Remember those childhood days of watching movies with wide-eyed wonder? Well, not every movie left us with warm and fuzzy feelings. Some films left us shivering under our blankets, clutching our teddy bears for dear life. Below are 18 movies that, for better or worse, became unforgettable parts of our childhoods.
The Dark Crystal
In this fantasy epic, the young Gelfling, Jen, goes on a quest to save his world from the evil Skeksis. These vulture-like creatures, with rasping voices and monstrous appearances, were enough to make any child’s skin crawl. The stunning visuals and fascinating world-building weren’t enough to make us feel good!
Jaws
This movie follows the story of a man-eating great white shark that terrorizes a small seaside town. It’s hard to forget that iconic dun-dun-dun-dun theme music as the shark lurked beneath the surface. Those moments before each shark attack made us jump out of our seats and think twice about swimming at the beach.
Watership Down
An animated movie about a group of rabbits searching for a new home, Watership Down was anything but cute and cuddly. The violent clashes with other rabbit colonies and the dark and intense atmosphere disturbed us. The scene where one of the rabbits, Fiver, has a vision of a blood-soaked field was enough to haunt our dreams for days.
Gremlins
What started as a cute story about a new pet quickly turned into a terrifying nightmare. The scene where the seemingly cute and innocent Mogwai transformed into monstrous gremlins was shocking and horrifying. Their destructive behavior and scary appearances left us shivering in our seats.
The Fox and the Hound
This heart-wrenching tale of friendship and growing up follows the story of a young fox and a hound who form an unlikely friendship. Despite its heartwarming moments, the story takes a tragic turn when the two friends are forced to become enemies. The heartbreaking scene where Tod, the fox, is abandoned in the woods left us in tears.
The Secret of NIMH
In this animated classic, a brave field mouse named Mrs. Brisby sets out to save her family from a farmer’s plow. Despite the beautiful animation and captivating story, the scenes with the creepy rats of NIMH were terrifying. This doesn’t seem like a kid-friendly film!
My Girl
My Girl is a poignant coming-of-age drama following the story of a young girl named Vada and her best friend, Thomas J. The movie explores themes of friendship, love, and loss. The scene where Thomas J. dies after being attacked by bees was heart-wrenching and left a lasting impact on anyone who watched it.
Return to Oz
In Return to Oz, we return with Dorothy to the magical land. However, this time around, Oz is a far darker and more sinister place. The creepy characters, like the Wheelers and Princess Mombi with her collection of heads, were enough to give us nightmares.
Fire in the Sky
Based on a true story, Fire in the Sky tells the chilling tale of a man abducted by aliens. There’s a scene where the aliens subject the man to terrifying experiments, which left all viewers horrified. The suspenseful build-up and the eerie atmosphere make it impossible to feel anything but fear.
Signs
M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs follows a family as they confront the reality of an alien invasion. The suspenseful atmosphere and the lurking threat of extraterrestrial visitors kept us on the edge of our seats. The scene where the alien hand reaches under the door made us jump out of our skin!
James and the Giant Peach
A whimsical tale of friendship and adventure, James and the Giant Peach follows a young boy as he embarks on a journey with a group of insect friends. The stop-motion animation, although creative, gave the characters a creepy and unsettling appearance. In particular, the opening scene with the eerie rhino cloud was particularly unnerving.
NeverEnding Story
The NeverEnding Story is a beautiful fantasy adventure that follows a young boy named Bastian as he reads a magical book. However, the enchanting world and captivating characters couldn’t save us from Artax’s death scene. The moment when he sinks into the Swamps of Sadness – pure nightmare fuel.
ET
In this heartwarming story of friendship, a young boy named Elliot befriends an extraterrestrial named ET. However, the scenes where ET falls ill and turns a deathly shade of white were terrifying. We cheered for ET to make it back home, but those moments of suspense were enough to leave a lasting impression.
The Brave Little Toaster
This animated movie follows a group of household appliances on a quest to find their owner. But it’s not your regular kids’ movie; plenty of scenes fill you with sorrow, such as the parts with the terrifying junkyard magnet. The threat of being crushed and discarded made our hearts race.
Poltergeist
This horror classic follows a family as they confront the supernatural forces that have taken over their home. The creepy clown doll, the ghostly apparitions, and the spooky TV people were enough to send shivers down our spines. The scene where the young girl, Carol Anne, is sucked into the television was particularly memorable!
Arachnophobia
A horror-comedy that follows a small town’s battle against a deadly species of spiders, Arachnophobia was enough to give us the creeps. The scenes where the spiders crawled out of the drains and showerheads were too horrifying for words. No wonder so many of us have a lifelong fear of spiders!
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
A delightful mix of animation and live-action, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, follows the story of a detective trying to clear the name of a cartoon rabbit accused of murder. However, the scene where the villain, Judge Doom, melts into a puddle of goo seemed quite extreme for a kids’ flick.
Earnest Scared Stupid
This comedy-horror movie focuses on the lovable Earnest as he battles a group of ancient trolls. Despite the comedic moments, the trolls were creepy enough to give anyone nightmares. Their monstrous appearances and cruel tricks kept us up for many nights.
