Smile was just released, coming in at number one at the box office during its opening weekend, proving that horror is here to stay. However, some of the best horror movies of all time are when teens are the focal point.
Movies like The Ring and The Lost Boys star teens who give these films a sense of realism when it comes to what teenagers experience in their everyday life. Fans also gravitate to these films because even though the movies are scary, there is also a sense of a thrilling yet daring adventure that keeps the audience captivated, from beginning to end.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
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I Know What You Did Last Summer is an all-time classic mostly because the focal characters in the film have depth and range to their story arcs. The film follows four teens who hit a pedestrian while driving after a night of partying. They hide the body in fear that their lives will be ruined if caught. Months later, they are fighting for their lives after being threatened by an unidentified killer.
Jennifer Love Hewitt, the final girl in the movie, was only 18 years old when the film was released. Her character, Julie, had the most drastic character development when she started as a bubbly teenager, from an anti-social college student to a girl who does anything to stay alive. Viewers can’t keep their eyes off this movie because they want Julie to not only survive, to find peace in her life again.
The Fear Street Trilogy (2021)
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The trying to break a scary curse that has been in their town for decades. The trilogy focuses on different time periods but all with the same narrative: stay alive and break the curse.
Fear Street is one of the best teen slashers that came out in 2020s, mostly because of the homage it pays to the teen horror films that came before it. Sadie Sink, who was 19 years old when the film was released, does a phenomenal job portraying the rebellious teenager Ziggy, all while paying homage to the classic Friday The 13th.
Vampires Vs. The Bronx (2020)
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Vampires vs. The Bronx puts a different spin on the horror genre by mixing in comedy. The film follows a group of teens who live in the Bronx and must now fight off vampires who are trying to invade their neighborhood.
Vampires vs. The Bronx is a film specifically aimed at teenagers because of its fun plot. The movie doesn’t take itself too seriously but simultaneously sends an important message, for example, by comparing vampires to gentrification. This is also a coming-of-age story that fans can relate to: they are introduced to these teens who are trying to find themselves while doing what teenagers do best -- having fun and not taking life too seriously -- unless they’re trying to stop vampires, of course.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
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An oldie but a classic, Hocus Pocus follows Max, his high school crush, his little sister, and a talking cat as they try to stop three evil witches who were accidentally awakened. The film has a lot of thrills and fun moments, especially when the witches break into song and put a spell on everyone.
This is a fun Halloween film everyone can enjoy. Omri Katz and Vinessa Shaw gave stellar performances as everyday teens who must now fight off evil yet goofy witches. The character of Max has a realistic storyline wherein he is the new kid in town and wants nothing more but to get the girl. While Max does some annoying things in Hocus Pocus, for instance, lighting the candle, people are still drawn to him because they can relate to the character.
Us (2019)
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A Jordan Peele classic, Us follows a woman and her family as they return to her childhood home for vacation. Things quickly take a turn for the worse when four strangers who resemble each of them break into their home, and a fight for survival ensues.
While Us is not specifically geared toward teens, Shahadi Wright Joseph, who was 14 when the film premiered, did an outstanding job portraying her character as the angsty teen Zora, and she is easily one of the best characters in a Jordan Peele movie. The scene where she takes charge by letting her mother know she has the highest kill count in the family is an iconic line showing that teens can still be stubborn, even in the wake of danger.
IT (2017)
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2017s scariest supernatural slasher villains of all time. They must work together to put a stop to Pennywise’s murders in their town and will do whatever it takes to survive.
This is a film that shows an audience what teens are capable of when their backs are against the walls. They only have themselves that they can count on because the adults are unaware of what’s going on. What makes this movie one of the best is that not only does it focus on the horror genre, but it touches on mental health in teens as well, what they go through when forced to face an excessive amount of trauma, and how it affects them when they get older.
The Lost Boys (1987)
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An all-time favorite, The Lost Boys follows two brothers who move into a new town, but everything is not as it seems when they find out the area they now call home is infested with vampires.
The Lost Boys is a classic because of its coming-of-age feel-good story mixed with horror vibes. There is also a sense of adventure in the movie given what the kids go through, and viewers can’t help but long to go on this journey with them.
The Ring (2002)
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The Ring follows a newspaper reporter whose thrown into a whirlwind of madness when she discovers a tape that, when someone watches it, they die exactly seven days later. She’s now on a mission to try and learn more about the urban legend and the mysterious Samara.
Daveigh Chase, who plays Samara, is a vital character in the film. She has a troubled past and viewers learn that the pain she causes others is because of her tragic death. Fans of The Ring are frightened by Samara, yet feel sorry for her and the pain she had to endure when she was alive.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Stream On HBO Max
The fantasy horror film Beetlejuice follows the titular character, who is summoned by a deceased married couple. They want the bio-exorcist to scare away a family who has just moved into their home, but as he attempts to carry out the mission, he forms an unlikely friendship with their daughter, Lydia.
At only 17 years old during the film's release, Winona Ryder does a fantastic job portraying her character. She’s a typical goth teen with wit who’s not afraid to express her identity. From her fashion choices to her love of photography, fans find her refreshing because she’s not a glammed-up character -- she's a perfectly imperfect teen.
Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark (2019)
Stream On Netflix
Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark follows a group of teens on Halloween who come across a creepy house that belongs to Sarah Bellows. They soon find an eerie book of stories and that’s when their nightmare begins.
This is a great horror film for many reasons, one being the source material. The monsters are a pure nightmare and this, mixed with the many twists and turns the teens have to face, creates a fun watch for viewers to enjoy and get scared. These stories also reignite the imagination with the movie's unique characters and sinister plot lines.
