It’s spooky season, but scary things are not for everyone. For littles and those just not that into being terrified, there are festive ways to get into the spirit of the season without all the blood, guts, and vampy vampires. One way is to watch a family-friendly Halloween movie.
Ghosts can be cute and friendly. Just ask any millennial who fell in love with Devon Sawa after watching the 1995 flick Casper. That is just one of the many options on this list to make Halloween more “treats” and fewer “tricks.” No bones about it, these choices are purr-fect for any scaredy cats out there.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
This 1993 Tim Burton film is a classic and does double duty as both a Halloween and Christmas film. The plot centers on the Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington, who is dissatisfied with Halloween. After stumbling upon Christmas Town, he decides to take over the holiday, but this creature of the dark doesn’t fully understand the true meaning behind the holiday. Watch this stop-motion fantasy film on Disney+ to see what happens when two holidays collide. You might just hear the familiar voices of Danny Elfman, Catherine O’Hara, Ken Page, and Paul Reubens in this family-friendly Halloween movie.
Casper
This 1995 film is based on the classic cartoon character Casper the Friendly Ghost. It was the first movie to utilize CGI for one of its leads. When Carrigan Crittenden, played by Cathy Moriarty, inherits Whipstaff Manor, she is determined to find the treasure that she believes is hidden there. Her plans are held up by the ghosts who haunt the manor, so she calls in Dr. James Harvey, a ghost therapist played by Bill Pullman. His daughter, Kat Harvey, played by Christina Ricci, befriends one of the ghosts named Casper. To learn that not all ghosts are scary, watch this film on Peacock.
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Hotel Transylvania
This 2012 animated film kicked off the whole franchise. That means if you love it, there is more where that came from. The original film’s plot centers on a normal teenager named Johnny, voiced by Andy Samberg. He accidentally discovers a paranormal hotel and falls in love with Mavis, Dracula’s teenage daughter voiced by Selena Gomez. Dracula, voiced by Adam Sandler, is not too happy about this. To see if true love prevails, watch this family-friendly Halloween movie on Peacock.
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
This is a great option for younger kids with shorter attention spans as its run time is only 25 minutes. The peanut gang is celebrating Halloween. Charlie Brown’s friend Linus van Pelt believes in a magical being who rises from the pumpkin patch each year to deliver presents to kids. Many make fun of this, especially since he is disappointed year after year. To see if the mysterious entity rises, catch this on AppleTV.
Halloweentown
If your kids don’t know the genius of Hollywood golden age star Debbie Reynolds, this is the perfect film to watch to get an introduction to her. The film is a stepping stone to Singing in the Rain. Debbie plays Splendora Agatha “Aggie” Cromwell, a witch who lives in Halloweentown. Aggie’s grandkids don’t know about their grandma’s powers or address, but they overhear a conversation and decide to follow her home to investigate. Once in Halloweentown, they discover powers of their own, which they will have to use to save the town and their family. Watch this Disney Channel Original Movie on Disney+.
Coco
This animated Pixar film teaches all about the Day of the Dead, a holiday observed in Mexico on November 1 and 2. It is a time the family gathers to remember loved one who have passed away. Ofrendas are built with pictures and memorabilia from the departed loved one. Marigolds and favorite foods are also used to decorate the altars.
Miguel goes on quite an adventure during the celebrations. He discovers new things about his family and ultimately himself. While you won’t be scared during this movie, you will need a Kleenex or two.
Scooby-Doo
This 2002 live action film is based on the long-running Hanna-Barbera animated series of the same name. Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, and Linda Cardellini tackle the beloved roles of Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Shaggy Rogers, and Velma Dinkley. The gang is at odds with one another after years of working together. They reunite to solve the mystery of Spooky Island, where the guests are believed to be cursed. See what’s really going on by watching the film on Amazon Prime.
The Curse of Bridge Hollow
This is the scariest offering on the list, but it’s a father-daughter comedy at heart. This Netflix film follows the adventures of the Gordon family who move into a new house in Bridge Hollow that just so happens to have a few secrets of its own. A mysterious lantern once lit begins a series of spooky events. You will have to watch these flicks to see if Syd, Emily, and Howard can stop Stingy Jack. Marlon Wayans and Kelly Rowland star in this family-friendly Halloween film.
Frankenweenie
This is a family-friendly Halloween movie that puts a new spin on Mary Shelley’s classic tale. In this version, Victor Frankenstein brings his beloved dog Sparky. His actions have consequences when others try to use his methods. Can Victor save his town from the monsters they created? Watch this Tim Burton film on Disney+ to find out.
The Addams Family
Oh snap. Many of the original cast members from the 1991 film reunited in Los Angeles in 2024. It was so fun to see Christopher Lloyd, Anjelica Huston, and Christina Ricci together in the same place.
This movie is based on characters created by cartoonist Charles Addams. If your family enjoyed Wednesday, this will be right up their alley. This story focuses mostly on Fester, who reunites with his family after being missing for 25 years. But everything is not as it seems. Watch this family-friendly Halloween movie on Hulu to get to the bottom of it.
