35 Best Family Halloween Movies, Ranked
"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" is a classic, but there are tons of other fantastic family Halloween movies to watch, too.
Best Family Halloween Movies, Ranked
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Everybody scream, everybody scream, in our town of Halloween! If you don't recognize the line from Tim Burton's classic, "The Nightmare Before Christmas," go watch it. (Like, now. We'll wait.)
The season for scary movie marathons is finally here, but some have just a smidge too much fright to be fun for young viewers. We picked enough Halloween movies for the family to watch one every single night for all of October (and then some).
Yes, there's something for everyone, including the much-anticipated "Hocus Pocus 2" film released in 2022. From dark humor that teens will appreciate to cute cartoons that even toddlers can handle, these amazing Halloween films are just the trick to make Friday family movie night a smashing success.
35. Halloweentown High
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Age recommendation: 8+
When it came out: 2004
Why we love it: Halloweentown was one of those feel-good movies that we couldn't help but love. The effects were terrible, but it didn't matter. On a Friday night in October, seeing it pop up on the TV Guide channel was enough to inspire a grocery run for kettle corn. Magical young Marnie lives in the village of Halloweentown, but she opts to go to a regular high school nearby to get to know mortals her age. If anything goes wrong, however, she'll lose her magical powers. Unsurprisingly, her powers end up saving the day. It's predictable, but we'd watch it on repeat anyway.
Watch now:Halloweentown High, free on Disney+
* Note: Our age ratings are based on our own personal opinions. Check out Common Sense Media for more detailed reviews and age recommendations, or screen the movies yourself before watching with the whole fam.
34. Goosebumps
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Age recommendation: 9+
When it came out: 2015
Why we love it: The Goosebumps series was a hit in the 1990s, as a sort of "Twilight Zone" for tweens. The plot centers around a girl named Hannah, who's later revealed to be none other than the author of the series, R.L. Stine. Stine is played by Jack Black, who carries the movie with his unmistakable Jack Black flair. Poor Stine turns out to be a prisoner of his own characters, and when they escape from their pages? Well, you'll just have to watch to see what happens.
Watch now:Goosebumps, rent for $3.99
33. Muppets Haunted Mansion
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Age recommendation: 8+
When it came out: 2021
Why we love it: People either love or hate the Muppets. If you're in the former camp, this kooky Disney movie belongs on your watchlist. Most of the Muppet gang is hanging out at Kermit and Miss Piggy's annual Halloween shindig, while Gonzo takes on a challenge: to spend the entire night in the Haunted Mansion, where a legendary magician supposedly lives. It's full of suspense but nothing too scary for most grade-schoolers to handle.
Watch now:Muppets Haunted Mansion, free on Disney+
32. Hocus Pocus 2
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Age recommendation: 10+
When it came out: 2022
Why we love it: We've wanted to watch "Hocus Pocus 2" since the first "Hocus Pocus" hit the closing credits. Bette Midler actually pushed for a sequel after realizing how much of a Halloween classic the original had become. She called once a year to ask until the studio finally said yes. The new film centers around two young women who accidentally bring back the wicked Sanderson Sisters once more. The reboot feels a little watered down compared to the original, but it's worth watching just for the nostalgia.
Watch now:Hocus Pocus 2, free on Disney+
31. Scoob
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Age recommendation: 7+
When it came out: 2020
Why we love it: There are about a million Scooby-Doo movies out there, but this modern update is a welcome spin on an old classic. All the throwbacks to the original cartoons are fun for parents who grew up watching them, and the new animated film gives some context to the gang's backstory that was glossed over in the earlier films.
Watch now:Scoob, buy for $14.99
30. Young Frankenstein
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Age recommendation: 12+
When it came out: 1974
Why we love it: For older tweens and teens, "Young Frankenstein" is a comedic work of genius. It's corny, but there are plenty of scenes that even the most sullen 14-year-old can't help but chuckle at. In the movie, the grandson of a supposedly mad scientist tries to prove to the world that his granddad wasn't nuts at all.
After he's invited to Transylvania, the budding scientist manages to work out how to reanimate a dead body. It's creepy for sure, but this Halloween movie also inspires lots of belly laughs.
Watch now:Young Frankenstein, free with Amazon Prime
29. Gremlins
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Age recommendation: 12+
When it came out: 1984
Why we love it: "Gremlins" is set near the Christmas holiday, but it's considered way more of a Halloween classic than a Christmas one. Gremlins are initially fluffy, endearing creatures that viewers can't help but adore. They come with a few rules, however: They can't get wet, they can't be fed after midnight, and bright light is a hard no.
Needless to say, all the rules are broken, and utter chaos ensues. It's funny, but it's also too scary for the littlest of viewers.
Watch now:Gremlins, rent for $3.99
28. Mary and the Witch's Flower
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Age recommendation: 8+
When it came out: 2017
Why we love it: "Mary and the Witch's Flower" is a great family Halloween movie for fans of Kiki's Delivery Service and other Studio Ghibli films. There are literally buckets of movies about young witches attending a school of magic (cough, Harry Potter, cough), but this sweet story is a welcome addition.
She picks a magical flower and is transported to an enchanted college. While there are some tense scenes, there's no violence, and the message is positive.
Watch now:Mary and the Witch's Flower, rent for $3.99
27. Ghostbusters
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Age recommendation: 11+
When it came out: 1984
Why we love it: Who you gonna call? These days you'd probably text instead, but that wasn't a thing when this Halloween classic came out. "Ghostbusters" follows a group of scientists who launch a new career battling spirits after losing their university jobs.
It's a comedic hit for teens and tweens, and there's also an all-female reboot coming out in November 2021 called "Ghostbusters: Afterlife."
Watch now:Ghostbusters, rent for $3.99
26. The Witches
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Age recommendation: 10+
When it came out: 1990
Why we love it: In the original "The Witches" movie, Angelica Houston's performance was spine-tinglingly good. As the story goes, a young boy who recently lost his parents is taken to visit a seaside hotel in England with his grandma. Once he arrives, he discovers a group of witches at the hotel is scheming to eliminate all children from the country. Needless to say, it's scary enough to make this family Halloween movie more appropriate for tweens and up. Anne Hathaway also starred in a 2020 remake if you're up for round two.
Watch now:The Witches, rent for $2.99
25. Double, Double, Toil & Trouble
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Age recommendation: 5+
When it came out: 1993
Why we love it: Remember the days of "Full House" when the Olsen twins were adorable superstars? This family Halloween movie isn't a work of cinematic art by any stretch of the imagination, but it gets points for nostalgia and for being a Halloween flick that your kindergartener can watch.
In the movie, the two girls work to save their family's business from their greedy aunt by using a pinch of magic.
Watch now:Double, Double, Toil & Trouble, rent for $2.99
24. Frankenweenie
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Age recommendation: 9+
When it came out: 2012
Why we love it: This isn't the first "Frankenweenie" movie, but the Tim Burton, stop-motion version is our favorite. A young boy's beloved pet passes away, so he does what any sane person would do and tries to bring them back to life. It's basically the story of Frankenstein but applied to a dog.
Watch now:Frankenweenie, rent for $3.99
23. Spooky Buddies
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Age recommendation: 6+
When it came out: 2011
Why we love it: Cute puppies and a haunted mansion are a winning combination for family-friendly Halloween movies. It's not the most entertaining for adults, but this sweet flick has just enough spook to give grade-schoolers a taste of Halloween spirit without giving them nightmares.
Watch now:Spooky Buddies, rent for $3.99
22. Monster House
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Age recommendation: 10+
When it came out: 2006
Why we love it: "Monster House" is one of the more recent animated family Halloween movies, and it's fun plot is appealing to most tweens. Three best buddies figure out that the creepy old house on their street is alive. Not only is it alive, but it's a monster that will terrorize the entire neighborhood if they don't take it down.
Watch now:Monster House, rent for $3.99
21. Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie
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Age recommendation: 3+
When it came out: 2005
Why we love it: What can we say? It's Winnie the Pooh. The entire Winnie the Pooh franchise, with the exception of the newer "Christopher Robin" movie, is targeted to the littlest of viewers. Kids ages 3-6 will love this Halloween-themed special. If they've seen a ton of Disney classics, the scare factor here is nonexistent.
Watch now:Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie, rent for $3.99
20. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
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Age recommendation: 7+
When it came out: 2005
Why we love it: Wallace and Gromit are one of the cutest, most child-friendly examples of British humor ever. The endearing stop-motion duo goes on an adventure to uncover the mystery of who has been ravaging the town's vegetable crops. As the title gives away, it's actually a giant, fluffy bunny that's just monstrous enough to deliver a few good scares.
Watch now:Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, rent for $3.99
19. The Haunted Mansion
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Age recommendation: 10+
When it came out: 2003
Why we love it: Again, family Halloween movies don't need to be cinematic masterpieces to be fun to watch. In this early-2000s Disney flick, a real estate agent played by Eddie Murphy takes his wife and kids to a mansion that turns out to be very, very haunted.
It doesn't seem to want them to leave, either. But it's a Disney movie, so instead of turning into a remake of "The Shining," Murphy's character reconnects with his family as they take on the haunted house together.
Watch now:The Haunted Mansion, rent for $3.99
18. The Little Vampire
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Age recommendation: 8+
When it came out: 2000
Why we love it: Kids from the '90s grew up with "The Little Vampire," and it's still worth watching today. A 9-year-old American boy moves to Scotland. He's lonely until he meets a kid his age who turns out to be a real, live vampire. The supernatural youngster needs help turning his family back into humans, and the two friends team up to make it happen.
Watch now:The Little Vampire, rent for $2.99
17. Coraline
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Age recommendation: 9+
When it came out: 2009
Why we love it: "Coraline" is one of the creepiest animated movies ever. Despite being rated PG, its eerie, sinister vibes are enough to spook even grownups. The movie is adapted from a children's book about a little girl who wishes her family were different. She's thrown into a parallel universe with exactly the version of her family she hoped for — at first, anyway.
The perfect family becomes increasingly sinister, and Coraline has to fight her way back to her real family. The concept of your mom secretly being a malevolent fraud is pretty disturbing, so save this button-eyed movie for tweens.
Watch now:Coraline, rent for $3.99
16. Twitches
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Age recommendation: 8+
When it came out: 2005
Why we love it: The Olsen twins may have been Nick at Nite's pint-sized sweethearts, but Tia and Tamara Mowry were the official twins of Disney Channel. They had their own series, "Sister Sister," and Disney couldn't resist making a Halloween movie based on the reunited twins' trope. The pair are separated at birth and run into each other on their 21st birthday.
They soon discover they're not from this realm at all and return to the kingdom of their birth to battle "the darkness" with their newly discovered powers. It's predictable and cheesy, but it's fun anyway.
Watch now:Twitches, rent for $3.99
15. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
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Age recommendation: 4+
When it came out: 1966
Why we love it: A movie has to be truly lovable to air on ABC annually for decades on end. This Peanuts movie is a national tradition, and every kid needs to see it at least once. Poor Linus spends all of Halloween waiting for the fabled Great Pumpkin. Will it happen? If you don't know the answer, it's time to watch it.
Watch now: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, free on Apple TV or $9.96 to buy on DVD
14. Corpse Bride
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Age recommendation: 10+
When it came out: 2005
Why we love it: Tim Burton's style of animation is tailormade for Halloween. He has the eerie, cold-blue lighting and skeletal characters down pat. In the "Corpse Bride," a young man is practicing his wedding vows when a ghost hears them and thinks he's saying them to her. His accidental marriage takes him on a strangely romantic adventure into the afterlife.
Watch now:Corpse Bride, rent for $3.99
13. Scooby-Doo: The Movie
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Age recommendation: 7+
When it came out: 2002
Why we love it: We couldn't resist including a second Scooby-Doo movie on this list because solving monster mysteries fits right in with Halloween. This time, Scooby's gang reunites after a tough breakup on Spooky Island.
The island is somehow a popular Spring Break destination, despite the ominous name, and the crime-fighters get to work solving the islands ongoing mysteries.
Watch now:Scooby-Doo: The Movie, rent for $3.99
12. E.T. the Extra Terrestrial
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Age recommendation: 7+
When it came out: 1982
Why we love it: "E.T." might seem completely kid-friendly, but the alien-themed tale actually has a lot more tension than we remembered. In the movie, a young boy named Elliot meets an extra-terrestrial who has been left behind on Earth by mistake. Elliot tries to help E.T. find his way home, but the government would much prefer to capture the alien lifeform for science.
There are quite a few scary moments, but the movie is also heartfelt, cleverly done and one of the best family Halloween movies in history.
Watch now:E.T. the Extra Terrestrial, rent for $3.99
11. Spirited Away
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Age recommendation: 9+
When it came out: 2001
Why we love it: Hayao Miyazaki is the king of directing animated movies that are equal parts beautiful and unnerving. "Spirited Away" follows a young girl who enters an otherworldly spirit realm to rescue her parents from an enchantment. While there's not exactly violence in the movie, some of the creatures have frightening features that will scare the youngest of audiences. Save this one for third- or fourth-graders and up.
Watch now:Spirited Away, buy for $16.99
10. Halloweentown
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Age recommendation: 7+
When it came out: 1998
Why we love it: Disney Channel Original Movies were something else. They were so cheesy, yet so addictive. "Halloweentown" is one of the best family Halloween movies that the Disney Channel produced, starring the late Debbie Reynolds.
In the film, a girl goes to visit her grandmother only to learn that her beloved grandma is a witch ... and so is she! When Halloweentown needs saving, it's up to the pair of them to come to the rescue. If it's a movie night hit, "Halloweentown" has two sequels. They're not as good as the first one, but how many sequels are?
Watch now:Halloweentown, rent for $3.99
9. Paranorman
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Age recommendation: 10+
When it came out: 2012
Why we love it: Stop-motion animation and Halloween movies are like peanut butter and jelly. "Paranorman" is produced by the same people who made "Coraline," so you already know there's going to be some creepiness throughout. When an ordinary boy named Norman discovers he can speak with the dead, it's up to him to solve one of his town's biggest mysteries.
Watch now:Paranorman, rent for $3.99
8. Hotel Transylvania
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Age recommendation: 7+
When it came out: 2012
Why we love it: Lots of Halloween movies have plots that feel a little tired. "Hotel Transylvania's" creative storyline, fun characters and modern animation are refreshing. When a human boy happens upon a resort for monsters, chaos ensues — particularly when he develops a crush on the hotel owner's daughter, who just happens to be a vampire.
Watch now:Hotel Transylvania, rent for $3.99
7. Coco
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Age recommendation: 7+
When it came out: 2017
Why we love it: Disclaimer: Coco is about Day of the Dead, not Halloween. Since the two holidays are just a day apart, however, this beautiful, animated film is a worthy candidate for a Halloween movie marathon. Miguel, a young boy who dreams of becoming a musician, embarks on a journey to discover the truth behind his family's strange rule: No playing music, ever.
He gets stuck in the spirit world, and if he doesn't return to the land of the living soon enough, he might be trapped there forever. The plethora of skeletons gives it some solidly spooky vibes, but the touching movie is centered around family, which ultimately means you better have tissues on hand for this one.
Watch now:Coco, rent for $3.99
6. The Addams Family
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Age recommendation: 12+
When it came out: 1991
Why we love it: The original cast of "The Addams Family" was, in a word, amazing. It included Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd and Christina Ricci, and the film version was just as good as the TV show. The dark, eccentric family is hard not to like, and there's also a modern, animated version released in 2019 that's appropriate for younger audiences.
Watch now:The Addams Family, rent for $3.99
5. Matilda
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Age recommendation: 9+
When it came out: 1996
Why we love it: Never underestimate the power of wit. When a bright little girl named Matilda discovers she has magical powers, she uses them for good, defending herself and her peers against the wicked school principal and anyone else who means them harm.
Watch now:Matilda, rent for $3.99
4. Casper
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Age recommendation: 8+
When it came out: 1995
Why we love it: Christina Ricci's dark hair and big eyes made her the golden child of family Halloween movies during the 1990s. In "Casper," she plays Kathleen Harvey, a little girl with a dad who's a ghost therapist. (Sounds like a cool gig. Where can we sign up?) One particularly friendly ghost befriends her in hopes that she can help him sort out some unfinished business from his former life.
Watch now:Casper, rent for $3.99
3. Kiki's Delivery Service
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Age recommendation: 5+
When it came out: 1989
Why we love it: Look, we know there are a lot of amazing family Halloween movies out there, but we placed Kiki's Delivery service as No. 3 for a reason. It's one of the few films that's really, truly G-rated without being a complete bore for parents. Made by the renowned Studio Ghibli, the movie's beautiful animation is a work of art in itself, and the storyline is appropriate for even the youngest viewers.
When a young witch named Kiki turns 13, it's time for her to go out into the world and find a town of her own to help. Pet cat in tow, she starts her own delivery service via broom, making new friends and learning life lessons along the way. There are a few suspenseful scenes, but you can always fast-forward those if needed.
Watch now:Kiki's Delivery Service, buy for $16.99
2. The Nightmare Before Christmas
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Age recommendation: 7+
When it came out: 1993
Why we love it: Halloween movie or Christmas movie? It's as big of a debate as pineapple on pizza, but we say "The Nightmare Before Christmas" counts as both. Just watch it on repeat from October through December. Problem solved.
When Jack Skellington, a lanky skeleton living in Halloween Town, happens upon Christmas Town, he falls so in love with holiday cheer that he tries to bring it back to his hometown. Needless to say, it doesn't go too well. The movie has enough creepiness to frighten preschoolers, so wait until second grade or so to take this one for a spin.
Watch now:Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, rent for $3.99
1. Hocus Pocus
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Age recommendation: 10+
When it came out: 1993
Why we love it: No Halloween movie list would be complete without the illustrious, hilarious, incredible "Hocus Pocus." When the Sanderson sisters, who were executed for practicing witchcraft, are revived after 300 years, they spend all of Halloween night trying to, well, stay alive.
The charming trio is a delightful combination of wicked and charming, and it's a must-watch for families with older kids. A sequel is also scheduled for release in 2022.
Watch now:Hocus Pocus, rent for $3.99