"Coraline," "Hotel Transylvania," and "Beetlejuice" are among some of the most spooktacular family films to get into the Halloween spirit.
It's that time of the year when our thoughts turn to costumes and candy, as the nights grow longer and creatures stir in the shadows. The Halloween season is a time when children can stretch their imaginations, become somebody new, and explore the darker side of life.
From classics like Beetlejuice to modern staples such as Hotel Transylvania, here are the 25 best Halloween movies for kids to watch while waiting to go trick-or-treating.
The Addams Family (1991)
When a con artist pretending to be the missing Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd) shows up at the Addams' doorstep, Gomez (Raul Julia), Morticia (Anjelica Huston), and the rest of their gothic, torture-obsessed clan welcome him with open arms. But as this fake Fester is hired to steal the Addams fortune and kick them out of their dreary abode, he soon learns that the devilishly delightful family is far more clever — and sinister — than they appear.
Based on the classic 1960s sitcom, The Addams Family brews a mean mix of dark humor and dry wit that's just right for a pre-teen and up crowd. While their casually morbid behaviors might shock you, the family's idiosyncratic charm is what makes them oddly relatable and comforting. —James Mercadante
Where to watch The Addams Family: Paramount+
EW grade: C+ (read the review)
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Cast: Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, Jimmy Workman, Judith Malina, Carel Struycken, Christopher Hart
Related: Every Addams Family adaptation, ranked: From the original TV show to Wednesday
Beetlejuice (1988)
Just when they're getting used to being dead, the recently deceased Adam (Alec Baldwin) and Barbara (Geena Davis) find their home invaded by nouveau riche boneheads who want to market the house as a haunted tourist trap. Desperate, the couple enlists the services of Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), a depraved demon claiming to be a "bio-exorcist" who can scare the new owners away.
Enlivened by director Tim Burton's stylized frights, Beetlejuice is a visual treat, and Keaton's fast-talking slapstick is irresistible, making the occasional raunchy moments fun for teens. And kids who wish it could be Halloween all year round will love Winona Ryder in her breakout role as a gloomy teenage goth. —Danny Horn
Where to watch Beetlejuice: Max
Director:Tim Burton
Cast:Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton,Jeffrey Jones,Catherine O'Hara, Winona Ryder
Related: The cast of Beetlejuice: Where are they now?
The Boxtrolls (2014)
There's a race of ravenous monsters living under the streets of Cheesebridge, and the frightened townspeople are determined to put an end to the reign of terror. But in Laika's The Boxtrolls, the cardboard box-wearing creatures are actually gentle and inventive scavengers who have been raising an orphan boy called Eggs (voiced by Game of Thrones' Isaac Hempstead Wright) as one of their own.
The local populace has been tricked by the ambitious town exterminator, Archibald Snatcher (Ben Kingsley), who's been spreading lies about the trolls' appetite for human children. With his world under attack, Eggs must venture to the surface and ally with inquisitive rich girl Winifred (Elle Fanning) to stop the patrols and save his adopted family. In addition to a clever visual style, the film has a positive message about overcoming prejudice and understanding other people. —D.H.
Where to watch The Boxtrolls: Amazon Prime Video
Directors:Graham Annable, Anthony Stacchi
Cast:Ben Kingsley, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Elle Fanning, Dee Bradley Baker, Steve Blum, Toni Collette
Related: The 28 best Halloween movies ready to stream right now
Casper (1995)
Ghosts abound in Casper, a clever comedy about a lonely little ghost boy (Malachi Pearson) who dreams of making friends. Casper and his three obnoxious uncles peacefully haunt the halls of Whipstaff Manor, until a spoiled heiress (Cathy Moriarty) learns that there's secret treasure hidden inside the mansion.
Hoping to expel the spirits, she hires a "paranormal therapist" (Bill Pullman) and his daughter Kat (Christina Ricci), but the girl ends up striking an unlikely friendship with the titular Friendly Ghost. There's a heavy focus on death and the afterlife in this mildly macabre tale, but no real scares. —D.H.
Where to watch Casper: Amazon Prime Video
EW grade: C (read the review)
Director:Brad Silberling
Cast:Bill Pullman, Christina Ricci, Malachi Pearson, Cathy Moriarty, Eric Idle
Related: Christina Ricci says she wishes she could redo the '90s: 'I regret so much'
Coraline (2009)
Coraline is sure to give your kids the creeps, but it might also help them to imagine their world in a new way. In this dark fable from the mind of Neil Gaiman, young Coraline (voiced by Dakota Fanning) is dissatisfied with her family's new home, until she discovers a secret passage to an alternate mirror world that's more colorful and exciting than real life. There, her Other Mother (Teri Hatcher) and Other Father (John Hodgman) look just like her real parents, but they're happier, more attentive, and more watchful with their spooky button eyes.
Coraline is charmed at first, but when they try to sew buttons on her eyes as well, she realizes that this realm is a magical trap for her and her family. The villain grows increasingly sinister and scary-looking, so it's not a good choice for the younger set, but tweens will find this Halloween movie to be exciting and well-animated. —D.H.
Where to watch Coraline: The Roku Channel
EW grade:A (read the review)
Director:Henry Selick
Cast:Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, John Hodgman,Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French,Ian McShane
Related: Neil Gaiman, Teri Hatcher look back on the otherworldly eeriness of LAIKA's Coraline
Corpse Bride (2005)
Corpse Bride is another spooky masterpiece from Tim Burton, this time as a musical with gorgeous stop-motion animation. Victor Van Dort (voiced by Johnny Depp) is engaged to the sweet Victoria Everglot (Emily Watson), but when he visits a dark forest to practice his vows, he accidentally promises himself to a deceased bride.
Emily (Helena Bonham Carter), who was murdered on the day of her own wedding, claims Victor as her husband and drags him into the world of the dead. Underground, he's surrounded by singing skeletons, talking spiders, and his departed pet dog — cornering him into a choice between his living love Victoria and the ethereal Emily. Witty songs, a heartbreaking story, and an action-packed finale make this an easy pick for a tasty Halloween treat. —D.H.
Where to watch Corpse Bride: Max
EW grade:B (read the review)
Directors:Tim Burton, Mike Johnson
Cast:Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson,Richard E. Grant, Danny Elfman, Albert Finney
Related: The cast of Corpse Bride: Where are they now?
Frankenweenie (2012)
Director Tim Burton continues his run of kid-approved spooky shows with the 2012 stop-motion animation feature Frankenweenie. Mourning the death of his trusty dog Sparky, young Victor Frankenstein (voiced by Charlie Tahan) decides to take matters into his own hands and zap his pup back to life. But when the bullies at school discover Victor's reanimation machine, they use it to create monsters of their own, stirring up dangerous chaos in town. This dark but strangely relatable tale of a pet's love that transcends death will strike a chord with kids and adults. —D.H.
Where to watch Frankenweenie: Disney+
EW grade:A– (read the review)
Director:Tim Burton
Cast:Catherine O'Hara,Martin Short,Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer, Winona Ryder
Related: The strange true story of Tim Burton's normal hometown
Ghostbusters (1984)
Perfect for older kids, Ghostbusters is a timeless comedy classic with a top-notch cast. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson's characters start a ghost-hunting business in New York City, promising to rid clients of paranormal threats for a price.
As supernatural energy spikes in Midtown, two residents played by Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis are possessed by dangerous demigods that threaten to destroy the city. The specters are occasionally scary, but the light comic tone keeps things upbeat. (Plus, it will forever change the way your family looks at marshmallows.) —D.H.
Where to watch Ghostbusters: Starz
Director:Ivan Reitman
Cast:Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis
Related: The cast of Ghostbusters: Where are they now?
Goosebumps (2015)
Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette) isn't exactly thrilled about relocating from the Big Apple to the sleepy town of Madison, Del. However, his perspective quickly shifts when he meets his neighbor, Hannah (Odeya Rush), and learns that her father is none other than R.L. Stine (Jack Black) — the legendary mastermind behind the beloved Goosebumps series.
After Zach accidentally unleashes the monsters from Stine's sealed manuscripts, it's up to him, Hannah, and the quirky author to return these creatures to the pages from whence they came. As EW's critic writes, Goosebumps is a "never-boring trip to a world, where stories and imagination are powerful tools: that just might inspire kids to do the scariest thing of all: pick up a book." —J.M.
Where to watch Goosebumps: Amazon Prime Video
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Rob Letterman
Cast: Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush, Amy Ryan, Ryan Lee, Jillian Bell
Related: The 15 best Jack Black movies and TV shows, ranked
Halloweentown (1998)
Kids can visit a new realm in the charming Disney Channel Original Movie Halloweentown. Thirteen-year-old Marnie (Kimberly J. Brown) thinks there's nothing special about her — until she overhears an argument between her mother and grandmother about training her to use magic powers.
Suspicious, she and her siblings follow Grandma Aggie (Debbie Reynolds) as she boards a mysterious bus and travels to Halloweentown, a friendly community of skeletons, warlocks, and assorted ghouls located in another dimension. Marnie discovers that she's the descendant of a line of witches, and, with Aggie's encouragement, she unlocks her magical gifts just in time to battle a source of evil hidden in the town. It's a sunny story for a crisp fall evening with the family. —D.H.
Where to watch Halloweentown: Disney+
Director:Duwayne Dunham
Cast:Debbie Reynolds,Judith Hoag, Kimberly J. Brown, Joey Zimmerman, Phillip Van Dyke
Related: Halloweentown cast: Where are they now?
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Worthy of an annual movie night tradition, the comedy-adventure Hocus Pocus features an appealing cast of witty witches who face off against three kids and their talking black cat. On Halloween night in Salem, Mass., skeptical loner Max (Omri Katz) recklessly lights the magical Black Flame Candle, which brings a trio of wicked women back to life after three hundred years.
The Sanderson Sisters — played with gusto by Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker — plan to steal the life force from the town's children before daybreak, and only Max, his sister Dani (Thora Birch), and his crush Allison (Vinessa Shaw) can stop them. It's a campy celebration of all the fun and frights of the season. A sequel, Hocus Pocus 2, was released on Disney+ in 2022, and a third film is on the way. —D.H.
Where to watch Hocus Pocus: Disney+
EW grade: C– (read the review)
Director:Kenny Ortega
Cast:Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, Sarah Jessica Parker, Omri Katz,Thora Birch
Related: Where Hocus Pocus was filmed
Hotel Transylvania (2012)
There's a luxury hotel hidden away in the Transylvania hills full to the rafters with vampires, werewolves, zombies, and everything else that goes bump in the night. In this fast-paced farce, Count Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler) has built a safe space for monsters to gather far removed from the pitchfork and torch-wielding humans that threaten them.
Dracula wants to keep his teenage daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez) protected from the outside world, but his plans for her 118th birthday party are disrupted by the unexpected arrival of Johnny (Andy Samberg), a laid-back human traveler. It's love at first sight for the two, and Dracula desperately tries to keep them apart without alerting any of the other monsters that there's a human loose in the hotel. Young students of the macabre will enjoy the tremendous range of supernatural oddballs in the film, backed by a star-studded voice cast. —D.H.
Where to watch Hotel Transylvania: Peacock
Director:Genndy Tartakovsky
Cast:Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez,Kevin James,Fran Drescher,Steve Buscemi,Molly Shannon,David Spade,CeeLo Green
Related: 25 memorable movie hotels, from fictional inns to real-life resorts
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
Every Halloween, the Great Pumpkin flies through the air to deliver toys to all deserving children — at least, according to Linus (voiced by Christopher Shea), who plans to forgo trick-or-treating to sit in a sincere pumpkin patch and wait for him. In this beloved special, the Peanuts kids are all dressed up and ready for a costume party, but Linus has his own way of celebrating the season, no matter what anyone says (and his famously crabby big sister Lucy certainly has a lot to say about it).
The featurette also includes an adventure for Snoopy and a classic example of Lucy (Sally Dryer) pulling the football away when Charlie Brown (Peter Robbins) tries to kick it. It's a nostalgic treat for parents to share with their little ones. —D.H.
Where to watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: Apple TV+
Director:Bill Melendez
Cast:Peter Robbins, Christopher Shea, Sally Dryer
Related: The best fall movies to watch in October, fromPractical MagictoWhen Harry Met Sally
Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
There aren't any scares in Studio Ghibli's anime film Kiki's Delivery Service, a gentle story about growing up and learning new responsibilities. Kiki (voiced by Kirsten Dunst) is a 13-year-old witch in training, and as per tradition, she leaves home on a moonlit night with her black cat Jiji (Phil Hartman) to spend a year in another village. She uses her broom-flying skills to launch a courier service and finds a place in her new community.
Still, living on her own is difficult, and when she starts to question herself, she loses touch with her witchy talents and needs to find new inspiration to get back in the air. Hayao Miyazaki's graceful character animation and lush, colorful surroundings make this film a fun watch for any time of year. —D.H.
Where to watch Kiki's Delivery Service: Max
EW grade: A (read the review)
Director:Hayao Miyazaki
Cast:Kirsten Dunst, Phil Hartman,Tress MacNeille,Janeane Garofalo,Matthew Lawrence
Related: The 21 best family movies on Max
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
After a devastating fire kills their parents, the three young Baudelaire siblings are sent to live with their sadistic uncle, Count Olaf (Jim Carrey) — a conniving actor fixated solely on the fortune that the oldest, Violet (Emily Browning), will inherit upon turning 18. Subjected to relentless drudgery, unending humiliation, and near-misses with death, the kids escape to seek refuge with distant relatives. However, Count Olaf won't let them slip through his fingers so easily.
With eye-candy visuals and a mesmerizing performance from Carrey, this early-2000s adventure may disturb little ones due to its grim themes and unsettling imagery. But for those itching for a dark adventure, this PG film has plenty of moody ambiance and creepy crawlers to sweeten your Halloween movie night. —J.M.
Where to watch Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events: Peacock
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Director: Brad Silberling
Cast: Jim Carrey, Jude Law, Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Timothy Spall, Catherine O'Hara, Billy Connolly, Cedric the Entertainer, Luis Guzmán, Jennifer Coolidge, Meryl Streep
Related: The 20 best movies on Peacock
Mom's Got a Date With a Vampire (2000)
This Disney Channel Original Movie has a little extra bite. Two pre-teens set their divorced mother (Caroline Rhea) up on a date with a handsome stranger (Charles Shaughnessy), not realizing that he's an ancient vampire looking to turn her into a hypnotized minion. It's a sweet, sitcom-style production, with squabbling siblings coming together to save their imperiled mom. The vamp doesn't do much besides flash his fangs, making this a good introductory monster movie for young ones who aren't ready for serious frights. —D.H.
Where to watch Mom's Got a Date With a Vampire: Disney+
Director:Steve Boyum
Cast:Caroline Rhea, Charles Shaughnessy, Matt O'Leary, Laura Vandervoort
Related: The 20 best family movies on Disney+
Monster House (2006)
The clever computer-animated Monster House takes a common childhood experience and turns it into a surprisingly chilling adventure. Twelve-year-old DJ (voiced by Mitchel Musso) lives across the street from a scary old house — the kind of place where if you lose your ball, it's gone for good.
But this estate doesn't just sit there and glare at you: If a kid gets too close, it unfurls the front carpet like a tongue and drags them inside. Naturally, DJ and his friends are the only ones who know the truth about this rabid residence, and it's up to them to discover its secrets and rid the neighborhood of its curse. —D.H.
Where to watch Monster House: Freevee
EW grade:N/A (read the review)
Director:Gil Kenan
Cast:Steve Buscemi,Nick Cannon,Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kevin James,Jason Lee,Kathleen Turner
Related: The 22 best animated movies to stream for the Halloween season
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Every kid knows there's a monster in the closet, and the comedy-adventure Monsters, Inc. reveals where they all come from: Monstropolis, a thriving city of furred, fanged, and tentacled beasts who bottle human children's screams as their only source of energy. Ironically, the monsters are terrified of kids, and when top scarer Sulley (voiced by John Goodman) accidentally allows a child into their world, he and his partner Mike (Billy Crystal) have to sneak her back home before Monstropolis falls into chaos. Monsters, Inc. is one of Pixar's funniest efforts — and a strong choice for any Halloween binge list. —D.H.
Where to watch Monsters Inc: Disney+
EW grade:B+ (read the review)
Director:Pete Docter
Cast:John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn,Jennifer Tilly
Related: The 30 best family comedy movies ready to stream right now
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
What's this? Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas is a cross-holiday classic, blending Halloween and Christmas in a giddy stop-motion animated musical. Jack Skellington (voiced by Chris Sarandon, with Danny Elfman as his singing voice), the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, discovers the neighboring land of Christmas Town and becomes fascinated with mysterious concepts like snow, presents, carols, and flying reindeer.
Jack decides that he can improve the experience, so his minions kidnap "Sandy Claws" while he puts on a slender red suit to deliver terrifying presents to the world's unsuspecting children. The inventive mix-and-match of holiday staples and catchy songs by Elfman make this a satisfying watch for the whole family. —D.H.
Where to watch Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Disney+
Director:Henry Selick
Cast:Chris Sarandon, Danny Elfman, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix,Paul Reubens
Related: Nightmare Before Christmas director criticizes 'unfair' assumption that Tim Burton directed the film
ParaNorman (2012)
There aren't many zombie movies that seek to understand the monsters' point of view, but ParaNorman is an exception, being a sensitive coming-of-age story about a boy with the uncanny ability to make friends with the dead. Eleven-year-old Norman (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee) is isolated from his family and bullied at school, but he's popular among the revenant set.
When his great-uncle dies, Norman inherits the responsibility of enacting an annual ritual to protect the town from a 300-year-old witch's curse. As creatures rise from their graves and the townsfolk panic, Norman has to learn what really happened centuries ago — and how to set things right. —D.H.
Where to watch ParaNorman: Amazon Prime Video
EW grade:B (read the review)
Directors:Sam Fell, Chris Butler
Cast:Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi,Anna Kendrick,Casey Affleck, John Goodman
Related: The 10 spookiest stop-motion animated movies, ranked by spookiness
Scooby-Doo (2002)
Two years after Mystery Inc.'s ego-driven split, Scooby-Doo (voiced by Neil Fanning), Shaggy (Matthew Lillard), Fred (Freddie Prinze Jr.), Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar), and Velma (Linda Cardellini) reunite on Spooky Island to investigate its increasing paranormal activity. Though each tries to work solo, the gang quickly realizes that solving this mystery takes teamwork...and a whole lot of Scooby Snacks.
Amusement park shenanigans, body swaps, and heaps of slapstick deliver laughs for all ages. While a few mildly spooky moments may give younger viewers the jeepers creepers, and a few innuendos might fly over their heads, Scooby-Doo is a fun ride from start to finish. —J.M.
Where to watch Scooby-Doo: Max
Director: Raja Gosnell
Cast: Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini, Neil Fanning, Rowan Atkinson
Related: The Scooby-Doo movie cast: Where are they now?
Spirited Away (2001)
On their way to a new home, 10-year-old Chihiro's (voiced by Rumi Hiiragi) parents stop to investigate an abandoned amusement park, where the young girl soon finds herself alone in a mysterious world of ghosts, witches, dragons, and sprites.
Spirited Away is a delicate fairy tale by animation master Hayao Miyazaki, densely illustrated and endlessly imaginative. There are some scary elements, including a hungry masked spirit called No-Face and the parents' creepy transformation into pigs. Still, Chihiro's courage and curiosity will keep young viewers captivated. —D.H.
Where to watch Spirited Away: Max
EW grade:A (read the review)
Director:Hayao Miyazaki
Cast:Daveigh Chase, Jason Marsden, Suzanne Pleshette, David Ogden Stiers
Related: Watch Spirited Away play recreate stressful 'stink spirit' bath scene for the stage
Twitches (2005)
Long-lost twins Alex (Tia Mowry) and Cam (Tamera Mowry-Housley) suddenly reunite on their 21st birthday, and discovering they have a double comes with a second twist: They're witches from the magical kingdom of Coventry. As they make up for lost time, they must tap into their newfound powers to defeat the smoky Darkness and restore balance to their birthplace.
Since Twitches is a Disney Channel Original Movie, expect plenty of positive messages for the young ones, such as the importance of family and using your gifts for good. While the Darkness might add an unsettling air, the overall vibe remains silly and lighthearted. —J.M.
Where to watch Twitches: Disney+
Director: Stuart Gillard
Cast: Tia Mowry, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Patrick Fabian, Jennifer Robertson, Pat Kelly, Kristen Wilson
Related: The 40 best Disney Channel Original Movies, ranked
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
Fluffy, vegetable-crunching terror strikes a village of mild crackpots in the clay-animation epic Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Eccentric inventor Wallace (voiced by Peter Sallis) and his crafty dog Gromit have promised to keep their town's gardens safe from rapacious rabbits, but Wallace's latest invention has inadvertently created a monstrous bunny beast that stalks the night to feed on innocent carrots and cucumbers.
With the village in an uproar, hunter Victor Quartermaine (Ralph Fiennes) vows to slay the beast, but only Wallace, Gromit, and a particularly brainy bunny can solve the problem. Clever dialogue and a feast of visual gags make this dotty comedy a sure-fire Halloween winner. —D.H.
Where to watch Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit: Netflix
Directors: Nick Park, Steve Box
Cast: Peter Sallis, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter
Related: The 20 best kids' movies on Netflix
The Witches (1990)
Staying at an English hotel with his grandmother, 7-year-old Luke (Jasen Fisher) discovers a child-hating conspiracy in The Witches, an adaptation of Roald Dahl's 1983 dark fantasy novel. A conclave of evil hags is just down the hall, and Luke overhears the Grand High Witch (Anjelica Huston) detailing her plan to use a magic potion to transform all of the world's children into mice.
After he's captured and turned into a pip-squeak himself, Luke must find a way to turn the tables on the wicked schemers. Inventive puppetry by Jim Henson's Creature Shop enlivens the film, which is chilling but kid-friendly. —D.H.
Where to watch The Witches: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
Director:Nicolas Roeg
Cast:Anjelica Huston, Mai Zetterling, Jasen Fisher,Rowan Atkinson
Related: Anjelica Huston says she doesn't 'really know why' Hollywood would remake The Witches
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.
