Plenty of great horror movies would have been even more frightening, unnerving, and effective had they received the strict adult-only R-rating. While PG-13 movies have the potential to explore some gruesome and terrifying concepts, filmmakers are limited in how much gore they show or how depraved the psychological torment their characters experience can be. Although all these horror movies had their scary moments, an R rating would have allowed them to take extra steps in the realm of overwhelming terror.
- All 15 Sith Lords & Dark Jedi Luke Skywalker Has Defeated (In Canon & Legends)
- Ricky Rubio Height How Tall is Ricky Rubio?
- Who is Mo Flava’s Wife? Know Everything About Mo Flava
- Ao No Orchestra Season 1 Episode 15 Release Date and Time, Countdown, When Is It Coming Out?
- Is Joel Mason Comedian Still Alive? What Happened to Joel Mason?
While it’s understandable that film studios often wish to pursue a PG-13 rating wherever possible, as this allows for tickets to be purchased by more consumers, horror movies are often more effective with an R-rating. Whether it’s through more intense visuals or a deeper adult-oriented exploration of characters, R-rated horrors represent some of the best scary movies ever made. Although all these horror movies have value, it’s hard not to wonder if they would have benefited from a stricter age classification.
You are watching: 10 PG-13 Horror Movies That Would Have Benefited From An R-Rating
10
The Boogeyman (2023)
Directed by Rob Savage
The terrifying mythical creature known as the Boogeyman has sent chills down the spines of fearful children for centuries and acted as the basis for this spooky PG-13 horror. Based on a 1973 short story by Stephen King, The Boogeyman is the titular creature haunting a family after a disturbing man whose children were killed by the monster arrives and unwittingly allows it to latch onto a new family. With a foreboding atmosphere and an eerie concept, The Boogeyman featured plenty of frights but would have been much more effective with an R-rating.
A stricter rating would have allowed The Boogeyman to more effectively capture the dark nature of its source material and delve deeper into the psychological terror of the creature. While director Rob Savage made liberal use of jump scares and thunderous sound effects, it’s hard to shake the feeling that the build-up was more frightening than the actual reveal, and more freedom to lean into the scares would have made the movie better. The harsh reality was that The Boogeyman just played it too safe to capture the unique chills of King’s early work fully.
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
The Boogeyman
r
HorrorMysterySupernatural
The Boogeyman is a 2023 film directed by Rob Savage and starring Madison Hu, Vivien Lyra Blair, and Sophie Thatcher. The release is based heavily on Stephen King’s short story of the same name. The director intends to warp the story enough to be somewhat different from the 1973 release.
Release Date
June 2, 2023
Runtime
98 Minutes
Cast
Madison Hu
, Vivien Lyra Blair
, Sophie Thatcher
, David Dastmalchian
, Chris Messina
, Marin Ireland
Director
Rob Savage
Writers
Scott Beck
, Bryan Woods
Budget
$41.9 million
Studio(s)
20th Century
Distributor(s)
20th Century
Expand
9
Alien vs. Predator (2004)
Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson
It’s no secret that both the Alien and Predator franchises have had varying quality throughout their long history, and sadly, the crossover film Alien vs. Predator failed to live up to the best versions of entries in either series. Both the original Alien and Predator movies were rated R, and the decision to try and gain more mainstream viewership with a PG-13 rating here was a bad move. This meant Alien vs. Predator could never fully embrace the true horror of either creature, and the results were noticeably mild.
The Xenomorph and Yautja creatures have the capability of brutally killing their victims, and Alien vs. Predator never quite managed to capture the gory realities of these monsters. Without any compelling characters of note and a lack of any really gory kills, director Paul W. S. Anderson was curtailed in what he could achieve in this lackluster franchise crossover. While Anderson excelled with incredible R-rated releases like Event Horizon, he was never allowed the freedom to make Alien vs. Predator all that it could be.
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
AVP: Alien vs. Predator
PG-13
AdventureScience FictionActionHorror
AVP: Alien vs. Predator, released in 2004, follows a research team’s expedition to the Arctic, where they discover a buried pyramid. Unbeknownst to them, the site serves as a battleground where the Predators hunt Aliens, thrusting the team into a deadly interspecies conflict.
Release Date
August 12, 2004
Runtime
101 minutes
Cast
Lance Henriksen
, Sanaa Lathan
, Ian Whyte
, Raoul Bova
, Ewen Bremner
, Colin Salmon
, Tommy Flanagan
, Joseph Rye
, Agathe de La Boulaye
, Carsten Nørgaard
, Sam Troughton
, Petr Jákl
, Pavel Bezděk
, Kieran Bew
, Carsten Voigt
, Jan Filipenský
, Adrian Bouchet
, Andy Lucas
, Liz May Brice
, Glenn Conroy
, Eoin McCarthy
, Karima McAdams
, Tom Woodruff Jr.
, Joseph Balderrama
, Alec Gillis
Character(s)
Charles Bishop Weyland
, Alexa Woods
, Scar
, Sebastian de Rosa
, Graeme Miller
, Maxwell Stafford
, Mark Verheiden
, Joe Connors
, Adele Rousseau
, Rusten Quinn
, Thomas Parks
, Stone
, Bass
, Klaus
, Mikkel
, Boris
, Sven
, Juan Ramirez
, Supervisor
, Technician
, Karl
, Sacrificial Maiden
, Grid
, High Priest (uncredited)
, Technician (uncredited)
Producers
David Giler
, Gordon Carroll
, John Davis
, Mike Richardson
, Thomas M. Hammel
, Walter Hill
Writers
Dan O’Bannon
, Paul W. S. Anderson
Expand
8
Happy Death Day (2017)
Directed by Christopher Landon
Audiences already have had the definitive family-friendly depiction of someone caught up in an endless time loop through Bill Murray’s iconic role in Groundhog Day, so it only made sense that an adult-oriented horror spin on this premise would have been rated R. However, Happy Death Day maintained a PG-13 rating, which held it back from truly going to hell for leather when it came to gory scares.
Related
Happy Death Day Director Has A Threequel Plan And Freaky Crossover Ideas
Exclusive: Director Christopher Landon discusses Happy Death Day 3 and why he wants to make a Happy Death Day and Freaky crossover movie.
Posts
As a satirical genre-bending experience that exhibited aspects of comedy, rom-com, sci-fi, and outright horror, Happy Death Day had a campy energy that could have pushed things even further in an R-rated environment. While the sequel Happy Death Day 2U had the opportunity to explore these darker themes, rather than more thoroughly embracing its horror movie stylings, the follow-up had a more sci-fi-adjacent tone. However, director Christopher Landon appears happy to maintain this franchise’s PG-13 style as he’s hinted at not just a third installment but also a Freaky Friday crossover.
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
10/10
Happy Death Day
PG-13
HorrorMysteryThriller
Happy Death Day is a horror-comedy film directed by Christopher Landon. Released in 2017, it follows college student Tree Gelbman, played by Jessica Rothe, who is forced to relive the day of her murder repeatedly until she can identify her killer and stop her death. The film blends elements of slasher horror with dark humor, creating a unique entry in the genre.
Release Date
October 13, 2017
Runtime
96 minutes
Main Genre
Horror
Cast
Jessica Rothe
, Israel Broussard
, Ruby Modine
, Rachel Matthews
, Billy Slaughter
, Charles Aitken
, Jimmy Gonzales
, Jason Bayle
, Rob Mello
, Phi Vu
, Caleb Spillyards
, Laura Clifton
, Cariella Smith
, Tran Tran
, Blaine Kern III
, Dane Rhodes
, Tenea Intriago
, Missy Yager
, Rachel Black
, Donna DuPlantier
, GiGi Erneta
, Ramsey Anderson
, Brady Lewis
Character(s)
Theresa ‘Tree’ Gelbman
, Carter Davis
, Lori Spengler
, Danielle Bouseman
, Dr. Winter
, Gregory Butler
, Police Officer
, David Gelbman
, John Tombs
, Ryan Phan
, Tim Bauer
, Stephanie Butler
, Becky Shepard
, Emily
, Nick Sims
, Officer Santora
, Student Protester
, Mrs. Gelbman
, Danielle
, Nurse Danna
, News Reporter
, Keith Lumbly
, Frat Brother
Director
Christopher Landon
Writers
Christopher Landon
, Scott Lobdell
Budget
$4.8 million
Studio(s)
Universal Pictures
Distributor(s)
Universal Pictures
Expand
7
The Visit (2015)
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
Director M. Night Shyamalan is known for his dark horror movies that feature shocking, unexpected twists. While this filmmaker had several disappointing releases in a row, Shyamalan returned to form in 2015 with a back-to-basics found footage horror movie that was as unnerving as it was surprising. The Visit had engrossingly sinister undertones as two young siblings went to visit the eccentric elderly couple that they initially believed to be their grandparents.
Related
10 Most Disturbing Scenes In The Visit, Ranked
M. Night Shyamalan’s found-footage horror The Visit was full of so many creepy and disturbing moments, including jump scares and gross-out attacks.
Posts
While The Visit had some truly disturbing scenes, such as the gross-out moment when the kid Tyler came face-to-face with the soiled diapers of his so-called grandpa Pop Pop, the movie could have gone even further with an R rating. A more stern age restriction would have allowed The Visit to more thoroughly explore the deranged psychologies of its elderly villains and delivered a far more frightening, unfiltered experience. While Shyamalan still managed to write and direct an enjoyable comeback film, it’s hard to shake the feeling that The Visit could have pushed things even further.
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
7/10
The Visit
PG-13
HorrorComedy
From director M. Night Shyamalan, The Visit follows two siblings who are sent to stay with their estranged grandparents while their mother is out of town on vacation. Realizing that all isn’t what it seems during their stay, the siblings set out to find out what is really going on at their grandparents’ home. Olivia DeJonge and Ed Oxenbould star as Becca and Tyler, with Deanna Dunagan, Peter McRobbie, and Kathryn Hahn making up the rest of the main cast.
Release Date
September 11, 2015
Runtime
94 Minutes
Cast
Olivia De Jonge
, Peter McRobbie
, Kathryn Hahn
, Benjamin Kanes
, Deanna Dunagan
, Ed Oxenbould
Director
M. Night Shyamalan
Writers
M. Night Syamalan
Budget
$5 million
Studio(s)
Universal Pictures
Distributor(s)
Universal Pictures
Expand
6
1408 (2007)
Directed by Mikael Håfström
The Stephen King adaptation 1408 was a psychological horror whose success was dependent on the power of its visuals. Starring John Cusack as Mike Enslin, an author trapped in a haunted hotel room, 1408 valued slow-building psychological tension as a skeptical supernatural investigator sought to debunk the belief that the hotel room was cursed. However, Mike wished to prove the room was safe, despite the hotel manager trying to dissuade him from spending the night, as nobody had lasted more than an hour inside in 95 years, and the death count was at 56.
1408 was a PG-13 movie whose grotesque visuals and unnerving supernatural presence were hindered by its relatively mild age restriction. While Mike encounters frightening figures like his own doppelgänger and gets brought into the depths of his own psychological traumas, an R-rated edition could have been bloodier and more visceral as the inescapable nature of his supernatural situation came to a head. 1408 was a spooky movie that maintained King’s humor and satirical wit, yet it couldn’t live up to the true horror of its R-rated counterparts, such as The Shining.
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
1408
PG-13
Mystery
1408 follows a man who debunks paranormal phenomena, as he checks into the infamous room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel. His skepticism is put to the test when he encounters real horror within its walls.
Release Date
June 22, 2007
Runtime
112 Minutes
Main Genre
Horror
Cast
John Cusack
, Samuel L. Jackson
, Mary McCormack
, Jasmine Jessica Anthony
, Tony Shalhoub
, Alexandra Silber
, Noah Lee Margetts
, William Armstrong
, Paul Birchard
, Margot Leicester
, Angel Oquendo
, Walter Lewis
, Eric Meyers
, Holly Hayes
, Johann Urb
, Andrew-Lee Potts
, Kim Thomson
, Drew Powell
, Isiah Whitlock Jr.
, Benny Urquidez
, Len Cariou
, Ray Nicholas
, Paul Kasey
, George Cottle
, William Willoughby
, Thomas A. McMahon
, Kevin Dobson
, Peter Conboy
, Georgie Lee-Robinson
, Bernadette Lords
, Rob McGillivray
, Kate Walsh
Character(s)
Mike Enslin
, Gerald Olin
, Lilly Enslin
, Katie
, Sam Farrell
, Young Woman at Bookstore
, Bellboy
, Clay
, Mr. Innkeeper
, Mrs. Innkeeper
, Taxi Cab Driver
, Bookstore Cashier
, Man #1 at Bookstore
, Lady at Bookstore
, Surfer Dude
, Mailbox Guy
, Desk Clerk
, Assistant Hotel Manager
, Hotel Engineer
, Claw Hammer Maniac
, Mike’s Father
, Factory Owner
, Kevin O’Malley
, Mailbox Worker
, Cop #1
, Priest
, Man Outside Hotel Fire
, Bookstore Assistant
, Hotel Guest
, Mike Enslin’s Ex-wife
Director
Mikael Håfström
Writers
Matt Greenberg
, Larry Karaszewski
, Scott Alexander
Budget
$25 million
Studio(s)
Paramount Pictures
Distributor(s)
Paramount Pictures
, The Weinstein Company
, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
, Dimension Films
Expand
5
Insidious (2010)
Directed by James Wan
Insidious was already an impressively eerie film with a PG-13 rating, although a stricter classification could have turned it into an all-time great scary movie. As the first in a major franchise, Insidious was directed by James Wan and starred Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne as a couple whose comatose child becomes a vessel for demonic entities from another realm. As a haunted house story that managed to do something genuinely original with its well-worn premise, Insidious truly lived up to its title.
With an R rating, Insidious could have heightened the dread and dark implications of its supernatural story. While the psychological toll that this unusual haunting takes on the Lambert family felt deeply unnerving, how the sinister entities possess the young boy Dalton was restricted by its mild age classification. Insidious has truly dark implications when it comes to family, parenthood, and the destruction of a child’s psychological welfare, and its PG-13 rating meant the true horror of its narrative was never fully embraced.
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
8.3/10
Insidious
PG-13
MysteryThrillerHorror
When Josh (Patrick Wilson) and Renai (Rose Byrne) move into a new home, their son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) explores the attic and discovers a malevolent entity. After Dalton slips into an unexplained coma, Josh and Renai enlist the help of spiritual medium Elise (Lin Shaye) to enter the spirit world and recover Dalton’s consciousness, which they believe is being held by an unknown hostile force.
Release Date
April 1, 2011
Runtime
103 minutes
Franchise(s)
Insidious
Cast
Barbara Hershey
, Lin Shaye
, Rose Byrne
, Ty Simpkins
, Patrick Wilson
Director
James Wan
Writers
Leigh Whannell
Sequel(s)
Insidious: Chapter 2
, Insidious: Chapter 3
, Insidious: The Last Key
, Insidious: The Red Door
Budget
$1.5 million
Studio(s)
Universal Pictures
Distributor(s)
Sony
, Universal Pictures
Expand
4
Drag Me To Hell (2009)
Directed by Sam Raimi
The icon of horror movies Sam Raimi got his start with truly groundbreaking R-rated releases like the original Evil Dead movies, and it’s hard to shake the feeling that his return to the genre with Drag Me to Hell wouldn’t have benefited from a stricter age classification. This supernatural story, which focused on a loan officer refusing to extend an elderly woman’s mortgage, had clever social and political implications that resonate far more with adult viewers than a 13-year-old horror fan.
Considering the adult themes of this delightfully camp movie, Drag Me to Hell could have upped its psychological tension with more exaggerated visuals and an unwieldy chaotic energy. Drag Me to Hell blended comedy and horror in a way that suited a PG-13 release, although its more unnerving sense of hopelessness and dread makes it feel like there’s an even better R-rated version hiding below the surface.
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
8.5/10
Drag Me To Hell
PG-13
HorrorThriller
Drag Me To Hell is a supernatural horror movie directed by Sam Raimi where loan officer Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) is cursed by the elderly Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver) after refusing to extend the lady’s mortgage. Christine must find a way to escape Lamia, the demon who tries to literally drag her to the depths of Hell.
Release Date
March 15, 2009
Runtime
99 minutes
Cast
Alison Lohman
, Justin Long
, Lorna Raver
, Dileep Rao
, David Paymer
, Adriana Barraza
Director
Sam Raimi
Writers
Sam Raimi
, Ivan Raimi
Budget
$30 million
Studio(s)
Universal Pictures
Distributor(s)
Universal Pictures
, Lionsgate
Expand
3
The Ring (2002)
Directed by Gore Verbinski
One PG-13 horror movie that definitely would have benefited from an R-rating was The Ring, whose mild age classification meant it paled in comparison to the Japanese movie it was based on. As a lesser remake, The Ring maintained its eerie atmosphere yet couldn’t quite explore the same levels of psychological trauma as Hideo Nakata’s 1998 film Ring. From director Gore Verbinski, The Ring highlighted how American remakes of Japanese horror movies always dilute the fear and gore at the heart of the story.
The Ring was released by DreamWorks Pictures, and it’s no surprise such a major studio opted to embrace a wider audience pool rather than try and make the film as scary as possible. While this led to a less intense movie, it also meant The Ring was a major hit at the box office and took in $249 million against its $48 million budget (via Box Office Mojo.) Although this milder age classification may have disappointed hardcore horror fans, it also acted as the inception point for a successful franchise.
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
The Ring
PG-13
MysteryHorror
An American remake of the original Japanese supernatural horror film, Ring, The Ring follows a journalist who discovers she has seven days to live after watching a cursed videotape. Attending the funeral of a girl who dies under mysterious circumstances, the victim’s mother asks Seattle journalist Rachel to investigate the death. After learning about the urban legend behind the video tape the girl watched, Rachel views the tape in the hopes of finding a lead – only to find herself succumbing to the same curse.
Release Date
October 18, 2002
Runtime
115 minutes
Franchise(s)
The Ring
Cast
Martin Henderson
, Naomi Watts
, Amber Tamblyn
, David Dorfman
, Brian Cox
Director
Gore Verbinski
Writers
Ehren Kruger
Sequel(s)
Rings
, The Ring Two
Budget
$48 million
Studio(s)
DreamWorks Distribution
Distributor(s)
DreamWorks Distribution
Expand
2
M3GAN (2022)
Directed by Gerard Johnstone
From Annabelle to Child’s Play, there have been plenty of iconic R-rated killer doll movies. However, the campy satire M3GAN was not one of them, as this tongue-in-cheek exploration of grief and technology had a PG-13 rating. While M3GAN’s unique sense of humor and engaging exploration of artificial intelligence made it a surprise hit, it’s hard to shake the feeling that an R-rated version would have been more unnerving, threatening, and emotionally destructive.
M3GAN tells the story of a self-aware AI doll who becomes worryingly close to her orphaned eight-year-old human companion, Cady, who was grieving the loss of her parents, who died in a car accident. While the sinister actions the doll was willing to enact to protect Cady were frightening, an R-rated movie could have shown this psychological manipulation in far more stern and shocking ways. M3GAN was scary, but a stricter age restriction could have pushed things into truly heinous territory.
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
13
6.4/10
M3GAN
PG-13
Horror Sci-FiThriller
M3GAN tells the story of a lifelike robotic doll who arrives in a little girl’s life to help her cope with the death of her parents. As the young Cady befriends the robot, its designer, Cady’s aunt Gemma, realizes her self-aware invention is too dangerous to be kept alive. Blumhouse’s 2022 horror phenomenon mixes Chucky’s creepy inclination for violence with the Terminator’s unstoppable nature to craft a terrifying look at the dangers of Artificial Intelligence.
Release Date
January 6, 2023
Runtime
82 Minutes
Cast
Amie Donald
, Kimberley Crossman
, Allison Williams
, Ronny Chieng
, Violet McGraw
, Brian Jordan Alvarez
Director
Gerald Johnstone
Writers
Akela Cooper
, James Wan
Budget
12 million
Studio(s)
Universal Pictures
Distributor(s)
Universal Pictures
Expand
1
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
While an R-rated version of The Sixth Sense likely wouldn’t have become the astounding worldwide success that it was for director M. Night Shyamalan, this unnerving ghost story still would have benefited from a stricter rating. As the story of a child psychologist whose child patients can see dead people, the notorious twist that Bruce Willis’s character was dead all along left viewers’ jaws on the floor back in 1999. With an eerie atmosphere that brought to mind Hollywood’s greatest ghost stories, The Sixth Sense has rightfully become a modern classic.
However, the PG-13 rating of The Sixth Sense meant that the impact of Cole Sear’s (Haley Joel Osment) interactions with spirits was limited. An R-rated version could have given more insight into the graphic nature of the poltergeist’s demises and provided Shyamalan with more freedom to spook viewers. Despite the benefits of an R-rating, the PG-13 classification also meant a much broader audience had access to this horror movie, and this astounding success allowed Shyamalan to break through in Hollywood and carve out an impressive career that continues to this day.
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
31
9.1/10
The Sixth Sense
PG-13
ThrillerDramaHorrorMystery
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense is a psychological thriller about a young boy who can see and communicate with ghosts. Bruce Willis as Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist who tries to help Cole, played by Haley Joel Osment, while grappling with his own personal demons. The movie features a twist ending that has become iconic in pop culture.
Release Date
August 6, 1999
Runtime
107 minutes
Cast
Bruce Willis
, Toni Collette
, Haley Joel Osment
, Olivia Williams
, Donnie Wahlberg
Director
M. Night Shyamalan
Writers
M. Night Shyamalan
Budget
$40 Million
Studio(s)
Disney
Distributor(s)
Disney
, Dimension Films
Expand
Source: Box Office Mojo
Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment