There are others who do not appreciate gore on Halloween, despite the popularity of horror films. If you’re looking for a Halloween film but don’t want to be overly spooked, a PG-13 movie is a safe bet.
These films are suspenseful without being overly terrifying for a wide audience.
The best 30+ PG-13 Halloween films, from comedies to Psychological Thrillers to supernatural horrors, are listed here. If you’re looking for some PG-13 Halloween entertainment, round up your pals, pop some corn, and settle in for a night of fun.
The Best PG-13 Halloween Movies for Horror Fans
The PG-13 rating was introduced in the mid-80s as a way to protect preteens from seeing overly intense or gory content in films. This was in response to the success of dark children’s films like “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “Gremlins.”
However, in the 90s and early 2000s, the PG-13 rating became associated with sanitized, gore-free horror films, many of which were remakes of Japanese horror or slasher films. Despite this reputation, there have been some PG-13 horror films that have managed to be genuinely scary without relying on gore.
So, without further ado, Here are the Top 30+ best PG-13 Halloween Movies:
30. Hocus Pocus (1993)
This classic Halloween comedy stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as a trio of witches who are resurrected in modern-day Salem, Massachusetts.
Hocus Pocus is a beloved favorite for its catchy musical numbers, humorous dialogue, and delightful performances.
29. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
This animated musical tells the story of Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, who becomes tired of the same old Halloween routine and sets his sights on taking over Christmas.
With its distinctive stop-motion animation, catchy songs, and imaginative world-building, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Halloween staple.
28. Beetlejuice (1988)
This dark comedy follows a recently deceased couple (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) who try to scare away the new tenants of their beloved home, only to have their efforts thwarted by the mischievous poltergeist Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton).
Beetlejuice is a hilarious and bizarrely entertaining film that has become a Halloween classic.
27. The Addams Family (1991)
Based on the popular TV show and cartoon, this live-action comedy follows the macabre and eccentric Addams family as they navigate strange and absurd situations.
With a talented cast led by Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia, The Addams Family is a wickedly funny and spooky treat.
26. The Sixth Sense (1999)
This psychological thriller follows a young boy (Haley Joel Osment) who claims to see ghosts and a child psychologist (Bruce Willis) who tries to help him.
With its twists and turns, The Sixth Sense is a masterfully crafted and deeply unsettling film that will keep you guessing until the very end.
25. The Conjuring (2013)
This horror film is based on the true story of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) as they help a family who is being terrorized by a malicious spirit.
The Conjuring is a well-made and genuinely frightening film that will have you on the edge of your seat.
24. The Goonies (1985)
This Adventure comedy follows a group of misfits as they search for treasure and try to save their homes from being demolished.
The Goonies is a fun and nostalgically charming film that is perfect for a Halloween family movie night.
23. The Village (2004)
This psychological thriller is set in a small, isolated village that is surrounded by a mysterious and dangerous forest.
When a young man (Joaquin Phoenix) ventures into the forest to get medicine for his sickly girlfriend (Bryce Dallas Howard), he uncovers a shocking secret about the village’s past.
The Village is a smart and suspenseful film that will keep you guessing until the very end.
22. The Craft (1996)
This horror-comedy follows a group of high school outcasts who discover they have magical powers and form a coven.
The Craft is a fun and entertaining film that has become a cult classic among fans of the supernatural.
21. The Curse of La Llorona (2019)
This horror film is based on the Mexican legend of La Llorona, a ghost who haunts the rivers and streams, searching for children to kidnap and drown.
The Curse of La Llorona follows a social worker (Linda Cardellini) who becomes embroiled in the legend when she investigates a series of strange occurrences in her neighborhood.
With its creepy atmosphere and jump scares, The Curse of La Llorona is a spooky and effective horror film.
20. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
This musical comedy-horror film follows a young couple (Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon) as they seek refuge in a strange castle inhabited by a mad scientist (Tim Curry).
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a cult classic that is often screened at Halloween events.
19. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
This horror-comedy follows a slacker (Simon Pegg) and his best friend (Nick Frost) as they try to survive a zombie apocalypse in London.
Shaun of the Dead is a clever and hilarious film that is perfect for fans of both horror and comedy.
18. The Babadook (2014)
This psychological horror film follows a single mother (Essie Davis) and her son (Noah Wiseman) as they are terrorized by a mysterious and malevolent entity called the Babadook.
The Babadook is a smart and deeply unsettling film that will have you on the edge of your seat.
17. The Witch (2015)
This horror film is set in 1630s New England and follows a puritan family who is terrorized by a malevolent witch living in the woods.
The Witch is a well-made and atmospheric film that is perfect for fans of historical horror.
16. The Host (2006)
This South Korean monster movie follows a family who tries to rescue their daughter after she is kidnapped by a mutant creature that emerges from the Han River.
The Host is a thrilling and entertaining film that is perfect for fans of creature features.
15. The Monster Squad (1987)
This horror-comedy follows a group of kids who team up to defeat a group of classic monsters (including Frankenstein’s monster, the Wolf Man, and the Mummy) who are threatening their town.
The Monster Squad is a fun and nostalgically charming film that is perfect for a Halloween family movie night.
14. Coraline (2009)
This animated horror film follows a young girl (voiced by Dakota Fanning) who discovers a secret door in her new home that leads to a parallel world.
The other world seems perfect at first, but as Coraline delves deeper, she realizes that it is a trap set by a malevolent being.
Coraline is a beautifully crafted and creepy film that is perfect for fans of stop-motion animation.
13. The Orphanage (2007)
This Spanish horror film follows a woman (Belén Rueda) who returns to the orphanage where she grew up and discovers that it is haunted by the ghosts of her past.
The Orphanage is a well-made and atmospheric film that is perfect for fans of supernatural horror.
12. The Descent (2005) – Best PG-13 Halloween Movies
This horror film follows a group of women who become trapped in a cave system while spelunking and are terrorized by monstrous creatures.
The Descent is a well-made and suspenseful film that is perfect for fans of creature features.
11. The Burbs (1989)
This horror-comedy follows a suburban family (Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, and Carrie Fisher) who become convinced that their creepy new neighbors are up to no good.
The Burbs is a funny and entertaining film that is perfect for fans of comedic horror.
Best PG-13 Halloween Movies
10. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
This horror film is shot in a found footage style and follows a group of students who go missing while trying to investigate the legend of the Blair Witch.
The Blair Witch Project is a well-made and effective film that is perfect for fans of found footage horror.
9. The Faculty (1998)
This horror-comedy follows a group of high school students who discover that their teachers have been taken over by extraterrestrial parasites.
The Faculty is a fun and entertaining film that is perfect for fans of teen horror.
8. The Thing (1982)
This horror film is set in Antarctica and follows a group of scientists who are terrorized by a shape-shifting alien that can assume the form of any living being.
The Thing is a well-made and suspenseful film that is perfect for fans of creature features.
7. The Mist (2007)
This horror film is based on a Stephen King novel and follows a group of people who are trapped in a supermarket when a mysterious mist envelops the town, bringing with it all manner of monstrous creatures.
The Mist is a well-made and suspenseful film that is perfect for fans of creature features.
6. The Grudge (2004)
This horror film is set in Japan and follows a series of interconnected stories about a cursed house that is inhabited by a vengeful ghost.
The Grudge is a well-made and creepy film that is perfect for fans of supernatural horror.
5. The Invitation (2015)
This horror film follows a man (Logan Marshall-Green) who is invited to a dinner party at his ex-wife’s house, only to discover that she and her new husband have sinister plans for him and their guests.
The Invitation is a well-made and suspenseful film that is perfect for fans of psychological horror.
4. The Boogeyman (1982)
This horror film follows a young boy who is terrorized by the Boogeyman, a malevolent spirit that emerges from his closet.
The Boogeyman is a simple but effective film that is perfect for fans of creepy child horror.
3. The Ring (2002)
This horror film is set in Japan and follows a journalist (Naomi Watts) who investigates a cursed videotape that causes anyone who watches it to die within seven days.
The Ring is a well-made and creepy film that is perfect for fans of supernatural horror.
2. The Conjuring 2 (2016)
This horror film is a sequel to The Conjuring and follows paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) as they help a family who is being terrorized by a malevolent spirit in London.
The Conjuring 2 is a well-made and genuinely frightening film that is perfect for fans of supernatural horror.
1. The Uninvited (2009)
This horror film is a remake of a Korean film and follows a young woman (Emily Browning) who is released from a mental institution and returns home, only to discover that her father has a new girlfriend (Elizabeth Banks) who may not be what she seems.
The Uninvited is a well-made and suspenseful film that is perfect for fans of psychological horror.
PG-13 Horror Movies For Tweens With Spoiler
31. The Others (2001)
- Director: Alejandro Amenábar
- Stars: Nicole Kidman, Fionnula Flanagan, Christopher Eccleston
- Writers: Alejandro Amenábar
- Runtime: 1h 44min
“The Others” is a psychological horror film released in 2001 and directed by Alejandro Amenábar. The movie stars Nicole Kidman as Grace, a mother who is struggling to take care of her two children, Anne and Nicholas, in a large, isolated house on the Isle of Jersey while her husband is away fighting in World War II.
The family is plagued by strange occurrences, including the appearance of ghostly apparitions and the sudden onset of rare and severe photosensitivity among Grace and the children.
As the supernatural occurrences become more frequent and intense, Grace becomes convinced that her family is being haunted by the spirits of former occupants of the house and becomes determined to uncover the truth behind the mysterious events.
“The Others” is a suspenseful and atmospheric horror film that explores themes of grief, loss, and the supernatural.
32. Lights Out (2016)
- Director: David F. Sandberg
- Stars: Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Alexander DiPersia
- Writers: Eric Heisserer, David F. Sandberg
- Runtime: 1h 21min
“Lights Out” is a supernatural horror film released in 2016 and directed by David F. Sandberg.
The movie stars Teresa Palmer as Rebecca, a young woman who is forced to confront her childhood fears when she discovers that a mysterious figure only visible in the dark is stalking her and her brother, Martin (Gabriel Bateman).
As a child, Rebecca had a close relationship with her mother, Sophie (Maria Bello), who suffered from severe mental health issues and an intense fear of the dark.
As Rebecca and Martin delve deeper into the mystery of the supernatural entity haunting them, they uncover the disturbing truth about Sophie’s past and the role that it plays in the present.
“Lights Out” is a tense and suspenseful horror film that explores themes of family, trauma, and the power of the Mind.
33. The Final Girls (2015)
- Director: Todd Strauss-Schulson
- Stars: Taissa Farmiga, Malin Akerman, Alexander Ludwig
- Writers: M.A. Fortin, Joshua John Miller
- Runtime: 1h 31min
“The Final Girls” is a horror-comedy film released in 2015 and directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson. The movie stars Taissa Farmiga as Max, a young woman who is grieving the loss of her mother, a famous scream queen from the 1980s.
Max and her friends are unexpectedly transported into the fictional world of her mother’s most famous film, “Camp Bloodbath,” where they must use their knowledge of horror movie tropes to survive the attacks of the camp’s resident killer, Billy Murphy.
Along the way, they encounter a group of characters who are also trapped in the film, including Max’s mother’s on-screen persona, Nancy (Malin Akerman).
“The Final Girls” is a clever and entertaining film that pays tribute to the slasher genre while also poking fun at its conventions and clichés.
34. 1408 (2007)
- Director: Mikael Håfström
- Stars: Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski, Matt Greenberg
- Writers: Stephen King
- Runtime: 1h 52min
“1408” is a psychological horror film released in 2007 and directed by Mikael Håfström. The movie stars John Cusack as Mike Enslin, a cynical and skeptical writer who specializes in debunking paranormal phenomena.
Mike is invited to stay in Room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel, a notoriously haunted room where many guests have met their untimely deaths.
Despite the hotel manager’s warning that he should not enter the room, Mike decides to stay the night in order to gather material for his next book.
As the night wears on, Mike is subjected to a series of increasingly Disturbing & Supernatural occurrences that threaten to drive him to the brink of madness.
“1408” is a suspenseful and atmospheric Horror film that explores themes of grief, loss, and the power of the mind.
35. A Quiet Place (2018)
- Director: John Krasinski
- Stars: John Krasinski, Bryan Woods, Scott Beck
- Writers: NA
- Runtime: 1h 30min
“A Quiet Place” is a horror film released in 2018 and directed by John Krasinski. The movie takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where most of humanity has been wiped out by a race of monstrous creatures that are attracted to sound.
The surviving members of the Abbott family, played by Krasinski, Emily Blunt, and their children, must navigate their daily lives in complete silence in order to avoid attracting the attention of the creatures.
As they struggle to survive in this hostile and Dangerous world, they must also confront the challenges of living in such close proximity to one another without being able to communicate freely.
“A Quiet Place” is a tense and suspenseful horror film that explores themes of family, survival, and the power of communication.
36. Drag Me to Hell (2009)
- Director: Sam Raimi
- Stars: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Ruth Livier
- Writers: Raimi, Ivan Raimi
- Runtime: 1h 39min
“Drag Me to Hell” is a horror-comedy film released in 2009 and directed by Sam Raimi. The movie stars Alison Lohman as Christine Brown, a young loan officer who is desperate to prove herself to her boss and colleagues.
When an elderly woman named Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver) begs Christine to extend her mortgage, Christine reluctantly denies the request, hoping that it will demonstrate her willingness to make tough decisions.
Mrs. Ganush responds by placing a curse on Christine, condemning her to be dragged to hell in three days’ time.
As Christine races against the clock to break the curse and save her own soul, she is pursued by a relentless demon and must confront the consequences of her actions.
“Drag Me to Hell” is a frenetic and over-the-top horror-comedy that blends elements of horror, comedy, and the supernatural.
37. Before I Wake (2016)
- Director: Mike Flanagan
- Stars: Kate Bosworth, Oleksandr Reshetilov, Thomas Jane, Jacob Tremblay
- Writers: Mike Flanagan, Jeff Howard
- Runtime: 1h 37min
“Before I Wake” is a supernatural horror film released in 2016 and directed by Mike Flanagan.
The movie stars Kate Bosworth and Thomas Jane as Cody and Jessie, a couple who adopt a young orphan named Sean (Jacob Tremblay) after their own son, Cody Jr., is killed in a tragic accident.
As they try to help Sean adjust to his new home and family, they are unaware that Sean has a special ability: his dreams and nightmares come to Life.
As Sean’s subconscious mind becomes more active, the couple must confront the terrifying and dangerous consequences of his dreams, including a vengeful ghost and a terrifying monster.
“Before I Wake” is a suspenseful and atmospheric horror film that explores themes of grief, loss, and the power of the mind.
Conclusion
So, there you have it – there are many great PG-13 Halloween movies out there for those who prefer a more moderate level of fright. From comedies to psychological thrillers to supernatural horrors, there is something on this list for everyone.
So gather up some friends, grab some popcorn, and get ready for a night of PG-13 Halloween fun. Whether you prefer classic films or modern releases, there is something on this list for you. So sit back, relax, and enjoy some spooky fun with these top 37 best PG-13 Halloween movies.
FAQs About PG-13 Halloween Movies
Is PG-13 worse than R?
The PG-13 rating indicates that some content may not be suitable for children under 13 and that parental guidance is strongly recommended. The R rating means that the film is restricted to viewers aged 17 and over unless accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.
How many swears are allowed in PG-13?
In PG-13 films, there is typically a limit on the use of explicit language. Here is a list of 10 PG-13 movies that made the most impact with their single use of the word “f**k”. These films used their limited use of the word to great effect.
