We LOVE Halloween in this house – all the decorations and activities, pumpkins and, of course, Halloween films! I first wrote this list when the twins were little, and now they’re almost 12 it’s had a bit of a refresh. Mine always found the scarier ones hilarious, even when they were small, but I’ve grouped the films roughly from gentlest to spookiest so you can pick what suits your little (or not so little) monsters.
A couple of quick notes: the age ratings are the official UK (BBFC) ones, and streaming services shuffle films around constantly. Lots of these pop up on Netflix from time to time (especially around Halloween!), then disappear again a few months later, so rather than list where they’re streaming this week, I’ve said where you can rent or buy them, which doesn’t change. The Disney ones live on Disney+ and tend to stay put. It’s always worth a quick look on Netflix or Prime first in case your pick has popped up there!
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Gentle spooky fun
Hotel Transylvania 1, 2 & 3
These films are so much fun and we’ve seen them all. Kalyan particularly loves the bit in the first film where the Mummy/Frankenstein farts, and he will rewind it multiple times!
Rated U. Rent or buy on Amazon.
Casper
A very sweet film about Casper, the friendly ghost. Another one Kalyan finds hilarious, with all the slapstick and silly baddies!
Rated PG. Rent or buy on Amazon.
Monster Family
Another one with plenty of funny bits for Kalyan’s sense of humour.
Rated PG. Rent or buy on Amazon.
Hocus Pocus
I’ve always loved this one – properly camp, spooky fun! I introduced the twins to it a few years ago and they love it too. I love Bette Midler’s version of I Put A Spell On You.
Since I first wrote this list, Hocus Pocus 2 has come out and we’re big fans of that one too, plus it has Hannah Waddingham, whom I love!
Both rated PG. Streaming on Disney+.
Coco
I really love this one. Set around Día de los Muertos, Coco is a wonderful tale about family. It’s filled with stunning colours and details, a feast for the eyes, with some really touching parts too (yep, I cried).
Rated PG. Streaming on Disney+.
Labyrinth
An absolute classic and one of my all-time favourite films, with an awesome cast and soundtrack, of course! It’s a story about family and friendship with plenty of mystical, magical creatures, brought to life beautifully by Jim Henson.
Rated PG. Rent or buy on Amazon.
A little bit spookier
The Addams Family & Addams Family Values
These are great fun! I let mine watch them when they were little – they found the “gory” bits funny and a lot of it went over their heads.
For a more child-friendly version, there’s an animated version of The Addams Family (2019) that we enjoy too.
All rated PG. Rent or buy on Amazon.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
You can’t have a list of Halloween films without a bit of Tim Burton! He dreamed up the story and produced this one, with Henry Selick directing. Jack Skellington is my favourite – catchy songs and fun animation with a great story. Some bits are quite scary.
Rated PG. Streaming on Disney+.
Corpse Bride
Good old Tim Burton again (he co-directed this one), the king of creepy. Priya and I love this one, Kalyan isn’t so keen.
Rated PG. Rent or buy on Amazon.
Frankenweenie
This one’s directed by Tim Burton himself. I’ve only ever half watched it with the twins, so I can’t tell you if it’s any good!
Rated PG. Streaming on Disney+.
Coraline
People often think this is a Tim Burton film, but it’s actually by Henry Selick, who directed The Nightmare Before Christmas. It’s a really creepy story about appreciating what you have!
Rated PG. Rent or buy on Amazon.
ParaNorman
We really like this one. A bullied boy who can see ghosts is left with the tricky task of breaking a witch’s curse on his town.
Rated PG. Rent or buy on Amazon.
Monster House
This isn’t my favourite, but the twins love it. It has a lot of darker bits and some very scary scenes, so it’s probably not one for teeny ones.
Rated PG. Rent or buy on Amazon.
Goosebumps & Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
The twins LOVE Goosebumps! Jack Black plays R.L. Stine, the author of the books, whose monsters escape from the pages and run riot around town. Scary, silly and lots of fun.
Both rated PG. Rent or buy on Amazon.
The Witches
The twins absolutely love the part where the Grand High Witch peels her face (mask) off!
When I first wrote this post I had no idea they’d remade it starring Anne Hathaway. We’ve watched it, and honestly, the new one is NOT as good as the original!
Both rated PG. Rent or buy on Amazon.
Ghostbusters & Ghostbusters II
Classic 80s fun! I love both of these films. You can buy the DVD box set on Amazon.
I love the newer ones too. Afterlife made me cry (no spoilers in case you haven’t seen it yet, but the cameos are fantastic!).
There was also the one in the middle, Answer The Call, which I have mixed feelings about. I do love Melissa McCarthy, but it’s not a patch on the originals.
Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II are rated PG; Answer The Call and Afterlife are rated 12A. Rent or buy on Amazon.
For older kids and tweens
Wednesday
OK, it’s a series rather than a film, but the twins and I are all completely hooked on Wednesday at the moment! It’s another Tim Burton adventure with amazing visuals, costumes and cast.
Rated 12A. Streaming on Netflix.
Beetlejuice & Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice was originally rated 15 but has since been re-rated 12A, so it’s still one for older kids. I held off letting mine watch it for ages despite them enjoying scary, funny films, as it goes a bit too far at times, but they finally saw it at 11. I absolutely love it, and it has a brilliant cast!
I recently watched the new one, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and enjoyed it too. As usual it’s not as good as the original, but I love that so many of the original cast came back.
Both rated 12A. Beetlejuice is available on Available on DVD via Amazon.
What are your family’s favourite Halloween films? Let me know in the comments!
