8 PG-13 Halloween movies to watch this October 2024 (and where to stream)

Horror movies are notorious for being R-rated, gory, and inappropriate for younger viewers, but we all know that's not the truth for all of them. Horror is a vast genre with many subgenres within it, and there is an abundance of G, PG, and PG-13-rated films that can be watched by families.

This list is for people seeking out something that's maybe a little scarier than the G and PG-rated fare but stops short of devolving into a total bloodbath. Here are some PG-13 movies to watch this Halloween season and where you can stream them.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)

If you're anything like me and countless other kids born in the 1990s, then you might have spent hours poring over Alvin Schwartz's terrifying Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books. In 2019, they adapted it into a film and it's equal parts scary and kind of cozy, too, since parts of it take place on Halloween night. Now streaming on Netflix.

The Curse of Bridge Hollow (2022)

A newer Halloween film that has kind of flown under the radar thus far, The Curse of Bridge Hollow is sort of Netflix's version of Halloweentown starring Stranger Things actress Priah Ferguson, Marlon Wayans, and Kelly Rowland. When a spirit causes Halloween decorations to spring to life and wreak havoc, a young woman and her father must work together to save their town.

Hubie Halloween (2020)

Adam Sandler + Halloween. What could be better than that? Hubie Halloween isn't the most popular spooky movie out there, but it's endearing enough to warrant an annual watch if you really end up enjoying it or are just a Sandler fan and want to watch something suitably festive with the entire family. Streaming on Netflix.

Poltergeist (1982)

This addition to the list is technically cheating because the 1982 film from director Tobe Hooper was rated PG when it was released. But to be fair, the "PG-13" rating didn't exist until a couple of years later. Had the PG-13 rating been around when Poltergeist came out, I'm almost positive this movie would have earned it, for the face-melting scene alone. A generation of kids were terrified by that moment. Poltergeist is now streaming on Max.

Gremlins (1984)

Speaking of movies on Max and the interesting history behind the PG-13 rating, we had to include one of the movies that contributed to the creation of the rating in the first place. While Gremlins was not the first official movie to be rated PG-13, it was one of several films in the 1980s that convinced the MPAA to change up the rating system. And yes, there is an argument to be made about this being more of a Christmas movie, but why not both? Plus, Max is also home to the animated series The Wild Batch and Gremlins 2.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)

Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, and Catherine O'Hara return in this delightful follow-up to Tim Burton's 1988 classic. And this time the cast includes Wednesday breakout Jenna Ortega as Ryder's on-screen daughter Astrid Deetz. Released in theaters this past September, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice follows up on the Deetz family when they return to Winter River after a sudden tragedy. Lydia is dealing with enough when her daughter stumbles upon the portal to the afterlife, and Beetlejuice is summoned once again. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is now available to rent/buy on PVOD.

Trap (2024)

The latest film from M. Night Shyamalan is a tense and surprisingly funny psychological thriller starring Josh Hartnett as a menacing serial killer who also happens to be a very supportive father to his teenage daughter. Unbeknownst to Cooper, or "The Butcher," as he's known by the public and the police, the concert he takes his daughter to, is secretly a massive trap designed to catch him. Trap is now available to rent or buy on PVOD and it will start streaming on Max on October 25.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

All of the Ghostbusters could technically fit on this list, though some are PG and some PG-13, but if you're a long-time franchise fan and haven't had the chance to watch the newest movie in the series, now is your chance. A direct sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Frozen Empire follows the Spengler family as they return to the original NYC firehouse. The discovery of an ancient artifact heralds a wave of evil that units new and old team members to work together and prevent an ice age. Streaming on Starz and available on VOD.

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