Watch a scary movie with your siblings or even your entire family! Netflix is home to several great PG-13 horror flicks that are light on scares but still suspenseful enough for an enjoyable watch. It can be hard to convince someone who gets terrified or squeamish easily to check out horror films, which is why it's usually easier to start with something more low-key before ramping up to the R-rated gore fests out there.
From the dark fantasy trappings of last year's movie The Watchers to the time-traveling slasher Time Cut, here are some of our favorite PG-13 horror movies currently available to watch on Netflix.
The Watchers (2024)
- Writer/Director: Ishana Night Shyamalan
- Cast: Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Olwen Fouéré, and Oliver Finnegan
- Last day to watch on Netflix: March 29
This supernatural horror film marks the feature directorial debut of M. Night Shyamalan's daughter Ishana Night Shyamalan (not to be confused with his other daughter, Saleka, who played Lady Raven in Trap). The Watchers is based on a novel by A.M. Shine and it will be leaving Netflix at the end of March, so make sure to check this one out ASAP if you plan on watching it. And don't confuse it with the other recently added movie Watcher or the Netflix Original series, The Watcher. I know, it's a lot to keep track of.
The nice thing about The Watchers is that it's scary, but not too scary. In fact, I felt that the story leaned heavily into its dark fantasy elements, so when you reach the big reveal, it becomes more adventurous than horrifying. Dakota Fanning plays a woman whose car breaks down near a dark forest on her way to Belfast. She stumbles upon a cabin of people who usher her quickly inside, warning that at night, the "watchers" come out to watch them through the giant windows. It's suitably creepy. And once you're there, there's no way out.
Tarot (2024)
- Writers/Directors: Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg
- Cast: Harriet Slater, Adain Bradley, Avantika, Wolfgang Novogratz, Humberly González, Larsen Thompson, Olwen Fouéré, and Jacob Batalon
Tarot is a great movie watch pick for anyone who wants to introduce someone to the horror genre without overwhelming them. It's a predictable and safe little PG-13 teen scream, but I still enjoyed myself watching it.
I know it received really bad reviews but I genuinely thought Tarot was decent enough. Nothing world shaking, but the inventive creature design and unique kill sequences (all done without gore) made it a fun romp that I think I would have liked as an early teen who was still quite scared of most horror movies.
Time Cut (2024)
- Director: Hannah MacPherson
- Writers: Michael Kennedy and Hannah MacPherson
- Cast: Madison Bailey, Antonia Gentry, and Griffin Gluck
Time-traveling slasher movies are apparently all the rage these days between films like this one, Totally Killer, and Happy Death Day. Time Cut doesn't do anything better than those movies, but those looking for a PG-13 movie with ample comedy and lighthearted moments available on Netflix will appreciate this one.
It's perfect for '90s babies in particular, as the movie features a teenager traveling back in time to 2003 to try and prevent her sister from being murdered. Given its early 2000s setting, the nostalgia factor alone makes it worth a watch.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)
- Director: Gil Kenan
- Writers: Gil Kenan and Jason Reitman
- Cast: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Celeste O'Connor, James Acaster, Logan Kim, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, and William Atherton
It doesn't get much more lighthearted and comedic than a Ghostbusters movie. Mixed with fiendish ghouls and lots of action, the new Ghostbusters is a real treat.
Following the Spengler family as they return to New York City, this movie unites the newer and the original Ghostbusters as they face off against a new threat unleashed by an ancient artifact. Watching this with your kids might be a great way to introduce them to the franchise and then go back and revisit the originals!
Before I Wake
- Director: Mike Flanagan
- Writers: Mike Flanagan and Jeff Howard
- Cast: Kate Bosworth, Thomas Jane, Jacob Tremblay, Annabeth Gish, Dash Mihok, and Topher Bousquet
Even though Before I Wake comes from horror icon Mike Flanagan, it still ends up being frequently underrated or even bypassed completely by people looking to watch his movies and shows. The 2016 film follows a pair of foster parents who have just invited 8-year-old Mark into their home. Mark is a sweet kid, but he tells his new parents how scared he is to fall asleep. It's slowly revealed that when he does, he's plagued by dreams—and nightmares—that are capable of becoming reality.