Ready for the spooky season? We sure are. Dim the lights, grab a snack and kick off October with these family-friendly Halloween movies. And if you're looking for some trick-or-treating alternatives, come see our suggestions over here.
1. Goonies (1985)
A group of misfit kids hope to save their homes by finding One Eyed Willie’s treasure. Searching in underground pirate caves, the friends must race the evil Fratelli family to find the gold first. Best line: “Heeyyy yoooou guuuys!!
Where to watch: Crave and Prime Video
2. It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
An oldie, but a goodie! Linus waits for The Great Pumpkin all night in a pumpkin patch, while Charlie Brown goes trick or treating with the gang—only to end up with a bag full of rocks.
Where to watch: Apple TV
3. Hocus Pocus (1993)
When Halloween-hating teenager named Max inadvertently resurrects three witches, The Sanderson Sisters, from their temporary death, he must risk his life to protect his sister and defeat them with the help of a classmate crush, a friendly zombie, and an immortal black cat. This 1993 film might be a bit too spooky for your young ones, but school-aged kids will enjoy the ghouls, witches and spells of this classic. There's now a spooky sequel to catch up on if the first one doesn't scare you off.
Where to watch: Disney+
4. Casper (1995)
Based on the old cartoon about the friendliest ghost in town, this mid-nineties film version is a great watch leading up to Halloween. When a spoiled woman inherits a mansion in her late father's will, she learns that the house may have a treasure hidden within it. To get to the treasure, she must first kick out the house's inhabitants—Casper the friendly ghost and his three wisecracking uncles. When Dr. Harvey and his daughter, Kat, move into the house to try and kick the ghosts out, laughter and shenanigans ensue. It has some adult humour that will fly over little ones' heads, making it a great movie to watch for the whole family.
Where to watch: Disney+
5. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
One of Tim Burton's greatest movies, The Nightmare Before Christmas, can be watched from Halloween straight through to Christmas. This stop-animation film tells the story of Jack Skellington, a being from Halloween Town who opens a portal to Christmas Town and quickly embraces the festive December holiday. To convince the Halloween Town residents that Christmas is a good idea, Jack proposes that they take over Christmas and replace Santa with Jack. Save this one for some quality time with your tween, as the dark graphics of Tim Burton's signature style might be over the top for young eyes.
Where to watch: Disney+
6. Paranorman (2012)
Norman can talk to dead people, and to be quite honest, prefers their company to the living. But when he gets a warning about an ancient witch's curse, he has to work hard to save his town, even if he doesn't really like them that much.
Where to watch: Crave
7. Coraline (2009)
While exploring her new home, a little girl finds a parallel universe behind a secret door. But what's on the other side isn't necessarily better.
Where to watch: Crave
8. Corpse Bride (2005)
That Tim Burton does it again. While reciting his vows, Victor is grabbed by a hand and dragged into the land of the dead, where a murdered bride decides she wants him for her own. The problem is, he still wants to marry his fiancée in the land of the living.
Where to watch: Crave
9. Monster House (2006)
There's something weird about the house across the street. It's almost like it's alive. Ahead of Halloween, three friends team up to destroy it before innocent trick-or-treaters meet an untimely demise.
10. The Witches (1990)
In the Roald Dahl classic, a little boy vacationing at a hotel with her grandmother accidentally stumbles upon a witches' convention where he finds out their plan to turn all children into mice.
Where to watch: Crave
Plus, this remake starring Anne Hathaway that we also love!
11. Ernest Scared Stupid (1991)
While working as a garbage collector, loveable but clumsy Ernest accidentally unleashes a troll who has turning children into wooden dolls on his agenda.
Where to watch: Disney+
12. The Addams Family (1991)
Also based on a classic TV show, The Addams Family is great for Halloween, but also perfect for those who crave macabre year-round. Catch up with the kooky family in the 1991 movie, the 1993 sequel and the reboot TV series, Wednesday.
Where to watch: Netflix
Read more:
8 Tricks to Make Halloween a Treat
10 Things You Maybe Didn’t Know About Halloween
