20 People Talk About The Scariest Movies That Aren’t Considered Horror Movies

Updated 2 years ago, March 4 2022

Sometimes the creepiest moments in movies aren’t coming from films labeled as “horror.” From the spooky boat ride scene in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory to the psychological implications of The Truman Show, these movies hit us right where our fear resides. See if your spookiest non-horror movie faves are among those of these reddit users.

Hotel Rwanda (2004)

“I watched it at school and the part where the roads are covered in dead bodies still haunts my dreams every now and then. Harrowing what human kind is capable of doing…” – u/DrKitten-Paws

The Witches (1990)

“The Witches (Roald Dahl). Still scares the crap out of me. Pretty sure it is supposed to be fantasy but it should definitely be horror!” – u/butterbeeraddict

Watership Down (1978)

“Watership Down. Seriously man. Fields of blood. One scary ass cat. One nightmarish dog that goes on a bloodbath killing spree. Blood everywhere in the battles. Haunting and just completely fucked up depictions of rabbits being gassed by farmers. Death. Haunting voices/cries of the captain in the tunnel. Rabbit ghosts.

Messed up scenes like Bigwig getting caught in the snare and blood just pouring out of his mouth. The assassin squad of rabbits sent by the Chief that just gang up on their target and rip it apart with their claws under that bridge in the rain.

Fuck that movie. AND IT’S FOR KIDS!

What makes it worse, is that you never see it coming. It’s a cartoon from like the 70s, and it’s about rabbits. What could possibly go wrong? Oh, right, suddenly your kid is scarred for life, and screaming while watching rabbits get ripped apart.” – u/Dynasty2201

The Machinist (2004)

“The Machinist. Not knowing what’s real and how the mind can mess with you is terrifying. And Christian Bale is pretty creepy.” – u/phero1190

The Dark Crystal (1982)

“The Dark Crystal scared the shit out of me, being maybe 4 or 5 when I watched it. I remember watching it at a family friend’s house with their much older children who were looking after me and my sister. I don’t know if it’s actually as frightening as I remember it to be, but shit, never again.” – u/Patchoolible

Pinocchio (1940)

“The idea of unwilling transformation/loss of self is nightmare fuel to me to this day because of [the donkey] scene. Even thinking about that scene right now is scaring me.

Dear fucking god, those kids are crying for their mothers, and they’re going to be worked to death, unable to escape. If that’s not absolutely traumatizing, I don’t know what is. I realize it’s supposed to be a didactic scene, but holy shit.” – u/nova_cat

American History X (1998)

“The look on Edward Norton’s face when he stands in the street as the police pull up right after [the curb-stomping] scene…that’s the scene and movie that convinced me he is one of the (if not the) greatest actors today.” – u/cowgirlinthesand

Return To Oz (1985)

“Don’t forget Mombi’s heads. And that the theme of the movie is that Dorothy is disturbed so they are going to give her electroshock therapy. All around fucked up.” – u/Katzeye

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

“Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Judge Doom, enough said.” – u/Icoulduseanap

Dear Zachary: A Letter To A Son About His Father (2008)

“Dear Zachary. Within the first thirty minutes you are just sitting there, realizing how fucked up some people can truly be. The murder of a man’s best friend who is now documenting said best friend’s life so that his yet-to-be-born son will know all about his father and what a good guy he was.

Mid-way through the documentary, everything falls apart even more. By the end of it, you are sitting there in horror and disbelief as to how a justice system could fail that terribly.

No movie has reduced me into tears and fear so fucking quickly.” – u/ForwardTwo

Children of Men (2006)

“I think it’s when you realize what they all realize…that this is it, there’s nothing following my death except the death of everyone else…that’s when the movie gets scary. Life becomes precious, but at the same time it becomes meaningless. Floating around aimlessly, every life lost is just one more line extinguished. It’s tragic because it’s so real. Complete collapse of civilization, culture, everything the human race has accumulated will certainly be extinguished.” – u/brorack_brobama

Trainspotting (1996)

“Trainspotting; years have passed and I still can’t shake off the image of the baby climbing on the ceiling.” – u/Anitini

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

“I used to be so scared of ET as a kid. I’m just glad I’m not the only one! If you type in “is anyone else scared of” into Google, one of the suggestions is “ET“. This Halloween, I went as Elliot from the bike scene to finally show my friends and family that I was over my fear. (Jokes on them, I still don’t buy Reeses pieces.)” – u/iUPvotemywifedaily

The Truman Show (1998)

“I watched The Truman Show for the first time the other day and I don’t know why it doesn’t classify as psychological horror. Especially given that there is a known psychological condition called the Truman Show Delusion.” – u/MVB1837

Coraline (2009)

“I remember someone (possibly Gaiman) pointing out that children see it as a girl going on an adventure, while parents see it as a girl in terrible danger. Few things are as scary as having your child stolen away from you.” – u/elegylegacy

The NeverEnding Story (1984)

“The NeverEnding Story. Its just such a surreal movie to me even to this day. Between the gmork, horses dying in quick sand, creepy dog/dragons, topless oracles who kill you, and the whole concept of “The Nothing!” This movie just creeped me the hell out as a kid. Needless to say I’ve always loved this movie and still do!” – u/castrating_zionist

Labyrinth (1986)

“Labyrinth. Scared the ever-loving crap out of me. Bowie in tights sneaking in my window to steal me. Falling into that pit of hands. Get out of my house David Bowie!” – u/DPick02

Requiem For A Dream (2000)

“Holy fuck that movie…Somewhere someone wrote ‘This is my favorite movie, but my least favorite to watch.’

The suspense from the theme melody was already killing me at the beginning when it first came up. Jared Leto does an outstanding performance. I grew up quite sheltered and never came into contact with drugs. I really got no idea about using, but that movie displayed the horror.

I was alone when I saw it and I was devastated. I couldn’t listen to any music, I just sat there, mind empty and eyes teared up. God damnit, 10/10, would never see again.” – u/Ian_Itor

Jurassic Park (1993)

“I’ve always maintained that Jurassic Park is a horror movie, essentially.

The set-up and scenario is truly terrifying –but because it has dinosaurs, there are kids in it, and Spielberg was the director, it was marketed as a ‘family film’. Scared the shit out of me as a child in the cinema.” – u/Shodan74