Family Friendly Scary Movies

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers
Rated R

The Shining is a classic horror film directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1980. It tells the story of Jack Torrance, a struggling writer who accepts a job as the winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, hoping to be able to concentrate on his writing. He arrives at the hotel with his wife Wendy and son Danny, who is gifted with "the shining," an ability to see the hotel's horrific past. As the hotel isolates the Torrance family, Jack's mental state deteriorates as he succumbs to the supernatural evil that lives in the Overlook. Wendy and Danny must battle the malevolent force in the hotel in order to survive. The Shining is considered one of the greatest horror films of all time, with its stunning visuals and psychological horror elements.

From Guillermo del Toro, starring Ivana Baquero, Ariadna Gil, Sergi López, Maribel Verdú
Rated R

Pan's Labyrinth is an Oscar-winning Spanish-language fantasy film directed by acclaimed Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. Set in Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, the film follows Ofelia, a young girl enthralled with a mysterious labyrinth and a strange creature that inhabits it. With the help of the creature and a magical book, Ofelia embarks on a quest to fulfill three dangerous tasks in order to return to her rightful place as princess of the Underground Realm. Along the way, Ofelia must confront her stepfather, the sinister Captain Vidal, and battle monsters, both real and mythical. Through this journey of self-discovery and bravery, Ofelia ultimately finds the strength and courage to save herself and her family.

From William Friedkin, starring Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Lee J. Cobb
Rated R

The Exorcist is a 1973 supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin and adapted from the 1971 novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty. The film follows the story of a 12-year-old girl, Regan MacNeil, who is possessed by a demonic entity. In order to rid her of the entity, two priests, Father Damien Karras and Father Lankester Merrin, must perform an exorcism. The film follows the priests as they battle against the entity to free Regan, while also struggling with their own beliefs and faith. The film is considered to be one of the greatest horror films of all time and is acclaimed for its use of horror, suspense, and religious themes.

From Sam Raimi, starring Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks, Kassie Wesley DePaiva
Rated R

Evil Dead II is a cult classic horror movie directed by Sam Raimi. It is a sequel to the 1981 horror movie The Evil Dead. The movie stars Bruce Campbell as Ashley "Ash" J. Williams, a lone man who is once again forced to confront an evil force in a cabin in the woods. Ash is accidentally transported back in time and must battle an evil demonic force that has been unleashed. He is aided by a mysterious spirit, Henrietta, and is joined by his girlfriend, Linda, and her friends. Together they must battle the forces of evil and prevent them from taking over the world. Ash must use his wits, weapons, and chainsaw to survive the night and save the world.

From Jordan Peele, starring Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener
Rated R

Get Out tells the story of African-American photographer Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya) who is invited by his white girlfriend, Rose Armitage (Allison Williams), to meet her parents (Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener) at their family estate. Chris soon realizes that he is in danger as the family’s chilling secret comes to light. With the help of his best friend, Rod (LilRel Howery), Chris must find a way to escape the nefarious intentions of the Armitages and their cohorts. The film is a provocative satire on the horrors of racism and modern-day slavery.

From James Wan, starring Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ron Livingston, Lili Taylor
Rated R

The Conjuring is a 2013 American supernatural horror film directed by James Wan. The film is centered around paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren and their investigation into the haunted farmhouse of the Perron family. The Perron family has been experiencing strange and terrifying events in their home, prompting the Warrens to investigate. The Warrens must confront a dark force in the house and use their knowledge of the paranormal in order to save the family and their home. The film is based on a true story and follows the Warrens as they battle the supernatural entity and attempt to free the family from its grasp.

From John Krasinski, starring Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe
Rated PG-13

A Quiet Place is a 2018 horror film about a family living in near-silence in order to avoid mysterious creatures that hunt by sound. After the creatures devastate their town, the family must rely on their wits and courage to survive in a post-apocalyptic world that requires them to remain quiet and undetected. Lee (John Krasinski) and Evelyn (Emily Blunt) Abbott are determined to protect their children Regan (Millicent Simmonds), Marcus (Noah Jupe) and Beau (Cade Woodward) from the creatures that hunt them. They must find ways to survive with limited resources, while also trying to make contact with other survivors in the area. The family must find a way to survive in a world where any sound could be deadly.

From Danny Boyle, starring Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston, Alex Palmer
Rated R

28 Days Later... is a post-apocalyptic horror film directed by Danny Boyle. It follows a group of four survivors of a virus-induced zombie apocalypse as they try to survive in a deserted London. The film begins with a group of animal rights activists freeing chimpanzees from a laboratory in London. It turns out, however, that the chimps were infected with a virus that causes extreme rage and rage-driven behavior in humans. The virus quickly spreads and causes a zombie apocalypse in London. 28 days later, Jim (Cillian Murphy) awakens from a coma, only to find himself alone in a deserted London. He soon meets Selena (Naomie Harris) and Mark (Noah Huntley) and joins forces with them to find a safe haven. Along the way, the group encounters other survivors, including the ruthless Major Henry West (Christopher Eccleston) and his soldiers. As they search for safety, they must also confront the infected zombies, as well as human survivors who are still alive but just as dangerous. Through their journey, the group discovers that there may still be hope for humanity’s future.

From Sam Raimi, starring Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor, Betsy Baker
Rated NC-17

From Sam Raimi, starring Bruce Campbell, Embeth Davidtz, Marcus Gilbert, Ian Abercrombie
Rated R

From Directors: Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza, starring Manuela Velasco, Ferran Terraza, Jorge-Yamam Serrano, Pablo Rosso
Rated R

From James Wan, starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Madison Wolfe, Frances O'Connor
Rated R

From Ari Aster, starring Toni Collette, Milly Shapiro, Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff
Rated R

From Andy Muschietti, starring Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Martell, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis
Rated R

From Neil Marshall, starring Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, Saskia Mulder
Rated R

From Vincenzo Natali, starring Nicole de Boer, Maurice Dean Wint, David Hewlett, Andrew Miller
Rated R

From John Krasinski, starring Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Cillian Murphy, John Krasinski
Rated PG-13

From Dan Trachtenberg, starring John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher Jr., Douglas M. Griffin
Rated PG-13

From Gore Verbinski, starring Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, Brian Cox, David Dorfman
Rated PG-13

From Drew Goddard, starring Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz
Rated R

From Jaume Collet-Serra, starring Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman, CCH Pounder
Rated R

From Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, starring Jeremy Renner, Rose Byrne, Robert Carlyle, Harold Perrineau
Rated R

From Scott Derrickson, starring Ethan Hawke, Juliet Rylance, James Ransone, Fred Thompson
Rated R

From James Wan, starring Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins, Lin Shaye
Rated PG-13

From Jennifer Kent, starring Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Daniel Henshall, Hayley McElhinney
Rated Not Rated