Top Halloween movies for kids
Whether you celebrate the spooky season or not, Halloween is an absolutely perfect excuse to round up the whole family for a Halloween movie marathon.
I was never allowed to get into Halloween as a kid, but that didn’t matter because they really knew how to make a terrifying family movie in the nineties. Late nights glued to the VCR or DVD player watching scary movies was such a thrill. And I’m not talking about proper horror movies either… just the straight-up weirdness of nineties family films. The glowing eyes from the original Witches film are burned into my psyche, and Christina Ricci was the Halloween hero of my childhood.
This year, I’m introducing my kids to some of my favourite family Halloween films. From the terrifying classics from my childhood to some of the brilliant, (but not-too-scary) animated adventures of the more recent years, these Halloween movies offer just the right mix of thrills, chills, and laughter.
The best part? There are loads of family-friendly movies so that even younger kids can join in the fun without getting too frightened.
With creepy options galore, you’ll find something that fits your family’s Halloween vibe. So, grab the popcorn, dim the lights, and dive into a world of magic, monsters, and a bit of spooky fun – these are our top kids Halloween movies.
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Monsters, Inc. is a must-watch as a kids’ Halloween movie appropriate for all ages. Produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Studios, this gorgeous animated film takes a playful spin on the idea of monsters hiding in closets. But instead of scaring little kids, these monsters- like the lovable Sulley (voiced by John Goodman) and his witty sidekick Mike Wazowski (voiced by Billy Crystal) – are more interested in collecting screams to power their world, Monstropolis.
This movie combines heart-melting moments with a hilarious script, making it perfect for even the smallest kids. It also touches on the importance of friendship and teamwork, all wrapped up in a fun monster world.
With a runtime of 92 minutes, it’s an ideal choice for a cosy evening with the whole family. You can stream Monsters, Inc. on Disney+.
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Hocus Pocus (1993)
A cult nineties classic, no Halloween movie list is complete without Hocus Pocus. The movie follows the Sanderson Sisters – three quirky witches, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najim – resurrected in modern-day Salem by a young boy named Max on Halloween night. With the help of his younger sister, a talking cat, and a new friend, Max must stop the witches from becoming immortal before sunrise.
Hocus Pocus has just the right amount of humour, ridiculousness, and spooky mischief.
Running at 96 minutes, this Disney classic is available to stream on Disney+. Grab your popcorn, and introduce your family to the Sanderson Sisters. And with the recent sequel, Hocus Pocus 2 (2022), you can keep the spooks going with a Hocus Pocus movie marathon.
Coraline (2009)
When I think of Coraline, I think of her absolutely terrifying button eyes.
The story follows a girl who discovers an alternate version of her life through a mysterious door in her new home. At first, this “Other World” seems perfect, but it soon becomes clear that everything is not as it seems.
With its spooky atmosphere and imaginative storytelling, Coraline is perfect for older kids and teens who enjoy a bit of creepy adventure. Given that I found it creepy as an adult, I probably wouldn’t recommend this for younger kids.
Running at 100 minutes, it balances eerie moments with heart (and the horror of those button eyes). You can watch Coraline on Netflix or rent it on Amazon Prime.
The Witches (2020)
As mentioned earlier, no Halloween movie education would be complete without this Roald Dahl classic. This 2020 update of the classic children’s book The Witches brings spooky, family-friendly adventure to life. Starring Anne Hathaway as the Grand High Witch, the film tells the story of a boy and his grandmother who stumble upon a coven of witches disguised as normal women.
The witches have a terrifying plan to turn all the children into mice, and it’s up to the boy to stop them. With a fun mix of magic, humour, and slight scares, this movie is another one for big kids who love a little bit of creepy fun. It’s also a great film for fans of the original 1990 adaptation (that scarred me for life) starring Anjelica Huston.
Available to stream or rent online, The Witches runs for 106 minutes and will bring the scares to your family movie night.
Coco (2017)
Though Coco is more about the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos than Halloween itself, this beautiful Pixar film is a beautiful choice for the spooky season. I absolutely love this film.
Meet Miguel, a boy who dreams of becoming a musician but finds himself in the Land of the Dead on a journey to uncover his family’s history. Filled with vibrant colours, stunning animation, and some fantastic catchy songs, Coco is about family and legacy. Parents, make sure you grab your tissues, cause this one always gets me teary at the end!
Coco is a moving film perfect for both old and young viewers. My younger daughters were a little spooked at the start of the movie, but relaxed into it as it went along and they realised the skeletons are just like normal people.
It’s also a great way to introduce children to different cultural traditions while still offering a Halloween vibe.
You can stream Coco on Disney+, and it has a runtime of 105 minutes.
Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Hotel Transylvania is a hilarious animated movie that brings a refreshing twist to the monster genre.
Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, the movie centres on Count Dracula, voiced by Adam Sandler, who runs a lavish hotel where monsters can relax away from humans. However, things take a chaotic turn when Johnathan (Andy Samberg) who is a human, stumbles upon the hotel and falls in love with Dracula’s teenage daughter, Mavis.
With its bright animation, laugh-out-loud moments, and heartwarming themes, this film is a must-watch on Halloween. Plus, the relationship between Dracula and his daughter adds a touching element we parents adore. At 91 minutes, it’s a perfect length for keeping the family entertained without being too spooky.
People have loved Hotel Transylvania so much they’ve now made 4 of them! So if your kids enjoyed the movie, you can stay up all night and binge the rest.
You can stream Hotel Transylvania on Netflix.
Casper (1995)
Another quintessential nineties Halloween flick, Casper is a classic choice for a family-friendly ghost story.
Christina Ricci plays a young girl who moves into a haunted house with her dad – an afterlife therapist.
They’re there to rid the house of spirits, but Ricci befriends a friendly ghost named Casper. With its light-hearted tone, this film is great for family viewing and offers just the right amount of spooky fun without going overboard. Casper is a very ‘cute’ cartoon-like ghost, which helps if your kids are easily spooked.
It ticks off comedy, heart, and a little bit of that signature nineties spookiness with the big old house and a slight Burton-esque feel, hence why Casper is perfect for children just getting into Halloween films.
At 100 minutes long, Casper is a sweet option for family movie night. You can rent it on Amazon Prime.
The Addams Family (1991)
More Christina Ricci gold with this nineties classic – The Addams Family. No Halloween is complete without a nod to The Addams Family. This spooky classic brings Wednesday Addams, Uncle Fester, and the whole creepy clan to life in a hilarious and quirky way. Raul Julia as Gomez Addams and Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester deliver performances that have become iconic.
Perfect for families with tweens and teens, this film has both dark humour and heartwarming family dynamics. Its spooky, gothic aesthetic is perfect for Halloween, but it’s the comedic undertones that keep it from being too scary for younger viewers.
At 99 minutes long, this film can be found on Amazon Prime.
Harry Potter Series (2001-2011)
While not strictly Halloween movies, the Harry Potter series is full of witches, wizards, ghouls, ghosts and spells galore – so it’s a fantastic pick for a Halloween movie marathon. And they do celebrate ‘All Hallow’s Eve’ in the Harry Potter stories, so it still counts, right?
Across eight films, we see the adventures of the infamous Harry Potter, who discovers he is a wizard and begins his education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Along the way, Harry and his friends, Hermione and Ron, face dark magic, ghosts, enchanted creatures, and, of course, become inextricably involved in the ultimate battle of good versus evil with the sinister Lord Voldemort.
From the eerie atmosphere of the Forbidden Forest to thrilling moments like the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the series is filled with magical moments perfect for the spooky season.
Whether it’s the cosy early films that focus on younger kids or the later, darker instalments that appeal to older kids and teens, there’s something in the Harry Potter world for everyone. I probably wouldn’t recommend the Harry Potter films for preschool-aged kids.
With each film ranging from 2 to 3 hours, it’s great for a longer family movie night or even a week of magical viewing. The entire Harry Potter series is available on multiple streaming platforms including Binge.
Onward (2020)
Onward is a heartwarming and magical adventure from Pixar that’s perfect for a family Halloween movie night, especially if you’re looking for a movie with a mix of fantasy, magic, and plenty of laughs.
Set in a suburban fantasy world, the story sees two elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot (Tom Holland and Chris Pratt), embark on an epic quest to bring their late father back to life for one day using an ancient spell. As all protagonists do, they face magical challenges and enchanted creatures for fun twists and turns.
With its themes of family, loss, and adventure, Onward is a great option that will appeal to parents as much as kids.
Running at 102 minutes, Onward is available to stream on Disney+.
The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Starring Eddie Murphy, The Haunted Mansion is a bizarrely fun live-action film the whole family will adore.
Realtor Jim Evers and his family visit a creepy mansion he hopes to sell, only to discover that it’s haunted by ghosts. Based on the popular Disney theme park ride, this film hits that kid-friendly scary sweet spot.
With Eddie Murphy’s comedic performance and an eerie(ish) atmosphere, it’s a great way to get into the Halloween spirit.
Running at 88 minutes, The Haunted Mansion is available to stream on Disney+.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Is it a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie? It’s an age-old question and not one I have the answer to. I’m probably more likely to stick this one in the Halloween camp, which is why The Nightmare Before Christmas is on this list.
In this iconic film, Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, grows tired of Halloween and stumbles upon Christmastown, deciding to take over the holiday. This musical masterpiece by Tim Burton is filled with catchy songs, spooky characters, and stunning stop-motion animation.
You can wheel this movie out anytime between Halloween and Christmas and it will still remain relevant. This movie is beloved by Burton fans of all ages… though for little kids who are easily spooked, the aesthetic and scary vibe might be a bit too much for them.
At 76 minutes, it’s a must-watch during the spooky season, available on Disney+.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Let’s face it, Tim Burton really is the king of freaky Halloween movies – and no Halloween movie list would be complete without Beetlejuice.
This movie is another classic Tim Burton film starring Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis that terrified me as a kid.
In Beetlejuice, Baldwin and Davis play a recently deceased couple, Adam and Barbara Maitland, who find themselves trapped as ghosts in their own home. When a new family moves in and disrupts their peaceful afterlife, they enlist the help of Beetlejuice, a mischievous and chaotic “bio-exorcist” played by Michael Keaton, to scare the intruders away.
With its quirky characters, dark humour, and signature Tim Burton aesthetic, Beetlejuice is a perfect Halloween movie for families with big kids or teens who love some spooky fun and weirdness. It’s got those eerier elements as well as lots of laughs to keep up the good vibes.
And 25 years later, they’ve finally released a sequel to the movie which is still in cinemas.
You can stream Beetlejuice on platforms like Amazon Prime, and the film runs for 92 minutes.
Tips for a successful Halloween movie night
- Pick a movie that’s suitable for all ages: Whether you have little kids or older ones, there are Halloween movies to fit every age group. Just do a bit of digging to find the right level of scare for your little (or not-so-little) ones.
- Create a cosy atmosphere: Grab some blankets and pillows to make your living room feel like a haunted mansion or a magical cinema.
- Snacks are a must: Popcorn, lollies, and Halloween-themed treats will make for a movie night to remember.
- Have a chat about the movie afterwards: Don’t just switch off the TV and call it a night. Ask your kids what their favourite part was, or which character they liked best. It’s a great way to bond and talk about Halloween fun.
Wrapping it up
This lineup of kids’ Halloween movies will bring plenty of laughs, thrills, and fun to your Halloween season.
Whether you’re watching for the first time or (like me) revisiting old favourites from your own childhood, these movies are perfect for enjoying together.
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