12 Halloween Movies for Teens That Aren’t Horror (But Still Have Jumps)
These days, you won’t catch us turning on a scary movie. Life feels anxiety inducing enough without adding it to our evenings! But back in high school, we loved having just a little October thrill. We chatted about the ones we watched growing up that had just the right jump scare, without the full-on horror.
So we put together our favorite Halloween movies for teens that aren’t horror but will still get your heart pounding. We listed them roughly from the chiller vibes to most intense, and every pick links to a parent guide so you can check the details before you watch.
First, a Quick Note on “Scary”
Everyone’s scary level is different! What one teen laughs through might keep another up all night, and you know your kids best. Please do your own research before watching. Each movie below includes a short “heads up” on what to expect plus a link to its Common Sense Media review, which breaks down violence, language and scary moments in detail. Most of these are rated PG-13, and a couple of older classics were released before the modern rating system.
12 Halloween Movies for Teens That Aren’t Horror
1. Charade (1963) – Not Rated (We’d give it PG-13)
Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant in Paris! A young widow discovers her late husband stole a fortune, and now several shady men (and one very charming stranger) are after it. It’s part romantic comedy, part mystery, with twist after twist. This is the gentlest pick on our list and a perfect starter movie for a teen who wants suspense without much fright.
Heads up: A few murders (bodies are shown, not much blood), some fistfights, and flirting, smoking and drinking.
Parent guide: Common Sense Media recommends ages 13+. Find it on Amazon →
2. Rear Window (1954) – PG
Jimmy Stewart is stuck in a wheelchair with a broken leg, spying on his neighbors through his apartment window, when he becomes convinced one of them committed a murder. Classic Hitchcock: slow and stylish, then edge-of-your-seat when Grace Kelly sneaks into the suspect’s apartment. A great “first Hitchcock” for teens.
Heads up: An implied murder (nothing gory is shown), mild innuendo, drinking and smoking.
Parent guide: Common Sense Media recommends ages 13+. Find it on Amazon →
3. Knives Out (2019) – PG-13
A wealthy mystery novelist dies the night after his 85th birthday party, and detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) suspects every member of his very dramatic family. Cozy sweaters, a creepy old mansion and a whodunit that keeps you guessing make this a fun fall pick. Fewer jumps and more “wait, WHAT?” moments.
Heads up: Strong language (including several f-words), a death at the center of the plot, and some bloody moments.
Parent guide: Common Sense Media recommends ages 13+. Find it on Amazon →
4. The Fugitive (1993) – PG-13
Harrison Ford plays Dr. Richard Kimble, wrongly convicted of his wife’s murder, who escapes after a wild bus and train crash and races to find the real killer while U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) hunts him down. Less spooky, more heart-pounding chase, and that dam jump still holds up!
Heads up: The wife’s murder shown in flashbacks, gun violence and some language.
Parent guide: Common Sense Media recommends ages 13+. Find it on Amazon →
5. Wait Until Dark (1967) – Not Rated– We’d give it PG-13)
Audrey Hepburn plays a blind woman alone in her New York apartment who gets pulled into a scheme by three criminals hunting for a doll stuffed with stolen goods. It’s basically a stage play with almost no gore, but the last 15 minutes are pure white-knuckle tension and include one of the most famous jump scares in movie history. Watch it with the lights off like the original theaters did!
Heads up: Menacing criminals, a knife fight, a drug-smuggling plot, and lots of 1960s smoking. Common Sense Media hasn’t reviewed this one, so we linked the IMDb parents guide instead.
Parent guide: Read the IMDb parents guide. Find it on Amazon →
6. Cellular (2004) – PG-13
A kidnapped science teacher (Kim Basinger) pieces together a smashed phone and reaches a random stranger (Chris Evans), who has to keep her on the line and track her down before the call drops. It’s fast, a little cheesy, and your teens will get a kick out of the 2004 flip phones. Short, tense and fun for a group.
Heads up: Kidnapping with a child in peril, shootouts, car chases and some language.
Parent guide: Common Sense Media recommends ages 14+. Find it on Amazon →
7. Minority Report (2002) – PG-13
In 2054, police arrest people for murders they haven’t committed yet. Then the top cop (Tom Cruise) is predicted to kill a man he’s never met, and he has to run. It’s sci-fi more than spooky, but the creepy spider-robot search and a few sudden moments will definitely get a jump out of everyone on the couch.
Heads up: Intense action violence, a squirmy eye surgery scene, strong language and some drug use. One of the more mature picks.
Parent guide: Common Sense Media recommends ages 15+. Find it on Amazon →
8. Red Eye (2005) – PG-13
Rachel McAdams boards a late-night flight and finds herself seated next to a charming stranger (Cillian Murphy) who turns out to be anything but. It’s directed by horror legend Wes Craven, but it’s a tight thriller, not a horror movie. At about 85 minutes it’s an easy weeknight pick, and the last act has some big jumps.
Heads up: Threats and intimidation, a stabbing, physical violence and some language.
Parent guide: Common Sense Media recommends ages 15+. Find it on Amazon →
9. Signs (2002) – PG-13
Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix play brothers on a Pennsylvania farm where crop circles suddenly appear, and the family hunkers down as something unexplained closes in. The scares come from what you don’t see (hello, baby monitor and birthday party video). Underneath the jumps it’s really a sweet story about grief, faith and family, which makes for a great conversation afterward.
Heads up: Frightening alien glimpses, a family boarded up in the house in peril, and a flashback to the mom’s death in a car accident.
Parent guide: Common Sense Media recommends ages 14+. Find it on Amazon →
10. The Village (2004) – PG-13
An isolated 1800s village lives by one rule: never go into the woods, where creatures known as “Those We Don’t Speak Of” wait. Red cloaks, autumn leaves and a creepy fog give it all the Halloween atmosphere, plus a brave heroine (Bryce Dallas Howard) and a twist the whole family will want to debate.
Heads up: Creature scares, a stabbing, and a few tense moments of peril in the woods.
Parent guide: Common Sense Media recommends ages 14+. Find it on Amazon →
11. The Sixth Sense (1999) – PG-13
Bruce Willis plays a child psychologist working with a young boy (Haley Joel Osment) who confides, “I see dead people.” This one leans the spookiest on the list, with ghosts who show up when you least expect them, but it’s really a moving story about a scared kid and the grown-up who believes him. And whatever you do, don’t let anyone spoil the ending!
Heads up: Ghosts with visible injuries, a shooting near the start, a scene involving a poisoned child, and some language.
Parent guide: Common Sense Media recommends ages 14+. Find it on Amazon →
12. A Quiet Place (2018) – PG-13
A family survives in total silence because the creatures hunting them track every sound. This is the most intense movie on our list and some people would call it horror, so save it for your teen who wants the biggest jumps. At its heart, though, it’s a story about parents protecting their kids, and there’s very little dialogue, so phones stay down the whole time!
Heads up: A young child is killed early on, creature attacks, and a very tense childbirth scene. Definitely read the full guide first.
Parent guide: Common Sense Media recommends ages 14+. Find it on Amazon →
Tips for a Not-Too-Scary Movie Night
- Watch the trailer together first. It’s a quick gut check for everyone in the room.
- Start with the classics. Charade and Rear Window are great warm-ups before moving to the bigger jumps.
- Keep the lights low, not off, if you have a younger sibling wandering through.
- Talk about it after. Signs, The Village and The Sixth Sense especially have twists and themes that spark great conversations.
- Make it an event. Blankets, popcorn and a spooky drink go a long way!
We hope these Halloween movies for teens help you plan a night full of jumps, laughs and maybe a few thrown pillows. Which one are you watching first? And did we miss a favorite thriller your family loves? Tell us in the comments!
Need snacks for movie night? Try our 4 Easy Halloween Party Drinks for Kids and Grown-Ups.
