The Horror genre is a classic favorite of many with movies full of scenes that get the heart racing and send chills down the spine. Most films in the genre are a gore-fest, with the living dying in all kinds of scary ways and the dead doing all sorts of terrifying things. But, not all of them follow the cliché formula of horror films.
Since the 1980s, some film producers have mixed horror with other genres, thus catering to audiences who might be interested in some chills and thrills without losing the ability to get a peaceful night of sleep after the credits roll. This lighter horror stays true to the genre by providing the creeps while mixing things up with dark humor, comedy, and sometimes psychological thriller elements.
10 Gremlins (1984) - Available on HBO Max
When Billy's Christmas gift goes through some unexpected changes, all hell breaks loose. What started out as a fluffy pet turns into several terrible monsters all because 3 golden rules weren't followed. Chaos ensues as the creatures-turned-monsters unleash all kinds of mischief on the town with deadly consequences for some.
Gremlins is a creature feature that's not too spooky and has some comedic elements that help to lighten the mood. Some of the violent scenes make it a little less family-friendly, especially for younger children, but it remains a classic favorite of many even now, with a surprisingly great sequel too.
9 Ghostbusters (1984) - Available on DirecTV, Freeform, and AMC+
When there's something strange in the neighborhood, that's definitely a job for the Ghostbusters. In this film, combining comedy and horror, a group of friends set up a paranormal removal company in New York City to capture ghosts, with spooky and hilarious results.
Ghostbusters is a beloved classic for many and one of the first films to delve into a unique form of the horror genre that balances the chills and thrills with humor. The 2018 Ghostbusters reboot, starring Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig, is also a good one to try, taking this classic, beloved story into a modern setting while keeping the spooky and comedic elements the original film is loved and known for.
8 Beetlejuice (1988) - Available for purchase on Prime Video
When a married couple suddenly dies in a car accident and gets stuck in their house as ghosts, they're left with no option but to haunt the new family that moves in. Unfortunately, instead of frightening the guests, their actions come off as comical instead, making Beetlejuice a little more hilarious than scary.
The Tim Burton production is another classic favorite that's ideal for almost any age group. It's mostly a fantasy comedy film, so it's perfect for viewers looking for something that won't keep them up at night.
7 The Addams Family (1991) - Available on Starz
Supernatural horror meets dark humor in The Addams Family--a story of a family that's both creepy and intriguing. The story kicks off with the supposed return of a long-lost relative and a plot to swindle the family out of their fortune.
The story is based on characters from a 1964 TV series and while it has some spooky elements, it's mostly lighthearted with plenty of dark humor. If the movie feels too dark, the 2019 animated version of The Addams Family is a good alternative.
6 The Frighteners (1996) - Available on Starz
Following a car accident that killed his wife, a man discovers he can talk to the dead. He uses his newfound ability to communicate with the dead to make a living until he discovers something sinister and dangerous.
For many, The Frighteners is a familiar movie that never gets old or too boring to rewatch. The moderate violence and gore make it easier to swallow down than most horror films. Although it has comedy elements, it has some intense scare scenes befitting the horror genre.
5 The Others (2001) - Available on Max Go and DirecTV
Nothing is as it seems in The Others, a psychological horror film with some good scares and a shocking twist. The story follows a mother living with her two children in a home they believe is haunted and all the creepiness that ensues as they try to get rid of the paranormal entities in their home.
Unlike some horror movies that rely on over-the-top special effects to be creepy, The Others puts a chilling twist on the all-too-familiar sensation of feeling like there's something lurking in the shadows.
4 Coraline (2009) - Available for purchase on Prime Video
The stop-motion animation format might lighten the horrific elements of Coraline but it's still a pretty spooky watch. After moving to a new home with her family, Coraline discovers a parallel universe that seems better than the real world. But, as she soon discovers, nothing is as it seems and some things are just too good to be true.
Coraline is an easy story to follow with just the right amount of creepiness to classify it as a horror movie without pushing it too far up the scary scale.
3 ParaNorman (2012) - Available on Netflix
Due to his ability to talk to the dead, a young boy named Norman finds himself isolated from his family and endlessly teased by his peers. All that changes when a dead witch summons the cursed dead responsible for her death and it's up to Norman to save the town.
As a stop-motion animated film, ParaNorman doesn't feel too much like a horror film even though it does have some creepy elements. For the most part, it's an entertaining comedy-horror that won't leave viewers with terrifying nightmares.
2 Victor Frankenstein (2015) - Available for purchase on Prime Video
Based on adaptations of the 1818 novel, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein presents the literary classic of creating life from death from a new perspective. The story is told through Igor's eyes, the young assistant to Victor Frankenstein who bears witness to the latter's resurrection of the dead.
The reimagining of the age-old tale features the same monster from the original with a couple of jump-scares and mostly tame horror elements balanced with witty dialogue.
1 A Quiet Place (2018) - Available on Fubo TV
In a post-apocalyptic world where monsters hunt their prey by sound, a family struggles to stay alive by staying silent. A Quiet Place is a movie filled with more suspense and tension than scares, but still checks all the boxes of a horror film.
The lack of dialogue in most of the film does make the jump-scares that much more thrilling and intense, keeping viewers at the edges of their seats throughout.
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