Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
If dark, evil, supernatural forces settle upon your town, responsible for the sudden disappearance of household pets, senior citizens, and parents (who are possibly replaced with cold, alien look-alikes), there’s only one group of people you can call on: TEENS! Sure, when they’re not off dry-humping in their cars or texting and driving, they can actually come in handy in the event of a supernatural invasion. No teens on hand? Don’t worry about it, because you can always count on PRE-TEENS! Seriously, these are the kinds of kids who will always save the day. Just look at the enterprising youths found in these ten films, all of whom manage to ward off evil of various kinds through their can-do spirit and rag-tag enthusiasm.
'E.T. The Extra Terrestrial' (1982)
One of the most quintessential films about enterprising kids teaming up for a supernatural cause actually pits our heroes against other humans — this time being the dirty government agents who want to capture our friendly alien for some truly sinister scientific experiments. [Where to stream E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial]
'The Goonies' (1985)
While there may not be any supernatural villains afoot in their dilapidated town in the Pacific Northwest, which is about to be razed by ruthless developers in order to make a new country club, the local kids known as the Goonies do have some fearful foes in the Fratellis, a family of outlaws who’s stop at nothing to beat the kids to lost pirate treasure. [Where to stream The Goonies]
'Monster Squad' (1987)
When the classic Universal Monsters — Dracula, the Wolf Man, the Creature From the Black Lagoon, the Mummy, and the Frankenstein’s Monster — descend upon their small town, only one group of locals can stop them: the Monster Squad. This pack of misfits band together to fight back against the evil forces that have occupied their homes. (Spoiler alert: Wolf Man’s got nards.) [Where to stream Monster Squad]
'The Lost Boys' (1987)
What do you do when your brothers falls for the hottest girl in town and she happens to be a kind-hearted vampire with some pretty unsavory, undead comrades? Well, you assemble your best friends, a handful of garlic, and some vampire-killing weaponry and hope for the best — or at the very least that your single mom isn’t dating a vampire king herself. [Where to stream The Lost Boys]
'It' (1990)
In this made-for-TV adaptation of Stephen King’s masterpiece, the children of Derry, Maine, form an alliance to battle the anonymous evil presence that’s lurking in their town — which presents itself as the form of the menacing clown, Pennywise (played by the deviously brilliant Tim Curry). [Where to stream It]
'The Faculty' (1998)
One of many films to find inspiration in Jack Finney’s 1955 novel The Body Snatchers, The Faculty sets the paranoid sci-fi thriller in the confines of a suburban high school, where a group of students from across the social spectrum begin to fear that their teachers are being replaced by alien imposters. [Where to stream The Faculty]
'Donnie Darko' (2001)
Richard Kelly’s supernatural thriller is in part an ode to the other films on this list (as well as a spooky rumination on the conflicts of adolescence), and it follows Jake Gyllenhaal’s titular hero unraveling a mystery that involves time travel, alternate dimensions, and one giant bully who can predict the future. [Where to stream Donnie Darko]
'Monster House' (2006)
Haunted houses are a dime a dozen, but what if you find out that the scary house on your block isn’t just a house at all — it is, in fact, a living, breathing monster with an appetite for babysitters and hapless trick-or-treaters! [Where to stream Monster House]
'Super 8' (2011)
Inspired in part by Steven Spielberg’s E.T. (and by writer-director J. J. Abrams’ love for the art of filmmaking), Super 8 follows a group of young film enthusiasts who, while making their own zombie movie, witness a shocking train derailment. Soon thereafter, mysterious events begin taking place in their tiny town, and they must piece together the clues to unlock the sinister puzzle. [Where to stream Super 8]
'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2' (2011)
Sure, pretty much every Harry Potter movie was about an unexpected group of kids joining forces to defeat a mysterious evil presence, but the franchise’s finale is the culmination of nearly a decade’s worth of scrappy adolescence magic going up against the dark arts as practiced by Lord Voldemort. [Where to stream Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2]
