Studios routinely release family-oriented films that stretch the definition of parental guidance to the limit. These movies weren't meant to traumatize children. Filmmakers were simply telling ambitious stories with big emotions, big creatures, big scares, and sometimes surprisingly mature themes. But many of those titles have developed reputations for being far scarier than parents might expect.
That's why this list exists. These movies look family-friendly on the surface, but can genuinely rattle kids who aren't prepared for nightmare-fuel visuals or dark emotional story twists. From murderous toys to scary stop-motion characters, these films, which can be found on Hulu, Netflix, and more, should be revisited with caution if you are planning a movie night with the kids.
Poltergeist (1982)
Poltergeist begins when a suburban family starts experiencing strange phenomena after spirits invade their home. When their five-year-old daughter is pulled into a supernatural realm, her parents enlist the help of paranormal experts to rescue her. What follows is a chaotic descent into otherworldly terror lurking beneath the American dream. This film may be PG, but it is essentially a full-blown horror movie.
The eerie television static, moving furniture, and a kid eating a tree are just some of the sequences that many adults still rank among the most disturbing in '80s cinema. And unlike modern kids' spooky movies that balance scares with comedy, Poltergeist goes straight for the jugular, making its PG rating misleading. While it's great for adults who enjoyed 2010's Insidious, it's definitely not for kids.
Gremlins (1984)
Gremlins begins when a young man receives a Mogwai named Gizmo as an early Christmas gift, along with three strict rules for caring for the cute little creature. When those rules are broken, the Mogwai spawns mischievous and violent gremlins that unleash a unique brand of chaos on the small town on Christmas Eve. The film's tone swings sharply from whimsical to violent.
Gremlins features surprisingly gory creature attacks, unsettling puppet effects, and a pitch-black sense of humor that leans more toward horror comedy than family viewing. Scenes like the gremlin explosion in the microwave are far too intense for many children. But it's ideal for adults and older teens who enjoy retro horror comedies like 1986's Critters.
Ghostbusters (1984)
Ghostbusters follows Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), and Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson), a team of quirky scientists who start a ghost-extermination business in New York City. When paranormal activity reaches an all-time high, their investigation leads them to an ancient entity that wants to destroy the world.
Despite its comedic reputation, Ghostbusters contains several sequences that are legitimately frightening for younger viewers. The film also leans heavily on adult humor and innuendo that skews older than its PG rating. Younger kids who love the recent reboots may find the original too heavy. It's hilarious and inventive, but it should only be viewed by adults and teens who enjoyed 1997's Men in Black.
The NeverEnding Story (1984)
The NeverEnding Story follows a shy boy named Bastian (Barret Oliver) who escapes bullies by hiding in a bookstore, where he discovers a magical novel about the world of Fantasia. As he reads, the story's hero fights to stop a destructive force known as The Nothing. Soon, Bastian realizes he plays a much bigger role in Fantasia's fate than he ever imagined.
What makes The NeverEnding Story risky for younger children is the story's emotional darkness. The film tackles grief, fear, self-doubt, and loss in ways that feel unusually deep for a PG fantasy, with certain scenes (especially the horse in the swamp) remaining emotionally devastating for many adults who saw it as kids. Still, it's a great choice for older viewers who enjoyed Labyrinth, which hit screens in 1986.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Beetlejuice begins after a young couple dies unexpectedly and finds themselves haunting their own home as ghosts. When their attempts to scare away the new human residents fail, they summon a rogue bio-exorcist named Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) to help them. However, his chaotic interference quickly causes things to spiral out of control.
Beetlejuice is a comedy, but it features decaying corpses, grotesque transformations, and a gleefully unhinged title character who uses humor that often leans suggestive or mean-spirited. The afterlife is portrayed through bizarre bureaucracies and nightmarish set pieces that can overwhelm younger viewers. But it remains a great choice for fans of movies like The Addams Family (1991).
Coraline (2009)
Coraline follows the titular Coraline Jones (Dakota Fanning), who discovers a hidden door in her new home that leads to an alternate world mirroring her own. It seems perfect at first, but over time, her Other Mother (Teri Hatcher) slowly reveals sinister intentions. Coraline is eventually forced to save herself and her family before the duplicate world traps her forever.
Coraline is widely considered one of the scariest PG movies ever made. The stop-motion animation amplifies every unsettling detail, from the button-eyed doppelgangers to the lonely hallways. Beneath its fantasy trappings, the story explores themes of neglect and manipulation, which younger viewers may struggle to process. The film is ideal for older viewers who enjoyed Corpse Bride (2005).
