Last Updated on June 22, 2020 by Laura Cooper

13 Kids Halloween Movies

Grab the popcorn and cozy blankets – it’s time for our pick of 13 kids Halloween movies with just the right amount of spook to get you in the haunted spirit and ready for costumes and trick-or-treating. From grim Tim Burton fantasies to the beady eyes of Pooh Bear to the nostalgia of the Olsen twins, we bring you this collection of witches, black cats, and friendly ghosts for the family to enjoy.

Coraline (2009)

Travel to a magical land, just beyond reality with Coraline. When this little girl moves to an old house, she finds a secret door leading to a parallel world, where people have buttons for eyes and everything seems better. Don’t be fooled like Coraline, though: Other Mother invites her to stay and Coraline must find a way to escape this alternate reality. Henry Selick’s Coraline won’t keep the kids up all night  There’s no bump in the night here – this kids movie is perfect for Halloween – and will teach the lesson be careful what you wish for.

Little Monsters (1989)

Starring 90s icons Fred Savage and Howie Mandel, this comedy-drama travels deep into the magical world beneath a kid’s bed, a world that consists of junk food, video games and trouble seeking creatures. This film explores the classic children’s fear that monsters live under the bed. Spoiler alert: They do! And they want you to become a monster, too. After discovering Maurice, the monster who lives under his bed, sixth grader Brian Stevenson is thrown into a world without rules, parents, and hope to escape with his humanity.

Beetlejuice (1988)

This classic comedy-horror directed by Tim Burton features Alec Baldwin, Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice. A recently deceased couple is trapped haunting their former home when new residents move in and disrupt their transition from purgatory. A trouble-causing spectre named Betelgeuse promises to remove the new tenants, but his services come at a price. Strange effects, a hilarious script and whacky visuals ensue as the ghosts travel between reality and the Netherworld. If you enjoy Tim Burton movies and Michael Keaton, this one’s for you.

The Witches (1990)

Jim Hensen brings Roald Dahl’s book to life with his puppets in this Halloween classic. A young boy who has been recently orphaned is taken to England by his grandmother. When he explores the hotel they are staying at, he stumbles upon a witch convention where the Witches are gathering to execute a plan to abolish England of all children. It’s the right mix of scary and strange, with special effects that still scare kids 20 years later.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

The Sanderson Sisters are resurrected on Halloween night in Salem, Massachusetts after two teenagers light the Black Flame Candle in an abandoned house and break the spell.  After three centuries, Winnifred, Sarah, and Mary are stunned to see Halloween become a holiday of the 20th century, where their broomsticks and ratty hair blend in with the trick-or-treaters wandering the streets. On a quest to secure their immortality, the trio – played by actors Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy – use their witchcraft in an attempt to suck the souls of Salem’s little ones before sunrise.

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1996)

The Peanuts gang is preparing for Halloween in this all-time favourite kids Halloween movie. Linus, the thumb-sucking and blanket-loving character, writes his annual letter to The Great Pumpkin, much to Charlie Brown’s disbelief and Snoopy’s laughter. Patty is sure The Great Pumpkin is a fake, and Linus’ own sister Lucy tries to make him stop. Halloween night arrives and Linus’ faith is unwavered that The Great Pumpkin will arrive as they are out travelling door to door trick-or-treating.  It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a Halloween classic.

Casper (1995)

The world’s friendliest and cutest ghost, Casper, meets Kat when Kat’s father is brought into a mansion to rid it of its haunts. This classic film based on the Harvey Comics characters, centers around the peaceful Casper and his trouble-making uncles, Stretch, Fatso, and Stinkie, who want to scare away the “fleshies.” While Casper tries to befriend Kat, his uncles try and force her out. Eventually, Kat overcomes the challenges and tries to help the ghosts cross over to the other side. Starring Christina Ricci and Bill Pullman, this movie might make you rethink the bad guys and fall in love with Casper and his heart-warming plea to hold on to his new friend forever: Can I keep you?

Nightmare before Christmas (1993)

Is it a Christmas movie or a Halloween movie? Although not directed by Tim Burton, this film has all the dark stylistic features expected from his influence. This stop-motion musical includes a film score written by Danny Elfman with catchy sing-a-long tracks that are creepy and fun for the whole family. Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king from Halloween Town discovers that there are portals to other holiday themed worlds. He falls in love with Christmas Town and decides to put his own horror-filled spin on the holiday. Gathering the ghouls and residents of Halloween Town, Jack leads a disastrous takeover of Christmas. A must-see for stop-motion fans, this movie might be one of the scariest kids Halloween movies on our list.

The Addams Family (1991)

There’s no family quite like the Addams family – dressed in black, ghoulish children Wednesday and Pugsley, and everyone’s favourite Cousin Itt. They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky. This kids Halloween movie favourite will have the young ones laughing as Gomez Addams misses his brother Fester and Grandmama holds a seance to try and contact Fester’s spirit. A family friend, Gordon, looks like Fester and poses as him, setting the plot into a storyline spinning out of control with the assumption that Fester has been reached. Booby traps, a disembodied hand named Thing, torture, sword fights, and hilarity ensues in this not-so-scary Halloween film.

Ghostbusters (1984)

Who ya gonna call? This favourite kids Halloween movie takes a comedic look at the paranormal. Ghostbusters follows the tale of three scientists kicked out of their positions at a university as they set up show in an old firehouse to become Ghostbusters: trapping ghosts, haunts, and poltergeists. These aren’t your average white bedsheet ghosts: the Ghostbusters are summoned to a high-rise apartment, the centre-point for a hub of spirit activity linked to an ancient God that threatens the entire city of New York. We don’t consider Ghostbusters a horror film, but some of the ghosts are pretty creepy looking and might scare younger viewers.

Double Double Toil and Trouble (1993)

Flash back to the youth of the Olsen twins and embark on a Halloween adventure with Mary-Kate and Ashley as they fight to rescue their Great Aunt Sophia from the curse of her evil twin sister Agatha. Trapped in a mirror in Agatha’s attic for seven years, the twins are on a quest to steal the magic moonstone from Agatha’s neck and rescue Sophia before the spell becomes permanent. This film will bring you back to the charming days of everyone’s favourite duo, with a seasonal twist.

Ernest Scared Stupid (1991)

For fans of the Ernest series, Scared Stupid is one of the best movies that he has done. This classic kids horror movie has Ernest accidentally unleashing Trantor, a troll buried under a giant oak tree in Briarville, Missouri. Nobody believes Ernest as he stumbles through town trying to stop the child-eating Troll. Trantor begins his reign of terror on Halloween and breeds an army of lactose intolerant Trolls, unleashing an unbelievable story with hilarious 90s moments. Super soakers loaded with milk to kill monsters? This movie has it all.

Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie (2005)

The Hundred Acre Wood comes alive in this haunted Halloween classic from everyone’s favourite bear: Winnie the Pooh. Roo’s new friend, Lumpy the Heffalump, is excited to trick-or-treat for the first time until Tigger warns the Pooh gang of the Gobloon. This kids Halloween movie features Pooh eating all the Halloween candy (we don’t blame him), and Lumpy and Roo going off as brave pals to catch the Gobloon. The film ends with a Hundred Acre Wood-style Halloween party complete with Piglet and Rabbit, a perfect movie to eat with your own candy corn.

Happy Halloween!

Did you enjoy reminiscing on these kids Halloween movies? Want more Halloween fun? Check out our Halloween quiz to find out which spooky destination you should visit!