Looking for a spooktacular list of the best Halloween movies for kids? Look no further! We’ve put together this collection that ranges from family-friendly, imaginative storytelling, to spooky, supernatural fun. There’s a little something for everyone, so grab some snacks and get ready for a chilling good time!
[Please note: Criteria for movie ratings have changed over time, so older films with PG ratings may have surprising language or content. We recommend previewing all movies to ensure they’re appropriate for your audience.]
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
One of the original Halloween movies for kids, this Disney animated classic features two separate stories. In “The Wind in the Willows,” Mr. Toad embarks on wild adventures, including a car theft, leading to a courtroom drama. In “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” Ichabod Crane encounters the spooky Headless Horseman in the haunted town of Sleepy Hollow.
Buy it: The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad on Amazon
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
In this beloved Peanuts animated TV special, Charlie Brown and his friends prepare for Halloween. Linus, however, believes in the Great Pumpkin, a mythical figure that delivers gifts to sincere believers. He waits for the Great Pumpkin in a pumpkin patch while the rest of the gang goes trick-or-treating.
Buy it: It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on Amazon
The Secret of NIMH (1982)
This animated fantasy film follows the adventures of Mrs. Brisby, a field mouse who embarks on a dangerous journey to save her family’s home. Along the way, she encounters a society of genetically enhanced rats and faces a powerful antagonist, NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health).
Buy it: The Secret of NIMH on Amazon
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Directed by Steven Spielberg, this iconic film tells the heartwarming story of a young boy named Elliott who befriends a stranded alien named E.T. Together with his siblings, Elliott hides E.T. from the authorities and helps him return home, forming a powerful bond in the process.
Buy it: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial on Amazon
Ghostbusters (1984) & Ghostbusters II (1989)
A group of eccentric scientists starts a ghost-catching business in New York City. Armed with proton packs, they battle supernatural entities plaguing the city, ultimately confronting an ancient Sumerian god. This comedic and supernatural adventure became a cultural phenomenon in the 1980s. In the sequel, the Ghostbusters reunite to combat paranormal activity in New York City once again, this time linked to a malevolent painting and the resurgence of the villainous Scoleri Brothers. They must save the city from supernatural disasters.
Buy it: Ghostbusters on Amazon
Gremlins (1984)
Billy receives a mysterious creature called a Mogwai as a pet, but strict rules must be followed to keep it from multiplying and turning into destructive Gremlins. Chaos ensues when these rules are broken, and the small town is overrun by mischievous monsters.
Buy it: Gremlins on Amazon
The Goonies (1985)
One of the classic Halloween movies for kids, this movie follows a group of adventurous kids who embark on a treasure hunt to save their homes from foreclosure. They follow a pirate’s map, encountering booby traps and dangerous criminals, in search of the hidden treasure of One-Eyed Willy.
Buy it: The Goonies on Amazon
The Worst Witch (1986)
This family fantasy film follows the misadventures of Mildred Hubble, a young witch attending Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches. Despite her clumsiness, Mildred becomes involved in a rivalry with the school’s snobbish witch, Ethel, and tries to prove herself.
Buy it: The Worst Witch on Amazon
Labyrinth (1986)
Directed by Jim Henson, this fantasy film stars Jennifer Connelly as Sarah, a teenager who must rescue her baby brother from the Goblin King’s labyrinth. Along the way, she encounters fantastical creatures and challenges in a world of magic and mystery.
Buy it: Labyrinth on Amazon
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
This dark comedy-musical tells the story of Seymour, a nerdy florist who discovers a strange plant with a taste for human blood. As the plant grows and demands more victims, Seymour faces moral dilemmas and comedic chaos.
Buy it: Little Shop of Horrors on Amazon
The Monster Squad (1987)
A group of young friends forms “The Monster Squad” and discovers that classic monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster, and the Wolfman are real. They must band together to stop these monsters from unleashing evil on the world.
Buy it: The Monster Squad on Amazon
Beetlejuice (1988)
A recently deceased couple enlists the help of a mischievous and crude ghost named Beetlejuice to rid their home of the new living inhabitants. Chaos and hilarity ensue in this Tim Burton-directed dark comedy. With a remake in the works, this is one of the best Halloween movies for kids right now!
Buy it: Beetlejuice on Amazon
Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
This Studio Ghibli animated film follows the adventures of Kiki, a young witch-in-training who leaves home to find her place in the world. She starts a delivery service with her talking cat companion, Jiji, while learning about independence and self-discovery.
Buy it: Kiki’s Delivery Service on Amazon
Little Monsters (1989)
A young boy befriends a mischievous monster named Maurice who lives under his bed. Together, they embark on adventures in the monster world beneath the bed, but things take a darker turn when they confront an evil monster named Boy.
Buy it: Little Monsters on Amazon
The Addams Family (1991) & Addams Family Values (1993)
The eccentric Addams family faces a new challenge when a scheming lawyer tries to take their vast fortune. Dark humor and bizarre antics ensue as they defend their unconventional way of life. In the sequel, the macabre clan faces new challenges as they welcome a new addition to the family, a baby boy named Pubert. Meanwhile, the children’s new nanny has sinister motives.
Buy it: Addams Family Movie Pack on Amazon
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
In this stop-motion animated film directed by Tim Burton, Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, becomes bored with his annual routine and discovers Christmas Town. He decides to take over Christmas, leading to whimsical and darkly comic consequences.
Buy it: The Nightmare Before Christmas on Amazon
Hocus Pocus (1993)
After a teenage boy and his sister accidentally bring three witch sisters back to life on Halloween night, they must work to stop the witches from becoming immortal. This family-friendly film is filled with magical misadventures and is one of the most popular Halloween movies for kids.
Buy it: Hocus Pocus on Amazon
Casper (1995)
A friendly but lonely ghost named Casper befriends a young girl named Kat and her father, who move into an old haunted mansion. The film explores themes of friendship, family, and acceptance.
Buy it: Casper on Amazon
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998)
The Scooby-Doo gang reunites to investigate a supposedly haunted island where they encounter real supernatural creatures for the first time. This animated film takes a darker and more mysterious turn compared to the classic Scooby-Doo mysteries.
Buy it: Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island on Amazon
Alvin and the Chipmunks Scare-Riffic Double Feature (1999/2000)
In Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein, the Chipmunks and the Chipettes take a trip to a theme park, where they cross paths with the infamous monster Frankenstein. Chaos and comedic antics follow as they navigate their encounter with the legendary monster. They team up again after the Chipmunks and the Chipettes become convinced that their neighbor, Mr. Talbot, is a werewolf. They set out to prove it, leading to more hilarious and spooky adventures.
Buy it: Alvin and the Chipmunks Scare-Riffic Double Feature on Amazon
The Little Vampire (2000)
A young boy named Tony befriends a family of friendly vampires while on vacation in Scotland. Together, they work to thwart the plans of a vampire hunter and help the young vampire Rudolph become human again.
Buy it: The Little Vampire on Amazon
Spirited Away (2001)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, this Studio Ghibli masterpiece follows the story of Chihiro, a young girl who becomes trapped in a mysterious and magical world. To rescue her parents, she must navigate this otherworldly realm filled with unique creatures and spirits.
Buy it: Spirited Away on Amazon
The Haunted Mansion (2003)
A real estate agent and his family visit a mansion with a dark and ghostly past. They soon discover that the mansion is haunted by a cast of eccentric and humorous ghosts. The family must solve the mystery of the mansion to break the curse.
Buy it: The Haunted Mansion on Amazon
Scary Godmother: Halloween Spooktakular (2003)
In this animated Halloween special, a young girl named Hannah attends a Halloween party hosted by her Scary Godmother, where she encounters various supernatural creatures and learns valuable life lessons.
Buy it: Scary Godmother: Halloween Spooktakular on Amazon
Halloweentown (2004)
Marnie discovers that she comes from a family of witches and that her grandmother lives in a magical realm called Halloweentown. She must learn to use her own magical powers to save Halloweentown from an evil force.
Buy it: Halloweentown on Amazon
Corpse Bride (2005)
Directed by Tim Burton, this stop-motion animated film tells the story of Victor, a young man who accidentally proposes to a deceased bride while rehearsing his wedding vows in the woods. He finds himself in the Land of the Dead, torn between two worlds.
Buy it: Corpse Bride on Amazon
Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie (2005)
In the Hundred Acre Wood, Winnie the Pooh and his friends embark on a Halloween adventure to capture a mysterious creature called a Heffalump. Along the way, they learn valuable lessons about friendship and acceptance.
Buy it: Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie on Amazon
Spookley the Square Pumpkin (2005)
Spookley is a square-shaped pumpkin that faces discrimination from the round pumpkins in the pumpkin patch. With the help of his friends, he learns that being different is what makes him special.
Buy it: Spookley the Square Pumpkin on Amazon
Twitches 2-Movie Collection (2005/2007)
In Twitches, twins Alex and Camryn discover on their 21st birthday they are witches with magical powers. They must work together to defeat an evil force that threatens to consume their magical world. In the sequel, the twin witches Alex and Camryn return to their magical world, Coventry, to confront new challenges and adversaries as they come into their full powers.
Buy it: Twitches 2-Movie Collection on Amazon
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
In this stop-motion animated film, eccentric inventor Wallace and his loyal dog Gromit run a pest-control business. They must save their town’s annual vegetable competition from a mysterious, vegetable-eating monster.
Buy it: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit on Amazon
Monster House (2006)
Three friends discover that the spooky house in their neighborhood is alive and eating anyone who dares to enter. They must band together to stop the sinister dwelling before Halloween.
Buy it: Monster House on Amazon
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
When a family moves into an old mansion, they discover a hidden world of magical creatures and a dangerous secret book. The children must protect this ancient book from dark forces.
Buy it: The Spiderwick Chronicles on Amazon
Coraline (2009)
Based on Neil Gaiman’s novel, this dark fantasy film follows a young girl named Coraline who discovers a secret door in her new home. It leads to a parallel world that seems perfect but hides dark secrets and dangers. One of the best Halloween movies for kids.
Buy it: Coraline on Amazon
Scared Shrekless (2010)
Shrek and his friends tell spooky stories in a Halloween-themed special. Donkey, Puss in Boots, and other characters share their own tales of terror and humor.
Buy it: Scared Shrekless on Amazon
The Dog Who Saved Halloween (2011)
A talking dog named Zeus helps save Halloween when he discovers a plot to steal a prized diamond. Zeus and his family must foil the thieves’ plans in this family-friendly comedy.
Buy it: The Dog Who Saved Halloween on Amazon
Spooky Buddies (2011)
The adorable talking puppies embark on a Halloween adventure when they accidentally awaken the spirit of a wicked warlock. They must stop him from taking over the world with a Halloween curse.
Buy it: Spooky Buddies on Amazon
Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Dracula operates a lavish hotel where monsters can relax and be themselves without fear of humans. However, his world is turned upside down when a human boy stumbles into the hotel and falls for Dracula’s daughter, Mavis.
Buy it: Hotel Transylvania on Amazon
ParaNorman (2012)
Norman, a young boy with the ability to see and communicate with ghosts, must use his powers to save his town from a centuries-old curse and a zombie uprising.
Buy it: ParaNorman on Amazon
Frankenweenie (2012)
Directed by Tim Burton, this stop-motion animated film tells the story of a young boy named Victor who brings his beloved dog Sparky back to life. However, his actions have unintended and monstrous consequences.
Buy it: Frankenweenie on Amazon
The Little Ghost (2013)
Based on a popular German children’s book, this film follows the adventures of a friendly young ghost who longs to see the world during the one night each year when ghosts can appear.
Buy it: The Little Ghost on Amazon
Room on the Broom (2013)
In this charming animated short film, a friendly witch travels with her cat and a variety of animal companions on her magical broom. They encounter challenges and help others along the way.
Buy it: Room on the Broom on Amazon
Curious George: Halloween Double Feature (2013)
Curious George and his friend the Man in the Yellow Hat celebrate Halloween in these animated adventures. They attend a Boo Festival and uncover a mystery involving a ghostly scarecrow.
Buy it: Curious George: Halloween Double Feature on Amazon
Toy Story of Terror! (2014)
In this Toy Story special, the toys go on a road trip with Bonnie and end up at a spooky motel. When one of the toys goes missing, the others must overcome their fears to rescue their friend.
Buy it: Toy Story of Terror! on Amazon
Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015)
Dracula becomes a doting grandfather when his daughter Mavis and her human husband give birth to a half-vampire, half-human child. However, he worries that the child might not inherit any vampire traits.
Buy it: Hotel Transylvania 2 on Amazon
Goosebumps (2015)
A young boy named Zach moves to a new town and befriends his mysterious neighbor, who turns out to be the author R.L. Stine. When the creatures from Stine’s Goosebumps books come to life, they must work together to stop the literary horrors.
Buy it: Goosebumps on Amazon
The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Halloween! (2016)
One of the best Halloween movies for kids who are a little younger, this film follows the Cat in the Hat as he takes Nick and Sally on a Halloween adventure to help a lost baby bat find its way home.
Buy it: The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Halloween! on Amazon
Monster Trucks (2016)
A high school student befriends an unusual creature that hides inside a customized pickup truck. Together, they uncover a conspiracy and develop an extraordinary bond.
Buy it: Monster Trucks on Amazon
Monster Family (2017)
The Wishbone family, cursed to turn into monsters, embarks on a trip to a costume party, unaware that they will undergo a transformation that makes them look like real monsters.
Buy it: Monster Family on Amazon
Coco (2017)
Miguel embarks on a journey to the Land of the Dead to uncover his family’s secrets and pursue his passion for music. This vibrant Pixar film celebrates Mexican culture and traditions.
Buy it: Coco on Amazon
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018)
Dracula and his monster friends take a cruise vacation to relax. However, Dracula falls for the ship’s captain, and things get hilariously complicated.
Buy it: Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation on Amazon
Mary and the Witch’s Flower (2018)
Mary discovers a magical flower that grants her temporary magical powers. She attends a school for witches, but her newfound abilities lead her to uncover dark secrets.
Buy it: Mary and the Witch’s Flower on Amazon
The House With a Clock in Its Walls (2018)
A young orphan named Lewis goes to live with his eccentric uncle in a mysterious, creaky old house. Together, they uncover a hidden world of magic and must stop a malevolent force.
Buy it: The House With a Clock in Its Walls on Amazon
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)
A group of teens discovers a book of terrifying stories with the power to become real. They must confront the horrors unleashed from the book’s pages. This is definitely one of the Halloween movies for kids to save till they’re a little older. It’s spooky!
Buy it: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark on Amazon
Cruella (2021)
This live-action film explores the backstory of Cruella de Vil, the iconic Disney villain from 101 Dalmatians. It follows her transformation from an aspiring fashion designer into the infamous puppy kidnapper.
Buy it: Cruella on Amazon
The Witches (2022)
Reimagining Roald Dahl’s beloved story for a modern audience, The Witches tells the humorous and darkly heartwarming tale of Bruno, a young orphan who moves in with his adoring grandma in the rural Alabama town of Demopolis. They happen across some glamorous but diabolical witches who are up to no good.
Buy it: The Witches on Amazon
The Munsters (2022)
A new adaptation of the classic 1960s TV series, The Munsters is a comedy-horror film that follows the lives of a family of monsters trying to fit into suburban life.
Buy it: The Munsters on Amazon
The Amazing Maurice (2023)
Based on Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novel, this animated film follows the adventures of a clever cat named Maurice and a group of talking rats as they pull off a scam in a town overrun by rat catchers and a magical menace.
Buy it: The Amazing Maurice on Amazon
