13 More Not-So-Scary Halloween Movies to Watch With Kids

1. M3GAN

An AI doll has a mind of her own in this recent horror film, starring Allison Williams. The PG-13 cut has very mild violence and a few small jump scares (not to mention a viral dance) that tweens will adore. Ages: 12 and up.

2. "Haunted Mansion"

Disney has tried to adapt their most iconic ride into a movie several times now. The latest feature film is one of the best, starring LaKeith Stanfield and Rosario Dawson as two strangers united in defeating the legendary Hatbox Ghost. For Disney enthusiasts, there are a lot of great Easter eggs from the ride in this one. It’s got a bit of fright, too, for blossoming horror enthusiasts, but nothing super violent or disturbing. Ages: tweens and up.

3. "Spirited Away"

One of Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpieces, this film is also a little spooky. When a young girl gets trapped in an enchanted bathhouse without her parents, she must free herself and find her family. Along the way, she meets creatures both kind and nefarious. Ages: nine and up.

4. "Scooby-doo"

There’s a reason this live-action 2002 film is a cult classic. Not only is the cast stacked (Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini and Rowan Atkinson), but it captures the spirit of the original animated series so well. Plus, it has a chilling mystery to solve that the villain would get away with if it weren’t for those kids… Ages: 10 and up.

5. "Return to Oz"

Don’t think of this film as a sequel to the charming "Wizard of Oz," but as a fantasy-horror installment of the Oz stories. In this one, Dorothy goes back to Oz and needs to fight the evil Nome King with the help of new friends Billina, Tik-Tok, Jack Pumpkinhead and the Gump. Gen X kids were terrified by this movie when they watched it way too young, so don't let little kids see it yet. Let’s just say heads will roll. Ages: 10 and up.

6. "Addams Family Values"

A sequel to "The Addams Family" movie (as well as based on the show), it’s technically the superior film from the pair. Fans of "Wednesday" will love this comedically dark film featuring the marriage of Uncle Fester to a suspicious nanny (Joan Cusack) and a summer camp that’s hard to forget. This film is more macabre than scary, but very darkly funny. Ages: 12 and up.

7. "Hotel Transylvania" Series

The monsters in this animated film series are played for laughs rather than real chills, but it’s still a fun introduction to classic horror characters. In it, a vampire father (Adam Sandler) tries to protect his only daughter from the world outside the family hotel. Ages: seven and up.

8. "Casper"

This movie is about a friendly ghost but there are some delightful chills too. When a teen ghost falls in love with a living girl, he summons her ghost-therapist father to his mansion, but thieves conspire to find a treasure within its walls. Ages: eight and up.

9. "Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit"

In this silly Claymation satire that spoofs classic horror tropes, Wallace and his clever dog Gromit set out to rid a town of crop-eating rabbits. In the process, they confront a giant rabbit with a hearty appetite. Ages: seven and up.

10. "The Others"

Atmospherically creepy, but not violent, this throwback to gothic horror follows a mother (Nicole Kidman) and her young children in 1945, plagued by supernatural events in their house. The twist is as good as any M. Night Shyamalan film. Ages: 14 and up.

11. "Signs"

The crux of this film is that hostile aliens invade Earth, but the action in this film is centered on one father (Mel Gibson) trying to protect his family on their Pennsylvania farm. Director M. Night Shyamalan keeps the scares centered on mostly suspense and light on actual gore. Ages: 14 and up.

12. "The Sixth Sense"

Even if you know the shocking twist of this film, it’s still one of the most classic creepy films of all time. Haley Joel Osment plays a boy who sees dead people and a therapist (Bruce Willis) tries to help him. Ghosts are shown with wounds, but it isn’t shown how they were injured. Ages: 14 and up.

13. "The Lost Boys"

A gang of teenage vampires terrorizes a California town and a group of friends, led by Corey Haim and Corey Feldman, decide to defeat them once and for all. Despite the R rating, the violence is not too intense, making it a fun horror movie for younger teens who want to go up a level in horror. Ages: 14 and up.