Tim Burton is back with another odd and alluring piece of family fun. In Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Burton introduces us to an eclectic array of curious individuals including Miss Alma LeFay Peregrine, the headmistress who can transform into a falcon. If your family enjoys the eerie and the odd, here are 10 more classic creepy-yet-cool family flicks. Wondering if they’re okay for your kids? Check out the trailers below.
Most Unique Family
Addams Family
Rated: PG-13
The Addams family isn’t a typical family. There’s the goth Morticia, the dastardly charming Gomez, the sullen Wednesday, the pain-loving Pugsley, Cousin It and Uncle Fester, not to mention their butler Lurch and the (literal) helping hand (in the form of Thing). In the 1991 film, the wacky bunch is whimsically portrayed by an all-star cast including: Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci and the late Raúl Juliá. The family’s bizarre mansion really does define at-home creepiness. Rent or purchase at FandangoNow.
Most Critically Acclaimed Creepiness
Spirited Away
Rated: PG
The BBC, thanks to a critics poll, recently declared Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away as the fourth best film made this century. Not only that, but the movie won numerous awards after its release including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. This gorgeously animated film tells the tale of 10-year-old Chihiro who ends up in a bizarre and creepy spirit world as she strives to save her parents (who have been transformed into pigs). It’s strange, subtle and stunning.
Most Modern Black-and-White Feature
Frankenweenie
Rated: PG
This stylish animated feature by Tim Burton was based on a short of the same name that he made decades earlier. In this black-and-white stop-motion masterpiece, a boy named Victor Frankenstein is heartbroken when his dog is killed. Using his mad-science skills, he manages to bring his beloved Sparky back to life and things quickly spiral out of control. Rent or buy at FandangoNow.
Most Bizarre Tale of a Parallel World
Coraline
Rated: PG
Coraline, based on lover-of-creepy Neil Gaiman's 2002 novel, tells the tale of a young girl (the film’s namesake) who discovers a secret door in her new home. When she enters, she finds an alternate reality that, at first, seems ideal, with a loving and doting mother. But things aren’t what they seem. She must then do everything she can to escape and return to her real family. Rent or buy at FandangoNow.
Creepiest House (That’s Also Alive)
Monster House
Rated: PG
There are houses that seem a little bit off, and then there are houses that are 100% creepy. Monster House is one such house. A trio of boys must stop a demented home, a home that is not merely haunted but actually a monster itself, which is problematic since no one in town believes the house is evil. Rent or buy at FandangoNow.
Most Dearly Departed Drama
Corpse Bride
Rated: PG
Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride is yet another piece of supercool creepiness by the master of the genre. In the animated musical fantasy film, a nervous groom named Victor is thrust into the underworld where he meets Emily, a bride that has been murdered. While temporarily living in the realm of the dead, Victor must rally the troops to save his above-ground bride-to-be before she marries a very sketchy and evil man. Rent or buy at FandangoNow.
Most Sing-a-long Worthy
Nightmare Before Christmas
Rated: PG
Yes, another Tim Burton film. But a list of creepy cool movies would not be complete with his 1993 animated tale of the misadventures of Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king. A bored Jack leaves his Halloweentown and attempts to take over Christmas, with questionable results. With catchy songs and an engaging narrative, this film has become a seasonal staple. Rent or buy at FandangoNow.
Creepiest Hotel
Hotel Transylvania
Rated: PG
While the movie isn’t necessarily creepy itself, the guests at Hotel Transylvania certainly are; the Wolfman, the Invisible Man, the Mummy and others vacay at a gothic resort run by Dracula. This cheery flick, with creepy undertones, is one of the lighter films on the list, with the premise on paper seeming far more spooky than on the screen. Rent or buy at FandangoNow.
Most Paranormal Picture
ParaNorman
Rated: PG
Young Norman is not any old ordinary kid, he is misunderstood by his classmates and community. As it turns out, Norman can talk to ghosts. Yup, that. This gift comes in extremely handy when his town is threatened by a mysterious curse. Rent or buy at FandangoNow.
Most Adorable Monster Movie
Monsters, Inc.
Rated: G
There was a time when monsters were synonymous with creepy. But Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. doesn’t play that way. The monsters, such as Sulley and Mike Wazowski, are thoroughly lovable, even though their initial job is to scare the pants of preschoolers. This film is a perfect example of the creepy-cool phenomenon that appeals to film goers of any and all age. Rent or buy at FandangoNow.
