Our top ten favorite Halloween movies for kids! Suspenseful, scary and funny, these magic-filled movies are the perfect picks for Halloween!
So, naturally, we had to put together a list of the ten best flicks we would watch every single year!
What's better than curling up with a cup of cocoa and a bowl of popcorn and watching a spooky, scary, suspenseful and funny movie?!
Here are our Top Ten faves you'll wish to watch for the magic-filled season!
Favorite Halloween Movies for Kids and Family Movie Night!
1. Disney' s Hocus Pocus
An endlessly funny flick about three witches who are back from 17th century Salem one Halloween night and are determined to do some damage and cast a spell on an unsuspecting town!
Will they succeed, or will their plans go awry when three kids try to stop these hilarious spell-casters?
I've watched Hocus Pocus more than once, and each time I like it even better!
This troublesome trio of witches are a must-see for any movie night you're planning, it's a crowd-pleaser that everyone will love!
Disney's Hocus Pocus is a must for any Halloween fan's movie bucket list!
2. The Haunted Mansion
The Haunted Mansion ride is one of our favorite rides at Disney World!
As a kid, I remember waiting in a very long line with great anticipation and being thrilled and amazed at the ghosts and tricks that awaited you before and during the ride!
Well, last year we were looking for some fun movies to go with the Halloween season and Disney's The Haunted Mansion popped up in our search! It is a lot of fun and we both highly recommend it!
The mansion was a fantastic setting, and along with great special effects we both enjoyed the 'ride'!
The Haunted Mansion movie is so much fun to watch for the great setting and effects!
Sometimes it's fun to just watch a movie and be entertained--and this one does it! A little bit spooky, great visuals and enough funny parts to break the tension! We enjoyed it a lot!
3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
We had to include Harry Potter in our list! Hands down one of the best movie adaptations I've ever seen! Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is the quintessential Halloween movie!
On his birthday, Harry Potter discovers he's a wizard and has been accepted into the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, Harry learns spells, meets magical creatures, and encounters danger and adventure around every corner!
Whether you've never watched the Harry Potter movies before, or are like me and have memorized all the quotes, you'll love finding yourself at Hogwarts with Harry, Ron, and Hermione!
These movies are completely spellbinding in every way, and once you've finished one, you'll want to see them all!
4. Gremlins
"...Whatever you do, don't feed them after midnight!"
I remember going to see this in the theater with a friend of mine and loved it! Those super cute little fluffy, adorable faces! What could go wrong?!! Ha Ha! You're so naive!
Now, even though the story takes place during Christmas, the suspenseful plot and not-as-cute-as-they-look gremlins make this a nail-biter for Halloween too!
Years later (yes, many years later!), my daughter and I watched it together and she is now a fan too! Just today she learned that they still make Gremlin stuffies! I used to have one myself, so who am I to judge?!
Anyway, a great movie for any time of year, but simply perfect for Halloween and fall, Gremlins offers up a solid story line, some yelps, laughs and unforgettable characters - (the gremlins of course!)
Rent it, buy it, stream it, reserve it - whatever - enjoy watching it!
5. Casper
Casper is great for a movie night, or whenever you want a little ghosty fun in your life!
This movie was a no-brainer for us to include! I remember watching it for the first time with my mom several Halloweens ago and thought Casper was the sweetest ghost ever! I still do!
When a ghost expert moves into a haunted mansion, Casper befriends his daughter, and the two embark on many an adventure in the drafty house that contains more than a few surprises!
This movie has it all...a haunted house, spooky special effects, and plenty of funny scenes to get you laughing that makes it a great movie night choice!
Casper is a must for all ghost fans, and you'll definitely enjoy this pick even after Halloween night!!
6. The House With a Clock in Its Walls
This magical take on the original book is filled to the brim with twists, turns, and a mysterious, hidden clock!
When Lewis Barnavelt comes to stay with his Uncle Jonathan, he's in for a surprise! His uncle and new house are not what they seem, and Lewis soon finds himself face-to-face with witches and warlocks, both good and evil!
My mom and I saw The House With a Clock in Its Walls on the big screen when it first came out and were so glad we did! A terrific plot, eye-popping effects and witty characters make this a must- watch (get the pun?!) that I absolutely recommend!
7. Ghostbusters
"Who ya gonna call?"
Oh my goodness! Such great memories on this one! Watched the original Ghostbusters years ago after my older brother gave it a glowing review! I remember him replaying the highlights for us and laughing hysterically at the memory!
Well, I loved it too and have watched it several times since! Such a fun movie and one of my favorite performances by Bill Murray!
We loved them both!
I was a little hesitant to see the remake; after all, the first one was so good! But, my niece invited us over for a movie afternoon and Ghostbusters-Answer the Call was what was playing!
It was great! Another fave for us! We're planning on re-watching it this Halloween!
A great cast, lots of laugh out loud moments, and of course, terrific effects and surprises make this a winning combination for a fun flick!
8. Nancy Drew
If you're looking for an entertaining and slightly spooky flick to enjoy with a younger Nancy Drew fan, this is the movie to see!
There are several movie versions out there of Nancy Drew, but I have to say this one is our favorite!
Even though it had a quirky movie trailer and strays from the original Nancy Drew details, it still has enough of the Nancy Drew 'essence' to satisfy both the fans in this household!
Emma Roberts plays a great Nancy Drew and the movie has a solid story line and great supporting cast!
I've seen this movie twice and will probably watch it again soon because it's been a while and I really like it!! ...And anybody who knows me will tell you that I typically don't watch movies more than once! I have to really like it to sit through it a second time!
9. Young Frankenstein
This classic spoof of Frankenstein is the best! This movie combines elements of the original story and creates a laugh-out-loud comedy that is so much fun to see!
Frederick Frankenstein resolves to carry on the project his father started: to create a monster through scientific experiment.
With his sidekicks in tow, this plan goes sideways more than a few times, and you'll enjoy every one of the antics that ensue!
Young Frankenstein makes it onto many favorite Halloween movie lists, and for a good reason!
This hilarious and truly memorable Halloween flick is one of the funniest movies I think I've ever watched, and is one movie you won't want to end!
10. Maleficent
I remember when the first Maleficent movie came out and the trailer was a bit intense for my then nine-year-old... and me too! It looked borderline too scary for the full big-screen experience.
Well, fast forward a couple of years and we watched Maleficent on DVD and both thoroughly enjoyed it! The trailer really didn't do it justice and played up the more intense/dramatic side of it when, in fact it was a really great movie!
If you've ever watched the musical, Wicked, or bumped into the 'my-side-of-the-story' Disney Villains books, this movie goes right along with it!
Even if you haven't checked out the Disney villains books, this movie gives a fantastic twist on the original! The characters are perfect, the costuming is brilliant and the movie evokes a wide range of emotions that you wouldn't expect from the characters and story.
This poignant live-action version of Sleeping Beauty was perfection!
(P.S. the follow up Maleficent, Mistress of Evil is also magnificent!!
Be sure to Pin this post so you can return to it every Halloween when you need some fun movie inspiration!!
So, there you have it! Some fun Halloween faves with our stamp of approval!
Have a favorite movie you'd like to recommend? Let us know in the comments below!
Know someone who might like this post? We'd love it if you'd share!!
Pass the Popcorn!
Cenzia & April
Looking for a fun Halloween activity? Check out our Happy Halloween FREE Printable Scavenger Hunt!
post updated 09/21/2023