There are countless horror movies for Halloween for adults to choose from – or Ghostbusters to fall back on (the original version, of course!). Here, though, are some suggestions for not-so-scary horror movies for the little ones, so they don’t miss out. And for the not-so-brave among the adults!
Horror Movies for Halloween
- Coco easily wins the title for one of the most heartwarming kid-friendly movies for Halloween. Follow the adventures of Miguel as he stumbles into the Land of the Dead and learns the importance of family. Be ready to shed a lot of tears!
- The Addams Family is a black comedy horror movie with macabre humour that truly hits home with angsty teens (and adults). With their witty comebacks that are still quotable today, this bizarre aristocratic family is a must-watch 30 years on.
- Disney classic Halloweentown follows 13-year-old Marnie as she learns she’s a witch and discovers a secret portal to a magical place where supernatural beings reside. Great for kids and teens alike.
- Death Note is perhaps more of a thriller than a truly scary movie for Halloween. As the name implies, it’s also more for teens and adults than young ones. Disaffected teen genius Light uses a notebook (yes, that’s all) to kill criminals. It quickly gets out of hand, a cautionary tale against self-righteous rage.
- Fantasy comedy Beetlejuice really flips the script when ghosts are harassed by an unbearable family that moves in; they attempt to scare them away with the (more obnoxious than scary!) Betelgeuse.
- Matilda is the film adaption of the timeless Road Dahl tale. This movie for Halloween recounts the story of a child prodigy who develops special powers to counter her tyrannical principal.
- The 2015 release (and 2018 sequel) Goosebumps is based on RL Stine’s children’s book series. It’s a slightly scary movie that’s not overly graphic and will be fun for kids aged five and above.
- Hotel Transylvania and its sequel will get your kids giggling. It’s about a host of eccentric monsters (and, not forgetting, one loveable human) and their crazy antics.
- Take your kids on a spooky adventure with Scooby-Doo and friends; watch as they solve mysteries and come across monsters, ghouls, and more.
- Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride are animated movies for Halloween that have appropriately eerie themes, along with song and dance. Great for kids aged seven and up.
- Monsters, Inc. is charming, funny, and exciting all in one. The two main stars are monsters, but not the really scary kind, so it’s perfect for little kids. Anyone over the age of four is sure to love this one.
- Casper offers the perfect mix of Halloween and kid-friendliness. Casper the Friendly Ghost and Kat, a normal teenage girl, quickly become friends and go on adventures together.
- Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie is suitable for all ages; after all, honey-loving Pooh would never scare anyone!
- Hocus Pocus is perfect for pre-teens. It features three witch sisters on the path of revenge.
- “I still think Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is the best not-so-scary scary movie out there – it’s a perfect one for the whole family as it’s got lots of secret adult humour sprinkled throughout. It’s about Wallace and his dog Gromit starting a pest-control business, when they receive a call to try and stop the dreaded Were-Rabbit from eating the town crops.” – Michaela
- In Monster House, adults don’t believe three youths (Mitchel Musso, Spencer Locke, Sam Lerner) when they claim a neighbouring residence is a living creature that means them harm.
- Maybe this is pushing the movies for Halloween vibe but surely the Harry Potter series with its wizards, Death Eaters and giant snakes counts as spooky?! Two stand-out favourites are Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban.
- Frankenweenie tells the story of young Victor Frankenstein, a science nerd and outsider at school, and his one good friend: his dog, Sparky. But then, tragedy strikes, and Sparky shuffles off this mortal coil. His science teacher (Martin Landau) gives him an idea of how to jolt old Sparky back to life.
- In The Haunted Mansion, workaholic real estate agent Jim Evers (Eddie Murphy) is accused by his wife, Sara, of neglecting his son and daughter. So, he takes the family on a vacation. Along the way, the family stops off at a sinister mansion that Jim has been asked to sell. Of course, they discover it’s haunted!
- Coraline (Dakota Fanning) discovers a secret door in her new home. Behind it lies an alternate world that closely mirrors her own but, in many ways, is better. Oh, except everyone has buttons for eyes (obviously not a red flag…).
- The House with the Clock in the Walls is a movie for Halloween with a great blend of humour and age-appropriate spine-tingling horror. Ten-year-old Lewis goes to live with his truly odd uncle (Jack Black) in a creaky house with a mysterious ticking heart in its walls. The magical adventure is good for kids aged 10 or more.
Looking for more things to do?
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