What better way to cap off a busy night of trick-or-treating than with a spooktacular Halloween movie, a bowl of festive snacks and goodies, and the air conditioning set to a crisp 16 degrees? You can cozy up under a blanket with your little pumpkins and enjoy the eerie atmosphere. Thanks to everyone who participated in our survey, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite not-too-scary Halloween movies for kids.
1. Hotel Transylvania
Out of the brilliant trilogy, the original one takes the cake. Dracula, who runs a high-end resort hidden from the human world, becomes overprotective when a boy discovers the resort and falls for the count’s teenaged daughter.
2. The Addams Family
There have been many versions of this classic, but the animated one became the kids’ favorite. The eccentric and macabre Addams family moves to a bland suburb, where Wednesday Addams’ friendship with the daughter of a local reality show host stirs up conflict between the families.
3. The Corpses Bride
From the creative genius Tim Burton himself, this creepy cartoon is a love-it-or-hate-it kind of movie. When a shy groom practices his wedding vows near a deceased young woman, she rises from the grave, thinking he has married her.
4. Monster House
This one is for slightly older kids, and it’s sure to make you jump out of your seat when you least expect it. Three teens discover that their neighbor’s house is actually a living, breathing, scary monster.
5. Casper the Friendly Ghost
Who can resist the adorable Casper? An afterlife therapist and his daughter meet a friendly young ghost when they move into a crumbling mansion in order to rid the premises of wicked spirits.
6. Hocus Pocus
As the kids grow a bit older, the witches’ creepy pranks and silly mistakes become hilarious. A curious youngster moves to Salem, where he struggles to fit in before awakening a trio of diabolical witches executed in the 17th century.
7. The Haunted Mansion
A Halloween movie with a moral lesson and Eddie Murphy at his funniest. A realtor and his family are summoned to a mansion, which they soon discover is haunted. Along the way, he learns an important lesson about the family he has neglected.
8. Coraline
It’s surprising that this one ranked so high, as it can still give some of us the creeps. Kids seem to love the eerie thrill of Coraline. An adventurous 11-year-old girl finds another world that’s a strangely idealized version of her frustrating home, but it has sinister secrets.
9. ParaNorman
A favorite among tweens, this movie brings all the spooky attitude you’d expect. A misunderstood boy takes on ghosts, zombies, and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse.
10. Frankenweenie
This one is more suitable for older kids as it explores themes of life after death and gets a bit creepy. When a boy’s beloved dog passes away suddenly, he attempts to bring the animal back to life through a powerful science experiment.
11. The Witches
We’ve all read the book to our kids, and they’ve imagined what these witches could look like. A Roald Dahl classic brought to life with a superb cast. A young boy and his grandmother have a run-in with a coven of witches and their leader.
12. Goosebumps the Movie
A spin-off of the highly popular Goosebumps books and movies. A teenager teams up with the daughter of young adult horror author R. L. Stine after the writer’s imaginary demons are set free in the town of Madison, Delaware.
13. Poohs Heffalump Halloween Movie
Perfect for the little ones who adore all things Winnie the Pooh. Lumpy teams up with tiny Roo for a Halloween adventure in the Hundred Acre Wood, in this animated tale about friendship, bravery, and teamwork.
14. Room on the Broom
If I could vote, this would be my top pick! I’ve read this book and played the CD to my kids so many times that I could practically play a part in this beloved kids classic. To the annoyance of her cat, a kindly witch allows a dog, a bird, and a frog who have helped her retrieve lost items to ride on her broomstick, making it top-heavy. The broom is destroyed by a fire-breathing dragon who threatens to eat the witch, but the creatures band together to impersonate a monster and save her. As a result, she fashions a luxurious new broom with seats for all.
15. Muppets Haunted Mansion
Lastly, we have a classic funny Muppet story with a slightly spooky twist. On Halloween night, Gonzo is challenged to spend one night in The Haunted Mansion.
If you can think of another brilliant Halloween movie to add to this list for next year, we would love to hear from you at [email protected]. Happy Halloween!
