10 best Halloween movies for kids to watch in the spooky season

Halloween time is such a fun time for all ages! That’s what’s so great about October and the holiday itself and that’s why it’s one of my favorite times of year to celebrate. While there’s plenty of adult content, don’t worry. There’s also aplenty for kids too!

Some of our favorite Halloween movies that we think are the best are Hocus Pocus, Haunted Mansion, The Adaams Family. Read on below for why these films made the list, and to see which others stand out for us. The movies are listed in no particular order.

What movies kids should watch this Halloween

Hocus Pocus (PG) – streaming on Disney+

Hocus Pocus, which came out in 1993, is on the top of this list because it’s personally my favorite Halloween movie to watch! It’s a tradition for me to see it every Halloween day with my two younger sisters, so it brings back really great memories. And whether your kids have watched it before or not, this is a great one to get them into the Halloween spirit.

The film stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimi as the Sanderson Sisters. Taking place in Salem, Massachusetts, the sinister trio are resurrected on Halloween night after high school student Max wants to prove to his younger sister Dani and friend/love interest Alison that the tales about the witches aren’t true. Well, that was a big mistake as they did exist, and he accidentally summons them. Now, they’re trying to steal the lives of the children of Salem before sunrise to become immortal.

The actresses reprised their roles in Hocus Pocus 2, which came out in 2022. The second film sees them come back to life once again, getting a second chance at staying alive thanks to three young women accidentally bringing them back. We also get the sisters’ backstories and why they became the way they are, which is really nice. However overall, I don’t think the sequel was as good as the original.

Halloweentown (not rated) – streaming on Disney+

There are a total of four Halloweentown movies in the film series. They are Halloweentown, Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge, Halloweentown High, and Return to Halloweentown. The first movie came out in 1998 and serves as the fourth Disney Channel Original Movie. It’s centered around Marnie (Kimberly J. Brown), a young teen who on her 13th birthday finds out she’s a witch and there’s a secret portal that can take her to Halloweentown.

It’s home to all sorts of magical creatures like ghosts, ghouls, witches, and more. They’ve had to live away from the human world due to humans potentially fearing them. But Marnie finds herself having to fight those that don’’t have good intentions like warlocks, curses, and more. Thankfully she has her grandmother, Aggie (Debbie Reynolds), to help.

This is another fun film series that’s a definite throwback for those of us who grew up in the early 2000s. And while the movies are older, what’s so great is that the story is universal and can relate to those even of this generation. And it had such a unique idea. Be sure to add the Halloweentown movies to your kids’ watch list!

Haunted Mansion, 2003 (PG) – streaming on Disney+

The hilarious Eddie Murphy stars in the first The Haunted Mansion movie, which came out in 2003. While a modern remake was created and released in September 2023, I would recommend the original more. It has all sorts of ghostly surprises. And honestly, no one can beat Murphy at comedy. He plays Jim Evers, a real estate agent who’s always busy and focuses on his job. When his wife says he’s neglecting their son and daughter, he takes everyone on a vacation. On the way though, he’s still focused on work as they make a pitstop to a mansion he’s been asked to sell. The family of four soon finds out that the mansion is actually haunted by ghosts, and are asking the family to help them break their curse.

Goosebumps (PG) – streaming on Netflix

While this film has two sequels, I would just recommend the first movie. No offense. Unfortunately this is what can happen with sequels sometimes. There’s usually always something special about a first film, and their follow-ups don’t always work. Anyways, the movie might not be Halloween-centric per se, but it still fits the theme. The plot is centered around Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette) who’s upset about moving from the big city to a small town. Things turn around a bit for him though when he meets his neighbor, Hannah (Odeya Rusha). It turns out her dad is R. L. Stine (Jack Black), the author of the Goosebumps book series. When Zach accidentally brings the monsters to life from the page, the trio has to get them under control and back in the books.

Corpse Bride (PG) – streaming on Max

The 2005 musical fantasy animation is a popular choice for many, and I completely understand why! It’s a tale you don’t want to miss this spooky season. Victor (Johnny Depp) and Victoria (Emily Watson) are facing an arranged marriage. However, they do fall in love and are happy to do so. But before the wedding ceremony, Victor is whisked away to the land of the dead where Emily (Helena Bonham Carter), a dead bride murdered after eloping, now wants to marry Victor. The groom needs to find a way to get back to the land of living, while also stopping Victoria from marrying the villainous Barkis Bettern (Richard E. Grant), as her family is telling her to do after thinking Victor dead. Tim Burton has made some great movies, and this one is definitely one of my favorites!

Hotel Transylvania (PG) – streaming on Hulu

For a movie that shows so many unique-looking monsters, Hotel Transylvania is definitely the production to turn to! From the Invisible Man, Frankenstein, the Mummy, and so many more, this film is sure to make your kids laugh at all the characters. Heck, I’m an adult and I like watching this film. Starring Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, and Andy Samberg, at the root of it all it’s about the love and relationship between a father and daughter. And it’s so sweet to see.

On his daughter’s 16th birthday, Count Dracula (Sandler) throws her a big celebration at the hotel he’s built for monsters. When a human (Samberg) somehow finds and accidentally crashes into the hotel, Mavis (Gomez) falls in love. And that’s not a very easy thing for her father, Dracula, to accept. There’s a total of four movies. The second is on Netflix, the third on Hulu, and the last is streaming on Prime Video.

The Adaams Family, 1991 (PG-13) – streaming on Paramount+

One of the most iconic television families is the Adaams family. And for good reason. This film is for kids who are a bit older, and believe me they’ll enjoy it! Though the members of the family itself are human, the story is a supernatural black comedy and the family itself is a bit bizarre and dark. One day a man appears, saying he’s Fester, the father’s missing brother. But over time, the matriarch, Morticia, starts to suspect he’s not really her brother-in-law. With the help of a lawyer, Fester gets the family evicted from their home, and his goal is to get his hands on the Addams’ wealth. There’s a direct sequel to The Adaams family, two animated movies, and a number of television shows. One of the biggest hits is Wednesday, streaming on Netflix.

Casper (PG) – streaming on Netflix

An oldie but a goodie is Casper the ghost! The titular character is a kind and peaceful being that haunts a mansion in Maine. When specialist James Harvey (Bill Pullman) stops by to try and speak with Casper and his fellow spirits, the young ghost falls for his daughter, Kat (Christina Ricci). What comes between them of course is the fact that he’s a ghost, but also the “mischievous antics” his uncles cause, per the synopsis. There are four more follow-up films.

Monsters Inc. – streaming on Disney+

While not a Halloween film in the traditional sense, Monsters Inc. is still such a great film for your younger ones to watch during the season! I mean, it’s all about monsters after all, right? While it’s their job to scare young children, one of them, James P. Sullivan , ends up developing a soft side for little girl Boo, when she accidentally gets into the company that no human has been in before. Even for adults, this is a wonderful family-friendly film to watch. It’s one of my personal favorite Disney movies. There’s also a prequel, Monsters University.

Coco (PG) – streaming on Disney+

Finally, last but not least is Coco! It’s a newer one compared to the others on the list, but oh my it’s so good! Young Miguel love’s music and dreams about being a successful musician like “his idol” Ernesto de la Cruz, per the synopsis. Even though his family has banned music. He’s going to prove his talent, no matter what. This leads him to the Land of the Dead where he meets and befriends Héctor. And the duo’s journey leads them to learn the realy story about Miguel’s family history. When I say this movie made me cry, I’m not lying. It’s a sweet and colorful story, that has great values to teach.