5 best PG-13 Halloween movies to watch on Netflix

5 good PG-13 Halloween movies on Netflix

Netflix has a good selection of horror movies for a wide range of age-groups. From R-rated thrillers such as The Devil All The Time to classics like Jaws, there’s something for everyone in the horror section.

Watching something spooky is crucial to getting into the spirit of the season, and with Halloween quickly approaching, many viewers are looking for the best horror movies to watch. Sometimes, the most spine-tingling, memorable movies are only rated PG-13; from teen screams to psychological thrillers, a PG-13 rating does not negate the quality of a horror movie.

‘Tis the season for spooky films to dominate our watchlists, so here are a few of the best PG-13 Halloween movies that Netflix has to offer.

1. The Vampire’s Assistant

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, better known simply as The Vampire’s Assistant, is a 2009 fantasy film. It’s not the most popular among Netflix’s vast selection of lesser-known horror movies, but this left-of-center feature definitely has some aspects that set it apart from other films of its time.

The Vampire’s Assistant was based on author Darren Shan’s Vampire Blood trilogy. Since the film wound up being a commercial failure (it grossed $39 million on a budget of $40 million at the box office), ideas for potential sequels were scrapped. But The Vampire’s Assistant is still a decent, entertaining standalone film. It also had a strong cast that included John C. Reilly, Salma Hayak, and Josh Hutcherson, among others.

2. Tremors

Tremors was a popular film at the time of its release in 1990 for a multitude of reasons, including the fact that it starred Kevin Bacon and Reba McEntire in leading roles. This horror-comedy was just the beginning of a popular film franchise; the film would quickly be followed up with six sequels (the most recent being Tremors: Shrieker Island, which was released direct-to-video in 2020) and a short-lived television series.

Though the quality and charm of this concept predictably wore off when it came to the follow-up films, the original Tremors is one-of-a-kind, quirky, and undeniably enjoyable.

3. 47 Meters Down

47 Meters Down was released theatrically in 2017 and impressively grossed $62 million on a budget of $5.3 million. The film was a commercial success, as it seems that everyone is in the mood for a scary shark movie sometimes. In fact, this film’s success was so significant that it warranted the release of a sequel; 47 Meters Down: Uncaged hit theaters in 2019 to similar success.

Halloween is the perfect time to give this campy thriller a rewatch or to check it out for the first time if you haven’t seen it already.

4. Insidious: The Last Key

The first installment in the Insidious film series was the titular Insidious, and it had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2010. With the success of this supernatural horror movie, some kind of follow up with inevitable. In 2013, Insidious Chapter 2 (a direct sequel to the first film) was released.

The last two installments to this film series were Insidious: Chapter 3 and Insidious: The Last Key, and both were prequels to the original film. Insidious: The Last Key was the final film in this series and is known for the fact that it’s rated PG-13 (while the other films in the series are rated 14A) and has a very different target audience and tone.

5. Happy Death Day

Happy Death Day is one of the most enjoyable slashers to watch on Netflix. This horror-comedy was released in 2017 to commercial success. Happy Death Day doesn’t take itself too seriously; it’s pure fun and gore, and it even has some heart and a good moral.

This is a must-watch Halloween film for any horror fan. It probably won’t give you nightmares, but it will definitely get you into the spirit of spooky season.