Halloween Movies For Kids

30 Best Family and Kid-Friendly Halloween Movies in 2023

Horror movie fans’ favorite time of the year has arrived because it’s Halloween. Halloween is a time of anticipation, excitement, and celebration for horror movie fans, making it one of the most cherished times of the year. However, it’s hard to find a good family-friendly Halloween movie to watch. To make things easier for you, we have compiled a list of the best Halloween movies to watch with kids of all ages and families.

You can stream these movies instantly using your Amazon Prime Video account. Some of these kid-favorite and family-friendly Halloween movies are also available on Netflix. So grab your popcorn and get ready to be spooked with some of the best Halloween movies for kids and families.

Best Family and Kid-Friendly Halloween Movies

Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest

Curious George is a classic Halloween movie for little kids. The movie revolves around the character George as he is excited to celebrate his 1st Halloween. He is silly and cute, as George tends to be. The movie is way funnier than you’d think and not anywhere near spooky. This fun-filled adventure will be a great addition to your Halloween movie watch list that is sure to delight children and adults alike.

Why we love it: The film is funny and entertaining for young children and a great way to introduce them to the fun of Halloween while also promoting important values such as friendship and courage.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 2+

Hotel Transylvania

“Hotel Transylvania” is a popular animated comedy film franchise produced by Sony Pictures Animation. The story of Hotel Transylvania focuses on an over-protective “Dracula” dad and her daughter, Mavy. Mavy’s dad created the Hotel Transylvania to protect her from humans, as humans have killed Mavy’s mother. But one night, a teenage boy discovers Hotel Transylvania, and they fall in love. That is when Drac’s worst nightmare became true!

The good thing is you can stream the movie instantly on both Amazon Prime and Netflix. Don’t forget to check out its two sequels when you are done watching it.

Why we love it: Without vampires, witches, and cute little monsters, Halloween does seem incomplete. Hotel Transylvania has all the elements for an awesome Halloween family movie night. This feel-good Halloween family movie teaches kids and others about love, relationships, and life struggles. 

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 4+

Hocus Pocus

If you are looking for a family-friendly movie to watch around Halloween, Hocus Pocus is a great choice.

The plot of Hocus Pocus focuses on three hysterical witches Winifred, Sarah, and Mary; the characters are played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, respectively. The three sister witches wake up 300 years later and they need to drink souls to live. But first, they must face three brave kids and a talking cat, who are determined to oppose them.

Why we love it: The movie has some adult references and scenes; nonetheless, a perfect family comedy movie for Halloween.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 8+

The Nightmare Before Christmas

In The Nightmare Before Christmas, Walt Disney and Tim Burton teamed up to produce one of the great Halloween movies for kids and families.

Don’t get confused with the title. The movie tells the story of a Halloween town King named Pumpkin King. Bored with the typical Halloween traditions, the Pumpkin King gathers all his troops to put on Christmas instead of Halloween. But it doesn’t go according to their plan.

Why we love it: The film is known for its unique and creative visuals, as well as its catchy and memorable Halloween songs for kids. So be prepared to celebrate this Halloween with some spooky Halloween monsters, skeletons, and stuffed dolls.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 7+

Coraline

If you and your kids have seen The Nightmare Before Christmas and think it’s not scary at all. It’s time to watch Coraline.

The story of Coraline is based on Neil Gaiman’s best-selling book of the same name. Coraline is an adventurous young girl who winds up in an alternate reality full of her other parents with button eyes and sinister intentions. Then the young girl shows her strength, intelligence, cunning, and determination to find not only her parents but also to get back home. 

Why we love it: Coraline provides the thrilling ride of Halloween, along with lessons and entertainment for kids. This is a thrilling adventure for people of all ages. Just be careful if you have little kids who get scared easily.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 9+

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

If you are a fan of Claymation movies, then you will love Wallace and Gromit! Don’t you remember ever seeing a Claymation movie? Here are some: Chicken Run, Corpse Bride, Shaun the Sheep Movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Mary and Max.

In this movie, Wallace and Gromit work together as bunny catchers. Kids will love the wonderful and hilarious chemistry between the two comrades, Wallace and Gromit. What’s more, it’s available both on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Why we love it: This fun and lighthearted film explores the theme of friendship and teamwork. Its charming humor, inventive plot, and impressive stop-motion animation are perfect for Halloween viewing.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 6+

Halloweentown

If you are bored watching all the animated Halloween movies on this list, Halloweentown will relieve you. In this made-for-TV movie, Marnie Piper, the main protagonist, embarks on a mission to save a town full of other supernatural creatures after learning that she is a witch. It’s a fun movie to watch with younger kids who don’t like scary movies.

The success of Halloweentown led to three more sequels: Halloweentown 2, Halloweentown High, and Return to Halloweentown. It’s been over 20 years since the first installment of this Halloween classic series came out.

Why we love it: In this Halloween season, who wouldn’t want to explore the town where all kinds of supernatural creatures live?

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 7+

Labyrinth

The Labyrinth is one of the best Halloween fantasy films ever made with David Bowie, Jim Henson, and Jennifer Connelly. 

The movie is full of fantastic Halloween characters such as the dwarf, Ludo, the Worm, the Junk Lady, the Wiseman, and, of course, the Goblin King. As the Goblin King, David Bowie gives a memorable performance to entertain both children and adults of all ages.

Why we love it: The movie has some wonderful lessons for kids. The journey through the Labyrinth is a journey into maturity, self-discovery, and learning what is truly important.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 7+

The Addams Family

The Addams Family is based on a classic kids’ show of the same name. And there are five versions of The Adam Family, including the original TV show, two different cartoons, and two movies.

So grab some popcorn and watch the story of the spooky Addams Family mansion filled with hidden passageways, creepy creatures, and various other oddities.

Why we love it: It’s a great movie for a Halloween family night with no loud jump scares every minute. However, the violence between the family members and the outsiders can be quite scary for younger viewers.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 10+

The Book of Life

It is a great story about the “Day of the Dead” made in a way that is understandable for the younger audience. It’s the earlier version of Coco. Same as Coco, it has some positive messages in it. Check it out below.

Why we love it: “The Book of Life” is a unique and visually stunning film that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. No doubt that it’s a great choice for teaching kids about family, tradition, and the celebration of life and death.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 7+

Not So Scary Halloween Movies for Older Kids, Teenagers, and Family

Coco

Coco is a 2017 Pixar animated musical fantasy film. With the combination of great storytelling, powerful artwork, and animation, Disney Pixar has produced one of the greatest animated films in recent times.

The lead character of Coco, Miguel, is born into a music-hating family. But Miguel is a natural-born musician. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the Land of the Dead following a chain of events.

Why we love it: Coco has a great plotline that will captivate the imaginations of children and adults alike. Also, the film’s portrayal of the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead resonates well with the Halloween theme.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 8+

Ghostbusters

In this classic Halloween comedy, three former scientists and ambitious paranormal researchers team up to defeat a bunch of monsters after finding themselves out of work.

This movie contains some age-inappropriate sexual content and swearing. Nonetheless, it’s a great Halloween movie to watch with older tweens and teens.

Why we love it: Even though this movie was made in the 1980s, it’s still a popular Halloween movie for kids and families. The storyline, characters, and dialogues would give the viewers a good laugh not just during Halloween but also throughout the year.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 15+

Monsters, Inc.

“Monsters, Inc.” is an animated classic for kids. It tells the story of a monster world where monsters generate their city’s power by scaring children who are believed to be toxic. Things were running smoothly until when a child accidentally got into the monster world.

In this movie, Pixar has done an amazing job shaping each character along with the storyline.

Why we love it: The combination of monsters and a spooky atmosphere has made it popular among many households during this time of year.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 8+

Monster House

Monster House is a popular Halloween film with plenty of laughs and chuckles for the kids. The story of Monster House centers around a kid and his friends who come across a haunted house in their neighborhood with a mind of its own. Then, they become determined to destroy the creepy house together.

One interesting fact about this film is that it’s one of the first to use motion capture technology to animate its characters.

Why we love it: Monster House is another animated Halloween classic with creative storytelling, impressive animation, and well-developed characters. 

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 10+

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Released back in 2016, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” follows the eerie adventurous story of Newt Scamander, a Magizoologist who heads to New York City with a magical briefcase full of strange beasts.

Set in the same fictional universe as the “Harry Potter” series, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will take the audience to JK Rowling’s world of magic, along with her quirky humor and darkness.

Why we love it: The film’s focus on mysteriously spooky creatures makes it enjoyable to watch during the Halloween season.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 11+

Corpse Bride

The combination of Tim Burton and Johnny Deep always creates magic; Corpse Bride is no different. It’s a story of an awkward young man who is pushed into an arranged marriage with a dead woman. Later he finds himself in the world of the dead, and from there, he has to figure out how to get home.

Why we love it: The combination of gothic and macabre elements with humor and heartwarming moments has made this film a cult classic among horror movie fans. In addition, the film’s themes of love and redemption, as well as its catchy musical numbers, appeal to both children and adults.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 9+

ParaNorman

ParaNorman is a stop-motion animated dark fantasy that has come from the same makers who made Coraline. It centers around a boy who can use his power to save his town from a centuries-old curse from a misunderstood witch.

Yes, the storyline might be a little scary for younger kids, which is why the movie is rated PG-13 in the USA.

Why we love it: ParaNorman is a wonderful Halloween movie that teaches kids about tolerance, acceptance, and forgiveness. In addition, the movie addresses themes of bullying in a fun and educational way for the viewers.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 13+

Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice is yet another Halloween classic that exhibits director Tim Burton’s bag of tricks. In this movie, Michael Keaton, as Betelgeuze, portrayed the character of a manic bio-exorcist with sinister agendas.

Alongside Keaton, Wynonna Ryder produced one of her very best performances as the young Goth girl who can see the dead couple. This is a perfect Halloween movie for anyone who enjoys comedy and some darkness.

Why we love it: With memorable characters and a unique visual style, Beetlejuice has become a part of Halloween celebrations. 

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 12+

Frankenweenie

Frankenweenie is a typical Tim Burton movie and not so scary. The movie depicts a sweet story about a little boy named Victor Frankenstein and his best friend, which happens to be a dog.

After a car hits his beloved dog Sparky, Victor attempts to save his friend using lightning. Things take a new turn when an eccentric and deformed kid discovers his secrets.

Why we love it: The movie has some great lessons about friendship and fun moments for both kids and adults. So it’s a great choice for families, children, or anyone looking for a Halloween-themed movie with a heartwarming message.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 9+

Poltergeist

Poltergeist is a classic Halloween-themed movie by the iconic writer and director Steven Spielberg. The story focuses on the story of the Freeling family and their creepy house that just happened to be built on an ancient burial ground.

Despite some good family-friendly scenes, this movie might not be ideal for kids under 12.

Why we love it: There are some iconic horror movie scenes, such as the ghostly hand coming out of the TV and the clown doll attacking the young boy. Poltergeist and its two sequels will be a great choice for horror movie marathons or Halloween parties.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 12+

Scary Halloween Movies for Older Kids, Teenagers, and Family

Trick ‘r Treat

Halloween is almost upon us, and it’s high time to be prepared to be scared and have fun. So get into the Halloween spirit with one of the great Halloween movies for kids and families: Trick ‘r Treat. It’s a horror-turned-fun story produced by Bryan Singer and written and directed by Michael Dougherty.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 15+

World War Z

The movie is based on New York Times bestselling author Max Brooks’s World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War. This movie is not age-appropriate for young teens or tweens as there are many violent and scary scenes. Brad Pitt starred in this zombie movie.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 14+

The Others

The Others is a psychological horror film directed by Alejandro Amenabar and starring Nicole Kidman and Fionnula Flanagan. This movie has all the ingredients of a spooky Halloween suspense movie – a big old house, creaking doors, gravestones, fog, creepy characters, and scared children. Overall, a great Halloween movie for older kids and teenagers.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 12+

A Quiet Place

The celebrity couple John Krasinski and Emily Blunt work together to pull off one of the best thriller suspense movies. Their onscreen romance can wait, as they must stop the human-consuming alien creatures before they take over the world. Get ready for a thrilling wild ride to Halloween.

Released in 2020, A Quiet Place 2 has also lived up to the hype created by the first one. 

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 12+

The Conjuring

Looking to get spooked this Halloween? Try The Conjuring. Based on the real stories, Director James Wan produced one of the best classic horror movies of all time.

There are two more parts to this classic horror film. The Conjuring 2 and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It was released in 2016 and 2021 respectively. 

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 16+

Sleepy Hollow

It seems Johnny Depp and Tim Burton own every horror Halloween movie. The classic spooky tale of the “Headless Horseman” is a hoax story no more, but a real scary ghost rampaging the small town called Sleepy Hollow near Tarrytown, New York.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 14+

IT

IT is one of the creepiest clown-themed horror movies you can watch this Halloween. The story centers around a group of young kids who must stand up for each other to fight the scary Clown “Pennywise.”

If you liked the first IT movie, you might also like its sequel, IT: Chapter Two.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 15+

Halloween

The Halloween movie list does seem incomplete without a Halloween-titled movie. John Carpenter’s Halloween is one of the best Halloween movies for older kids and teens. This timeless classic is worth watching over and over again.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 15+

Scary Movie

If you’re looking for a Halloween-themed movie with some good laughs and fun, look no further than Scary Movie! The movie has some age-inappropriate sexual content, dialogues, and violence. Despite all of this, it is a great movie for older teens and adults of all ages.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 17+

The Shining

The Shining is one of the best thriller movies of all time. Based on Stephen King’s Novel, Director Stanley Kubrick, and Actor Jack Nicholson produced a timeless classic.

Appropriate For: Kids Aged 16+

It’s hard to manage all the great Halloween movies in a single list. We would love to hear about your favorite Halloween movies for kids and families.

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