Picking a Halloween movie for a family is harder than it sounds. Too tame and the older kids roll their eyes. Too scary and you’re up at 2 am with someone who won’t sleep without the hall light on. The trick is matching the film to the child, so this list is sorted by age and scare level rather than by how much I like each film (though I do like all of them).
A quick note on ratings: the ones below are US ratings, and age guidance varies by country and by child, so check your local rating and use your own judgement. Streaming rights also shift every October, so check where each title is playing in your region.
For Little Kids (Gentle Spooky)
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966). Often listed as the gentlest Halloween pick around, and short enough for even the youngest viewers. Nothing here will cause nightmares.
Casper (1995). A friendly ghost, a lot of heart and just enough ghoulish fun for children who like the idea of Halloween but not the reality of it.
Hotel Transylvania. Funny monsters rather than frightening ones. If your kids want spooky without any real scares, this is a reliable choice.
Halloweentown (1998). A Disney Channel classic about a girl who discovers she comes from a family of witches. It’s rated TV-PG, and Debbie Reynolds as the witchy grandmother is a genuine highlight.
For Big Kids (Ages 7 to 11)
Hocus Pocus (1993). The one everybody asks about. Three Sanderson sister witches are resurrected in Salem on Halloween night, and it’s up to a group of kids and a talking cat to stop them. It’s rated PG, and Common Sense Media recommends it for ages 10 and up, so it can be a touch spookier than people remember. As a director, what I admire is the tone. Kenny Ortega keeps the film balanced on a knife-edge between scary and silly, and the three leads (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy) play it big enough that the threat never tips into genuine horror. Hocus Pocus 2 is there if the first one goes down well.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). A stop-motion masterpiece directed by Henry Selick from a story by Tim Burton. Some of the imagery can be intense for younger viewers, but Danny Elfman’s songs keep it sweet. Rated PG.
Coraline (2009). Also directed by Selick, and properly eerie. It’s rated PG but has particularly unsettling imagery, so it’s best watched with a parent the first time, especially the final form of the Other Mother.
Frankenweenie, ParaNorman, Corpse Bride and Monster House. All PG, all spooky in a fun way, and all good picks for kids who’ve outgrown the gentler titles but aren’t ready for real horror.
Tim Burton for Tweens and Teens
Two of the most popular spooky-season picks come from Tim Burton, and it’s worth being upfront about them: Edward Scissorhands and Dark Shadows are both rated PG-13, so they’re better suited to older kids and teens than to younger children. They’re also two of the best examples of Burton’s gothic visual style, which makes them well worth a family watch once the kids are old enough.
Edward Scissorhands (1990). Johnny Depp plays an artificial man with scissors for hands, left unfinished by his creator and taken in by a suburban family. It’s a fairy tale at heart, and a sad and beautiful one. The visual idea is simple and brilliant: Edward’s dark, gothic castle sits above a neighbourhood of bright pastel houses, and colour does the storytelling for you. It’s the same principle we explore in how Wes Anderson uses colour to tell a story. It has darker themes and a violent climax, so it’s one to watch with older kids and talk about afterwards.
Dark Shadows (2012). Another Burton and Depp collaboration, this time a vampire comedy based on the gothic 1960s soap opera. Depp plays Barnabas Collins, a vampire freed from his coffin in 1972 and bewildered by the modern world. It’s funnier and more stylised than scary, but it has innuendo and some violence, so it’s really for teens rather than children.
Beetlejuice (PG), The Witches (1990, PG) and Wendell & Wild (PG-13). Three more good picks for older kids. Wendell & Wild is directed by Henry Selick with Jordan Peele and is rated PG-13 for a reason, so save it for older tweens.
How to Pick the Right One
- Know your child. Some seven-year-olds love Coraline and some ten-year-olds hide behind the sofa during Hocus Pocus. You know yours best.
- Preview if you’re unsure. Even a few minutes of the opening will tell you a lot about the tone.
- Start gentle. If you’re not sure, begin with a lighter film. Most roundups group Hocus Pocus, Nightmare Before Christmas and Casper among the family-friendly picks, with Coraline and ParaNorman a notch moodier.
- Watch together. A scary moment is a lot less scary with someone else in the room, and it gives you something to talk about afterwards.
Once the Kids Are in Bed
If you want something properly frightening after lights out, we’ve got you covered. Try our breakdowns of The Shining’s ending and why Paranormal Activity has three different endings, or revisit a classic like Jaws.
The Bottom Line
If you only watch one this season, make it Hocus Pocus for a mixed-age family, or The Nightmare Before Christmas if your kids like their spooky a little more stylish. For older kids and teens who are ready for something darker, Edward Scissorhands is the one I’d pick, and Dark Shadows is a fun, funny follow-up.
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