Fall is coming, my dudes. You know what that means - Halloween.
While I am older and my tastes in scary movies have evolved with age – time to bust out the classic horror movies – something I still love to do around this time is watch Halloween movies that are good for all ages. I’m talking about the kid-friendly films that both children and their parents can find joy in, from Hocus Pocus to The Addams Family. While there are plenty of family friendly movies everyone could enjoy, I’m here for the spooky season.
These are the best fun Halloween movies you can stream with the family right now!
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Oh look, another glorious morning. Makes me sick.
Hocus Pocus follows a trio of comedic witches, who are inadvertently resurrected by a teenager in Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween night. Now, the witches want to take the souls of all the children in the town to gain as much power as possible, so it’s up to the teenagers and their friends to try and stop them.
When it comes to movies that people re-watch around this time of year, Hocus Pocus is definitely the one I hear about the most. I don’t know whether it’s the brilliant comedic timing of Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, or the amount of quotable moments, or even the heartwarming story, but the film has found its way into the hearts of many people. Plus, there’s a talking cat - how can you not love it?
Hocus Pocus even got a sequel, Hocus Pocus 2, in 2022, and we had all the feelings – so now is the best time to watch both back to back and have a heck of a laugh.
Stream Hocus Pocus on Disney+.
Stream Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+
Rent/Buy Hocus Pocus on Amazon.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
In The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jack Skellington is the King of Halloween Town and grows tired of the same old routine that they do each year for the occasion. But, when he accidentally stumbles into Christmas Town, he decides that it’s his town’s turn to give Christmas a try, creating mayhem for the monsters who live in it.
While I do believe that this can also be watched as a classic Christmas movie, I think it leans a lot more in Halloween. The beginning opens then, and the characters that are featured in Halloween Town are iconic spooky characters, like witches, ghosts, clowns, Frankenstein - things you would see then. Plus, the music in The Nightmare Before Christmas is truly one of the best soundtracks out there. I could listen to Danny Elfman singing all day.
Stream The Nightmare Before Christmas on Disney+.
Rent/Buy The Nightmare Before Christmas on Amazon.
Coraline (2009)
Another stop-motion great on this list is Coraline. Released in 2009 and directed by Henry Selick, it follows the story of a young girl named Coraline who discovers that in her new house, there’s this magical door that leads to an alternate world of her own, one that feels like an absolute dream. But as she starts to discover more, Coraline finds out that this world is anything but a paradise.
This is a comfort film for me – not sure what that means for my mental health but I absolutely love every aspect of it. From the smooth stop-motion animation to the voice acting and the creeptacular story, this is the perfect film for those who want to introduce their children to scarier films but don’t want them shaking in their boots for too long. It was arguably one of the first movies that got me into scary films – and it’s such a good one too.
Stream Coraline on Max.
Rent/Buy Coraline on Amazon.
Halloweentown Series (1998 - 2006)
In the Halloweentown film series, we follow the legend of the Cromwell family, a group of witches that spans generations, mainly following the story and training of one of the newest witches to the group, Marnie Cromwell.
I’m going to say it here - Disney had the best television films when I was a kid, and this one is proof of it. The four films in the series are filled with plenty of Halloween fun, from the actual inclusion of Halloweentown that is so expertly themed you’ll want to visit this fantasy village yourself, to the corny villains, the funny spells, and even the wonderful, loving performance of Debbie Reynolds as Aggie Cromwell. For kids who are just starting to get into Halloween, I think this is the perfect film series to show them; one that will entertain you, as well.
Stream the Halloweentown series on Disney+.
Rent/Buy the Halloweentown series on Amazon.
The Addams Family (1991)
They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky, they’re all-together ooky, the Addams family.
You know it, and I’m sure you want to clap to the song that goes with The Addams Family. This classic adaptation stars Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia as Morticia and Gomez Addams, the parents of the said Addams family, a group of bizarre, macabre individuals who are quite creepy – but love each other all the same.
There is literally no better time than the present to watch some of the older Addams Family adaptations, especially the film from 1991. Wednesday on Netflix was one of the biggest shows ever and took forever to get dethroned, and now there’s even more of an incentive to check out this film before Halloween to get into a creepy mood.
Stream The Addams Family on Paramount Plus.
Rent/Buy The Addams Family on Amazon.
Twitches (2005)
Another Disney Channel original film, Twitches, starring Tia and Tamera Mowry, follows twins who were separated when they were young, only to reunite as young adults, discovering that they are twin witches taken from another world, i.e. the term, “twitches.”
While I did grow up watching the Harry Potter series and falling in love with those fantasy worlds, Twitches is another witch movie that I hold dear in my heart. Not only is it a great family film about finding your real friends and loved ones despite all odds, but it’s filled with plenty of sorcery fun, and a lot of colorful and bright costumes. Also, the Darkness in this film lowkey did kinda freak me out as a kid - but in a good way. It’s like the perfect kid’s film that’s not too creepy but not too childlike.
Stream Twitches on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Twitches on Amazon.
Wendell & Wild (2022)
You can never get enough stop-motion movies, and Wendell & Wild is a great film to check out this Halloween season. Directed by Henry Selick, the same man behind Coraline, this is a Netflix exclusive that follows a young girl who literally has to fight her own demons in order to not only save her school but the town she grew up in after suffering a tragic accident.
Wendell & Wild was such an underrated movie when it came out, for so many reasons. Not only was it a great film, which was co-written by none other than Jordan Peele, but it featured the return of Peele and Keegan Michael-Key working together as the lead characters, voicing Wendell and Wild, which was everything. You have to check it out if you’ve never seen it before.
Stream Wendell & Wild on Netflix.
The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Based on the theme park ride of the same name, The Haunted Mansion follows a realtor who ends up getting him and his family trapped in a haunted mansion, with the ghosts of the past looking to keep his wife all for themselves.
You know, I don’t care what anyone says - this movie is funny and perfect for kids. I can think of no one better to deliver perfect one-liners for both kids and adults than Eddie Murphy, one of the comedic greats. And, I do believe that this film is probably one of the best movies for you to watch if you want to laugh more than you want to be scared. I mean, it’s Eddie Murphy. How can you not be entertained?
There was another adaptation of the theme park ride in 2023, simply called Haunted Mansion, and it’s a fun time – but nothing is quite like Murphy’s version.
Stream The Haunted Mansion on Disney+.
Rent/Buy The Haunted Mansion on Amazon.
Goosebumps (2015)
You better beware, you’re in for a scare.
The Goosebumps live-action film follows a fictionalized version of R.L. Stine, the author of the Goosebumps books, and how he teams up with his daughter and their neighbor in order to save their town from the creatures in his books when they are suddenly unleashed, creating a mess wherever they go.
These books are frequently the test-run into horror for many younger kids, because it’s a balancing act of actual scary writing and some comedic moments to break the tension. And, the movie is pretty much the same. Jack Black is great comedic relief, while some of the monsters are decently scary. A good film for a first-time scary movie watcher, and a fun one all around.
Stream Goosebumps on Netflix.
Rent/Buy Goosebumps on Amazon.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Don’t say his name three times! Beetlejuice is a classic 1980s comedy directed by Tim Burton, which tells the story of a couple who are trapped in their home after they die. They decide to contact someone from the dead – known as Beetlejuice, a “bio-exorcist” – to make sure their house stays empty when new people move in.
There’s a lot I could say about this movie, but what hasn’t already been said? It’s hilarious, and was hugely successful. It even had a Broadway musical, and Beetlejuice 2 is now in production all these years later. It’s the perfect horror comedy to watch around Halloween. But just don’t say his name three times!
Oh, dang, I already did it. Someone save me, please.
Stream Beetlejuice on AMC+ (through Amazon Prime).
Rent/Buy Beetlejuice on Amazon.
Scooby-Doo: The Movie (2002)
In this live-action remake of the cartoon of the same name, Scooby-Doo captures the gang after a year-long disbandment, when they reunite to investigate a mystery at a popular horror-themed tropical resort.
This is another one that doesn't take place during Halloween, but you can’t have Halloween without Scooby-Doo. What really makes this a great film for you to enjoy is that it’s a classic case of a film kids will love for the colors, the scary moments that will make them jump and then laugh, and the funny-talking dog, but you’ll love it for other reasons, like the jokes that really only adults could get (Shaggy’s girlfriend’s name was Mary Jane - I mean, come on).
Stream Scooby-Doo: The Movie on Tubi.
Rent/Buy Scooby-Doo: The Movie on Amazon.
A Babysitter’s Guide To Monster Hunting (2020)
Last but not least, the Netflix original film, A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting is all about Kelly Ferguson, a babysitter who is on a mission to find the child in her care who was kidnapped by the Boogeyman on Halloween night, discovering a society of child-protecting babysitters and an entire world of monsters.
To be honest, I wish this one would have had a theatrical debut, but it was released by Netflix for streaming in 2020. Not only is the story a lot of fun, with so many monsters and so many great, spooktacular moments that will make you smile and laugh, but it’s actually really detailed and the lore is super interesting. I hope that a sequel comes out that covers more of the story, because I’d be so down for another amusing, Halloween franchise.
Stream A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting on Netflix.
Honorable Mention: It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
While it’s not as long as some of the other films on this list, the TV special, It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown will always bring happiness into my life this time of year. Linus’ constant belief that the Great Pumpkin is real, mixed with the spookiness of the scenery, and of course, the classic Charlie Brown line, “I got a rock,” will make me grin and chuckle every time I watch it.
Stream It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on Apple TV+.
While I could spend my time watching some of the best horror movies out there, sometimes I need a break from the jumpscares and gory nonsense and have to return to some of my favorite Halloween films that I used to watch as a kid. Hopefully, there are now some great choices for you to pick from if you’re craving that, too.
