32 Traumatic Movies We All Watched When We Were Kids
Young children are just as drawn to television and film as their older siblings and parents. The problem is that their young impressionable minds tend to hang onto the movie long after the final credits roll.
Realistically, a lot of the films on this list were not created for children’s viewing pleasure. All it takes is one mischievous kid to catch a flick when they’re not supposed to and unexpectedly, the film quietly gets a grip on their psyche for years. Check out our list to see if the films that traumatized you most as a child made the cut.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – 1937
Many kids remember Snow White as a classic Disney love story about friendship and romantic heroism. The energetic musical numbers and bumbling dwarfs hi-ho-ing their way to work make the film perfect for children.
However, the depiction of the evil witch in the story was enough to scare some kids away for good. Her raspy voice, bulging eyes, and protruding nose are a few of the creepier characteristics she has, but her sinister intentions are much worse.
“The Wizard of Oz” – 1939
The Wizard of Oz” is one of the most significant contributions to film history. When Dorothy steps out of the black-and-white world she knew into the technicolor dream world of Oz, it’s more than clear that we’re not in Kansas anymore.
Despite all of Oz’s beauty, there were evil creatures lurking nearby and child viewers took notice.
“The Wizard of Oz” – Continued
The first chill for kids likely came when the Wicked Witch of the East’s legs rolled up under the house that smushed her.
Then we get to meet her horrifying sister the Wicked Witch of the West. Even worse still, the legion of screeching, flying monkeys that did her wicked bidding. Oh yeah, and a woman melts.
“Bambi” – 1942
The story of Bambi was tailor-made for children, but also inadvertently shocked some of them into early childhood emotional turmoil that took years to overcome.
I don’t think it can be considered a spoiler alert 50 years after the fact but *spoiler alert* when Bambi’s mom is taken out by a hunter and Bambi is left orphaned in the woods, a lot of children seriously internalized the loss.
“Alice in Wonderland” – 1951
The strange dream world that Alice tumbles down into was colorful, fantastical, and a bit disorienting.
Many kids were equally entranced and spooked by the odd characters that included the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat.
“Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” – 1971
Gene Wilder was brilliant and all the right kinds of creepy in his role as the reclusive, mysterious chocolatier behind Wonka’s Factory.
Still, for some kids, Willy Wonka was a bit too strange with his band of stone-faced Oompa Loompas and his recurring disappearing child act.
“The Exorcist” – 1973
If you are one of the children who accidentally saw this early, we’re still praying for you.
One of the most haunting possession stories in film history, “The Exorcist“ was scary enough to freak out even adult horror lovers. Hats off to Linda Blair, who was only 13 years old when she starred in the creep-fest.
“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” – 1974
Another movie that was certainly designed to terrify viewers, and never be shown to children, ended up traumatizing at least one generation of late-night child-viewers—myself included.
He wore a mask made out of someone else’s face and that’s somehow not even the worst part.
“It’s Alive” – 1974
I included this one solely at my father’s request. When he was the ripe old age of 7, he went to a movie theater in 1974 to watch “It’s Alive,” the story of a demon baby who violently destroys every human in its path.
He recalled a baby crying on the bus ride home “and everyone went eerily silent.” Poor guy spent the next few years completely unhinged by babies, and this is why we have movie ratings nowadays.
“Jaws” – 1975
Like Richard’s tweet says, the film instilled an unparalleled fear that sharks were out for blood and could traverse any terrain to infiltrate a body of water near you.
Obviously, that’s not true, but the demonization of the prehistoric sea beasts was enough to keep thousands of children sweating in the safety of the sand every summer.
Jaws – Continued
“Jaws” traumatized more than one generation of children who watched it long before they should have.
The film itself was cutting-edge in terms of special effects and props, so that didn’t help the youthful minds that encountered it.
“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” – 1968
“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” catered more to a children’s audience with the fantastical plot and family themes, but there were a few parts that were specifically designed to scare children, and they worked.
Mostly, children feared The Baroness’ evil servant the Child Catcher (pictured above).
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Continued
The Child Catcher was responsible for kidnapping any children and keeping them in his colorful caged wagon.
Far too many children grew up terrified of the creepy Catcher and his ability to snatch little kiddies away from their families.
“Halloween” – 1978
Even the children who escaped ever seeing Michael Myers in their youth could still recognize the eerie music that follows him around, that’s his power.
Faceless but not nameless, Michael Myers still strikes fear into the hearts of children who come across his film around Halloweentime. Over 40 years later, my 6-year-old cousin still refuses to go in certain stores around Halloween.
“Alien” – 1979
The original “Alien“ film was such a massive blockbuster that it inspired an entire series of films and a movie franchise that’s still raking in the dollars decades later.
For the unfortunate children who managed to set eyes on this film before they were old enough, the hyper-realistic props, makeup, and set design were about as terrifying as it gets. Four of the greatest directors of all time teamed up to create a never-ending supply of nightmare fuel.
“The Fox and the Hound” – 1981
“The Fox and The Hound” has been called the saddest Disney film ever made.
It’s no wonder that the movie had a huge emotional impact on some children, traumatizing them into believing that heartbreak inevitably lies on the other side of true friendship.
“The NeverEnding Story” – 1981
The NeverEnding story shook most children who watched it, especially the scene when Bastian’s beloved companion and horse drowns in the swamp.
That was a loss no child was ready to feel.
“E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” – 1982
The story of the boy who helps the stranded alien find his way home was an emotional rollercoaster and a masterclass in children’s suspense.
The mystery surrounding the strange thing living in Elliot’s shed stuck with many children, making kids everywhere extra wary of cracked shed doors in the night.
“Gremlins” – 1984
The comedy-horror film “Gremlins” may have deceived some children into thinking it was going to be a funny story about adorable, furry little creatures that are mischievous and docile.
They quickly learned that feeding the creatures after midnight spelled disaster.
Gremlins – Continued
What viewers actually encountered in Gremlins was an army of homicidal (and terrifying-looking) creatures determined to destroy an entire town.
Furby’s profits definitely took a hit after this movie dropped and kids had the creeps over the tiny violent furballs.
“The Goonies” – 1985
There are a few strange subplots in “The Goonies” that managed to freak some children out. A young group of boys battle a notorious crime family, face deadly booby traps, and save their friend from a kidnapping.
Most kids were horrified by the disfigured “bad guy” named Sloth (pictured), sometimes even after finding out that he’s got a great heart.
“Labyrinth” – 1986
David Bowies’ performance in “Labyrinth” was chilling for more than one reason. The musical fantasy land where Jareth the Goblin King lives is distorted and odd.
The strange creatures that are also lurking in his labyrinth only add to the mystery.
Labyrinth – Continued
Jareth the Goblin King is the ultimate intriguing villain who steals a young child and forces the boy’s sister into a deadly, psychological labyrinth.
His meddling ill-intentioned character and his tricks were enough to traumatize at least a few children.
“Little Shop of Horrors” – 1986
The musical/horror film about the alien plant that grew so large it could swallow humans whole instilled fear into some young kids who managed to watch the movie.
The words “Feed me, Seymour!!!” still echo in many people’s heads when they see a plant that looks a little suspect—you know the kind (or maybe you’re normal).
“Stand By Me” – 1986
The story of the group of boys who set out in search of the body of a missing child was based on Stephen King’s 1982 frightful novella “The Body.”
The idea behind the eerie story is creepy enough, but the fact that the film starred a cast of awesome kids drew young people to the screen.
Stand By Me – Continued
The young boys in Stand By Me faced more than one death-defying situation, a nasty leech infestation, and the traumatic discovery of a murdered boy’s body.
The group’s popular coming-of-age story haunted more children than just the ones in the movie.
“The Little Mermaid” – 1989
For some kids, the Disney villains were just a little too crooked and creepy. Ursula of “The Little Mermaid” counts as one of those characters.
She gets some great screen time in all her evil glory, laughing, manipulating, and stealing the voice of the young mermaid.
“Little Monsters” – 1989
The film “Little Monsters” was in fact targeted for a children’s audience. Still, for some kids, it only reinforced an already uneasy feeling that monsters were under the bed.
Howie Mandel’s character was a jokester and trickster but some children simply couldn’t get past his monster makeup.
“Arachnophobia” – 1990
It’s possible that we are instinctively scared of spiders, and it takes a lot of confidence to learn that most of them are docile insect predators.
The comedy-horror movie “Arachnophobia” cemented the spider fear for a lot of children and gave them the idea that spiders could grow into vehicle-sized super killers out for human blood.
“The Witches” – 1990
“The Witches” is based on Roald Dahl’s classic children’s story of the same name, but the director who adapted the film decided to take a different approach.
The wretched-looking witches were too scary for some kids to get past.
“My Girl” – 1991
The young love story between Vada and Thomas J. was a coming-of-age story that was both beautiful and tragic in the end.
The emotional toll that this film took on some people was so great that they still struggle to watch it 30 years later.
“Dennis the Menace” – 1993
“Dennis the Menace” seemed like a funny story about a trouble-making boy who was tormenting his neighbor.
It quickly spirals into a strange abduction case with an absolute creep behind Dennis’ disappearance. I can personally attest to being totally fear-stricken by the man pictured above. It still gives me the heebie-jeebies when someone slices off pieces of their apple to eat.
“Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey” – 1993
The story of Chance, Shadow, and Sassy traveling cross country to find their family is as heartbreaking as it is brave.
More than once it appears the heroic pets are not going to make it and I fully remember sobbing like a grown baby as I watched them try their hardest to make it home. Good boys and girl.
“Jumanji” – 1995
Jumanji“ continues to churn out remakes and blockbusters 26 years later, and for good reason.
The story about the game that comes to life in the most extreme and deadly ways is supposed to be “family-friendly.”
Jumanji – Continued
Unfortunately, Jumanji left some children lying awake at night thinking about giant mosquitos, crazed game hunters, and listening for tribal drum beats in the still of the night.
Even now, it would feel risky to play a mysterious game that you found abandoned in an attic…
“Scream” – 1996
Accurately titled “Scream,” this horror-comedy loved a loud moment, but also a jump scare. The kids who managed to get their eyes on this film were haunted by the iconic Scream face.
It could be lingering in the dark of the basement, or chasing you up the stairs after you turn your lights out. You know, normal kid things.
“Twister” – 1996
Weather-related films made children uncomfortable for a couple of reasons, namely that they realized there were natural disasters that could sweep them off to Oz and destroy their lives.
The film “Twister” petrified my younger brother, causing him to be afraid of thunderstorms for years.
“Matilda” – 1996
In case Matilda’s child-hating parents were not enough, she went to a school with a child-hating principal.
The Trunchbull’s main goal in life was to torment her students, running her elementary school like a military academy for brats. Plus, aside from her angry (and violent) personality, she legitimately had a nail and spike-filled closet where she punished children. The chokey ain’t no jokey, okay?
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” – 2001
The “Harry Potter” series progressively got scarier as the graphics got more advanced and the characters got older.
Still, the first film which premiered in 2001 held the tightest grip on impressionable children.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – Continued
Fluffy, the three-headed dog wasn’t quite the cute and cuddly puppy children dream about.
And if that wasn’t enough, He Who Shall Not Be Named was revealed to be a parasitic face living on the back of Professor Quirrell’s head. For these reasons, Voldemort haunted more children than just Harry.
