With Halloween just a couple short months away, it’s a great time to make some popcorn and watch some thrilling movies. Unfortunately, those at the age of 13 and above often have to sit out in these types of events, primarily because so many of them are rated R. So, to ensure that everyone enjoys the experience, we’ll provide you with this list of the top 15 best PG-13 scary movies.
Whether you are looking for a comedic horror story or a scary narrative with a sense of thrill, these installments will undoubtedly leave you in suspense. Here are all the PG-13 films that are just as good as the rated R movies.
Disturbia
Top 15 Best PG-13 Scary Movies
Disturbia has one of the best opening scenes in a scary movie that will immediately hook you within the first 10 minutes. The film tells the story of Kale Brecht (Shia LaBeouf) when he gets put on house arrest after punching his teacher, leading him to spy on his neighbors in hopes of curing his boredom.
While Kale continues to develop his own hilarious reality shows of families, he is curious about one specific neighbor who possibly fits the description of a known serial killer. As a viewer, you’ll go through the journey of his home investigation to find out the truth about the mysterious man next door.
Insidious
Top 15 Best PG-13 Scary Movies
From the great minds of James Wan and Leigh Whannell comes the horrifying tale of Insidious. The movie begins when a young boy, Dalton Lambert (Ty Simpkins), slips into a sudden coma after an incident in the attic of his house. His parents, Josh (Patrick Wilson) and Renai (Rose Byrne), search for medical treatment to wake up their son but soon realize that paranormal forces may be causing his deep sleep.
This film’s horror elements showcase why PG-13 movies can be just as scary, simply because of its frightening musical score and gripping narrative. If you want to see more of Insidious, you can watch the second installment of the franchise to see what happens next for the Lambert family, which is a fantastic story that connects to the first movie.
A Quiet Place
Top 15 Best PG-13 Scary Movies
Even though John Krasinski has mainly done comedies and a few romance movies, he surprised many fans when he showed off his directing chops with A Quiet Place. This story features the Abbott family in a post-apocalyptic world where they must stay silent to avoid deadly creatures attracted to noise.
People in scary movies often make the wrong decisions, but this film demonstrates the human race’s strive for survival. For example, the family communicates through American Sign Language, an effective method for this world that they had previously learned for their deaf daughter, Regan Abbott (Millicent Simmonds). They also have a pathway system where they place sand on the ground to avoid being caught by the monster.
What makes A Quiet Place different from the others is that there isn’t much sound throughout the movie, creating this eerie feeling that makes you afraid of the silence.
I Am Legend
Top 15 Best PG-13 Scary Movies
Will Smith’s performance in I Am Legend is one of his best works in the horror genre. In this movie, we see his character, Robert Neville, searching for a cure after an illness wipes out most of the world. In addition, the sickness causes people to display zombie-like symptoms with a tendency to want to kill anything in their way.
Accompanying Robert is his trusty dog, Samantha, that helps him in his lone adventures across New York and keeps him company. But, when it turns to night, the two of them have to defend themselves against the creatures of the dark.