8 Modern PG-13 Horror Movies That Deliver the Thrills and Chills

As the newest title on our modern PG-13 horror movies list, The Boogeyman is based on a 1973 short story by Stephen King. Directed by Rob Savage (Host), the film revolves around two sisters (Sophie Thatcher and Vivien Lyra Blair) who, while grieving the loss of their mother, encounter an evil entity that feeds on their fear and darkness.

When we talked with Savage about PG-13 horror and the use of jump scares, he stated:

I’m a big fan of PG-13 horror. I don’t think it neuters the horror. I think it’s really the space that I have the most fun in, which is the buildup of suspense and twisting the screws on the audience. And part of that is delivering great jump scares. Part of that is building up tension.

I think a really well-earned, smart jump scare is a wonderful thing to behold in a cinema, especially a cinema full of teenage girls who are shrieking. But then, the fun of a great jump scare is engaging with an audience who knows the horror tropes, who knows that you’re on a mission to scare them. And they’re looking and searching the screen for where the scare is going to come from. And being able to blindside the audience and play the scare in a rhythm they’re not familiar with.

James Wan always talks about the jump. A typical jump scare is one, two, three, and then the jump scare is on three. He talks about making the audience wait until eight or nine for the jump scare. And I think that’s so important, knowing the rhythm of a scare and then playing the offbeat. It’s a lot of fun.

Directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) and produced by Jason Blum and James Wan, M3GAN took cinema by storm when it was released in theaters in January 2023. The film combines murderous AI and the killer doll subgenres as a roboticist pairs her latest invention — the Model 3 Generative Android — with her grieving niece. In addition to some much-needed companionship, M3GAN takes her duties to protect the young girl to the extreme.

The film can be looked at as a gateway film to the likes of Chucky and Annabelle. The film is even reminiscent at times of the cult classic Child’s Play 2. Thanks to the viral marketing campaign, which showed M3GAN invading New York City and social media with dancing cosplayers, the film was a box-office success. Blumhouse has confirmed that a sequel is in the works.

While Ghostbusters (1984) is an all-time classic that served as a gateway horror film for many of us, the 2021 sequel Ghostbusters: Afterlife will almost certainly do the same for a new generation. Set 32 years after the events of the first film, Afterlife follows Egon Spengler’s adult daughter and grandchildren as they pick up the pieces on his farm after his strange death.

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The film continues the franchise lore and gives Gozer an awesome makeover. The sequel also reunites the original Ghostbusters, including a special appearance by the late Harold Ramis, while passing on the proton packs to the next in line. It is a film truly made for older fans and newer alike.

This Groundhog Day-inspired slasher comedy follows Tree (Jessica Rothe), a college student doomed to die on her birthday until she solves her murder. Every day brings fresh suspects and new ways to die, while everyone around Tree is entirely unaware of the situation. It’s all fun and games until Tree learns the deaths are damaging her body. She must identify the baby face-masked killer to break the cycle.

If you enjoy this film (and it’s hard not to), check out the 2019 sequel Happy Death Day 2U, which once again finds Tree in a deadly time loop. The film proves that PG-13 slashers can be effective and have a ton of fun. Do we need more non-R-rated slashers? Perhaps so!

‘Tis the season to be… naughty. Directed by Michael Dougherty (Trick ‘r Treat), the mythical Krampus comes to life on-screen as he and his minions punish a family for losing the Christmas spirit. Despite the fact that young Max (Emjay Anthony) believes in Santa and Christmas magic, his chaotic family gathering angers him to the point where he tears up his annual letter to the big guy in red. Krampus responds by paying them a visit. The film features a fantastic cast, including Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, and Allison Tolman.

Michael Dougherty has given us a classic Halloween-themed horror movie with Trick ‘r Treat and now conquered Christmas. Holiday-themed horror films are always a treat, and Krampus is worth watching at any time of the year.

M. Night Shyamalan’s The Visit follows two teenage siblings who visit their estranged grandparents while their mom is on a cruise. The grandparents display some strange behavior initially dismissed as a symptom of aging but quickly becomes more intense and frightening. The teenagers come to the realization that their situation is much more sinister than they initially thought.

The film makes a statement about aging and how it is perceived but also has a great time with the young cast. Speaking of, Olivia DeJonge and Ed Oxenbould also starred in the 2016 Christmas horror movie Better Watch Out, so check it out if you’re in the mood for something a bit edgier.

Before Andy Muschietti brought Pennywise to the big screen in It, the director terrified us with Mama. Three years after the tragic circumstances that left two little girls orphaned and alone in a remote cabin, they are discovered and taken to live with their uncle and his girlfriend. However, the entity watching over the girls refuses to give them up.

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Javier Botet, who is no stranger to playing creatures, plays Mama masterfully. He has appeared in horror films such as the REC series, Crimson Peak, The Conjuring 2, IT, IT Chapter Two, Insidious: The Last Key, and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. In addition to being one of the most atmospheric modern PG-13 horror movies, Mama also has one of the saddest endings.

This summer’s release of Insidious: The Red Door makes it the ideal opportunity to catch up on the series. The first movie, directed by James Wan (Saw, The Conjuring) and written by Leigh Whannell (The Invisible Man, Saw), centers on a family whose son falls into a coma, luring demonic creatures to take possession of his body the longer he’s unconscious.

The film’s seance scene is one of the best and most unforgettable, and there are plenty of scares to keep you on the edge of your seat. Plus, Tiny Tim’s “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” will forever give you chills.