15 Great Transitional Movies & TV Shows To Help Get Kids Into Horror

Summary

• Mild horror movies and TV shows introduce kids to the genre with toned-down scares and spooky aesthetics.
• The best horror movies reshaped storytelling conventions, but full-blown scenarios may still be too intense for kids.
• Animated horror movies and series like
  Over the Garden Wall
  and
  Frankenweenie
  provide kids with an introduction to the genre.

Parents might be looking for some milder movies and TV shows to introduce their kids to horror. Horror is an amazing genre with boundless potential for profound commentary while providing thrills few other types of entertainment can achieve. The best horror movies of all time rewrote major storytelling conventions, with their influence leaking into other genres. However, a full-blown slasher or claustrophobic demonic monster scenario can still be a lot for kids.

Horror movies and TV shows for kids probably feature creepy aesthetics that are still oddly pleasant, and toned-down versions of tropes like jump scares and hidden monsters. On the other hand, people who go in only expecting a kids’ movie may be shocked by the horror elements. Kids’ TV shows that are genuinely frightening or the best animated horror movies might seem like perfect transitional works on paper. Every parent will have their own opinion, while individual children will react differently to certain properties.

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15 The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Jack & Sally’s Halloween Aesthetic Is Spooky But Whimsical

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The Nightmare Before Christmas boasts some pretty scary moments, like Jack’s absolute certainty about claiming Christmas spelling certain doom or Oogie Boogie threatening to kill Santa Claus. However, the character designs aren’t too disturbing, and the story is mostly fun and leads to a happy ending. The Disney-esque elements of catchy songs and nothing being too dangerous blend with spooky aesthetics. However, certain scenes and musical numbers stand on the precipice of being completely terrifying — “Kidnap the Sandy Claws” is a good example of this — introducing young viewers to the feeling of dread that permeates horror.

The Nightmare Before Christmas PG

Henry Selick directs The Nightmare Before Christmas, a stop-motion fairytale from the mind of Tim Burton. Jack Skellington is the king of Halloween and one of Halloweentown’s most beloved citizens, but he longs for something more. When he stumbles across a magical door that leads him to discover Christmas, he makes it his mission to replace Santa Claus and bring festive cheer to his perpetually spooky hamlet.

Director Henry Selick Release Date October 29, 1993 Cast Catherine O’Hara , Glenn Shadix , Ken Page , William Hickey , Chris Sarandon , Paul Reubens , Danny Elfman Runtime 76 minutes

14 The Addams Family (Live Action & Animated)

The Original Kooky & Spooky Family Franchise

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The fact that The Addams Family is about a family with kids is the mode of delivery that makes it work for children.

The extended Addams Family franchise includes everything from the original show to the recent animated movies to Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday. All function on “kooky and spooky” elements that are a bit too exaggerated to be taken completely seriously. Additionally, the fact that The Addams Family is about a family with kids is the mode of delivery that makes it work for children. Kids come to appreciate the morbid humor and intentionally dark and dreary design through the eyes of kids who like these things. They can spend some time with Wednesday and Pugsley before getting into adult horror movies.

The Addams Family (1964) ComedyFamilyHorror Where to Watch

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The Addams Family is a 1964 television series based on Charles Addams’ New Yorker cartoons. The show stars John Astin and Carolyn Jones as Gomez and Morticia Addams, the heads of a macabre yet endearing family. Set in their gothic mansion, the series humorously contrasts the Addams’ unconventional lifestyle with the outside world, highlighting their eccentric but affectionate family dynamics. The show gained popularity for its unique characters and darkly comedic tone.

Cast John Astin , Carolyn Jones , Jackie Coogan , Ted Cassidy , Blossom Rock , Lisa Loring , Ken Weatherwax Release Date September 18, 1964 Seasons 2

13 Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory (1971)

Willy Wonka Is A Terrifying Figure In The Psychedelic World Of His Chocolate Factory

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is its own kind of horror, and the argument that Willy Wonka is the villain has a lot of merit. There are story elements that kids recognize from fairy tales that make Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory more palatable, as well as the sensory delight of the impossible candies. Namely, it is set in a Disney-like universe that bends itself to reward the kind-hearted Charlie and punish the selfish children. However, the more psychedelic moments and the other children being physically punished in various ways are still aspects of horror.

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Based on Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory stars Gene Wilder as the titular eccentric candymaker who invites five children into his mysterious factory to show them how he creates his popular candies. The film mostly follows Charlie Bucket, a young boy from a poor family who miraculously wins one of the five Golden Tickets that allows him access to Wonka’s factory tour. 

Director Mel Stuart Release Date June 30, 1971 Cast Jack Albertson , gene wilder , Peter Ostrum , Denise Nickerson , Julie Dawn Cole Runtime 100 minutes

12 Over The Garden Wall (2014)

Cartoon Network’s Animated Miniseries For Halloween

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Over the Garden Wall’s muted palette might trick viewers into thinking they are in for a more pleasant story. Throughout the season, it gradually segues into darker plot points, revealing that the miniseries is about much more than two brothers on a fun adventure in an otherworld. Over the Garden Wall serves as an introduction to some other horror tropes as well as the genre’s proclivity for deep symbolism, while only being mildly scary. Again, it is softened with a happy ending where the main character realizes what he needs to do to be more content with his life.

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Over the Garden Wall is a fantasy-adventure series created for Cartoon Network by Patrick McHale. Two brothers named Wirt and Greg become lost in a winding wooded realm known as the Unknown and must work with various forest-dwelling people and creatures within to find their way home. The series was continued in a comic book run to expand the world further.

Cast Elijah Wood , Collin Dean , Melanie Lynskey , Christopher Lloyd , Tim Curry Release Date November 3, 2014 Seasons 1

11 Frankenweenie (2012)

One Of Tim Burton’s Oldest Horror Ideas Come To Life

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There is truth to the urban legend that Tim Burton was fired by Disney for Frankenweenie, originally a short film. This was the point where Disney executives found themselves unable to reconcile with Burton’s vision and politely dismissed him. Decades later, Burton directed a black-and-white animated movie based on the same premise of a boy resurrecting his beloved dog. Frankenweenie is plenty creepy but also mostly upbeat, featuring allusions to lots of classic monster stories. It can give young viewers some appreciation for the genre’s history through the lens of ingenious kids having their own adventures.

Frankenweenie PG-13 Where to Watch

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Frankenweenie is a 2012 stop-motion animated remake of Tim Burton’s eponymous 1984 short film. It tells the story of young scientist Victor Frankenstein, who brings his dog Sparky back to life and tries to stop his experiment from wreaking havoc across his town.

Director Tim Burton Release Date October 5, 2012 Cast Charlie Tahan , Winona Ryder , Martin Short , James Hiroyuki Liao , Catherine O’Hara , Martin Landau , Atticus Shaffer Runtime 87 Minutes

10 Hocus Pocus (1993)

Hocus Pocus Mixes Classic Halloween Elements With So Many Laughs

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Hocus Pocus is too funny to be that scary, making it the perfect family movie for Halloween. However, it utilizes some horror tropes that are good transitional material for a first encounter with the genre. The Sanderson sisters are like any horror movie monster, relentlessly pursuing the young protagonists who have found themselves without the help of their parents. There are real threats and some disturbing moments in Hocus Pocus, but it is mostly shameless holiday fun brought to life by a strong cast. From Hocus Pocus, kids might implicitly absorb the structure of horror movies.

Hocus Pocus PG Where to Watch

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Hocus Pocus tells the story of the Sanderson Sisters, a trio of witches who are inadvertently resurrected by a teenage boy on Halloween. When the witches threaten to take over the town of Salem, Massachusetts, it’s up to Max, sister Dani, and friend Alison to stop them with the help of Thackery Binx, one of the Sandersons’ victims trapped in the immortal body of black cat.

Director Kenny Ortega Release Date July 16, 1993 Cast Bette Midler , Sarah Jessica Parker , Kathy Najimy , Omri Katz , Thora Birch , Vinessa Shaw Runtime 96 minutes

Related 10 Best Fantasy Horror Movies From The ’90s

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9 The Owl House (2020-2023)

The Residents Of The Owl House Are Welcoming & Love Scary Things

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The Owl House has the feel and style of a Disney movie, with some completely terrifying moments throughout. Through these examples, young viewers might learn to appreciate the morbid jokes that horror depends on. However, it also helps that most of the main cast of The Owl House has a pretty dark sense of humor. Luz, Eda, and King are completely wholesome, kind characters, but they enjoy a good jump scare, monster fight, or playing at world domination as much as anyone. They are a good segue into and distinction from horror characters whose actions are more horrific.

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The Owl House is an animated fantasy series that follows Luz Noceda, a teenage human girl who stumbles upon a portal to a magical realm. There, she befriends a rebellious witch named Eda and a tiny warrior named King. Determined to become a witch herself, Luz embarks on various adventures while learning about magic, friendship, and self-discovery. Created by Dana Terrace, the series debuted in 2020 on Disney Channel.

Cast Sarah-Nicole Robles , Wendie Malick , Alex Hirsch , Tati Gabrielle , Issac Ryan Brown , Mae Whitman , Cissy Jones , Zeno Robinson , Matthew Rhys , Michaela Dietz , Elizabeth Grullon , Fryda Wolff Release Date January 10, 2020 Seasons 3 Creator(s) Dana Terrace

8 The Wizard Of Oz (1939)

The Classic Musical Adventure Is Full Of Wicked Witches & Scary Monkeys

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The Wizard of Oz is a bit detached from what passes as horror today due to the more melodramatic performances typical of the time. The musical numbers, friendly characters, and overall bright and whimsical settings in Oz, where the movie spends most of its time, make it family-friendly. However, the Wicked Witch of the West lives up to her name and threatens to kill a child, something anyone would find at least slightly scary. There are some other moments of monsters and terror, mainly concerning the flying monkeys and the Wizard’s facade of being the “great and powerful Oz.”

The Wizard of Oz PG

Based on Frank L. Baum’s book of the same name, The Wizard of Oz follows young Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) as she’s swept away to the magical land of Oz. Upon arriving, she falls afoul of a witch, then enlists the help of a scarecrow, a tin man, and a lion in order to find the Wizard and get home to her family. 

Director Victor Fleming Release Date August 25, 1939 Cast Margaret Hamilton , Jack Haley , Judy Garland , Bert Lahr , Ray Bolger Runtime 102 minutes

7 A Series of Unfortunate Events (Movie & TV Show)

A Series Of Unfortunate Events Is A Classic & Creepy Kids’ Series

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In the same vein as Harry Potter, A Series of Unfortunate Events is pitched as a series of children’s novels but gets shockingly dark as the child protagonists go down a spiral of more dangerous adventures. The two adaptations feature two talented actors known for exaggerated personalities playing Count Olaf, arguably the face of the series, accompanied by three children standing in the background. Jim Carrey led the Series of Unfortunate Events movie while Neil Patrick Harris starred in the TV show. Both adaptations go to some scary places, but it is balanced out with a ludicrous tone.

Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events PGAdventureComedyFamilyFantasy Where to Watch

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Director Brad Silberling Release Date December 16, 2004 Writers Robert Gordon , Daniel Handler Cast Jim Carrey , Liam Aiken , Emily Browning , Kara Hoffman , Shelby Hoffman , Jude Law Runtime 107 minutes

6 ParaNorman (2012)

ParaNorman Is A Wacky Take On The Zombie Apocalypse

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In ParaNorman, an outcast boy who can see ghosts becomes the key to saving his town when a dead witch whom he relates to causes the dead to rise and attack the living. Although in the style of stop-motion animation, ParaNorman is somewhat grungier than Coraline and more modern than Corpse Bride in a way that makes it stand out from all the movies that feel like they were made by Burton. ParaNorman follows a rag-tag band navigating a zombie apocalypse which isn’t too scary and has lots of lowbrow humor, making for a fun pre-horror romp.

ParaNorman pg

ParaNorman is a stop-motion animated movie about a young boy who uses his ability to see and communicate with the dead to save his town from an ancient witch’s curse. The voice cast includes Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, Jodelle Ferland, Bernard Hill, Tucker Albrizzi, and John Goodman.

Director Sam Fell Release Date September 13, 2012 Cast Anna Kendrick , Kodi Smit-McPhee Runtime 93minutes

5 Coraline (2009)

The Adaptation Of Neil Gaiman’s Novel Is As Scary As A Kids’ Movie Can Get

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Coraline pushes the envelope concerning what is too scary for kids.

Coraline pushes the envelope concerning what is too scary for kids. The story and visuals are deeply unsettling, giving voice to feelings any bored child has experienced. Coraline is restless and feeling neglected in her new home and happily gives in to all the temptations of the parallel otherworld she finds behind a locked door — until that world’s dark side is revealed. The Other Mother refuses to let Coraline go, clawing at her until the very end. Kids should probably watch some other movies first, but Coraline technically doesn’t feature anything too graphic.

Coraline PG Where to Watch

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Based on Neil Gaiman’s novella, Coraline follows Coraline Jones, a lonely young girl who, after moving to a new house with her inattentive parents, discovers a portal to another, more sinister alternate reality behind one of the house’s many doors. Written and directed by Henry Selick, the film uses stop-motion animation and stars Dakota Fanning as Coraline. 

Director Henry Selick Release Date February 5, 2009 Cast Dakota Fanning , Teri Hatcher , Jennifer Saunders , Dawn French , Keith David , John Hodgman Runtime 100 minutes

Related 10 Dark Family Movies To Watch If You Loved Coraline

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4 Are You Afraid Of The Dark? (1990)

Are You Afraid Of The Dark? Is American Horror Story For Kids

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Are You Afraid Of The Dark? — both the original version and the reboot — is an anthology series revolving around a group of kids meeting in the woods to tell scary stories around a campfire. The new version uses a lot of editing tricks that make it the scarier of the two. The original Are You Afraid of the Dark? doesn’t stray too far away from the feeling of a campy story to completely terrify viewers. However, it does give life to some classic horror aesthetics and scenarios, familiarizing viewers with things they might recognize in another movie or TV show.

Are You Afraid of the Dark? FamilyAdventureDrama Where to Watch

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Are You Afraid of the Dark? is a spooky anthology series for kids that recounts ghost stories told by the young members of the Midnight Society as they gather around a campfire. Members of the Midnight Society tell a terrifying tale of the Carnival of Doom and its evil ringmaster, Mr. Tophat, only to witness the shocking story come frightfully to life. The new series is an update of the 1990s Nickelodeon series of the same name, which lasted five seasons.

Cast Bryce Gheisar , Ryan Beil , Parker Queenan , Kyle Strauts , Malia Barker , Dominic Mariche , Beatrice Kitsos , Kalyn Miles , Arjun Athalye Release Date October 11, 2019 Seasons 3

3 The Secret of NIMH (1982)

Mrs. Brisby Meets With The Creepy Rats Of NIMH

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The animated adaptation of The Secret of NIMH has the dreadful feeling of many horror movies of a clock ticking away, as Mrs. Brisby tries to find a way to save her sick son before her home is bulldozed by the farmer’s plow. The movie in general has an eerie style and tone, although it is easy for younger viewers to swallow. The scariest elements are the owl and the rats, whose appearance is counteracted by them all being completely helpful to Mrs. Brisby. Still, the final act has some dark moments and the victory is not without cost.

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Director Don Bluth Release Date June 17, 1982 Cast Derek Jacobi , Elizabeth Hartman , Arthur Malet , Dom DeLuise , Hermione Baddeley , Shannen Doherty

2 Goosebumps (Movie & TV Show)

Goosebumps Is A Long Running Horror Series Beloved By All Ages

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Each of the famous Goosebumps books is a standalone taking place within the same universe. As a result, the adaptations are each a hodgepodge of different elements and characters from the books. So far, there have been two bigger Goosebumps movies and two TV shows, as well as some video games, direct-to-video projects, and other tie-ins. The Jack Black movie or the Disney+ show demonstrates the whirlwind of R. L. Stine’s imagination, which again showcases a lot of classic horror videos and completely terrifying characters that are made a little bit better through exaggeration.

Goosebumps

Created by author R. L. Stine, Goosebumps is a multimedia franchise that began as a series of young adult horror novels. The books were eventually adapted and expanded in the 1995 television series, with several video games arriving in the same window. After a long hiatus, the franchise returned to the big screen in 2015, with Jack Black playing the role of R. L. Stine himself.

Created by R. L. Stine TV Show(s) Goosebumps (1995) , Goosebumps (2023) Video Game(s) Goosebumps: Escape from HorrorLand , Goosebumps: Attack of the Mutant , Goosebumps: The Game , Goosebumps: Night of Scares , Goosebumps: HorrorTown , Goosebumps: Dead of Night

1 Gravity Falls (2012-2016)

Although It Is A Disney TV Show, Gravity Falls Is Occasionally Terrifying

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The darkest episodes of Gravity Falls exemplify how the story’s foundational mysteries can quickly turn into horror. There are also a lot of goofy filler episodes dominated by upbeat young protagonists that make it more of a traditional Disney series. Like some other properties of the same nature, Gravity Falls doesn’t dive straight into its scariest content. It allows the audience some time to acclimate as the story progressively gets direr and incorporates more horror elements, by which time it is just another level up of the town’s weirdness. Everyone should watch Gravity Falls and similar shows for comedy and horror.

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When Dipper and Mabel Pines are dropped off to spend the summer with their uncle in Gravity Falls, they discover that all is not as it seems in this small town. When Dipper discovers a strange journal in the forest, the twins team up to solve the town’s mysteries.

Cast Jason Ritter , Alex Hirsch , Kristen Schaal , Linda Cardellini , Kevin Michael Richardson , Kari Wahlgren , John DiMaggio , Jennifer Coolidge Release Date June 15, 2012 Seasons 2

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