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50 of the Best Halloween Movies for Kids
Updated: Oct. 12, 2021Scare up some fun with these Halloween movies for kids.
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The best Halloween movies for kids to watch during spooky season
What is Halloween without all the family movie time scares? Our round-up of the best Halloween movies for kids guarantees a great night in when the trick-or-treating is done. Whether it’s a live-action film from the ’90s or one of the many classic Disney Halloween movies, these films are sure to get you even more excited about this holiday. With a bowl of popcorn and your favorite Halloween snacks, get ready to dive into these fantastic worlds and see the best of the spooky and fun.
Monsters, Inc.
Rated: G
A two-year-old girl named Boo stumbles into a monster world and frightens the daylights out of two endearing ogres—Mike and Sulley. Soon Boo befriends the monsters, who try to save her and fight the evil corporation they work for. Take a deep dive into the origins of Halloween creatures.
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Rated: NR
How can you let Halloween pass without watching one of the best Halloween movies for kids where the Peanuts gang dresses up in Halloween costumes?
The Addams Family
Rated: PG-13
This family-friendly Halloween film is based on the television show of the same name. With a bit of horror, fantasy, and comedy wrapped up together, this film will appeal to the teenagers in your household. And don’t miss the best Halloween party games to get you in the spooky spirit.
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
Rated: G
A classic animated double-feature, one part of this movie notably tells the story of the Headless Horseman—a perfect pick for a dark Halloween night filled with spooky tales. See if you can get your head on right and solve these Halloween riddles.
Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland
Rated: G
An under-the-radar fantasy with enchanting hand-drawn visuals, Little Nemo is a story about temptation and consequences filled with startling baddies. In the need of something to snack on during your spooktastic marathon? Try Ree Drummond’s recipe for Halloween bark, suitable for all as you can pick and choose your ingredients!
Jason and the Argonauts
Rated: G
Stop-motion monsters make this a fun, ghoulish alternative for kiddos tired of typical Halloween fare so no need to fear!
Casper (PG)
Rated: PG
Harvey, a paranormal expert, is hired to banish the ghosts from an abandoned mansion and comes across Casper, the friendly ghost, who forms a friendship with Harvey’s daughter, Kat. Speaking of ghosts, you should check out these chilling real-life ghost stories.
Ghostbusters (PG)
Rated: PG
For a dose of the paranormal, add this film to your holiday lineup. It’s up to three paranormal experts, aptly named “ghostbusters,” to rid New York of ghosts who have taken over the city.
E.T. (PG)
Rated: G
After being stranded on Earth when a spaceship leaves without him, a friendly Extra-Terrestrial (affectionately known as E.T.) develops a close relationship with 10-year-old Elliot and his siblings. The kids protect their new friend, help him build a communications device to “phone home,” and even dress him up for Halloween. This heartwarming story of friendship is a delight for the entire family. Here are some of the best Halloween movies on Hulu to keep your scary movie marathon going!
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Rated: PG
Perhaps one of the greatest classic kids’ Halloween movies, a ghoulish tale gets transformed into a stunning animated film. You’ll watch with fascination as the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown falls in love with the idea of Christmas and tries to recreate it in his own town. Keep the spooky levels up by reading these Halloween books for kids.
The Corpse Bride (PG)
Rated: PG
This magical film features most scares 10-year-olds can handle. Plus, it features a storyline even adults will enjoy—minus the gory scenes of R-rated films.
The Dark Crystal (PG)
Rated: PG
This “good vs. evil” muppet-fest is serious fun—and more than a little haunting, with scores of odd creatures running around. Learn more about this holiday by knowing Halloween colors and what they mean!
The Witches (PG)
Rated: PG
This adaptation of Roald Dahl’s novel is a gripping treat for both kids and adults. An orphaned boy moves with his grandmother to an English hotel, where a group of witches plots to transform all children into mice. Add these other witch movies to your Halloween movie list, too.
The Neverending Story
Rated: PG
Who said all kids’ Halloween movies have to have ghosts and witches? Kids who could do without vampires and other played-out Halloween monsters will find a lot to like in this mystical adventure film based on the popular novel.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (PG)
Rated: PG
The caped crusader grapples with what appears to be a murderous apparition in this critically acclaimed (and moody) animated feature.
James and the Giant Peach (PG)
Rated: PG
Who would have thought an animated film about a giant peach would be such a hit? Based on the Roald Dahl book, James and the Giant Peach is about an orphan named James who takes a bite out of a magic peach and somehow finds an enlarged peach with a host of bugs, who later become his friends, as they travel around the world. Here are a few of the best Halloween movies on Netflix.
Scooby-Doo (PG)
Rated: PG
Scooby-Doo and the gang reunite on Spooky Island for this live version of the original animated television series. Kids will enjoy the funny, silly, and spooky adventures of the Mystery Inc. gang.
Monster House
Rated: PG
Old-fashioned haunted house fun with all the requisite ghouls, ghosts, and peril. Keep the fun alive by cracking up at these Halloween memes after your movie.
The Princess and the Frog (G)
Rated: G
This Disney movie set in New Orleans is about Tiana, a woman who wants to open her own restaurant. When Prince Naveen, who has been turned into a frog, thinks that Tiana is a princess he kisses her—and then she turns into a frog. Now the duo has to figure out how to turn themselves back into humans. This story has fantasy elements and a Disney charm perfect for families to watch around Halloween.
MirrorMask
Rated: PG
A fantasy with absorbing, unique visuals, MirrorMask is more haunting than a werewolf howl.
Coraline
Rated: PG
A young girl discovers another world where the grass seems greener—but is soon tormented by the twisted beings within.
Beetlejuice
Rated: PG
For an entertaining evening with the family, watch Beetlejuice. A ghost couple tries desperately to chase away a new family that has moved into the home they inhabit. When all else fails, they hire Beetlejuice to get rid of the new owners of the haunted home. But things don’t go as planned…
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Rated: PG
What better time than Halloween to revisit the students of Hogwarts, the enchanting school of witchcraft and wizardry? Show other films in the series to make it a complete marathon of these great kids’ Halloween movies.
ParaNorman
Rated: PG
If your kids saw and liked Coraline, they’ll love ParaNorman—a story about a boy who uses his ability to see and speak with the dead to save his home from a curse. Snack on some non-candy treats during the film to really get into the spooky spirit.
Hocus Pocus (PG)
Rated: PG
Our kids’ Halloween movies list wouldn’t be complete without this classic family movie involving these three scheming witch sisters who are back to achieve immortality after their hanging 300 years ago—and they’re casting spells through song and dance along the way. Hocus Pocus is the right potion for Halloween fun (and fair warning, you’ll be quoting the movie in no time).
Poltergeist (PG)
Rated: PG
Nothing can go wrong in the suburbs…right? Well for the Freeling family that wasn’t the case as they noticed their suburban home seemed strange. Random breaks, sudden sounds, and their child missing; this family is in for a ghoulish treat in this scary Halloween movie.
Double, Double, Toil & Trouble
Rated: TV-Y7
Remember the days when Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were children starring in family-friendly Halloween movies for kids? This is a great addition to your list of family Halloween movies.
Don’t Look Under the Bed
Rated: PG
This Disney Channel original film and isn’t as scary as it seems! It’s the story of a high school student named Frances who teams up with an imaginary friend to defeat the Boogeyman, who plagues the town with pranks and eventually kidnaps her brother. Frances goes into the Boogeyworld dimension to rescue her brother and confront the Boogeyman once and for all. But can she do it? The answer rests in your next family Halloween movie night.
Room on the Broom
Rated: NR
This 2012 short film adaptation of Julia Donaldson’s children’s book brings the story of a kindly witch flying around on her broom to life. This cartoon movie was so heartwarming that it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
Under Wraps
Rated: G
Three 12-year-old kids discover an Egyptian mummy and somehow figure out a way to bring it back to life. While they’re afraid at first, they grow to be more comfortable with the mummy and actually name the mummy Harold. However, they discover that Harold has to be placed back in his sarcophagus before midnight on Halloween, or else there will be disastrous consequences. Can the kids safely return Harold?
Spookley: The Square Pumpkin
Rated: G
Most people think that pumpkins are more round in shape, so where does that leave Spookley, a square pumpkin? The other pumpkins make fun of him for his shape, but thankfully Spookley has a few friends who stand by his side. Once you’re done watching this movie, head to your local pumpkin patch and see if you can find any uniquely shaped pumpkins!
Kiki’s Delivery Service
Rated: G
Kiki proves there are good witches out there by flying on her broom and starting her very own delivery service. While the film was released in 1989, it holds up and would make a great addition to your Halloween movie collection.
The Pagemaster
Rated: G
A young boy finds refuge in a library on a rainy day and finds that he’s been transported to a whole new animated world. He befriends books, climbs incredible heights, and works his way back to being a real-life boy again.
Hotel Transylvania
Rated: PG
Hotel Transylvania is the one place all ghoulish monsters can be themselves and it’s all run by Dracula himself. While everyone seems welcomed, a certain group of individuals isn’t: humans. When a human stumbles in through the doors and finds himself with Mavis, Dracula’s daughter, he and his friends at the hotel will pull out all their tricks to protect her from humans.
Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge
Rated: G
This is the second film in Disney’s Halloweentown series starring Kimberly J. Brown, Judith Hoag, and Debbie Reynolds. Join this mother/daughter/grandmother trio as they arrive back at Halloweentown, a place where vibrant magic once lived and has now turned dark and gloomy due to a “grey spell.” The trio must work together to save the town, their friends, and figure out just who caused this mayhem to occur. Get out of your personal “grey spell” by reading these Halloween jokes.
Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo!
Rated: NR
The gang gets back together as Scooby-Doo and his friends solve a spooky mystery to save Crystal Cove! They get some help along the way from people including Bill Nye The Science Guy but is it enough to complete their latest endeavor?
Goosebumps
Rated: PG
Sometimes the books we read can become extremely vivid in our minds. In this adventure, the words and creatures of the classic Goosebumps books are coming to life and wreaking havoc in the real world. It’s up to author R. L. Stine and his neighborhood friends to save the town from the monsters that once found a home on the pages of Stine’s books. This film won’t keep you up at night but these scary podcasts sure will!
The Book of Life
Rated: PG
Join Manolo as he goes through an adventure in not one but three worlds including the Land of the Remembered and the Land of the Forgotten. On this Day of the Dead adventure, you’ll see all of your spooky time favorites.
Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest
Rated: NR
Autumn is here which only means one thing—the annual Boo Festival is back. Follow along with Curious George and his friends as he embarks on an adventure to find a legendary scarecrow all while keeping up with the classic Halloween traditions, from pumpkin carving to bobbing for apples.
Twitches
Rated: PG
Join Tia and Tamara Mowry in the 2005 Disney Channel original movie. This book-to-film adaptation follows a set of twin sisters that happened to be separated at birth. Little do they know, each has mystical powers causing a sisterly bond to form while juggling their newfound practice of magic and defeating the Darkness—seems pretty easy right?
The Haunted Mansion
Rated: PG
You may be familiar with this Disney attraction but watch the story behind it. Jim, a workaholic realtor, takes his wife and kids for a mini-vacation that ends up not being what he expected. In a mansion filled with ghosts, join the family on this horror comedy adventure. This film is also one of our favorite funny Halloween movies as well.
The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Halloween!
Rated: G
Follow along as the Cat in the Hat, Nick, and Sally go on a spooktacular adventure. On the hunt for the perfect costume, this movie is filled with spooky surprises, laughs, music, and more. You’ll definitely be putting this film on your list of favorite Halloween movies for kids!
Labyrinth
Rated: PG
Family troubles will have us wishing away it all and that’s exactly what happened to Sarah Williams. In the search to find and save her baby brother, Sarah must beat the clock and get him before the Goblin King (played by David Bowie) keeps him as a minion forever. Creatures of all kinds can be found throughout the Labyrinth and how could we forget about the tunes that go along with the film!
Toy Story of Terror!
Rated: G
Woody and the gang are on a new mysterious adventure to find their friend, Mr. Potato Head, who recently went missing at a motel. This fun yet frightful adventure is filled with all your favorite characters, laughs, and more.
Spooky Buddies
Rated: G
A pup-tastic Halloween adventure with these golden retriever siblings as they encounter the haunted tales while visiting the manor of Warwick the Warlock. In an attempt to undo mistakes and save puppies, there’s nothing these buddies will let get in their way! Grab your canine companion for fright night and watch these dog movies.
Frankenweenie
Rated: PG
We’ve all heard of the tale of Frankenstein but here it is with a twist. Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist, finds a companion in his bull terrier named Sparky and prefers to be with him rather than children his own age. After a tragic event, Sparky passes leaving young Frankenstein left with one option. He must revive his beloved pet. However, that’s not exactly the only thing that comes back to life. If your kiddo can’t get enough of the spooky season, don’t miss these fun Halloween crafts for kids they’ll just love.
Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie
Rated: G
It’s Halloween so it’s time to celebrate—especially because this is Lumpy’s first Halloween with his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood! What seems like a tale told by Tigger soon becomes realities for these friends as they work on their new adventure and try to give Lumpy the best first Halloween adventure. Now that the kids have gotten their fill of Halloween movies, you’ll want to make sure they have the best kids costumes for the perfect holiday!
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