This Halloween, we’re switching things up! The trick-or-treat era has ended for my teen, instead, we are staying in for a scary movie marathon. If your teens are more into movies than candy this year, we’ve got the ultimate list of must-watch horror films. From mild spooks to intense supernatural thrillers, these flicks are guaranteed to set the perfect eerie mood. So, grab your popcorn, snuggle up in a cozy blanket, and get ready for a frightful night in!
The list is broken down by streaming service and includes Common Sense Media review links, so parents can make informed choices about what’s best for their teens.
Top 3 Scary Movies For Teens for Halloween 2024
If you’re short on time here are our Top 3 Picks for horror movies:
👻 Pearl (2022): A dark psychological thriller that follows a young woman’s intense journey into madness—perfect for teens who love gripping, character-driven horror.
😱 Smile (2022): New and terrifying, this psychological horror brings plenty of jump scares and eerie moments that will keep teens on edge.
🧙♀️ Hocus Pocus: A timeless, playful favorite combining magic, witches, and fun for a nostalgic, lighthearted Halloween vibe. Perfect for all ages!
Scary Movies on Netflix
1. Coraline
- Rating: PG
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: Coraline stumbles upon a secret door that leads to an alternate world where everything seems perfect—but there’s a sinister twist lurking behind the façade. As she uncovers the dark truth, Coraline must fight to save herself and her real family.
- Why Teens Will Love It: Teens love the eerie animation, mysterious vibe, and adventurous plot. The story keeps them on edge without being too intense.
2. Goosebumps 2
- Rating: PG
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: When two boys accidentally unleash monsters from R.L. Stine’s books, they must team up to stop the creatures before they take over the town. Packed with Halloween mischief and adventure, it’s a rollercoaster of spooky fun.
- Why Teens Will Love It: Perfect for younger teens, this lighthearted horror combines humor, adventure, and nostalgia for fans of the Goosebumps series.
3. In the Tall Grass
- Rating: TV-MA
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: A brother and sister get lost in an ominous field of tall grass after hearing a boy’s cry for help. As they struggle to escape, they discover the field hides a nightmarish force that defies time and reality.
- Why Teens Will Love It: This Stephen King adaptation brings mind-bending suspense and eerie visuals that will keep teens guessing till the end.
4. Fear Street Trilogy
- Rating: R
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: A group of teens uncovers a centuries-old curse that plagues their town. Each film takes place in a different era, revealing dark secrets and intense horror along the way.
- Why Teens Will Love It: With its blend of supernatural elements, teen drama, and slasher action, this trilogy is a thrilling binge-watch for horror fans.
5. The Babysitter
- Rating: TV-MA
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: Cole discovers that his fun, cool babysitter is actually part of a deadly cult, and he must survive the night as she and her friends try to kill him.
- Why Teens Will Love It: With its mix of humor, horror, and over-the-top action, this movie is a fun ride that doesn’t take itself too seriously, making it perfect for teens who like horror with a comedic twist.
6. Bird Box
- Rating: R
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: In a world where an unseen force causes mass destruction, Malorie must protect her children on a treacherous journey to safety—all while blindfolded to avoid the deadly entity.
- Why Teens Will Love It: The suspenseful survival story keeps viewers on edge, and the emotional core of the film adds depth to the intense action.
7. A Quiet Place Part II
- Rating: PG-13
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: Following the terrifying events of the first film, the Abbott family must now venture into the unknown, all while staying silent to avoid deadly creatures that hunt by sound.
- Why Teens Will Love It: Full of tension, emotion, and suspense, this movie is a heart-pounding continuation that teens will love for its high-stakes thrills.
8. ParaNorman
- Rating: PG
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: Norman, a misunderstood boy who can communicate with ghosts, must save his town from a zombie curse and help restless spirits find peace.
- Why Teens Will Love It: This animated adventure is quirky, fun, and full of spooky yet heartwarming moments, making it ideal for younger teens who love supernatural tales.
Scary Movies on Hulu
9. Beetlejuice
- Rating: PG
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: A recently deceased couple hires Beetlejuice, a mischievous “bio-exorcist,” to scare away the new living occupants of their home. But the chaos that ensues is anything but ordinary.
- Why Teens Will Love It: Tim Burton’s quirky humor and gothic charm make this a fun and bizarre movie that keeps the spookiness lighthearted.
10. The Sixth Sense
- Rating: PG-13
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: A young boy who can see dead people forms a bond with a child psychologist, but as they uncover the truth behind his visions, both their lives change forever.
- Why Teens Will Love It: With its famous twist ending and emotional depth, this film offers suspenseful moments and heartfelt storytelling.
11. Smile
- Rating: R
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: Dr. Rose Cotter experiences disturbing, supernatural occurrences after witnessing a horrifying incident. As she investigates, her life spirals into a terrifying mystery.
- Why Teens Will Love It: Smile brings plenty of jump scares and psychological horror, keeping teens on edge throughout the film.
12. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
- Rating: PG-13
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: A group of teens discovers a haunted book filled with terrifying stories that come to life. They must find a way to stop the stories before they become victims themselves.
- Why Teens Will Love It: Fans of the book series will love seeing their favorite creepy tales brought to life in a fun and thrilling way.
13. Edward Scissorhands
- Rating: PG-13
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: Edward, a gentle man with scissors for hands, struggles to fit into suburban society as he falls in love and faces prejudice from the townspeople.
- Why Teens Will Love It: With Tim Burton’s whimsical touch, this film is a bittersweet blend of fantasy, romance, and gothic visuals that teens adore.
14. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
- Rating: PG-13
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: Buffy Summers, a high school cheerleader, discovers she’s destined to battle vampires and save the world, while navigating typical teen drama.
- Why Teens Will Love It: This cult classic is packed with humor, action, and supernatural high school drama, making it a fun, campy watch for teens.
15. The House with a Clock in Its Walls
- Rating: PG
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: A young boy moves in with his uncle, only to discover a magical world filled with mysterious clocks, hidden spells, and a dangerous force waiting to be unleashed.
- Why Teens Will Love It: This family-friendly adventure offers plenty of spooky fun, magic, and mystery, making it perfect for younger teens.
16. It (2017)
- Rating: R
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: A group of kids must face off against Pennywise, a terrifying shape-shifting entity that feeds on their worst fears. Together, they must confront their deepest anxieties to survive.
- Why Teens Will Love It: Combining supernatural horror with a coming-of-age story, It delivers intense scares and heartfelt moments that resonate with teens.
Scary Movies on Amazon Prime Video
17. The Ring
- Rating: PG-13
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: A journalist investigates a cursed videotape that supposedly kills anyone who watches it within seven days. As her time runs out, she must uncover the truth before it’s too late.
- Why Teens Will Love It: With its eerie atmosphere and suspenseful mystery, The Ring keeps teens glued to the screen, offering plenty of tension and supernatural thrills.
18. Carrie (2013)
- Rating: R
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: After enduring years of bullying, shy high schooler Carrie unleashes her telekinetic powers at prom, turning a night of celebration into a horrific revenge tale.
- Why Teens Will Love It: Teens can relate to the themes of bullying and empowerment, while the supernatural twist adds an intense, satisfying layer of horror.
19. The Others
- Rating: PG-13
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: A mother and her two children, living in an isolated mansion, begin to experience strange and frightening events. As the hauntings escalate, they discover a shocking secret.
- Why Teens Will Love It: This psychological thriller offers teens suspense, mystery, and a clever twist that makes it both eerie and thought-provoking.
20. Pearl
- Rating: R
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: Set in 1918, Pearl tells the story of a young woman who dreams of escaping her rural life but slowly descends into madness and violence.
- Why Teens Will Love It: This psychological horror delivers an intense character study, blending ambition, madness, and a chilling portrayal of a woman’s unraveling mind.
21. Final Destination
- Rating: R
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: After cheating death in a plane crash, a group of teens finds themselves stalked by death itself as they try to avoid their fated ends.
- Why Teens Will Love It: Known for its inventive and suspenseful death scenes, this film keeps teens on the edge of their seats with its unique approach to horror.
22. Paranormal Activity
- Rating: R
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: A couple sets up cameras around their home to capture strange occurrences, only to find themselves facing something far more terrifying than they ever imagined.
- Why Teens Will Love It: The found-footage style makes the horror feel more real, and the slow-building tension pays off with some truly terrifying moments.
23. I Know What You Did Last Summer
- Rating: R
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: After a group of friends accidentally kills someone in a car accident, they try to cover it up. But a year later, they are stalked by a killer who knows their secret.
- Why Teens Will Love It: This teen slasher is packed with mystery, suspense, and classic horror thrills, perfect for older teens who love a mix of drama and terror.
Scary Movies on HBO Max
24. The Conjuring
- Rating: R
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren are called to help a family terrorized by dark forces in their farmhouse. As the hauntings escalate, they face their most terrifying case yet.
- Why Teens Will Love It: Teens who enjoy supernatural horror will be captivated by the expertly crafted scares and the eerie atmosphere that makes this a standout ghost story.
25. Scream
- Rating: R
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: A masked killer stalks a group of high school students, using horror movie rules to play a deadly game of cat and mouse.
- Why Teens Will Love It: Scream is a clever and self-aware slasher that plays with horror tropes in a way that’s both suspenseful and humorous, making it a fun ride for teens who love the genre.
Scary Movies on Disney+
26. Halloweentown
- Rating: PG
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: A young girl discovers that she comes from a family of witches and is whisked away to Halloweentown, a magical place filled with supernatural creatures. Together with her grandmother, she must save the town from dark forces.
- Why Teens Will Love It: Nostalgic, magical, and packed with Halloween spirit, Halloweentown is a lighthearted adventure that teens can enjoy year after year.
27. The Haunted Mansion
- Rating: PG
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: A realtor and his family are trapped in a haunted mansion and must unravel its ghostly secrets while trying to escape.
- Why Teens Will Love It: This family-friendly ghost story mixes spooky fun with laughs, making it a perfect choice for younger teens.
28. Hocus Pocus
- Rating: PG
- Common Sense Media Review
- Story: Three witch sisters are accidentally resurrected on Halloween night and must be stopped by a group of kids before they can wreak havoc on the town.
- Why Teens Will Love It: This cult classic mixes humor, magic, and Halloween fun, making it a must-watch for teens who love a spooky but playful adventure.
Wrapping Up: 28 Best Scary Movies for Teens
Halloween is the perfect time for teens to dive into some spooky films, and this list covers everything from lighthearted fun to bone-chilling horror. Whether they’re in the mood for supernatural thrillers, slasher films, or magical adventures, these scary movies will ensure a frightfully good time. So, whether you’re hosting a Halloween movie marathon or just enjoying a cozy night in, these picks will have your teens screaming for more—just don’t forget the popcorn!
