Top 10 Scariest Monsters In Kids Movies

“The Black Cauldron” (1985)
I scream, you scream, we all scream in absolute horror because of the Horned King. This eighties Disney animation strayed from the studio’s usual cheery formula, giving us something darker and more medieval. The protagonists face off against the skeletal King, as he threatens to birth an undead army from the titular Black Cauldron. His eerie voice, intimidating demeanor, and sorcerer-like abilities are enough to scare even the most fearless kid. A medieval takeover plot is already advanced for a children’s movie. But the antagonist having no lips, red eyes, and horns in place of a crown really takes the intensity to another level.

“Monster House” (2006)
This Halloween hit gets real when the cranky Horace Nebbercracker seemingly angers himself to death. D.J. was already suspicious of the goings on at Nebbercracker’s house, but it soon becomes clear that the abode presents a paranormal threat. Indeed, it starts swallowing anyone who disturbs it, from Bones to a harmless dog, much like a frog would ingest a fly. Needless to say, D.J. and his friends Chowder and Jenny are terrified. The possessed dwelling is so hungry for vengeance that even the cops aren’t safe! We thought staged haunted houses were creepy, but they’re nothing compared to the one in this 2006 movie.

“The Brave Little Toaster” (1987)
“Toy Story” taught us to hoard our playthings for sentimental reasons. “The Brave Little Toaster,” however, scared us into believing that our appliances would meet extremely painful ends when left behind. The film’s most jarring monster is undoubtedly the trash compactor that gleefully recycles living junk into less living tiny cubes. Watching Rob and the appliances come dangerously close to their undoing as the conveyor belt moves them toward the lethal machine is downright scarring. Instead of worrying about saving our toys for playtime, we became very concerned with actually saving any seemingly inanimate object from such a horrible fate.

“James and the Giant Peach” (1996)
James has an idyllic life, with perfect, caring parents and a trip planned for New York. But all that changes when a cloudy rhinoceros eats his mom and dad. Now an orphan, he’s relegated to the care of his two terrible aunts. The rhino is frightening for how spontaneously it appears, and for basically being the reason James is raised by bugs in a peach. The young boy sees the creature again in the Big Apple, and he’s still just as startling. While the rhino’s actions set James on an adventurous path, the means didn’t justify the ends for many children. Honestly, the monster just made us want our parents more.

“The NeverEnding Story” (1984)
The oversized wolf with an overcrowding of fangs is determined to kill Atreyu, the one person who can ensure the world of Fantasia lives on. And their meeting is nothing short of spine-chilling. The animal’s growling, combined with its furious expressions as it seemingly moves the earth, would lead many children to end the movie at this point. And hey, we definitely wouldn’t blame them. The brave kids still watching would see Gmork’s eyes and nostrils flare with rage, before attacking with a surprising swiftness. Atreyu recovers from the attack quicker than his audience, as evidenced by the fact that we’re still reeling from the encounter.

“Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children” (2016)
The thought of leaving home would send most children into a panic. Add in a time loop and Hollowgasts, aka Hollows, and you’ve got every child in tears. A Hollowgast from Miss Peregrine’s has no eyes, long limbs puncturing through a tattered suit, and tentacles shooting from its mouth. Oh, and did we mention the being’s affinity for Peculiar eyes? Though only fully visible to a few, Hollows have a penchant for terrifying everyone everywhere, regardless of peculiarity. Think a certain spooky, slender fellow, except 100 times scarier. Their existence is even more horrifying when you consider that an experiment gone wrong is to blame for their creation.

“Spirited Away” (2001)
Chihiro’s parents transform into gluttonous, literal pigs after an unplanned detour to an deserted amusement park somehow goes awry. But that isn’t even the most monstrous part of the story. She begins working at a bathhouse, where she meets No-Face, who, ironically, has two mouths. And one is far more terrifying than the other. The first is on the mask and moves slightly. But the second is hidden, shockingly revealing itself through its chest to consume Chihiro’s inconsiderate coworkers, embodying their worst attributes in the process. He eats, and eats, as she tries to escape the unsettling universe where it’s unclear if No-Face is friend, or a very hungry foe.

“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” (2002)
Ron Weasley wasn’t the only child scared to death when introduced to Hagrid’s gargantuan pet spider Aragog. Harry and Ron are investigating on behalf of the lovable giant, and despite the creature’s menacing build, it seems like they’re all seeing eye to eight-eyes. Aragog is intimidatingly large and those eyes are soul-piercing, but he’s helpful – at first. However, the interaction shifts from fright to flight when he sics his flesh eating spider babies on the two. While smaller than their parent, the spider soldiers are still the size of people. Aragog’s arachnid army proceeds to tear at Harry and Ron’s getaway car, and into nightmares across the world.

“Coraline” (2009)
What do you get when your mother has a sinister button-eyed Stepford Housewife-esque doppelgänger? Other Mother, of course. When Coraline finds herself in another dimension, she’s intrigued. After all, things aren’t easy at home with her parents. And Other Mother is kind enough at first, offering delectable treats and making her so-called daughter feel loved. But there’s something far more disturbing going on beneath the surface. She’s really the Beldam, a creepy, skeletal, spider-like monster for Coraline to defeat. Every son and daughter who had ever wished for a new mom suddenly feared losing her after seeing the sinister alternative through button eyes.

“The Witches” (1990)
Anne Hathaway beautifully brought the Grand High Witch to life in the 2020 “Witches” remake beautifully. But part of the horror and charm of the 1990 classic is how dreadfully Anjelica Huston played the role. The original frightfest notably featured her grossly peeling the skin from her face, with the room joining her in a grotesque display. Wigs are thrown to reveal scarred skulls. Protrusions and noses swell as a terrified boy, and audience, watches on. Somehow, the transformations only grow more monstrous from there. While sorcery is a centuries-long horror staple, the witches in this film brought a level of fright we never expected.