No matter the season or the weather, there is never a wrong time for great Halloween movies. When it gets close to fall, though, the desire to watch Halloween flicks becomes even stronger.
Whether you like them spooky and scary or funny and goofy, there are hundreds of great Halloween movies out there just dying to be watched (or re-watched, as the case may be).
We can’t forget about our kiddos, though. Traditionally, Halloween is every kid’s favorite holiday, second only to Christmas, and they want to celebrate the season with us!
While your little ones might not be ready for Nightmare on Elm Street or a Children of the Corn movie marathon just yet, there are still some great Halloween movies out there they can watch and enjoy. Plus, they’re Halloween movies!!! Chances are, even if they’re silly, you’ll probably love them too.
What Kind of Movie Are You Looking For?
*Note: All suggested audience ages come from CommonSenseMedia.org.
PG Rated Halloween Movies
These movies are all rated PG (parental guidance suggested), but you shouldn’t automatically assume that means they’re “kiddie” or not scary. There are a few movies on this list that have genuinely given kids – and some adults – the creeps, but if you’re aware of that upfront, you can choose your Halloween entertainment with care.
Goosebumps (2015)
If you grew up in the 90’s, chances are you read at least one of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books at some point. This movie is a new twist on those books.
Zach, a teenage boy, is upset when he has to move to a new town. He soon meets his pretty neighbor, which makes things a little better, and finds out she’s the daughter of R.L. Stine.
This also seems cool until Zach accidentally unleashes all the monsters and ghouls from Stine’s books into the real world. The three must then hunt down the monsters and return them to their books before it’s too late.
The movie has all the cheesy, goofy stuff we loved about the books when we were kids, and nothing in it is too scary.
Hotel Transylvania (2012)
If you’re looking for a good way to introduce your younger kids to the world of Halloween and monsters, Hotel Transylvania is a great way to do it.
The movie is full of all kinds of mythical monsters like Dracula, the Mummy, Frankenstein and more, but there’s nothing scary about it.
This is also a great movie for adults; I happen to love it. Dracula is throwing a “coming of age” party for his 118-year-old daughter, Mavis.
During the party, Mavis falls in love with a human who stumbles across Hotel Transylvania, and Dracula is having none of it.
Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015)
In the second Hotel Transylvania movie, thanks to his daughter’s human husband, Dracula has warmed up to humans and opens Hotel Transylvania to them as well as to monsters.
The central plot of the movie, though, revolves around Dracula’s concern for Mavis and Johnny’s son – his grandson – whose half-vampire side isn’t showing up yet.
Hilarity ensues as Dracula puts his grandson through “Monster-in-Training” boot camp to spark his monster side, and things get even funnier when Dracula’s ornery father shows up unexpectedly.
Scooby-Doo (2002)
In this live action/computer-animated version of Scooby-Doo, Scoob and the gang are all called to Spooky Island in order to investigate some very mysterious goings-on.
The great thing about this movie is that the casting is phenomenal. The characters look like they practically stepped straight out of the cartoon. Sarah Michelle Gellar is the perfect Daphne; Linda Cardelinni brings Velma to life; Freddie Prinze Jr. makes a strong, sturdy Fred, and Matthew Lillard was born to be Shaggy.
You’ll likely have just as much fun as your kids with this nostalgic take on the Scooby story.
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004)
Scooby-Doo 2 features the same great cast but adds the talented Alicia Silverstone to the mix as a dogged, intrepid journalist who is determined to prove the members of the Scooby gang are actually frauds.
The gang must dodge and elude her character while still trying to solve their newest, possibly supernatural mystery, which includes a bunch of monsters attacking their very own hometown.
Full of groan-worthy comedic relief and not-so-great CGI effects, this sequel didn’t make waves at the box office, but it’s sure to be a hit in your house this Halloween.
The Mummy (1999)
When it comes to Halloween monsters, the Mummy is definitely in the top three, which is what makes this movie the perfect family movie for Halloween.
Unlike the original 1932 version of the movie, this one is much more Indiana Jones than House on Haunted Hill, but even so, it’s a great flick.
The mummy Imhotep is uncovered and accidentally awoken by an American archaeologist, played by Brendan Frazier.
He then goes on a destructive and deadly rampage in search of his lost love, and the archaeologist and his team must track him down and stop him before he causes even more destruction.
The House with the Clock in Its Walls (2018)
Based off the book of the same name, this movie is incredibly well-done and a hit with both kids and parents.
A recently orphaned Lewis goes to live with his uncle, who Lewis soon finds out is a warlock. They live in a house that’s constantly ticking at night, and Lewis discovers that an evil warlock and his wife hid a clock in the walls before they died.
He joins his uncle (portrayed perfectly by the hilariously creepy Jack Black) in the quest to tear the house apart to find the clock and learn why it’s so important.
It’s a good mixture of fantasy, comedy and horror that might not be suitable for young children.
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
Based off the children’s book series of the same name, The Spiderwick Chronicles isn’t a Halloween movie strictly speaking. However, this whimsical, fantasy/adventure movie has a very fall/magical/Halloween feel to it.
The movie is about three Grace siblings. When the family moves to a new house, the “black sheep” of the siblings, Jared, is blamed for many of the strange things that start happening around the estate, but his siblings soon figure out they’re surrounded by fantasy creatures that love to make mischief and are out to get a very special book that Jared has.
Monster House (2006)
This animated film is about a neighborhood house that’s actually a monster intent on eating all the children who come there on Halloween to trick-or-treat.
The main character and his friends set out to discover the mystery of Monster House and keep it from hurting anyone.
This movie isn’t likely to give you any nightmares, but it could be quite scary for your children. The house itself is pretty creepy, and the adults in the movie are kind of off-putting and unhelpful.
There are also some instances of breaking in, stealing and other things you might not want your kids to emulate.
The Witches (1990)
This early-90s frightfest follows the story of Luke, who unknowingly stumbles upon a coven of witches who want to turn all of England’s kids into mice, starting with Luke.
Luke, now in mouse form, soon meets another young boy who’d been turned into a mouse, and the two of them, along with Luke’s grandma, devise a plan to stop the witches’ evil plans.
With creepy puppets and absolutely terrifying makeup effects for the witches, this movie can actually be quite scary, so be cautious, especially if you have very young children.
The Harry Potter Movies
Rated PG | Ages: 8+ | Time: 2h 41min
Rated PG | Ages: 9+ | Time: 2h 22min
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Although the Harry Potter movies aren’t traditionally considered “Halloween movies,” there’s a lot about them that just makes them feel Halloweeny. Maybe it’s because the kids drink pumpkin juice all the time and are constantly surrounded by ghosts.
In total, there are eight of these movies, four of which (numbers 4, 5, 7 and 8) are actually rated PG-13 rather than PG. They’re all excellent movies about a group of young wizards using their brains, wit and bonds of friendship to triumph over evil.
They’re mostly well-suited to younger kids, although in the PG-13 movies, there are a few instances of mild language, some violent scenes that might scare young children and one risque scene that shows two of the young wizards getting steamy in the smoke.
The great thing about these movies is that you’ll very likely enjoy them as well. This could also be a great way to get your children more interested in reading. If they like the movies, the books are 100x better.
Coraline (2009)
If you’re looking for a cartoon that might scare even you this Halloween, look no further than Coraline.
The movie, based off the book by Neil Gaiman, is technically a kid’s movie, but it’s given more than one grown adult the creeps.
Coraline, an inquisitive young girl with striking blue hair, feels bored and ignored by her busy parents after moving into a new home.
She starts exploring and finds a whole Other World, complete with Other Parents who look just like her parents, only with buttons for eyes.
At first, Coraline loves the Other World and loves visiting her Other Mother, but the story turns dark when the Other Mother tells Coraline she’ll have to sew buttons into her eyes so that she can stay in the Other World forever.
Then Coraline has to find a way to stop the Other Mother and close off the door to the Other World forever. It’s a great movie with beautiful, magical graphics, but be aware that certain scenes are pretty scary.
Corpse Bride (2005)
If you’re a fan of Tim Burton, you’ll have a great time introducing your kids to this magically macabre movie full of upbeat, jazzy musical numbers.
The Corpse Bride (Emily) was killed by her fiance and left as a decaying zombie bride. By an odd chance of fate, she marries a mortal man named Victor, who’s in love with another woman.
At first, Emily wants to keep Victor with her, but after seeing he’s in love with a woman who’s about to be married to the same man who killed her, Emily helps Victor get back to his fiance and gets her revenge on the evil man who killed her.
In traditional Tim Burton style, there’s some cartoony gore and ickiness, including maggots popping out of eyes and references to death, but it’s done in an upbeat, happy way that isn’t truly scary.
The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Parents, if you’ve already sat through The Haunted Mansion once, you may be cringing to read it’s a kid favorite, but facts are facts.
As cheesy and awful as this movie is to most adults, kids love the big splashy effects and spectacular way the movie looks.
In it, a realtor (Eddie Murphy) and his family get trapped in a haunted mansion and must work together and reforge their familial bonds in order to escape.
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998)
In this classic Scooby flick, the gang gets together after being apart for a year to work a case on Moonscar Island.
The Island is supposedly haunted by the ghosts of pirates, led by Captain Morgan Moonscar, and Daphne really wants the gang to investigate in hopes of finding a real ghost, as opposed to bad guys in costumes using special effects.
Eventually, though, the gang gets a little more than they bargained for and starts to think that bad guys in costumes weren’t so bad after all.
Don’t Look Under the Bed (1999)
While generally a fun, slightly spooky movie about a teenager who doesn’t believe in monsters being confronted face-to-face with the Boogeyman, the makeup and special effects in this movie are actually pretty scary to some kids.
The boogeyman looks downright terrifying in some scenes, and even the funny, happy-go-lucky sidekick Larry Houdini gets a little scary-looking at the end.
In this Disney original, Frances has always refused to believe in the supernatural, but when she starts getting blamed for nasty pranks being played around the neighborhood, she has to enlist the help of her little brother’s imaginary friend to help stop the Boogeyman who’s actually behind the trouble.
The Addams Family (2019)
In the latest version of this spooky classic, the Addams family goes animated!
While this particular re-imagining of the tale isn’t as dark and macabre as the older live-action versions, it still has some of the same dark humor and oddball storylines that have captured viewers’ hearts for years.
In it, Wednesday befriends the daughter of an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition-type reality show host who’s dead set on tearing down the Addams’ house and redoing it to make it more ‘normal.’
There are plenty of allusions to violence, weapons and other spooky things, but all-in-all, this installment is more fun than scary.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Another Tim Burton classic, this is one of our all-time favorite Halloween movies. It’s done in the traditional stop-motion style that Burton favors and features one of the best animated movie soundtracks ever.
It’s about a group of monsters, skeletons and ghouls who become bored with Halloween and want to try their hands at making Christmas instead.
Mayhem ensues, and Jack – their leader – quickly realizes he’s made a mistake and has to rush to save Santa Claus in time to get Christmas back on track.
There are a few “jump scares” that might scare very young children, but all-in-all, this is a Halloween classic that’s fun for the whole family.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Consistently lauded as “the best Halloween movie ever,” Hocus Pocus is the one movie my son and I watch every single year at Halloween.
The Sanderson sisters, played by an all-star cast of Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, are 17th-century witches killed during the Salem Witch Trials and brought back to life by a non-believer (Max) in the 20th century.
Max, his little sister and the girl he likes are then forced to find a way to kill the witches before they suck the lives out of all the kids in Salem.
The story is great; the jokes are hilarious; and it’s Bette Midler, so you know there’s going to be at least one amazing song involved.
There are a few allusions to sex and virginity, but most of these are done well enough that they won’t be understood by young children. If you haven’t already seen it, I promise you it’ll quickly become a favorite Halloween tradition.
Scared Shrekless (2010)
Do all grown adults love Shrek, or is that just me? Either way, this Halloween-themed Shrek story is a lot of fun for the whole family.
The Shrek gang, complete with Fiona, Donkey, Pinocchio, Puss, Gingy and more, get together one Halloween night and decide to tell scary stories around the fire pit.
The stories are more funny than scary, and in typical Shrek form, they come complete with Donkey interrupting everyone, some pooping and flatulence and at least one goofy song.
Ghostbusters (1984)
There’s a reason no one can say the phrase, “Who you gonna call?” with a straight face anymore.
The original Ghostbusters movie was a total hit, and even at over 30 years old, it’s still well-loved and oft-quoted today.
If you haven’t shared this gem with your kids yet, this Halloween is the perfect time to make the introduction.
Three disgraced college professors decide to go into business for themselves as “Ghostbusters” intent on ridding New York City of all its resident ghosts and ghouls.
They quickly find themselves in over their heads when they encounter the ancient demon Gozer. Can the Ghostbusters rid the world of this evil spirit? Of course they can! They’re the Ghostbusters!
Halloweentown (1998)
Rated TV-PG | Ages: 8+ | Time: 1h 21min
Rated TV-G | Ages: 8+ | Time: 1h 22min
Rated TV-PG | Ages: 8+ | Time: 1h 28min
Although not as well-known as some of the other movies on this list, the Halloweentown movies have a very fun, holiday-themed feel to them that can really get you in the Halloween spirit.
Each movie represents a new year in the lives of the Cromwell-Piper family. The kids find out in the first movie that their mom is a witch from a different dimension called “Halloweentown,” where all the monsters and other supernatural beings in the world went to live to be safe from humans.
After the kids find out about Halloweentown, they’re determined to find the way between the worlds.
- Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge (2001)
- Halloweentown High (2004)
- Return to Halloweentown (2006)
The Goonies (1985)
Although many people wouldn’t consider this a typical “Halloween” movie, it’s a flipping classic! Plus, it has a disfigured and misshapen cyclops in it, so that’s totally a Halloween monster right there!
The Goonies has a common enough plot – a group of outcasts who’ve found and befriended each other decide to do something exciting. In this case, that something is finding the mythical treasure of someone named One-Eyed Willy.
The do, of course, run into all kinds of trouble along the way. If your children have recently cultivated a love of Stranger Things, trust us when we tell you they’ll absolutely go nuts over The Goonies.
Girl Vs. Monster (2012)
Girl Vs. Monster may not be a Halloween flick that gets you too excited, but your kids are sure to love it. It’s more lighthearted and funny than scary and has a very Buffy the Vampire Slayer feel to it, if BtVS had been made for younger kids.
In it, normal teenage girl Skylar finds out on the night before Halloween that she, like her parents and their parents before them, is the next in a long line of monster hunters, and now that she knows about the monsters, the monsters definitely know about her.
Labyrinth (1986)
If you haven’t already watched Labyrinth, you need to stop everything and go watch it right now. It’s a total classic with David Bowie and muppets!
It doesn’t get much better than that. The movie focuses on the protagonist, Sarah. Mad about being asked to babysit, she accidentally wishes away her baby brother.
He’s taken by the movie’s main antagonist, Jareth the Goblin King, and Sarah must work her way through a labyrinth full of magical creatures and puzzles to rescue him.
The movie is full of great songs that’ll have your younger kids dancing around the house in delight, and there’s enough mystery and intrigue to keep your older kids entertained as well.
Gremlins (1984)
While most people think of Gremlins as a Christmas movie, we love to watch it at Halloween.
Fair warning though: Your kids might actually get scared watching this one. Despite its PG-rating, Gremlins has some scary, bloody parts. Mostly, though, it’s more of a horror-comedy than pure horror.
Billy gets a cute little mogwai as a pet and is warned not to feed it after dark. Of course it gets fed after dark and spawns out dozens of evil, angry gremlins, whose sole goals in life are to destroy and kill.
Billy has to survive the gremlins and find a way to get rid of them before they kill more people.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!!! Chances are, you probably watched this Burton classic as a child yourself.
It contains all the best of Burton in the late-80s, including Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, a young Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice.
It has some slapstick humor and is generally a lot of fun, but it’s also darker in nature than you probably remember.
Although it’s a fun, silly movie about a recently deceased couple coming to terms with their own death, parental guidance is strongly advised due to the more mature aspects of the movie, including alcohol use, a girl contemplating suicide, overt sexual references, strong language and quite a bit of (mostly cheesy) gore.
Poltergeist (1982)
If you’re looking for a Halloween movie that’s actually frightening, Poltergeist fits the bill. However, don’t let that PG rating fool you; this movie is scary.
I first watched it when I was about seven years old, and it gave me nightmares for a week. As an adult, I love it, and my 15-year-old does too, but I don’t recommend it for young children or children who scare easily.
In the movie, a family’s home is overtaken by evil, malevolent spirits. Eventually, the ghosts steal the family’s daughter, and the father hires a team of parapsychologists to get her back before it’s too late.
Casper (1995)
Your children are sure to love this live action/CGI movie of everyone’s favorite ghost, Casper.
A scientist is hired to go into a house and clear out the restless spirits that live there (Casper and his “uncles”).
He takes his teenage daughter, Kat, along with him. While the uncles are rowdy and cause lots of trouble, Casper is actually a sweet, friendly ghost who develops a friendship with and then feelings for Kat.
Kat, who likes Casper in return, hopes to use the secret lab in the house to bring Casper back to life.
Young Frankenstein (1974)
This one is an oldie but a goodie. More hilarious than scary, it’s something you and your children should both enjoy.
The story follows Dr. Frankenstein (portrayed excellently by Gene Wilder) as he moves into an inherited estate in Transylvania.
Once there, he takes up his grandfather’s work and creates his very own Frankenstein’s Monster, but things take a turn for the worse when the doctor’s fiance arrives and catches the attention of the monster.
Monsters Vs. Aliens (2009)
This is an adorable Dreamworks Production that both my son and I continue to love and watch year after year.
In this animated, sci-fi comedy, Earth is about to be invaded by aliens, and the only way the government knows to stop them is by hiring a group of monsters to do the job.
These monsters are led by Susan, a regular woman who was recently hit by a meteorite and turned into a giant monster. Then a battle ensues to see who is the strongest: monsters or aliens.
Spirited Away (2001)
The English-language dub of Spirited Away is an excellent anime for older children. The monsters in the movie are actually pretty scary and creepy, so it may not be suitable for the younger ones.
This movie follows Hiiragi, a ten-year-old girl, on her journey through the world of Japanese spirits (Kami) as she searches for her parents, who have been turned into pigs by an evil witch.
This is an especially great movie for young girls; they can look up to the strong, brave and heroic figure of Hiiragi.
Scoob! (2020)
Scooby-Doo goes back into the world of animation with this 2020 movie.
Although it’s the latest in a long line of Scooby-Doo tales, this one actually acts as an origin story for Scooby-Doo, with a sad and somewhat lonely Shaggy finding and befriending a stray puppy that he names Scooby Dooby-Doo.
The story then goes on to show how Shaggy and Scooby meet the other members of the Scooby gang.
They solve their first case and decide to go into business together. More mysteries unfold and are solved in this heartwarming prequel.
G Rated Halloween Movies
G (all ages admitted) rated movies are generally suitable for children of all ages. If you watch any of these movies, you can safely assume they’re going to be more sweet and lighthearted than scary and creepy. Your young children shouldn’t have too much trouble with any of these selections.
Spooky Stakeout (2016)
If your kids are fans of the Goosebumps movie, they’ll probably also enjoy the lesser-known Spooky Stakeout.
Four friends, known collectively as Team Spooky, have solved plenty of cases before, but now they’ve been hired to investigate a spooky, old, abandoned castle.
One friend is in it for the money; another is focused on the science behind ghosts, and they all just want to solve the mystery.
This is a fun, not-too-scary “scary” flick even younger children can enjoy.
ParaNorman (2012)
If you’re a fan of Tim Burton, you’ll probably enjoy this stop-motion animated monster movie. Although not actually a Burton film, it has very Burton-esque vibes about it.
Norman is a young boy who can see and talk to the dead, and most of the time, he likes them better than the living.
Although he’s a bit of a misfit, he has to work together with some living kids of his own age to stop a centuries-old witch and a horde of zombies before they destroy his town.
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Even though this movie is about a world of closet monsters whose sole job is to terrify little kids and steal their screams to keep their world, Monstropolis, running smoothly, this movie really isn’t scary at all.
It’s actually a very cute, sweet movie about a big, cuddly monster (Sulley) who loves the little girl (Boo) he’s sent to scare and ends up protecting her instead.
Things get a little crazy when Boo sneaks into Monstropolis with Sulley one night, and he and his tiny, quick-witted best friend have to get her back to the human world before anyone discovers her.
Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie (2005)
This movie may be rated G, but I’m going on record as saying the Tree of Terror would’ve given me the willies if I’d watched this as a kid.
Even so, my family loves this movie. It has all the wholesome goodness we’re accustomed to getting from Winnie the Pooh with an added Halloween element.
It’s a sweet story about two friends (Roo and Lumpy the Heffalump) going trick-or-treating but getting a little scared along the way.
Your small children will probably love it. Just be ready to hold their hands when the Tree of Terror shows up.
Spookley: The Square Pumpkin (2005)
In this animated musical, Spookley is sad because he’s square and doesn’t fit in with all the other pumpkins in the pumpkin patch.
Much like the well-loved story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, though, Spookley soon learns there are some things that his squareness allows him to do that none of the other round pumpkins are capable of doing.
Spookley finally learns to appreciate what makes him unique and love himself the way he is.
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
Many families agree that Halloween just isn’t Halloween until they’ve watched It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown as a family.
This heart-warming, family-friendly Halloween classic has been a household favorite for generations. It features all the things we’ve come to expect from the Peanuts gang and showcases all the very best traditions of Halloween, such as trick-or-treating, dressing up in fun costumes and bobbing for apples.
Although its popularity has taken a bit of hit in recent years due some instances of name-calling (“stupid” and “blockhead” are used regularly), in most households, it’s still a regular staple at Halloween.
Under Wraps (1997)
There’s nothing scary about this mummy movie. Three kids discover an ancient mummy in a basement. The mummy comes alive and is actually quite friendly and likable.
The kids move the mummy, who they name Harold, into one of their bedrooms and then show him off to a friend who tells them that Harold has to be put back in his sarcophagus before Halloween is over; otherwise, he’ll disappear.
This turns out to be much harder than anticipated due to the antics of the movie’s antagonist, Mr. Kubat, who wants to capture the mummy and sell him.
Toy Story of Terror (2014)
This made-for-TV short feature has the entire Toy Story gang headed out on a road trip.
Bonnie’s mom gets a flat tire, and she, Bonnie and the toys spend the night at a hotel where Mr. Potato Head soon goes missing.
In typical Halloween movie form, things start to get really spooky when the gang goes in search of him. One after the other, the rest of the toys go missing.
Jessie is the only toy left standing and must solve the mystery and expose the toy thief before all the toys are left behind forever.
Room on the Broom (2013)
If you’re looking for something quick and cute to watch with your smallest children, Room on the Broom is a great option.
It’s a short, 30-minute cartoon based on the book by the same name. In it, a witch who breaks all the witchy stereotypes by being sweet and kind befriends different creatures along the way, doing favors for them and just generally being a good person. In the end, the creatures all help her out in return.
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
This is probably the oldest Halloween movie on the list, and it’s possible that not even you have ever seen it.
If you haven’t, now’s the perfect time to rectify that by watching this spooky cartoon with your children.
It’s actually a two-part movie. The first half is a cartoon retelling of Washington Irving’s popular story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
The second half of the movie features Toad from the equally well-loved The Wind and the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.
Both stories are fun and just a tiny bit spooky, with nothing really for young children to fear.
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
While this claymation flick might not do much for you, your younger children are sure to love it.
In this special Halloween episode of the beloved British comedy, Wallace and Gromit, the two go on a quest to solve the mystery of who or what is sabotaging the garden in order to ruin the yearly ‘Giant Vegetable Growing Contest.’
The were-rabbit might be a little spooky to very young children, but mostly this is a comedy any child can enjoy.
Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest (2013)
This Halloween-themed Curious George movie is representative of all the other movies in the Curious George franchise.
George, as curious as ever, gets into all kinds of Halloween mischief, and learns about the tale of the Headless Scarecrow along the way.
It’s cute and perfectly entertaining for preschool-aged children. Just don’t expect to get a lot of enjoyment out of yourself unless you really love Curious George.
PG-13 Rated Halloween Movies (for Older Kids)
A rating of PG-13 (parental guidance suggested for kids under the age of 13) simply means that there may be some material parents find objectionable for younger kids. Normally, this rating means there could be a little bad language, possible sexual references or jokes and some extended or gory violence. Exercise a little caution when watching these with children, especially if they’re pre-teens.
Monster Squad (1987)
While there are a few instances of nasty name calling and quite a bit of intolerance of homosexuals, overweight people and girls, most of this movie is good, clean fun for older kids.
The Monster Squad, lovers of old-school horror flicks, discover the diary of famous monster hunter Van Helsing and vow to finish what he started 100 years ago by finding a magical amulet and using it to cast all the monsters in the world into another universe. The monsters, led by Dracula, have other plans.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
Although there are many fans of the BtVS television show, the movie that preceded it is often overlooked. That’s a shame because this flick is a total cult classic.
It’s full of the campy comedy that Joss Whedon fans love to groan at, and it features a very handsome Luke Perry and the one and only Pee Wee Herman as a long-haired vampire with a deliciously cheesy death scene.
The movie follows the same basic plot as the television show. Buffy, a super popular, rich valley girl, has her life turned upside down when she finds out she’s the next in a long line of vampire slayers.
She must then balance the life of normal high school girl, her spot on the cheer leading squad against her unwanted calling as a vampire slayer.
There’s some drinking and allusions to sex, along with some blood and violence, so it’s not appropriate for your younger children.
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
If you needed more proof that Tim Burton is the master of Halloween movies, look no further than Edward Scissorhands.
You and your kids can enjoy this early-90’s classic starring Johnny Depp as a young man created by an inventor and given scissors for hands. He’s called on by the local Avon seller.
Feeling sorry for him, she takes him home to live with her family in their brightly painted neighborhood of very normal people.
He soon falls in love with the woman’s daughter (Winona Ryder), and the story turns into a modern-day fairy tale akin to Beauty and the Beast.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)
Complete with super creepy monsters that even give adults the chills, some blood and plenty of jump scares, this is a true horror movie that isn’t suitable for younger viewers. There’s also some alcohol use, cussing and sexual innuendos.
If you have older kids, though, this is a flick you can enjoy together, especially if you, yourself, were a fan of the book series as a child.
The movie follows a group of teens who go to a haunted house on Halloween and discover a handwritten book from a long-dead witch that foretells how each of them will die.
Each story is one of the popular stories from the original books, and each one is scarier than the last.
The Addams Family (1991)
If you loved the original Addams Family movie from the early-90s, you certainly weren’t alone.
Angelica Houston and Raul Julia were the perfect embodiment of Morticia and Gomez, and Christina Ricci practically was Wednesday Addams.
The Addams family is reunited with their presumed-dead Uncle Fester, who’s being used by money-hungry loan sharks to try to steal the Addams’ fortune.
If you haven’t yet watched this flick with your kids, you should. They’ll love it as much as you do.
As you probably remember, there’s a lot of violence and instances of the kids playing with weapons, but honestly, the show is much more of a slapstick comedy than a horror flick.
