice Caretaker.” Once she arrives at the remote mansion in Louisiana, she starts exploring because she senses that something fishy is going on there. The old mansion and the skeleton key itself are just as creepy and scary as the old books, items, and relics that she discovers throughout the movie.
Photo Credits: Universal Pictures
The quote that stuck with me from this movie is “It Doesn’t Work If You Don’t Believe Scene.” This movie is underrated, and it’s probably the best Hoodoo magic film out there. There aren’t many movies like this, especially not about voodoo. By the end of the movie, you’ll have everything figured out, and it will all make perfect sense. Until then, enjoy the movie.
The Grudge [2004]
Photo Credits: Sony Pictures
“The Grudge” is yet another Japanese remake masterpiece. When I watched this movie for the first time in 2004, it scared the wits out of me. I never wanted to wash my hair alone in the bathroom again, and that’s not another drop-the-soap joke. This movie is terrifying, and the original Japanese version is chilling, but I found the American one a bit creepier. As I’ve mentioned before, the Japanese have a special way of telling a horror story, and this one is no exception. “The Grudge” is, as the name suggests, about a vengeful spirit (Kayako) haunting a house where a murder occurred. When nurse Karen Davis moves there to take care of an elderly lady, she encounters The Grudge and has to put an end to it.
Photo Credits: Sony Pictures
It was curious to find out that such disturbing movies like “The Ring” and “The Grudge” have made it to the list of PG 13 Halloween movies. Even today, I’m afraid of the sound that “The Grudge” makes, and trust me, you’ll remember it too. This one is a Halloween must-watch, so if you haven’t already, please put it on your Halloween bucket list. There’s nothing else to say except to be careful about picking a place to stay if you’re going to Tokyo.
The Mothman Prophecies [2002]
Photo Credits: Lakeshore Entertainment
This supernatural horror-mystery movie is about an urban legend of Mothman, inspired by the book of the same name. John Klein (Richard Gere) is the main protagonist, and he’s a journalist working for the Washington Post. Laura Linney is a local police officer who trusts John, and they’re together on this one with the Mothman. There are several calls that, for some viewers, are “disturbing,” especially regarding the way Mothman’s voice sounds and the fact that he uses a phone. Anyway, this one is great for all cosmic horror fans and urban legend fans. Yet it’s another masterpiece that didn’t need blood and gore to prove that it’s scary.
Photo Credits: Lakeshore Entertainment
Why is The Mothman Prophecies so high on the list? It’s because this event happened, to some degree. You see, Mothman is now a pop-folk-urban legend since he was seen in the Point Pleasant area of West Virginia, USA, in the late 1960s. He was always described as a large, winged humanoid creature with glowing red eyes. The story has a lot of time traveling in it; I’m a fan of this tool, but nowadays, it’s being overused. This might be a bit harder to follow, as the screenplay wasn’t the best-ever adaptation of the book, but it’s certainly one of the scariest PG 13 Halloween movies.
The Visit [2015]
Photo Credits: Universal Pictures
Renowned director Manoj Nelliyattu, known as “M. Night” Shyamalan, has many PG 13 movies, and in my opinion, The Visit is the best found-footage one. The Visit is about Becca and Tyler, two siblings who visit their grandparents in the countryside. Becca, aspiring to be a filmmaker, records their trip. However, they notice that their grandparents are acting strangely and creepily. This movie is scary in a comedic way, so give it a watch, and you’ll understand why it’s categorized as a “comedy” horror movie. As the kids discover some peculiar rules and behaviors of the elderly, The Visit will make you think twice before leaving your kids with their grandparents.
Photo Credits: Universal Pictures
The Visit is the kind of movie that will keep you guessing until the very end about what’s happening. For a PG 13 Halloween movie, it can be genuinely disturbing at times. However, as I’ve mentioned, the comedy aspect might make it a bit less scary for some viewers, or even more creepy. It all depends on the perspective of the viewer.
1408 [2007]
Photo Credits: Dimension Films
We’ll conclude our list with another Stephen King’s book adaptation 1408. StevenKing is a master of horror and all of its subgenres and existential horror isn’t an exception. The movie stars John Cusack as Mike Enslin a paranormal debunker who lost his daughter and who’s about to face the infamous Room 1408. Another spooky but always cool character is Gerald Olin (Samuel L. Jackson) the manager of the haunted Dolphin Hotel. Allegedly the story was inspired by true events that took place in San Diego’s Hotel del Coronado. In the real-life happenings, a young woman named Kate Morgan took her own life.
Photo Credits: Dimension Films
With this one, we’d like to end this PG 13 Halloween movie night(mare) and let you pick your favorite movie that will give you goosebumps this October 31st. If you didn’t find any movie that you like, you can always check our horror movies like the Mist list – maybe there’s something for you in there. For all of your creeps, creepers, ghouls, vampires, zombies, and other horror lovers, there’s plenty of other horror content lurking around our website.
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