11 Fun, Spooky Movies to Enjoy With the Family
There are certain things we all love about Halloween. Seeing the kids so excited about their costumes, having a perfectly good excuse to have a little extra candy in the house, and last but certainly not least, the abundance of spooky, yet totally entertaining Halloween movies on TV. To help you bask in the glory of the Halloween season’s offerings of family-friendly flicks, here are 11 of the top movies to check out. Which one will you watch?
'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown'
Airing on ABC
When: October 30, 8 p.m. ET/PT
Charles M. Schulz’s “It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” has been family favorite since it first aired way back on Oct. 27, 1966 and for good reason—it’s a sweet and sentimental story of the Peanuts gang on Halloween and Linus waiting for the Great Pumpkin.
'Halloweentown'
Airing on Disney
When: October 24, 2 p.m. ET/PT
Disney Channel’s “Halloweentown” first aired in 1998 and with a title like “Halloweentown,” it was destined to pop up every year around this time. The film follows a teen named Marnie who travels to an alternate universe where every day is Halloween. Bonus: The one and only Debbie Reynolds plays a witch and Marnie’s grandmother.
'The Nightmare Before Christmas'
Airing on ABC Family
When: October 24, 7 p.m. ET/PT
Tim Burton’s 1993 stop-motion masterpiece may have “Christmas” in the title, but it is ever-so-Halloween. Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween, decides to take over Christmas but with wacky result. It may be a bit creepy—right down to the protagonist being a skeleton—but kids (and their parents) still love it.
'Corpse Bride'
Airing on ABC Family
When: October 24, 5 p.m. ET/PT; October 25, 12 p.m. and October 26, 2 p.m. ET/PT
This beautifully executed stop-motion film by (again) Tim Burton is quite the love story, albeit an odd and unusual one. A deceased bride rises from the dead and befriends a groom on his wedding day. It may be a bit macabre, but it’s a stunning example of animation at its finest.
'Beetlejuice'
Airing on ABC Family
When: October 24, 12 p.m. ET/PT; October 25, 1:30 p.m. ET/PT; October 26, 4 p.m. ET/PT; October 30, 12 a.m. and October 31, 7 p.m. ET/PT
Yes, ANOTHER Tim Burton film, but this Halloween offering is live-action. Starring Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton and a very young Winona Ryder, this 1988 film exploring the afterlife has the perfect mix of comedy, silliness and style.
'The Addams Family'
Airing on ABC Family
When: October 25, 6 p.m. ET/PT; October 29, 7 p.m. and October 30, 4:30 p.m. ET/PT
In honor of the 1964-66 show, "The Addams Family" movies starred Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd and a very young Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams. The stylish, spooky and at times can be downright silly.
'Hocus Pocus'
Airing on ABC Family
When: October 25, 10 p.m. ET/PT and October 26, 8 p.m. ET/PT
Where else can you see Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as three witch sisters? The 1993 film "Hocus Pocus" brings the trio together when they are resurrected in Salem on Halloween night by a teenage boy, his crush and his little sister.
'Coraline'
Airing on ABC Family
When: October 26, 8 a.m. ET/PT
In this stop-motion animated adventure, a young girl discovers another world, an idealized version of her own. But this one isn’t what it seems! Warning: It’s pretty creepy and intense so may not be suitable for young kids.
'The Haunted Mansion'
Airing on ABC Family
When: October 26, 12 p.m. ET/PT, October 28, 12 a.m. and October 29, 5 p.m. ET/PT
Eddie Murphy stars in this 2003 family fantasy film based loosely on the iconic ride at Disneyland. Murphy plays Jim Evers, a businessman who brings his family to the mansion and then, of course, since the house IS haunted, mayhem ensues.
'ParaNorman'
Airing on ABC Family
When: October 26, 10 p.m. ET/PT; October 27, 7 p.m. and October 29, 12 a.m. ET/PT
"ParaNorman," made by the same company that did "The Boxtrolls," is an eerie tale of a boy who can see and communicate with the dead and takes on a curse that threatens his town. It can be pretty dark, so it may not be suitable for younger viewers.
'Casper'
Airing on ABC Family
When: October 27, 9 p.m. ET/PT; October 28th, 7 p.m. and October 31st, 9 p.m. ET/PT
In 1995, Christina Ricci starred in this updated take on the beloved icon Casper, the friendly ghost. Ricci’s character and her dad (played by Bill Pullman) move into a house that is inhabited by Casper and his more mischievous ghost roommates, and yes, things get goofy (and a little scary!).
