Halloween is one of the best times of the year, and a lot of that has to do with the abundance of spooky movies . While there are plenty of scary movies for adults, there are just as many for kids , too.
Here are just some of the great kids Halloween movies out there. Whether you’re a parent, or you just like a movie with milder scares, there’s a little something for everyone.
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‘The Haunted Mansion’ (2003)
Based on one of the coolest Disneyland rides out there, this Eddie Murphey movie takes that idea and turns it into a whole story. It’s a lot of fun, and not too scary (but it’s still a little scary).
‘Monster House’ (2006)
Imagine living across the street from a house that’s both haunted and alive. That’s Monster House for you, and it’s a lot of fun. The titular house is a terror to the neighborhood, and a group of kids have to figure out how to stop it.
‘Beetlejuice’ (1988)
Beetlejuice is, like, essential Halloween viewing. It’s got ghosts. It’s got Michael Keaton in the starring role. It’s got that iconic Tim Burton aesthetic. There’s seriously very little not to love about this classic film.
‘Halloweentown’ (1998)
A group of kids learn that they’re witches and warlocks after traveling to the titular Halloweentown with their grandmother (played by Debbie Reynolds). One of my personal favorites, and has three sequels that will keep you going back to that world.
‘Hotel Transylvania’ (2012)
Hotel Transylvania is run by Dracula and his family, and features a slew of monsters (and an accidental human). Considering it’s another movie that spawned a number of sequels (including one that came out this year) and a TV show, you could say it’s pretty iconic.
‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’ (1966)
It might not be a feature length film (more like a TV special), but it’s still one of the most memorable pieces of Halloween media out there. Decades later, “I got a rock” is still a hilarious line.
‘ParaNorman’ (2012)
Norman can communicate with the dead, and has to use this skill to help save his town from an ancient curse. Also, it’s another stop-motion movie. And let me just say, those ones tend to have the best scares.
‘Corpse Bride’ (2005)
It’s a gothic romance, but made family friendly (and directed by Tim Burton). It’s also a musical. And (once again) animated in stop-motion. This movie has a lot of things going for it, and they’re all good.
‘Goosebumps’ (2015)
Every kid had that one Goosebumps book that freaked them out (for me it was that dummy). And this movie takes the premise of the books (along with their author, R.L. Stein), and makes a new story out of them. Also, the dummy is there.
‘Casper’ (1995)
Based on the comic strip character, this movie takes the idea of a haunted house, and makes it for kids. It also has Christina Ricci, so it’s a lot like another very well-known ’90s classic.
‘Zombies’ (2018)
Zombies was a real Disney Channel hit. So much so, that it has two sequels (with one that premiered just a few months ago). This movie musical centers around a town where half the population was turned into zombies (but with the help of technology, are under control). The other half of the town doesn’t like them that much.
‘Under Wraps’ (2021)
This 2021 film is actually a remake of a 1997 film of the same name, but the premise is pretty much the same. Some kids accidentally awaken a mummy, but end up becoming friends with him. There’s a sequel planned for this year, too.
‘The House With a Clock in Its Walls’ (2018)
With Jack Black and Cate Blanchett, this film centers around a boy who lives with his uncle, and inadvertently uncovers the secret world of witches and warlocks in his town.
‘Wallace & Gromit: The Cure of the Were-Rabbit’ (2005)
More stop-motion, more spooky scare, and a lot more fun. You really can’t go wrong with Wallace & Gromit, and this Halloween film is as funny as it is spooky.
‘Hocus Pocus’ (1993)
This Halloween cult classic was underappreciated when it first came out, but nowadays it’s getting its due. With a sequel set for this year, now’s a good time to revisit this film (or watch it for the first time).
‘Muppets Haunted Mansion’ (2021)
Another Halloween special rather than a full movie, but still good. I mean, it has the Muppets, and they can literally do no wrong. Once again, the Disneyland ride serves as inspiration, this time for a colorful cast of Muppets characters.
‘The Addams Family’ (1991)
This ’90s classic is tame enough for kids, even if just barely. But the film and its sequel are still a lot of fun for kids and adults of all ages. Like Casper , it’s based off a pretty iconic comic series (also, Christina Ricci is there).
‘The Addams Family’ (2019)
There have been (and continue to be) a lot of Addams Family adaptations out there. This one is animated, which definitely makes it a lot more appealing to kids (but still something that everyone can enjoy).
‘Coraline’ (2009)
Based on the Neil Gaiman novella of the same name, this movie is… pretty creepy. But still a lot of fun for kids of all ages (and adults too, of course). And it’s stop-motion, which makes it even more awesome.
‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ (1993)
A list of family-friendly Halloween movies wouldn’t be complete without this one. The best part? It does double duty as a Halloween and Christmas movie. You could basically watch this one at any holiday.
