14 Scary Movies That Are (Surprisingly) Not R-Rated

Some horror fans believe that the only films worth watching are those that are rated R. But sometimes horror movies manage to get away with a surprising amount of gore and terror despite being rated a measly PG or PG-13. Here are 14 movies that are more adults-only than you'd expect.

'Jaws' (1975)

"Jaws" is rated PG, which nowadays seems wholly inappropriate given all the gory death scenes, including Quint's bloody demise and the shark's explosive fatality. It caused an entire generation of moviegoers to fear the ocean, and it's a major reason why the MPAA went to work on a PG-13 rating that wouldn't be formalized until the '80s. 

'Poltergeist' (1982)

"Poltergeist" probably deserves an R rating for that horrifying face-peeling scene alone, much less all its other kid-unfriendly scares. And, in fact, the MPAA originally did give the film an R rating, though Steven Spielberg and Tobe Hooper were able to charm their way into a much more family-friendly PG rating. 

'The Gate' (1987)

"The Gate" is a supposedly family-friendly horror movie cut from the same cloth as "The Goonies" and "The Monster Squad." But some of the scenes in this film are so grisly and disgusting, that we really don't know what audience the producers were trying to target.

'Tremors' (1990)

"Tremors" is the epitome of "good, dumb fun." Maybe that's why it managed to squeak by with a PG-13 rating, despite some pretty grisly scenes of monster-on-human carnage.

'Fire in the Sky' (1993)

"Fire in the Sky" claims to be based on a real-life case of alien abduction. Whether you choose to believe that or not, there's definitely an unsettling quality to the film's graphic and realistic depiction of said abduction. We're surprised that sequence alone didn't net the film an R rating.

'The Sixth Sense' (1999)

An R rating no doubt would have cut into the box office draw for this massively popular supernatiral drama. But it's hard to argue that "The Sixth Sense" didn't deserve an R, what with all the terrifying jump scares and that infamous closet scene threatening to scar younger viewers for life.

'The Ring' (2002)

We have to assume that the original "Ringu" would have received an R rating if it had been released theatrically in the US. Its English-language remake managed to squeak by with a PG-13, despite some pretty dark themes and a grisly depiction of a drowned ghost claiming vengeance on anyone stupid enough to watch her videotape. 

'The Grudge' (2004)

Like "The Ring," this English-language remake of an iconic Japanese horror film managed to sneak into theaters with a PG-13 rating. It might not be as violent as some horror movies, but "The Grudge" certainly has creep factor to spare.

'1408' (2007)

One of the better and more underrated Stephen King adaptations out there, "1408" is basically the story of a demonic hotel room trying its best to murder John Cusack. And given the depths the room goes to carry out its mission, we're surprised "1408" didn't get slapped with an R rating.

'Drag Me to Hell' (2009)

"Drag Me to Hell" is vintage Sam Raimi, with all the campy horror and excessive gore that comes with it. There was a time where this movie would have been for audiences 17 and older, but the absence of strong R-rated language and nudity helped the film score a more audience-friendly rating. 

'The Last Exorcism' (2010)

How did this contemporary exorcism film squeak by with a PG-13? If anything, the found footage format only makes this one seem all the more authentic and unsettling.

'Insidious' (2011)

We're still surprised that neither "Insidious" nor its two sequels are rated R. Granted, these horror movies are more about creating dread and psychological tension, but we have to imagine a whole host of younger viewers were permanently scarred by this unsettling franchise.

'The Woman in Black' (2012)

"The Woman in Black" delivered pure, vintage Hammer Films horror, with enough scares and unsettling imagery that it probably should have been slapped with an R rating. It certainly served as a reminder that "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe had grown up and moved on. 

'World War Z' (2013)

You don't make a blockbuster summer movie starring Brad Pitt and then slap it with an R rating. Especially not with a production as troubled and over-budget as "World War Z." Still, with all the epic zombie carnage on display in this film, maybe PG-13 was underselling things a bit.