As a middle-aged man with two kids, I’ve had to learn how to breathe family-friendly Halloween. In fact, I waited 10 years between kids, so my entire adult life has centered around being around kids in some capacity. While a great horror movie is an excellent option for after the littles are in bed, their waking hours severely outnumber their sleep.
So, what does a person who loves Halloween do when their time is consumed by someone too young for an R rating? Well, put on your Halloween costume early because we’ve got the top ten things you should be sitting down to watch with your kids this spooky season.
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10. Monster High: The Movie (2022)
Director: Todd Holland
Writers: Jenny Jaffe, Matt Eddy, & Billy Eddy
Where to Watch: Disney+
Monster High: The Movie, based on the popular fashion doll line by Mattel, follows half-werewolf girl Clawdeen Wolf (Miia Harris) after being accepted to the titular high school. While the film, by director Todd Holland, doesn’t revolutionize the Halloween family experience, it is a worthwhile watch for older kids. Monster High: The Movie tackles important themes like self-acceptance, friendship, girl-power, and more.
The film also makes a point of having an inclusive cast of characters, including the biracial Miia Harris in the lead role, and Frankie Stein, Clawdeen’s non-binary bestie, played by non-binary actor Ceci Balagot. Monster High: The Movie is an enjoyable film for parents and kids alike.
9. Goosebumps (1995)
Showrunner: Deborah Forte
Writers: Dan Angel & Billy Brown (Based on the books by R.L. Stine)
Where to Watch: Disney+
Before the golden age of television and streaming, and more importantly, before every kid had a computer in their pocket at all times, we xennial children had these things called books. One of the most popular book series written for 90s kids was R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps. Looking to capitalize on the massive book sales, Scholastic partnered with Fox to bring the nightmares to the small screen.
In 1995, Fox premiered Goosebumps, the 30-minute TV show for fans of the iconic book series that retold some of Stine’s best stories. Goosebumps is completely episodic and can be watched in almost any order. Many of the episodes have a “part two,” but they don’t connect beyond that. Created by R.L. Stine himself, Goosebumps (1995) is a fantastic family-friendly Halloween option, especially for those who can’t commit to the entire length of a movie in one sitting.
8. Monster Summer (2024)
Director: David Henrie
Writers: Cornelius Uliano & Bryan Shulz
Where to Watch: Paramount+
Directed by Wizards of Waverly Place alum David Henrie, Monster Summer follows Noah Reed (Mason Thames), a young, burgeoning reporter looking into a series of unusual events that have led to local kids becoming mere shells of their normal selves. Starring in horror staple The Black Phone and its sequel, Black Phone 2, Mason Thames is no stranger to Spooky Season.
Also starring Mel Gibson and Xillennial icon Patrick Renna, Monster Summer is perfect for families with older children. Because it has a light horror element, it may not be suitable for younger kids. Still, its kids-horror vibe is a perfect fit for most 9–14-year-olds and their parents.
7. Are You Afraid Of The Dark? (1990)
Showrunner: D.J. McHale
Writer: D.J. McHale
Where to Watch: Paramount+
One of the biggest shows of the 1990s was the anthology series, Are You Afraid of the Dark? The series follows The Midnight Society, a group of kids who get together to sit around the campfire telling ghost stories. Much like Goosebumps, these stories are not connected and can be viewed in any order, perfect for the age of television before DVRs and on-demand streaming.
Are You Afraid of the Dark? also spawned a successful 2019 reboot that was canceled in 2022 despite strong performance with both kids and adults. The reboot is more serialized, with a new cast and story between seasons instead of changing every episode. Fans of more modern storytelling may prefer the reboot, but there is something special about the original Are You Afraid of the Dark?
6. The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horrors (1990–)
Showrunner: Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, & Sam Simon
Writers: John Swartzwelder, Conan O’Brien, & Greg Daniels
Where to Watch: Hulu
Every year around Halloween since 1990, Fox’s animated juggernaut, The Simpsons, delights viewers with Treehouse of Horror. Starting as a one-off joke featuring three comedic spooky stories, including a hilarious take on Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven, Treehouse of Horror’s massive success spawned an annual tradition of a new Halloween special every year by The Simpsons.
Beginning in The Simpsons’ second season, there are currently 38 episodes of Treehouse of Horror, with Season 34 being the first season to include more than one. Usually around Halloween, Disney+ & Hulu even put a playlist together to showcase the popular collection of specials. Treehouse of Horror is great for families looking for a funnier take on Spooky Season.
5. Corpse Bride (2005)
Director: Tim Burton, Mike Johnson
Writers: John August, Caroline Thompson, Pamela Pettler
Where to Watch: HBO Max
It may not be canonical, but many fans believe Corpse Bride starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter is actually a prequel to an even bigger Tim Burton film on this list. Whether you believe that or not, Corpse Bride is still a huge part of the family-friendly Halloween experience. The film follows Victor Van Dort (Depp), a young man anxious about his upcoming nuptials. When Victor accidentally becomes engaged to a dead woman (Carter), his whole world will turn upside down in this zany classic.
Corpse Bride makes a strong statement on many important topics, like social duty versus personal freedom, forgiveness, loving through sacrifice, and more. Parents should be ready to have candid conversations about life, death, and relationships with kids old enough to pick up on those themes.
4. Halloweentown (1998)
Director: Duwayne Dunham
Writers: Paul Bernbaum, John Cooksey, & Ali Marie Matheson
Where to Watch: Disney+
Disney Channel is known for its expansive library of original straight-to-TV movies. At the height of the Disney Channel Original Movie boom, the House of Mouse put out 6-8 movies every single year. Many of those films were centered around seasonal interests like the next film on our list.
Halloweentown is the first in a franchise that saw monsters and ghouls transformed into everyday people living in their own society, apart from humans. The late, great Debbie Reynolds plays the matriarch of the Cromwell family, Aggie. Halloweentown focuses on her granddaughter, Marnie (Kimberly J. Brown), as she learns about her roots after spending the first 13 years of her life kept solely in the mortal world.
Halloweentown tackles important themes like bigotry, self-acceptance, and the strength of family. It’s the first and best of the Halloweentown series and a must-watch for families during Spooky Season.
3. Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Director: Genndy Tartakovsky
Writers: Peter Baynham, Robert Smigel, & Todd Durham
Where to Watch: Paramount+
In Hotel Transylvania, Count Dracula (Adam Sandler) runs the titular resort as safe lodging for monsters that stay away from humans. It’s the 112th birthday of his daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez), and the hotel is packed with all kinds of legendary Halloween monsters there to celebrate. The party is inadvertently crashed by Jonathan (Andy Samberg), who accidentally happens upon the not-for-humans hotel.
To complicate things further, Dracula’s way of life is threatened when Jonathan begins falling for Mavis. This animated feature captured the hearts of millions, spawning three additional short films and two feature-length sequels. Additionally, another sequel has been announced, so it may be a good time for the family to get caught up this Spooky Season.
2. Hocus Pocus (1993)
Director: Kenny Ortega
Writers: David Kirschner, Mick Garris, & Neil Cuthbert
Where to Watch: Disney+
In 1993, history was made as the Sanderson Sisters put a spell on audiences everywhere. When Max Dennison (Omri Katz) unwittingly releases three witches from captivity, he and his sister Dani (Thora Birch), along with the entire town, become victims in their scheme to collect and eat as many children as they can. Along for the ride is Thackery Binx (Sean Murray), whose spirit was imbued into an immortal black cat 300 years earlier.
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy play the eccentric Sanderson Sisters, witches who use music to enchant kids and adults alike in this timeless Halloween classic. Spooky Season simply wouldn’t be complete without watching Hocus Pocus at least once.
1. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Director: Henry Selick
Writers: Tim Burton, Michael McDowell, & Caroline Thompson
Where to Watch: HBO Max
Is it a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie? Casual fans of The Nightmare Before Christmas have been divided on this for over three decades, but the hardcore fans know that the answer is both. The musical classic from Tim Burton, director Henry Selick, and composer Danny Elfman isn’t just a good Halloween movie; it’s a phenomenal one.
The Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon & Danny Elfman), runs Halloween Town every year and has grown tired of the same old thing day in, day out. When his mid-afterlife crisis leads him to accidentally stumble across Christmas Town, Jack takes over the jolly holiday in this comedy of errors.
While Jack is only interested in a new experience, his naivety puts Santa Claus (Ed Ivory) and the world’s expectations for Christmas in peril, thanks to Oogie Boogie (Ken Page) and his underlings. The Nightmare Before Christmas is an exciting adventure suitable for all ages.
Of course, no Spooky season would be complete without a barrage of death, destruction, and fear. This time of year was made for horror. Still, we all have to learn to crawl before we can walk, and these ten items are sure-fire gateways for the whole family to enjoy.
