Children’s movies are supposed to be lighthearted adventures filled with friendly characters and happy endings. But some filmmakers must have decided that kids could handle a little nightmare fuel. These movies were so creepy that it was hard to believe they were made for children. Many scenes haunted kids well into adulthood. Who knew that “family friendly” could be code for “prepare to be traumatized”? Here are eight children’s films that were surprisingly terrifying.
1. Coraline (2009)
Synopsis:
When Coraline Jones discovers a hidden door in her new home, she finds a parallel world where everything seems better. Her parents are more attentive, the food is yummier, and life feels like a dream. But the alternate reality is controlled by the Other Mother, a sinister figure who wants Coraline to stay forever.
What Was Terrifying:
The button eyes alone are enough to make Coraline unsettling, but the movie’s real horror comes from its atmosphere. The Other Mother slowly goes from a loving maternal figure into a spider-like monster. She is definitely one of the creepiest villains ever put in a children’s film. The idea of a perfect looking world hiding a spider-like creature disguised as a mom is deeply disturbing.
2. The Secret of NIMH (1982)
Synopsis:
A widowed mouse named Mrs. Brisby needs to save her sick son, so she gets help from a group of highly intelligent rats living under a farm. She soon finds out that their history is full of scientific experiments and danger.
What Was Terrifying:
The Secret of NIMH has a darker tone than most animated films of its time. The movie features scary images, violent conflicts, and a villainous rat named Jenner. This is no children’s villain stroking a black cat; Jenner is a full-on sinister individual. Many viewers don’t even remember the story, as the eerie atmosphere and intense scenes overshadowed the narrative.
3. Return to Oz (1985)
Synopsis:
The film opens with young Dorothy being treated for her delusions regarding traveling to a place called Oz. During the process, she returns to the magical land, only to discover that it has been destroyed. With the Tinman and Scarecrow nowhere in sight, she makes a few strange new friends. Together, the gang tries to defeat the evil Princess Mombi and save Oz.
What Was Terrifying:
If you watched this one as a kid, you might still be a little scarred. Especially if you thought it was a sweet follow up to the original Wizard of Oz. But Return to Oz was far darker than the 1930s hit. Princess Mombi’s collection of interchangeable heads, the nightmare inducing Wheelers, and the depressing, gloomy landscape had parents questioning if their kids should be watching. Many young audiences were completely unprepared.
4. The Dark Crystal (1982)
Synopsis:
A young Gelfling named Jen is tasked with saving the world. In order to do so, he has to repair a broken crystal and beat the evil Skeksis. Along the way, he learns secrets about his own past and the future of the planet.
What Was Terrifying:
The Skeksis are some of the creepiest creatures ever created for a family movie. Their bodies are in a chronic state of decay, but it is not just how they look that is unsettling. They also move in a disturbing manner and behave cruelly. The film’s strange world feels ancient and dangerous, very unlike a typical children’s adventure.
5. Watership Down (1978)
Synopsis:
A group of rabbits leaves their home after one rabbit has a vision of future destruction. They travel across the countryside searching for a safe place to start life anew.
What Was Terrifying:
Watership Down balances traditional children’s fodder like animation and adorable animals with adult themes, violence, death, and scary images. The movie’s graphic fight scenes and haunting visions shocked young audiences who thought they were watching a sweet story about bunnies. Its reputation as a childhood trauma movie is ongoing.
6. The Witches (1990)
Synopsis:
A young boy discovers that witches are secretly living among them, hiding in ordinary society. And they have one very specific goal: rid the world of children. As the only one who knows, he has to stop their evil plan before it is too late.
What Was Terrifying:
Leave it to Roald Dahl to create a truly nightmare-inducing children’s story. These witches look like ordinary women, until they are in the privacy of their own home. There, they reveal feet without toes and hairless scalps. The Grand High Witch is one of the scariest characters in children’s movies. Her glamorous woman disguise hides a terrifying creature. These aren’t cute Hocus Pocus witches that simply aged poorly; they are genuinely frightening horror movie level witches. The creepy makeup and dark atmosphere made it all the more disturbing.
7. Jumanji (1995)
Synopsis:
Two children discover a mysterious board game in the attic of their new house. The game releases a series of dangerous jungle creatures and spawns strange occurrences in their home. They soon realize that finishing the game is their only chance of restoring normal life.
What Was Terrifying:
The idea of an innocent-looking game being full of danger and chaos is surprisingly creepy. Suspense and unpredictability accompany every roll of the dice, as the kids have no idea what might come out of the game next. Giant spiders, stampeding animals, and a determined hunter of humans made Jumanji much scarier than a family-fun adventure movie.
8. The NeverEnding Story (1984)
Synopsis:
A lonely boy named Bastian comes across a magical book. The narrative tells of a young warrior named Atreyu, who has to save the fantasy world of Fantasia from an ominous force known as the Nothing.
What Was Terrifying:
The NeverEnding Story wasn’t terrifying in a true horror-movie sense, as it lacks monsters and jump scares. But the way it introduced children to several devastating subjects was disturbing. The emotional scenes included the infamous Swamps of Sadness incident, the terrifying Gmork, and the idea of an entire world disappearing into nothingness. It all made for a surprisingly heavy experience. Though it was set in a magical fantasy world, it was ultimately a story filled with fear, loss, and existential dread.