When it comes to selecting a movie for family night, appearances can be deceiving. What seems like a simple kid’s story on the surface might not be as safe as you think. Here’s a look at the children’s movies that need a second glance.
Coraline
Coraline offers a seemingly charming tale with its impressive stop-motion animation, but the real theme of isolation will get through to all ages. The new Mom and the danger portrayed in a parallel universe make it risky to watch with kids, with many being scared by the creepy look.
The Incredibles
While The Incredibles is loved for combining family and superheroes, the film’s scarier moments where that family is threatened could be too much for very young viewers. The movie also touches on identity and personal crisis themes, which might be more suitable for older kids.
Into the Woods
Based on Stephen Sondheim’s Broadway musical of the same name, Into the Woods cleverly combines multiple Brothers Grimm fairy tales into one. The movie examines the long-term consequences of the characters’ actions, adding a thoughtful and sinister touch to old classics.
The Wizard of Oz
Iconic as it is, The Wizard of Oz has long been considered a little frightening for younger viewers. The flying monkeys are remembered in particular for their horrifying scenes, but the Wicked Witch herself can also be intimidating. There’s also the very real horror of being swept away from your home with no way back.
Spirited Away
Spirited Away features gorgeous visuals, matched only by the unique and enchanting storytelling. But its themes of greed and environmentalism might go over the heads of younger watchers. The complex emotional development and symbolism also miss the mark and leave its audience bored or confused.
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
At first glance, the chocolate factory in this classic kids’ story looks like a childhood daydream. But scratching the delicious surface shows a sometimes horrifying world, with the children gradually falling victim to various awful fates. The strange and sometimes disturbing nature of Willy Wonka himself doesn’t help matters.
Bambi
Disney is well-known for producing children’s movies with an emotional punch and missing (or dead) parents. Bambi gets straight to the point, with the death of Bambi’s mother upsetting many young viewers. The movie gets more hopeful from here, but being an early scene means some never watch further.
The Secret of NIMH
A fantasy adventure movie from 1982, The Secret of NIMH looks like a typical children’s animation on the surface but quickly devolves into complex themes about the reality of animal testing. The intelligent rats that the widowed mouse Mrs. Brisby meets may have some benefits, but they are cursed to need human technology and will live long enough to see all their fellow rats die.
My Girl
A touching coming-of-age story set in the 1970s, My Girl stars Anna Chlumsky as Vada Margaret Sultenfuss, an 11-year-old girl struggling with grief. Despite her young age, the film’s themes of death and mourning are shown with such realism that they might be difficult for younger viewers to process.
Bridge to Terabithia
The beautiful world in Bridge to Terabithia invites audiences into what appears to be a classic story about friendship and the power of imagination. But the real world scenes and the sudden turn into tragedy are jarring and genuinely upsetting, making it more suited to older audiences.
The Boxtrolls
Produced by Laika, a studio known for their gothic stop-motion movies, The Boxtrolls initially seems to be a charming movie about a boy’s friendship with the titular creatures. Unfortunately, pest exterminator Archibald Snatcher wants them caught at any cost. His menacing presence (and eventual fate) can disturb kids’ viewing.
Labyrinth
Starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly, Labyrinth combines a real-world coming-of-age story with a fantasy quest for a lost baby surrounded by bizarre creatures and enemies. Although much-loved to the extent that it has received cult status, the dark undertones might mean it is best left unwatched for a little while.
The Witches
Adapted from Roald Dahl’s book of the same name, The Witches imagines a world where witches secretly live among us. More concerningly, nearly all of them despise children and want to get rid of them by turning them into mice with a sinister potion. This veers into genuinely creepy territory, possibly spooking younger viewers.
The Iron Giant
Based on the book of the same name, the cult sci-fi movie The Iron Giant explores themes of friendship and loss, set against the backdrop of the Cold War. While the Iron Giant himself is kind and curious about the world, the parallels drawn with death and weapons, not to mention the scene of the Iron Giant’s destruction, can be upsetting.
Jumanji
The original Jumanji movie from 1995 stars Robin Williams as Alan Parrish, a man who was sucked into the titular board game as a child. When the game brings jungle hazards into the real world, things get a lot more intense, and this, combined with the concept of being stuck in the game, might be scary for younger children.
Monster House
The animated horror comedy Monster House transforms a neighborhood home into a living, breathing monster. Despite being marketed as a children’s Halloween tale, the theming and some of the scarier scenes may prove too much for younger viewers, so viewer discretion is advised.
Alice in Wonderland
Tim Burton’s 2010 movie Alice in Wonderland shows a much darker version of Wonderland than the imaginative children’s story it’s based on. Portraying Wonderland as a place racked by war and the destructive path of the Red Queen, Alice must fight back against her and the Jabberwocky, with some scenes proving too frightening for young kids.
Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland
The 1989 animated movie Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland is another film that seems perfect for kids with its dream-like sequences and adventurous themes. But the creeping threat of the Nightmare King and Nemo himself falling victim to temptation and unlocking the door to “The Nightmare” are pretty scary for some kids.
Gremlins
Although the titular gremlins look cute at first glance, this movie quickly turns into a horror-comedy as the cute Mogwai spawn mischievous and malevolent gremlins that overrun the town. The film’s blend of humor and horror is probably more appealing to adults and older children.
