Are you the kind of person who enjoys a scary movie, but doesn’t like being scared?
It sounds counterintuitive, but it’s a totally reasonable position to take. After all, some of the best scary movies are the atmospheric, well-written ones, not the ones that rely on cheap jump scares to grab your attention.
If you’re the kind of person who wants to cinematically enjoy the spooky season without those pesky jump scares, read on.
*The Witches* (1990)
You can’t go wrong with any film based on a Roald Dahl work. The Witches combines Dahl’s plot with Jim Henson’s puppetry. Add in a pitch-perfect performance from Anjelica Huston and you’ve got a great movie for adults and kids alike.
Sure, there’s a modern remake, but we like the classic.
*Ghostbusters* (1984)
Everyone’s seen it already, but Ghostbusters is one of those classics that’s always worth a re-watch. An all-star comedic cast elevated this movie into a full-on franchise that spawned numerous sequels. It’s also appropriate for more mature kids.
*Coraline* (2009)
Here’s one that brings a healthy amount of spookiness to the table while still being kid-friendly. An adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s kids’ book, Coraline involves a creepy bizarro world and a sense of dread that just keeps building.
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*The Nightmare Before Christmas* (1993)
Tim Burton was already well established by the time The Nightmare Before Christmas was released, but still, this movie may be his quintessential work (even though he didn’t direct it). It’s a perfect encapsulation of Burton’s brand of weird, creepy, cute filmmaking.
*The Addams Family* (1991)
A creepy comedy based on a creepy TV show from decades ago doesn’t sound like a recipe for success, but The Addams Family was a smash hit when it was released in 1991. It later spawned a sequel.
*Young Frankenstein* (1974)
For anyone who hasn’t watched this, drop what you’re doing and get on it. It features two masters — director Mel Brooks and star Gene Wilder — at the top of their craft, and does a great job of parodying the horror genre.
*Practical Magic* (1998)
If you’re looking to vibe out to some late-’90s goodness, you could do a lot worse than Practical Magic , which features both Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. It’s a romantic comedy with a Halloween twist, which is something you don’t see every day.
*Beetlejuice* (1988)
This list could be populated exclusively by Tim Burton films, and 1988’s Beetlejuice is definitely one of his standouts. The odd plot is aided by a star-studded cast, including Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis and Winona Ryder.
*Goosebumps* (2015)
If you grew up in the ’90s, Goosebumps is likely to scratch a serious nostalgia itch. While R.L. Stine’s books could be pretty goofy at times, this film adaptation relies more on comedy than outright horror through most of its runtime.
*Labyrinth* (1986)
Let’s be real here: is anybody going to pass up the chance to see David Bowie playing a goblin king while he cavorts with a bunch of Jim Henson-engineered puppets? Yeah, I didn’t think so either. This one’s a classic.
*The Rocky Horror Picture Show* (1975)
It’s definitely not for everybody, but those who like this one really like it. A strange musical based on a play, the best way to experience RHPS is at a midnight screening with other enthusiasts.
*It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown* (1966)
While pretty much every movie on this list has its creepy elements, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is downright wholesome. It’s one of those movies that everyone should watch at least once every October.
*The Little Shop of Horrors* (1986)
It may have the word ‘horrors’ right in the title, but The Little Shop of Horrors is a good-natured, hilarious musical. Fresh off his performance in Ghostbusters , Rick Moranis is perfect in this one. Ditto for Steve Martin.
*Shaun of the Dead* (2004)
Part of Simon Pegg’s Cornetto Trilogy, Shaun of the Dead is a spot-on send-up of zombie movie tropes. Aside from being a completely outside-the-box kind of movie, its pacing and comedic sensibilities made it one of the best films of the early oughts.
*The Corpse Bride* (2015)
It may have an offputting title and offputting plot (a dude marries a dead woman), The Corpse Bride is a delightful and, dare I say it, charming movie. If you’re looking for a Tim Burton movie you may not have seen, give this one a go.
*Edward Scissorhands* (1990)
Okay, this is going to be the last Tim Burton movie on the list, but we honestly could keep going. Johnny Depp is picture-perfect in his role as a misunderstood, sweet, creepy protagonist. It’s definitely worth a watch.
*Death Becomes Her* (1992)
This 1992 comedy starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn may have flown under the radar, but Death Becomes Her really deserves more recognition. The two stars play off each other well, and the special effects are a hoot.
*Zombieland* (2009)
It’s likely a little too raunchy to watch with young kids, but Zombieland is a ton of fun and never takes itself too seriously. It came out at a time when zombie movies were at their peak and still managed to stand out, which is really saying something.
*Hocus Pocus* (1993)
Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker play a gaggle of witch sisters, and they play their parts so well it’s a real shame they didn’t make a sequel. It’s the perfect fun movie for the Halloween season.
*Coco* (2017)
A movie based around the Day of the Dead, Coco is full of the trappings of the holiday: ornate sugar skulls and tons of character. It’s a Pixar movie, which means it handles some serious subject matter with real aplomb.
