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Halloween is coming soon! And that means costumes, spooky decorations, pumpkin carving, and trick-or-treating. This is also the perfect time to combine movie night with some Halloween family fun.
It’s really important to watch age-appropriate movies with the level of spookiness that your children can handle cautions Good Housekeeping. With all the cable channels, and streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ out there, finding the right amount of spookiness is easier than ever.
So pop some popcorn, dig out the Halloween treats – or even dress up in costumes for the occasion –, and have some quality family time together.
Muppets Haunted Mansion
This movie is a new release from Disney+ and is sure to be a family favorite. That’s because it takes place in the beloved haunted mansion attraction that is featured at Walt Disney World and three other Disney parks. In this 50-minute movie, the great Gonzo faces the challenge of spending Halloween night in the spooky mansion where he is joined by a cast of Muppets and celebrity cameos. You can watch this on Disney.
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
This 1966 classic animated Halloween movie is something that the entire family can enjoy. Nothing beats watching Charlie Brown and the gang, from the comic strip Peanuts created by Charles M. Schultz, to bring back memories of holidays past. In 2021, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown returns to the small screen and will be broadcast on PBS and PBS kids on October 24 in the US.
A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting
This 2020 movie is for tweens and is about a secret society of babysitters who fight the monsters that threaten the children in their care, according to Good Housekeeping. It takes place on Halloween night and has just the right amount of spookiness to keep the kids entertained. Available on Netflix.
Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest
This 2013 fantastic family movie featuring everyone’s favorite monkey is about George’s fun-filled Halloween adventure at the annual Boo Festival. There, he attempts to find a hat-stealing scarecrow, make the most perfect costume, and looks for the best pumpkin to bring home. This is a great movie for little ones.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
This animated 1993 movie is equally about Halloween and Christmas and never goes out of style. The Tim Burton film is about Jack Skellington, the king of “HalloweenTown” accidentally stumbling on “Christmas Town” and his obsession with the holiday. This is a great family movie for tweens.
The Little Vampire
Meet Rudolf, a teen vampire and Tony, a vampire obsessed human boy in this 3D 2017 movie. Together, they save Rudolf’s family from vampire hunters. The movie is based on the children’s book series of the same name by German writer Angela Sommer-Bodenburg. It’s fun for the entire family.
Hocus Pocus
This 1993 family friendly Disney comedy stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as Salem, Massachusetts witches who were accidently brought back to life by a teenage boy on Halloween night. A sequel is in development now and will be released in 2022.
Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie
It’s time to go trick-or-treating with Pooh and his pal Lumpy who is experiencing his first Halloween outing according to Good Housekeeping. Just watch out for the Gobloon who turns anyone he manages to catch into a Jaggedy Lantern. This 2005 movie is perfect for younger kids and is available on Amazon Prime video.
Casper
This 1995 dark fantasy movie stars Christina Ricci as the daughter of a ghost therapist who is recruited by Casper – based on the Harvey Comics cartoon Casper the Friendly Ghost – to help him complete some unfinished business. The film uses computer-generated imagery to create the ghosts. This is a good movie for tweens and parents to watch together.
