Movie Monsters

As long as there have been movies, there have been movie monsters. Some are scary (the Mummy, the shark in Jaws), some are silly (Harry in Harry and the Hendersons), and some are even cuddly (Sully in Monsters, Inc.). Whether your kids love a good scare or need something a little gentler, you're sure to find something monstrous on this list.

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MOVIE

Super Monsters: Dia de los Monsters

age 3+

Super Monsters celebrate Día de los Muertos in cute special.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2020)

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MOVIE

Super Monsters: The New Class

age 3+

Monsters face first-day-of-preschool fears in sweet special.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2020)

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MOVIE

Super Monsters: Vida's First Halloween

age 4+

Sweet cross-cultural holiday special celebrates inclusivity.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2019)

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MOVIE

Monsters, Inc.

age 5+

Cute, kid-friendly monster movie; may scare sensitive kids.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2001)

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MOVIE

Monsters University

age 5+

Monsters Inc. prequel is a fun college comedy for all ages.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2013)

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MOVIE

Beauty and the Beast

age 6+

Disney fave has great music, strong messages, some scares.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1991)

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MOVIE

Harry and the Hendersons

age 7+

A big, Harry family adventure full of laughs.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1987)

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MOVIE

Hotel Transylvania

age 7+

Father-daughter comedy works as intro to monster movies.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2012)

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MOVIE

Monsters vs. Aliens

age 7+

Homage to '50s alien flicks too intense for youngest kids.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2009)

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MOVIE

Rumble

age 7+

Charming WWE-produced wrestling comedy is a champ.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2021)

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MOVIE

A Monster in Paris

age 8+

French monster movie encourages looking past the surface.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2013)

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MOVIE

The Sea Beast

age 8+

Swashbuckling adventure has kid role model, monster attacks.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2022)

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MOVIE

Zombies 2

age 8+

Sweet sequel promotes inclusion, challenges stereotypes.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2020)

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MOVIE

The Bride of Frankenstein

age 9+

A riveting, funny, and suspenseful horror classic.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1935)

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MOVIE

The Mummy (1932)

age 9+

This vintage classic is more funny than scary.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1932)

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MOVIE

Where the Wild Things Are

age 9+

Sometimes-dark adaptation focuses on friendship, loneliness.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2009)

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MOVIE

The Dark Crystal

age 10+

A fantastic but more intense Muppet adventure.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1982)

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MOVIE

Frankenstein

age 10+

Classic monster movie still electrifies.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1931)

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MOVIE

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

age 10+

Playful paranormal reboot offers funny frights for families.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2021)

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MOVIE

King Kong (1933)

age 10+

Violent but beloved old-school monster movie.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1933)

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