10 Best Halloween Movies For Kids
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Teenagers attend school dances, college students party all night for "Halloweekend" festivities, and adults get ready to give away candy on Halloween — the holiday is fun for various reasons for people of different age groups. But nothing matches the innocent, pure excitement that children have for Halloween. Plus, there are endless Halloween costumes that would be beyond adorable for your baby if you have kids.
One activity that people of all ages can enjoy for Halloween is watching movies focused on Halloween or featuring supernatural elements. Whether you want to watch something that captures the Halloween spirit after you go to a dance, gather around the TV with friends at a house party, or watch a cute Halloween-themed movie with your kids after taking them trick-or-treating, these movies are super fun. However, we know how challenging it can be to find Halloween movies appropriate for children — no parent wants their kids having nightmares for weeks because they watched a scary movie! Luckily, we know all the best movies to watch with kids during the Halloween season.
Halloweentown
This magical, G-rated Halloween movie from the late '90s is still one of the best family-friendly Halloween movies today for people of all ages. It's about a girl with witchy powers who discovers a special supernatural town (via IMDb). And yes, "Halloweentown" is every bit as fun as it sounds! The movie also has a famously positive message for young people, as the film encourages viewers to embrace what makes them unique. For instance, we can never forget the iconic quote from the movie "Oh, being normal is vastly overrated" (per Popsugar).
My Babysitter's a Vampire
If you're looking for a vampire movie that's not too violent or sexual, you should try the more appropriate Disney movie, "My Babysitter's a Vampire." The film is super funny, and the vampire theme makes it perfect for Halloween. While this movie is family-friendly, it's important to note that it has a PG rating (via IMDb), as there's some mild violence and partying. Thus, this is an excellent choice for older children, but not necessarily for little kids.
Casper
Anyone who believes that ghosts aren't all bad should watch "Casper" with their kids. This charming, wholesome movie shows an adorable, unlikely friendship between a girl and a young, friendly ghost, per IMDb. The '90s film reminds young viewers to be kind to others, even if they don't seem like the type you'd typically be friends with — sometimes the most unexpected friendships are the most beautiful. While the movie has a few sad moments, it's very sweet overall, and one reviewer described the film as "an all-time family favorite that's very touching!" (via IMDb).
Hotel Transylvania
Featuring the voices of many beloved celebrities such as Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, and Selena Gomez, "Hotel Transylvania" is a super fun animated supernatural movie for the whole family. The film is about a fancy hotel for monsters and other creatures run by Dracula, per IMDb. The movie is loaded with humorous scenes that even little kids will understand (via YouTube), so it's impossible to watch without laughing and smiling. And love and family are significant themes in the film, too.
Twitches
What could be more fun to watch on Halloween than a movie about twin witches? This Disney Channel movie centers on supernatural twins and how they use their powers against evil (via YouTube). According to Common Sense Media, "Twitches" features good messages without violence, sexual situations, profanity, alcohol, or drugs. One parent described the movie as "A suitable staple for Halloween viewing with grade school kids" and explained, "For a Disney Channel Original this movie is exceptionally watchable." So, it doesn't have to be only for the kids — maybe you'll enjoy it, too.
Monsters, Inc.
Not all monsters have to be terrifying — those creatures are hilarious in this early 2000s classic monster movie, per YouTube. The animated film does an excellent job showing how some fears might not be so scary at all once you face them — while making you laugh out loud. Moreover, it's such a family-friendly movie that it's rated G. "Monsters, Inc." even has 8.1 out of 10 stars with more than 900,000 ratings on the notoriously critical IMDb, so there's no doubt that it's a great movie.
Frankenweenie
This Tim Burton Disney movie with a sci-fi twist focuses on a lonely boy who tries to revive the dead dog he loves with the help of science (via YouTube). With a cast of celebrities voicing the characters in the animated film — including Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, and Martin Short (via IMDb) — "Frankenweenie" is every bit as alluring as it sounds. However, the film might be too dark for toddlers and very young children due to the somewhat dark theme, so this would be a better choice for older children who aren't frightened by these themes.
Pooh's Heffalump Halloween
On the other hand, "Pooh's Heffalump Halloween" is an adorable film for young children with wholesome messages and themes that people of all ages will appreciate. Just be careful not to confuse it with "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey," the oddly bloody and terrifying upcoming horror movie based on our favorite childhood characters. Unlike the new violent spin on Winnie the Pooh, "Pooh's Heffalump Halloween" centers on the loveable Roo and Lumpy for the Heffalump's first time celebrating Halloween (via IMDb).
The Boy Who Cried Werewolf
Starring the ultra-talented actress and singer Victoria Justice, "The Boy Who Cried Werewolf" is about a teenage girl who transforms into a werewolf. Not to be confused with the 1973 horror movie with the same name, per IMDb, this family-friendly Nikoldeon movie is lots of fun. According to Common Sense Media, "The Boy Who Cried Werewolf" is appropriate for kids ages eight and older, so many kids in grade school will be able to enjoy this film with their families on Halloween.
Girl vs. Monster
We just had to finish off our list with one last Disney movie! This charming movie is about a brave teenage girl who must save her monster-hunting parents from danger (via YouTube). While technically an action-adventure movie, "Girl vs. Monster" has comedic elements, too, per IMDb. The film has 4.5 out of five stars on Amazon, and one reviewer described the kid-friendly Halloween movie as a "Great Halloween movie for the family!" Thus, everything about "Girl vs Monster" screams Halloween.