3. Paranorman (2012)
The only animated movie on this list and certainly the only one considered a family film, Paranorman finds its way here because of the heart and artistry with which it spins its tale. Like their first feature Coraline, the Laika studio uses this opportunity to push the unique art of stop-motion in new, exciting directions, which includes bringing life to a spindly, creaking pack of undead Puritan forefathers who play on our knowledge of bad horror movies with a clever secret all their own. Norman himself, a quiet, misunderstood kid who can see and talk with the dead, is the films hero and a surrogate for all those monster-loving kids who grew up constantly defending their love of things others found distasteful. Although some parents may balk at the supernatural and occult elements in ParaNorman, whats admirable about the film is the way it ultimately cuts through the convenient uses of magic or ritual to dispense evil. The book of spells turns out to be no such thing, and the angry mob isnt going to win the day; the darkness eating Blithe Hollow will only be forced back by choices rooted in the hearts of the characters. Zombie fans will have as much fun as anybody else, and the motivation behind this mangy lot is well-developed and even a little tragic. The jokes are funnier and wittier than expected, the visuals surprisingly lovely and imaginative, and the story darker and deeper than is usually the case for a kid-friendly horror film.