Way before R rated horror movies started self-censoring to achieve a PG-13 rating and attain a wider audience, the PG-13 rating didn't exist. Still, there were horror movies made with (blog post) the intention of pushing the PG rating as far as it could go.. and to that end, we have Gremlins. A (blog post) Spielberg production directed by Joe Dante, Gremlins is about cute and fuzzy little balls of death, pain and terror. Wholesome family entertainment!
Source: Gremlins Movie Review - Decker Shado