Are your kids clamoring for scary movies while your biggest fear is the nightmares they'll have after watching? If so, here are some gentler fare for those who want to be scared ... but just a little. Check out these seven titles that just may be a bit more cute than creepy.
Monsters, Inc.
Rated G
The premise: A variety of scaly, furry and crazy-looking creatures whose purpose is to scare human children. While it seems like it could be terrifying, in the hands of Pixar it’s far more cute than creepy. Sulley (John Goodman) and Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) steal the show and are completely lovable even though they are, indeed, monsters.
Why Kids Will Like It:
Monsters, Inc. takes what should be scary and makes it friendly and endearing. Instead of filling a child with fear, these monsters are totally full of fun.
Why Parents Will Like It:
It’s from Pixar, a movie company that’s known for creating films that are equally appreciated by children and adults, so of course parents like, if not love, Monsters, Inc..
Casper
Rated PG
A young teen (Christina Ricci) and her dad (Bill Pullman) move into a house that is reportedly haunted, with hopes to exorcize the ghosts from the dwelling. They soon find that the home is indeed haunted by three mischievous and exasperating ghosts, and one very sweet, very cute and very friendly ghost named Casper, a spirit who befriends the human teen.
Why Kids Will Like It:
Casper — the friendly ghost — is thoughtful, kind and nice. Children will wish they had a phantom pal like him in real life.
Why Parents Will Like It:
Parents will like the nostalgia of not just the Harvey Comics character Casper, but the appearance of a young Christina Ricci and the always dependable Bill Pullman, who seemed to be in everything back in the day.
Spirited Away
Rated PG
After her parents are turned into ravenous pigs, 10-year-old Chihiro escapes to a bath house for spirits while trying to find a way to transform her folks back into their original state. The spirits range from sluglike creatures to beings that look a whole lot like humans, but there are a couple of spirits with whom Chihiro becomes close: Haku, a boy who’s actually a river spirit and No-Face, a mysterious and very loyal character.
Why Kids Will Like It:
While it might be a wee bit creepy for little ones, older kids will love the story and style of this beautifully animated tale.
Why Parents Will Like It:
Hayao Miyazaki is a master storyteller and Spirited Away is one of his most popular and beloved films. It even won the Best Animated Feature Picture at the Academy Awards in 2001.
Monsters vs. Aliens
Rated PG
Susan Murphy (Reese Witherspoon) wasn’t born a monster but joined their ranks when she was struck by a meteorite on her wedding day, transforming her into a giant. Susan, or Ginormica as she is later called, joins a group of other “monsters” – Dr. Cockroach (Hugh Laurie), B.O.B. (Seth Rogen) and the Missing Link (Will Arnett) – to fight aliens who are planning to attack Earth.
Why Kids Will Like It:
The monsters are eclectic, cool and funny. Kids especially will like B.O.B., a blue gelatinous mass who has the gift of gab.
Why Parents Will Like It:
The stellar voice cast keeps parents entertained, and really, you can’t go wrong with Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Seth Rogen and Will Arnett.
Corpse Bride
Rated PG
On the eve of Victor Van Dort’s (Johnny Depp) wedding – in this beautifully executed stop-motion movie – the groom-to-be goes into the woods to practice his vows. After reciting them, a bridal dress-wearing corpse by the name of Emily (Helena Bonham Carter) rises from her grave believing that she is now married to Victor. Then, things get complicated with mystery, mayhem and the living dead.
Why Kids Will Like It:
While it may be a bit unique for some children, others will be delighted by this offbeat and dark film.
Why Parents Will Like It:
Director Tim Burton has an iconic style, which is very much alive in this film about the dead. With voice talent such as Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, the film also has star power.
Beetlejuice
Rated PG
While Betelgeuse — the menacing spirit for whom the film is titled — may be up to no good, new ghosts Adam and Barbara Maitland (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) are pretty much the sweetest ghosts you’d ever want haunting your home. But the two did enlist the services of Betelgeuse to help save their home from the new residents, who are intent on revamping their abode.
Why Kids Will Like It:
Beetlejuice may be totally bizarre, but he’s also hilarious (although he may be too creepy for some kids).
Why Parents Will Like It:
Yet again, Tim Burton and his hip stylings are hard for adults to resist. Also a young Winona Ryder (playing Lydia, the youngest resident of the home) is great to watch.
Boxtrolls
Rated PG
Based on the book, Here Be Monsters (Alan Snow), Boxtrolls tells the tale of a young orphan named Egg who is raised by a group of box-wearing, trash-collecting, friendly monsters. The monsters are being hunted by the mean-spirited Archibald Snatcher. Egg, along with a feisty girl named Winnie, set out to save them all.
Why Kids Will Like It:
The Boxtrolls are adorable, lovable and silly, so kids will instantly fall for them.
Why Parents Will Like It:
The art direction and the stunning stop-motion animation will be very much appreciated by us adults. It really is a gorgeous piece of filmmaking.
