The brilliance of family-friendly movies is that they appeal to everyone, regardless of age. That means they’re unlikely to feature anything too violent, rude, or scary, which may be deemed unacceptable for younger viewers. But that doesn’t mean that some of these movies can’t scare children, as many of them do push things to the limit, which can spook people.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Disney’s animated movies are never shy of creating compelling villains, but the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is absolutely one of the scariest. Her witch appearance is visually scary, while Snow White’s scene in the dark woods will likely have people on edge.
The Wizard of Oz
Following the yellow brick road on Dorothy’s journey is fun for everyone. The main characters are family-friendly and enjoyable to watch. There are catchy songs, clear moral lessons, and lots of vibrant and colorful scenes that will get everyone’s attention. But the Wicked Witch and her flying monkeys are terrifying, and younger fans might be scared watching this.
Fantasia
Fantasia might not be the type of animated movie children are turning on nowadays because it has various scenes set to classical music. But there are there are some brilliant moments in this and one terrifying scene. The Night on Bald Mountain section will induce some fear due to how imposing Chernabog is.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The Harry Potter franchise is aimed at younger audiences regarding the books, but the entire story arc gets scarier and more serious as they go on. While the first two movies are about magical fun and vibrant personalities, that all changes with Prisoner of Azkaban. With werewolves and the threat of Sirius Black looming, the darker twist makes this one far scarier.
Coraline
Coraline is a fantastic stop-motion movie with some brilliant details. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t scary moments involved. Seeing characters with buttons for eyes creates a visual that few young children can forget, which makes this one to be avoided for some.
Gremlins
Many people classify Gremlins as a horror movie, but its rating makes it accessible to younger audiences. While the characters might look cute and cuddly at one point, they can quickly turn scary and leave people stunned as they watch on. It is telling that this movie helped lead to the creation of the PG-13 rating due to how scary it was.
Return to Oz
Return to Oz is a wild movie that will leave audiences questioning what they’ve just watched once it’s over. It doesn’t bring the same level of charm as the original, with some characters that are visually scary to look at. On top of that, the entire world is more twisted and demented than in the first film, creating more frightening moments.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
A movie that blends the worlds of Halloween and Christmas is a concept that could cause some fear in people. It has a lot of funny moments, and Jack Skellington’s character is charismatic enough to capture people’s attention. However, the darker colors, scarier characters, and Oogie Boogie himself as the main villain can put fear into people, particularly since he’s trying to capture Santa Claus.
Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters is one of the most iconic movies of all time, with some classic scenes still talked about today. But considering that the movie is full of aliens and other creatures, it’s no surprise that this can scare people.
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory tells the classic Roald Dahl tale of Charlie Bucket finding a Golden ticket to get a tour of the factory alongside several other children and their chaperones. The movie is fun, with some catchy songs and memorable characters. However, Gene Wilder’s portrayal of Willy Wonka can sometimes be scary, particularly in the boat scene. The fact that the children deal with horrendous endings also won’t help any young viewer who might be easily spooked.
Frankenweenie
Frankenweenie is a twist on the iconic Frankenstein story typically used for adult horror movies. Tim Burton is behind this one, a director with great experience creating darker movies. This one is black-and-white throughout, which is unique, but the nature of the story can provide some scares.
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
This animated Disney movie combines two different stories into one. While the Mr. Toad section isn’t overly scary, the same cannot be said about the Ichabod part. That is the second half of this tale, and it has much darker tones. With the Headless Horsemen on the hunt throughout, it’s no surprise that this one is scary for young fans.
The Dark Crystal
The main reason this movie has the potential to create nightmares is purely down to the puppets themselves. They’re visually scary, and while the detail is fantastic, that doesn’t mean they won’t be too much for some.
Labyrinth
Labyrinth allows audiences to see David Bowie thriving in the world of acting. His charismatic self ends up carrying the movie, particularly when he’s able to sing. But the entire premise is scary, as his role as the Goblin King sees him steal a baby.
Watership Down
Focusing on animated rabbits, Watership Down is a movie ideal for young viewers. For large parts, that’s certainly the case, but then things take a violent twist, with several death scenes and moments that will leave young fans horrified as they watch on.
The Witches
The characters and dialogue in The Witches have a comedic tone, like many Roald Dahl stories, but the practical effects in this one are sure to put fear into people of any age. It isn’t just children who are sure to be scared by this, as the makeup throughout is scary, even though it’s impressive at the same time.
Bambi
Bambi is a classic Disney movie with breathtaking animation and some beautiful scenes. But it also boasts one of the saddest and most shocking scenes in movie history right out of the gate, with the death of Bambi’s mother being something that will leave many people stunned. It’s an emotionally charged situation with the potential to put children off from wanting to watch anymore.
Monster House
Monster House is designed to introduce horror and scarier movies for children, but it will undoubtedly be a step too far for many people. The film builds up its intensity throughout, but once the house changes into the true monster, it becomes genuinely scary.
Goosebumps
Based on the iconic book series, this movie sees the monsters leap out of the page and become part of the real world. Various classic characters will scare young viewers, but Slappy the Dummy provides the most significant fears. The visual of him alone is scary enough and will surely creep people out.
The Black Cauldron
Of all of Disney’s animated movies, The Black Cauldron is the darkest and potentially scariest for young fans. Focusing on a pig herder who must try to find a black cauldron before the Horned King, this movie is full of scary scenes. While it’s certainly outside the box from most animated stories, it’s not for everybody.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is supposed to be a friendly musical suitable for all ages. Focusing on a car that can fly, it’s easy to see how younger viewers will be captivated by this and the music involved. But the movie’s villain is nightmare-inducing. The fact that he’s called The Child Catcher, with his primary focus being on kidnapping young children, makes it easy to see why people could be terrified watching this.
