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- M3gan
- Universal Pictures
Finding the perfect balance between spine-chilling thrills and age-appropriate content can be tricky when it comes to the best scary movies for 13-year olds. These films need to deliver the right amount of suspense and frights without crossing the line into territory that's too intense or disturbing for younger teens.
A great example is Poltergeist, a classic that offers plenty of supernatural scares and eerie moments perfect for tween audiences. Another perennial favorite is Jaws, Steven Spielberg's masterpiece that combines nail-biting tension and adventure, making it an excellent choice for those just dipping their toes into the horror genre. Both movies incorporate elements of suspense and mild horror that are tailor-made for a young teen’s thrill-seeking palette.
Now, we want to hear from you. Which films would you crown as the ultimate scary movies for 13-year olds? Browse through our list and cast your vote to help shape a go-to guide for young horror enthusiasts eager for a fright night. Your picks will highlight the best recommendations to keep those spooky vibes just right for younger viewers.
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The 1982 horror classic Poltergeist has stayed in the genre conversation for over 40 years for good reason: it is a masterclass of filmmaking.
This film is partially responsible for a global epidemic of coulrophobia (fear of clowns) in the ’80s and ’90s (the miniseries It was the other reason), and a healthy fear of closets. The film is effective because it leaves viewers with the feeling that this haunt isn't distinct - it can happen to anyone. The happy vibe of the Freeling family makes the horror worse because they did nothing wrong to deserve such anguish.
The story of the Freelings and their haunted track home is a major part of the cultural zeitgeist, and it is every horror fan's duty to show this to their child. Poltergeist is generational trauma the whole family can enjoy.
The Most Questionable Scene: The scene in which Dr. Marty Casey (Martin Casella) wanders into the kitchen to raid the fridge and ends up ripping off his own face using his bare hands is a bit over the top. But parents can use this as a teaching moment to not go into a host's refrigerator without permission.
- Actors: Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams, Beatrice Straight, Dominique Dunne, Oliver Robins
- Released: 1982
- Directed by: Tobe Hooper
- Rated: PG
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Based on Alvin Schwartz's children's book featuring pencil sketches that traumatized every child in the 1980s, André Øvredal's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark brings the short story anthology to life… like it or not. The film features live-action adaptations of the seminal text, including the pimple that turns out to be a spider's egg, and a big-screen version of the Pale Lady, which is truly haunting. The urban legends and folklore from the original book are bookended by an original mystery that makes the tale more compelling, but it is the creature design and callback to the beloved and slightly traumatizing childhood favorite that make it a must-see.
The Most Questionable Scene: When Ruth (Natalie Ganzhorn) is in the bathroom before the school play tending to her “zit,” it grows larger and larger as she struggles to pop it, giving tweens a quick lesson in Cronenberg 101 as they squirm at the body horror before them. As the pimple grows bigger and redder, it finally grows a head, but a hair emerges. As Ruth touches it, hundreds of spiders emerge.
- Actors: Zoe Margaret Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush, Austin Abrams, Dean Norris
- Released: 2019
- Directed by: André Øvredal
- Rated: PG-13
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Fueled by atmosphere and eerie vibes, this dark fantasy adaptation of Ray Bradbury's story has been giving parents and their kids the heebie-jeebies since 1983. The twisted tale of Mr. Dark (Jonathan Pryce) and his Pandemonium Carnival that grants wishes and dark desires for a heavy price might seen a bit old-fashioned, but the sinister aura of Something Wicked This Way Comes can turn any day into Halloween. Although the father-and-son relationship is at the heart of the story, the friendship between Tom and Will (Vidal Peterson and Royal Dano) will be a draw for most adolescents.
The Most Questionable Scene: Mr. Dark's final moments on the cursed merry-go-round as it sucks the life from his body turn him into a skeletal husk of his former self before killing him. Also, Mr. Dark squeezes Charles Halloway (Jason Robards) hand with so much force, that at one point it tears apart. There is also a small decapitation scene. Otherwise, this is pretty wholesome horror.
- Actors: Jason Robards, Jonathan Pryce, Diane Ladd, Pam Grier, Royal Dano
- Released: 1983
- Directed by: Jack Clayton
- Rated: PG
Scary good?- 4
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Time to give the kids a reason to refuse to go swimming! Steven Spielberg's 1975 blockbuster that changed the way people view the ocean, sharks, boats, and summer movies is the perfect beginner movie for any budding horrorhound. The movie starts with the devouring of Chrissie Watkins (Susan Jane Backlinie) and holds the viewers attention until the shark is blown into smithereens. For most parents, Jaws taught them a healthy respect of the water, be it beaches or backyard pools.
Jaws is a masterwork of filmmaking; exposing adolescents to such art at a young age will set them on the correct path in life.
The Most Questionable Scene: Quint's demise at the jaws of the shark is the goriest scene in the film. His screams as he is slowly eaten by the beast might be a lot, but his actions make it inevitable.
- Actors: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton
- Released: 1975
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
- Rated: PG
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The best way to introduce horror to a newbie is by using comedy to lessen the blow, and Joe Dante's Gremlins is a perfect example of how to blend horror with comedy to create a low-stakes scary movie.
In their original form, mogwai are cute, fuzzy, mischievous little scamps that like to sing and enjoy the company of humans. But fail to follow their complicated care guide and suddenly an entire town is destroyed. Gremlins is campy, scary fun that can introduce tweens to the concept of creature features, comedy horror, and most important, unconventional Christmas movies.
The Most Questionable Scene: The end scene with the melting of head gremlin Stripe in the fountain might be a little icky, but other than that, nothing too terrible.
- Actors: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Frances Lee McCain, Polly Holliday
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Joe Dante
- Rated: PG
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Cat's Eye is an anthology based on the works in Stephen King's short story collection Night Shift, with a wraparound tale of a stray cat attempting to save a little girl (Drew Barrymore), whose life is in danger from a troll. Featuring the tales “Quitters, Inc.” and “The Ledge" from the book, and “General” featuring Barrymore, the collection of scary stories might seem a bit silly, but can prep teens for movies like Creepshow and Tales from the Darkside, both of which carry an R rating. Cat's Eye stands as a good introduction to the anthology format and fun, campy horror as a genre on its own.
The Most Questionable Scene: In “Quitters, Inc., ” Dick Morrison's (James Woods) wife undergoes electric shock after he is caught with a cigarette.
- Actors: Drew Barrymore, James Woods, Alan King, Kenneth McMillan, Robert Hays
- Released: 1985
- Directed by: Lewis Teague
- Rated: PG-13
Scary good?Also known as Jump Scare: The Movie, the 1990 thriller Arachnaphobia centers on a lethal South American tarantula that finds its way over to the small suburb of Canaima, CA, where it mates with a house spider and creates pandemonium. Almost downright wholesome compared with modern horror, this story about a town overrun by arachnids makes for a fun time because the scares come from frequent jump scares, tension caused by the venomous little critters as they scurry about, and the sheer amount of creepy-crawlies on the screen. Add a heaping helping of comedy from John Goodman as exterminator Delbert McClintock, and voila, the perfect scary pic the whole family can enjoy.
The Most Questionable Scene: The late, great Julian Sands plays entomologist James Atherton, who falls victim to the deadly arachnid when investigating a barn. His mutilated corpse is found by McClintock.
- Actors: Jeff Daniels, Harley Jane Kozak, John Goodman, Julian Sands, Stuart Pankin
- Released: 1990
- Directed by: Frank Marshall
- Rated: PG-13
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This classic ghost story set during WWII creates unmatched terrors that still horrify even with no blood and limited gore. Grace (Nicole Kidman) is a mother of two photosensitive children who must live in the shadows of a large, dark house while she awaits her husband's return from the war. After the arrival of new staff, she begins to suspect that the house is haunted.
Using the children's need for darkness to keep things nice and creepy, The Others is a tension-fraught roller coaster ride with a family as the focus, and a twist that will leave the whole family shook. Both the atmosphere of the estate and Kidman's performance are riveting and haunting.
The Most Questionable Scene: The possession of daughter Anne (Alakina Mann) by one of “the others” is chilling, but that is as bad as the film gets.
- Actors: Nicole Kidman, Christopher Eccleston, Alakina Mann, James Bentley, Fionnula Flanagan
- Released: 2001
- Directed by: Alejandro Amenábar
- Rated: PG-13
Scary good?M. Night Shyamalan's thriller about a former reverend and his family facing alien invaders can still send shivers down the spines of moviegoers young and old with just a few well-paced scenes, clever camera angles, and shaky footage from a child's birthday party. Very little bloodshed is needed to create moments of horror in Signs, which is fueled by expert filmmaking and startling moments of dismay.
The Most Questionable Scene(s): The birthday party scene stands out as the scariest in the film, but it's not too scary. The most gruesome scene is Graham Hess's (Mel Gibson) last moments with his wife, who spends her dying breath pinned between a truck and wall after a freak accident with a neighbor (Shyamalan in a cameo).
- Actors: Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Cherry Jones, Rory Culkin, Abigail Breslin
- Released: 2002
- Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
- Rated: PG-13
Scary good?- 10
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Ron Underwood's Tremors is as much about community, friendship, and working together as it is about gargantuan, human-eating worms living under an isolated Nevada town. In this horror comedy, the idea of people with vastly different ideologies collaborating to fight a common enemy is a message anyone would want to share with their kids. The story of members of the small community of Perfection, NV, putting aside their differences to destroy mammoth prehistoric earthworms knowns as Graboids is a fun romp. Thirteen-year-olds will enjoy the loony nature of the story and the nonstop action.
Also, it's never too early to introduce a child to the wonders of Reba McEntire.
The Most Questionable Scene: Aside from a few folks getting eaten, nothing is too terrible.
- Actors: Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, Reba McEntire
- Released: 1990
- Directed by: Ron Underwood
- Rated: PG-13
Scary good? - 11
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The story of a mysterious videotape and its curse, The Ring is perfect slumber-party fodder for any group of teens looking for a reason to scare the bejesus out of each other. The opening 15 minutes alone will have tweens texting and posting for hours. The mystery of what happens to little Samara and the horror of what can happen after seven days will terrify teens and adults alike. The surreal nature of the cursed movie, along with Samara's disjointed movements when she comes for her victims, creates horror without being horrifying.
The Most Questionable Scene(s): Katie's (Amber Tamblyn) face is distorted and contorted when her remains are found in the closet.
- Actors: Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman, Brian Cox, Jane Alexander
- Released: 2002
- Directed by: Gore Verbinski
- Rated: PG-13
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In A Quiet Place, a family attempts to survive in a post-apocalyptic hellscape where noise-sensitive aliens have taken over the world, killing anything that makes the slightest amount of noise. Watch in silent terror as members of the poor Abbott family are subjected to one horror after another, with the two doting parents doing their best to make sure their progeny survive. Although the “Death Angel” aliens are terrifying, the Abbotts, particularly the two adolescents, keep the themes grounded and offer good messaging about the importance of family.
The Most Questionable Scene: When Evelyn Abbot (Emily Blunt) silently gives birth in the bathtub while a Death Angel stalks her from behind, the tension is heavy and the nature of the scene is a bit gruesome. Blunt does an excellent job of expressing her absolute agony, but nothing is too gory or detailed.
- Actors: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Cade Woodward
- Released: 2018
- Directed by: John Krasinski
- Rated: PG-13
Scary good?- 13
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The surprise megahit of 2023 took over TikTok thanks to a savvy social media campaign, but it topped the box office due to an ingenious script from Akela Cooper and great word of mouth. The “Talky Tina” for the modern age rehashes an “evil artificial intelligence” storyline we've seen before, but with an emotional center due to orphaned 8-year-old Cady and her attempt to bond with her aunt Gemma (Allison Williams). Cady's loss and need for support, as well as Gemma's own growth, pushed the story beyond “evil doll becomes sentient,” but M3GAN's unique personality and humor made her memorable on her own.
Scary when it needs to be, and goofy in all the right places, M3GAN is horror with surprising heart and humor thanks to a polished script.
The Most Questionable Scene: M3GAN chases down Cady's bully and rips off his ear, then forces him into traffic where he is run over by a passing vehicle. Not much blood, but a lot of screaming.
- Actors: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ronny Chieng, Amie Donald, Jenna Davis
- Released: 2022
- Directed by: Gerard Johnstone
- Rated: PG-13
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Fred Dekker's 1987 creature feature The Monster Squad was custom made to welcome 13-year-olds into the horror community fold. In this film featuring the classic Universal monsters of yore, a group of kids need to avert the apocalypse by fighting Dracula, the Wolfman, the Gillman, and the Mummy using an ancient text and garlic pizza. With a script from Shane Black, the kiddie pic is well-written and better crafted than it has any right to be, making the film a fun ride for both teens and their parents.
The Most Questionable Scene: You might have to explain why a spell won't work because the spellcaster isn't a virgin.
- Actors: Andre Gower, Robby Kiger, Stephen Macht, Duncan Regehr, Tom Noonan
- Released: 1987
- Directed by: Fred Dekker
- Rated: PG-13
Scary good?The Village, M. Night Shyamalan's period thriller about a small, isolated town in the 19th century surrounded by woods filled with mysterious creatures, is a strange journey into folk horror featuring the director's signature twist.
Members of the small colony have learned to live in balance with the beings they refer to as “Those We Don't Speak Of,” but when they breach the perimeters of the township, the younger generation are placed at odds with the older settlers. The strange settings, bizarre rules of the village, tense atmosphere, and familiar faces of Bryce Dallas Howard and Joaquin Phoenix will keep teens enthralled, while the old-timey setting promises nothing too harsh for developing minds.
The Most Questionable Scene(s): The stabbing of Lucius Hunt (Phoenix) by Noah Percy (Adrien Brody) is a bit difficult to watch because it is slow and methodical, and Noah's demise in the spiked pit is particularly sad, but neither scene is too over the top.
- Actors: Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver
- Released: 2004
- Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
- Rated: PG-13
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Based on R.L. Stine's book series, which is a steppingstone to Stephen King, Rob Letterman's Goosebumps was made with the intent of molding preteens and kids to be future horror connoisseurs. The meta horror comedy features Jack Black as a fictionalized version of Stine who teams up with teens to help save a town from the very monsters he created, including Slappy the Dummy, an angry Yeti, and a vampire poodle. The adaptation is a wild ride and much better than it has any right to be as it gently guides young minds into the horror genre.
Also recommended: Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018), Goosebumps (Disney+; 2023)
The Most Questionable Scene: Nobody will sleep well knowing any version of Slappy is out there. But as a whole, Goosebumps is pretty tame.
- Actors: Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush, Ryan Lee, Amy Ryan
- Released: 2015
- Directed by: Rob Letterman
- Rated: PG
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Cloverfield, Matt Reeves's found-footage monster movie about an alien invasion of New York, makes great use of familiar landmarks and casually destroys them, much to the entertainment of the audience. Centering on a young-adult friend group who attempt to escape the Big Apple, then shift gears to rescue one of their own, the story is easy to follow. As they navigate their way through Manhattan, building-size insects destroy and devour everything in their path. Though intense, the carnage is somewhat light, and cameraman Hud's (T.J. Miller) banter keeps things funny.
The Most Questionable Scene: After Marlena (Lizzy Caplan) is bitten by an alien, she has an adverse reaction to the “bug bite.” While in a military hospital zone, she begins to bleed from her eyes. The military staff takes her behind a sheet to isolate her, where in profile, the moviegoers watch as her body begins to rapidly expand and suddenly explode.
- Actors: Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Odette Annable, Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas
- Released: 2008
- Directed by: Matt Reeves
- Rated: PG-13
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Happy Death Day, a horror version of the comedy classic Groundhog Day, might be a slasher, masked-maniac film, but given the movie's goofy nature, the many kills - and there are a lot of them - are comical due to the sheer repetitiveness of the act. As the selfish and narcissistic Tree Gelbman (Jessica Rothe) is forced to relive her murder again and again, which happens to fall on her birthday, she attempts to solve the crime, and in the process, becomes a better person. So in the end, it's a black comedy slasher with a moral message.
The Most Questionable Scene: There is a lot of death, but it's all pretty tongue-in-cheek and played for laughs, so nothing is too visceral. The worst is probably the death of Lori (Ruby Modine), who splatters as she falls from her sorority window onto the street below.
- Actors: Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, Ruby Modine, Rachel Matthews, Charles Aitken
- Released: 2017
- Directed by: Christopher Landon
- Rated: PG-13
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Movies with young adults or kids at the center are easier for age-similar audience members to enjoy because they can see the film from their point of view. If done correctly, the film is just as scary for adults. A perfect example is The Visit. The found-footage tale of two kids (Olivia DeJonge and Ed Oxenbould) visiting their estranged grandparents for the first time and finding them a little odd turns into a surprise nail-biter thanks to the skills of director M. Night Shyamalan. The relationship between the sibling duo and their reaction to the events with their grandparents will nab adolescent interest and hold it.
The Most Questionable Scene(s): Shaded nudity occurs when Nana is having an unhinged moment in her room, and another moment when she shows a partial buttock while addressing her grandkids outside ("I'm making chicken potpie!"). In another scene, used diapers are rubbed in the kids' faces.
- Actors: Olivia DeJonge, Ed Oxenbould, Deanna Dunagan, Peter McRobbie, Kathryn Hahn
- Released: 2015
- Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
- Rated: PG-13
Scary good?- In the chilling drama The Sixth Sense, young Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment) is burdened with an ability to see and interact with the deceased. Struggling to understand his unusual gift, he crosses paths with child psychologist Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis). The doctor, still reeling from a traumatic incident involving a former patient, invests himself in helping Cole cope with his terrifying experiences. This suspenseful thriller, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, was lauded for its unexpected plot twist and earned six Academy Award nominations, solidifying its place as a standout in the supernatural genre.
- Actors: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette, Olivia Williams, Donnie Wahlberg
- Released: 1999
- Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
- Rated: PG-13
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Teenage brothers Michael (Jason Patric) and Sam (Corey Haim) move with their mother (Dianne Wiest) to a small town in northern California. While the younger Sam meets a pair of kindred spirits in geeky comic-book nerds Edward (Corey Feldman) and Alan (Jamison Newlander), the angst-ridden Michael soon falls for Star (Jami Gertz) -- who turns out to be in thrall to David (Kiefer Sutherland), leader of a local gang of vampires. Sam and his new friends must save Michael and Star from the undead.- Actors: Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Dianne Wiest, Barnard Hughes, Edward Herrmann
- Released: 1987
- Directed by: Joel Schumacher
- Rated: R
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The film adaptation of the game 13-year-olds were/are obsessed with, Five Nights at Freddy's might not have been appreciated by critics, but fans adore the big-screen version of the beloved point-and-click computer game. The film does a good job of encompassing the complicated backstory and lore surrounding Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria, the haunted eatery filled with disturbing, child-biting animatronics and serial killers. The film has plenty of thrills and chills straight from the game, and for grown-ups, it has Matthew Lillard. Five Nights at Freddy's is custom made for 13-year-olds.
The Most Questionable Scene(s): At one point, the animatronic Chica bites a burglar in half, and in the finale, Lillard's character is crushed to death inside a spring-trapped animatronic suit.
- Actors: Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Kat Conner Sterling, Piper Rubio, Mary Stuart Masterson
- Released: 2023
- Directed by: Emma Tammi
- Rated: PG-13
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Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) meets Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor) in a San Francisco pet store and decides to follow him home. She brings with her the gift of two love birds and they strike up a romance. One day birds start attacking children at Mitch's sisters party. A huge assault starts on the town by attacking birds.- Actors: Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren, Suzanne Pleshette, Jessica Tandy, Veronica Cartwright
- Released: 1963
- Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
- Rated: PG-13
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- Frankenstein
Embarking on a tale of horror and science, Frankenstein is a movie adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic novel. Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Colin Clive) is an ambitious scientist obsessed with the idea of creating life. He builds a creature (Boris Karloff), assembled from exhumed bodies, in his laboratory. However, the creature's grotesque appearance belies its gentle nature - inciting fear and violence in those it encounters. The film, directed by James Whale, won significant acclaim for its groundbreaking makeup and special effects. This chilling narrative explores themes of ambition, responsibility, and the consequences of playing God.- Actors: Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles, Boris Karloff, Edward Van Sloan
- Released: 1931
- Directed by: James Whale
- Rated: UK: 15
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