You may have loved them as a child, but we bet you didn’t know about the dark shadows behind them. For this list, we’re analyzing popular and beloved children’s books that feature a twisted, discriminatory, or just plain heartbreaking backstory or inspiration, whether in the books’ origins or in the lives of the authors.

These are the SPOOKIEST stories from the classic Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books. Whether you're at a sleepover or sitting around a campfire, telling scary stories in the dark just makes them that extra bit creepier. We've all heard a few as kids, or told them, so now we are ranking the best from this spooky book series in anticipation of the release of the film version! Join WatchMojo as we rank our picks for the Top 10 creepiest scary stories to tell in the dark.

More cherished childhood memories right out the window! For this list, we’ll be looking at even popular kids toys/products, as the companies that produced them, that have a dark chapter in their history. Our countdown includes poisonous toys, Super Soakers and of course, Tickle-Me Elmo. Did your favorite Creepy Toy Story make the list? Let us know in the comments!

There was no shortage of terrifying monsters in the 2019 film adaptation of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, so join WatchMojo as we rank them the hellish creatures that terrorize the young residents of Mill Valley, Pennsylvania. From Harold the Scarecrow to the Toe Monster, childhood nostalgia has never been quite so terrifying.

Talk about nostalgia killers. For this list, we’ll be looking at popular kids toys and the companies that produced them that have a dark chapter in their history. WatchMojo counts down the 10 Dark Stories Behind Children's Toys That Will Ruin Your Childhood.

Prepare to be shocked as we unveil the dark truths behind some of music's biggest names. From tragic childhoods to hidden secrets, these revelations will change how you see these iconic singers. Join us as we explore the untold stories that shaped their lives and careers.

Prepare for a morphinomenal revelation as we unveil the dark side of the Power Rangers franchise. From on-set controversies to tragic real-life events, this list exposes the disturbing truths behind the colorful heroes. Discover the shocking stories that will make you see your childhood favorites in a whole new light.

It's time to unravel the mysteries of this animated adventure flick. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be examining the conclusion of Netflix’s animated fantasy film, “Orion and the Dark.”

These dark animated movies defined/scarred our childhoods. For this list, we’ll be looking at the saddest, scariest and most serious moments from feature length cartoon stories that made an impression on us growing up.

Sometimes fond memories harbor dark secrets... For this list, we’ll be looking at some of the most disturbing fan theories about your beloved childhood TV shows and films. You'll probably think vastly differently about them by the end.

So much for holiday cheer. For this list, we’ll be looking at the surprisingly dark origins behind some of the most cherished, beloved, and widely-practiced holidays.

The horror and children’s genres rarely go together, but somehow this totally works! For this list, we’re looking at Scary Stories that didn’t make it into the 2019 film, but which we’d love to see similarly adapted.

Ever since the internet became an unavoidable fact of life, concerns about what it might be used for have been everywhere. And there’s one place where all of these fears can be realized: the dark web. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at what the dark web is.

The CineFiles Extended Cut is a weekly show where the CineFiles crew digs deeper into the biggest movie news of the week... and then some! This week, we're talking about J. J. Abrams' "Overlord" (08:50), Timothee Chalamet in Denis Villeneuve's "Dune" (13:20) Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight" returning to IMAX theatres (18:52), Jason Blum and James Wan producing horror film M3GAN (26:25), Facebook and AMC teaming up to sell tickets (30:22), Zombieland 2 release date announcement (34:12), and this week's new releases (37:04)!

You might want to dust off your old scary stories book for this one. For this list, we’re looking at those actors who, in their earlier years, had a guest spot or main role on the popular Nickelodeon horror anthology series. Our list includes Hayden Christensen, Jay Baruchel, Ryan Gosling, Elisha Cuthbert, Tia & Tamera Mowry and more! Join MsMojo as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Actors You Forgot Were on Are You Afraid of the Dark.