Only a little. ParaNorman has a few tense moments, nothing that follows you to bed.

How gory is ParaNorman?

No gore and some violence. Squeamish viewers are fine here.

What is ParaNorman rated, and is it OK for kids?

Not for every kid. The PG undersells several jump scares.

ParaNorman (2012)

Film · 1h 33m · Rated PG

Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family

A whimsical, heartwarming adventure unfolds as a boy who sees ghosts must save his town from an ancient curse.

Campy, with wholesome humor. A family watch at a measured pace. Emotionally it carries some weight.

Streaming on Hulu, Max, Peacock and The Roku Channel (free).

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ParaNorman parents guide

Several jump scares, which is more than most PG titles carry. Beyond that, mild language and a few tense moments.

Our estimate: fine from about 10. Rated PG.

Scare: Mildly scary; A few tense or eerie moments.
Jump scares: Several; More than a couple of sudden jolts.
Gore: No gore
Violence: Some violence; Some fighting or peril.
Sex and nudity: None noted
Language: Mild; Mild words like damn, hell or crap.

How we rate: an AI reads what is known about each title and tags it 0 to 3; we check the tags against a hand-rated set and correct them by hand when readers tell us. Estimates, not a scene-by-scene review. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

Three questions

Is ParaNorman scary?: Only a little. ParaNorman has a few tense moments, nothing that follows you to bed.
How gory is ParaNorman?: No gore and some violence. Squeamish viewers are fine here.
What is ParaNorman rated, and is it OK for kids?: Not for every kid. The PG undersells several jump scares.

What is ParaNorman about?

In the town of Blithe Hollow, Norman Babcock can speak to the dead, but no one other than his eccentric new friend believes his ability is real. One day, Norman's eccentric uncle tells him of a ritual he must perform to protect the town from a curse cast by a witch centuries ago.

Does it have a happy ending? (spoiler-safe)

Yes. It lands on a happy note.