While I love a very specific kind of horror film, I also thoroughly enjoy Halloween films that are meant for the entire family (and your super squeamish friends) to watch. Here are 15 films that I adore to watch come September 1st, in no particular order:
- Hocus Pocus – Duh! I’m starting with this one because it’s a no brainer for literally every comprehensive Halloween movie list. Three witches return to suck the souls of children in order to acquire back some of their youthful looks. This film’s funny, quotable and even a bit heartwarming. Plus, Bette Midler covers ‘I Put a Spell on You’ and creates a classic Halloween song as a result. If you have never seen this film I put a spell on you to check it out this spooky season.
2. Halloweentown – Another classic must-see. I have memories of sitting in my beanbag chair in my parents’ basement in the evening, captivated by Marnie’s story of being a thirteen year old girl discovering that 1. She has some witchy powers and 2. Her family – the Cromwells – were some of the most powerful witches of all time. This was obviously a pretty low-budget family film made for the Disney Channel, but it successfully captured a happy world of bizarre creatures. You’ll be hoping to catch the next flying bus out of whatever town you currently inhabit in order to join Debbie Reynolds in defeating the “bad thing”.
3. Coraline – I really don’t think this film gets the attention it deserves. It’s the perfect film for older children who have yet to enter those “I’m too cool” teenage years. The animation is whimsical, colourful and the storyline – adapted from Neil Gaiman’s novel of the same name – is unique. A true horror for kids who like to be freaked out. Coraline has to figure out a way to get her real parents back from her “other mother” who lives in Coraline’s “other” house through a secret cupboard in the living room. If she doesn’t succeed in time her “other mother” will sew buttons over her eyes and keep her prisoner. Delightfully horrific!
4. Hotel Transylvania – If you are a fan of Adam Sandler, Halloween and animated films I don’t see how you could dislike this one. It was a hit. Dracula hosts a getaway for monsters every year to celebrate his daughter’s birthday. Then a human (who are nasty creatures) comes to ruin the whole thing. At least Dracula thinks so. Voiced by a slew of famous actors this quirky film even had me laughing out loud.
5. Monster House – Last fall I was at Walmart hunting through the bargain bin of films when a mother came up to me and asked if I could recommend any Halloween films for her tween son (side note: I have never worked at a Walmart) who was too old for children’s films and not ready for slashers. I suggested ‘Monster House’. An animated film, this plotline revolves around some kids who think the neighbour across the street is a murderer. Meanwhile there is something a bit…lifelike(?) about the house that is even more unnerving. As the kids investigate they learn a pretty dark and tragic story.
6. Casper – I’m a thirty year old woman and the “Can I keep you?” line still gets me every dang time. It’s just so sad and that beautifully haunting music doesn’t help! I adore this film with all my heart, so I’m super biased. Kat and her father (who claims to be a therapist for the dead and is struggling with the death of his wife) move into a haunted house in order for Kat’s father to attempt to exorcise some unruly ghosts. You see, there is an awful woman who is supposed to inherit said haunted house and she has heard it has hidden treasure somewhere inside. Only, not all the ghosts are horrible and Kat needs a friend. As a child I always wished a friendly ghost like Casper would show up in my house.
7. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown – I solely watch this film every year for Linus’ unwavering belief in a character called the ‘Great Pumpkin’. Also, for Charlie Brown’s iconic line: “I got a rock!” which to this day still makes me laugh until I cry. The Peanuts gang is just so wholesome.
8. When Good Ghouls Go Bad – No one ever seems to know about this film. Based on a story by R.L. Stine himself, it stars Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fred. I cannot recall where I first watched this gem, but it must have been on the Family Channel or YTV at some point. I usually watch this one and ‘Halloweentown’ back-to-back. The town of Walker Falls doesn’t celebrate Halloween because of the legend of the Curtis Danko curse that occurred years prior. However, when spooky decorations begin to mysteriously adorn every corner of town, Danny Walker and his recently deceased uncle are unwillingly ready to find answers.
9. Goosebumps – I can remember being super excited when this project was announced and had so many flashbacks to watching the television show as a child. While the film isn’t at all like the TV show it’s still a pretty solid watch. With Jack Black as R.L. Stine you can’t really get it too wrong. Dylan Minnette (best known for his portrayal of Clay Jensen in ’13 Reasons Why’) plays Zach, a new kid in town who moves into the house next to an eccentric writer (R.L. Stine) and his daughter Hannah. That’s when weird things start to happen. Have you ever wished a character from your favourite book could jump out of the pages? What if it was a crazed ventriloquist dummy named Slappy?
10. The Witches (1990) – The trailer for the remake of this film – based on the Roald Dahl novel – has just dropped, but don’t let that stop you from watching the first film adaptation starring Anjelica Huston. When I was in grade 4 our teacher would read us novels every day following lunch and I believe ‘The Witches’ was one of them. To celebrate the completion of a novel we’d watch the film version (if it existed), as all teachers tend to do. You won’t soon forget the scene when the witches first pull off their disguises. I was always just a little jealous over their lack of toes, because toes…ew. Luke must find a way to save all the children of England from the Grand High Witch’s new potion that turns them into mice, except he himself has been turned into a mouse. Good luck, Luke. It might help to know that Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) is also in this film.
11. The Nightmare Before Christmas – I never know if I should watch this around Halloween or Christmas, so I’ll sometimes watch it twice. I probably don’t love this film as much as most do, but I still find it enjoyable and the music is fantastic. Jack, the “Pumpkin King” wants more meaning to his life than just planning Halloween each year. In searching for something new and exciting he stumbles across Christmas Town and decides to take over Christmas for the year. What could possibly go wrong with that? Especially when you have three little henchmen named Lock, Shock and Barrel (the best characters, hands down) kidnap the Sandy Claws?
12. Coco – Not exactly Halloween, but a film that takes on the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead. First of all, it’s enough to just watch it for the animation. Secondly, the storyline is interesting and heartfelt. Forbidden by his family to play music, Miguel ends up in the Land of the Dead and seeks the help of a famous deceased musician to help him back to the Land of the Living in order to convince his family to let him play music. I didn’t originally see this film when it came out, but when I finally did watch it I must have watched it three times in a row.
13. Under Wraps – Supposedly this is the Disney Channel’s first original movie, so that’s pretty neat! A group of kids find a mummy hidden away in someone’s basement and he comes alive. Harold, they call him. Harold the mummy. Of course, a living mummy is kind of a big deal and the kids want to help Harold find his missing love before a bad guy finds him and sells him for a hefty sum of money. The fact that they named the mummy Harold alone should interest you in watching. Harold.
14. Frankenweenie – Admittedly I skipped out on watching this film last year because my dog had passed away at the beginning of 2019. I will, however, be popping this one into my DVD player again this year. The concept of the film is based around a boy whose dog has just died and he wants to bring him back to life. Obviously inspired by Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ and combined with the imagination of Tim Burton, this animated film is done completely in black and white. Let me tell you, it’s visually stunning. The film itself is both funny and heart wrenching. Fair warning that if you have ever had a pet you might just cry, but it will be worth it.
15. The Addams Family (1991) – Everyone knows who the Addams family is, right? As a kid it was probably the family you wished you belonged to, because it basically meant Halloween every day in their household. Uncle Fester was missing for 25 years when he suddenly turns up at the Addams residence. Only, is it really beloved Uncle Fester? Imposter or not the man bonds with the family and you get a look into the bizarre lives of the Addams’.
Is your favourite family-friendly Halloween film on my list? What’s on your film list this Halloween?