Halloween is coming up and as the spooky season is well and truly upon us its time to get festive. People are already decorating, planning costumes and planning parties. Some of you may well be having a night in with some of your favorite horror movies. If you don’t have any plans for the holiday and plan on having a night in, but also have kids and don’t want to scare them out of sleeping for a month with your favorite horror flicks, or perhaps you don’t have kids but don’t want to scare your delicate self with R-rated gore, fear not. We have got you covered.
Here lies a collection of creepy, seasonally appropriate movies that are suitable for all of the family to watch together. So gather your littlest kids and biggest kids, and adults that scare like kids, to watch some of the most chilling, funny and halloweeny family movie favorites.
10. Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Hotel Transylvania follows Dracula and his daughter Mavis. They live in a hotel deep in a dark forest that acts as a sanctuary for all of monster-kind, to protect them from terrifying and murderous humans (or so he tells his daughter). One day an unsuspecting backpacker stumbles into the hotel, and consequently turns the whole operation on its head. Many attempts from Dracula to banish the boy fail and a spark blossoms between the human boy and Dracula’s precious daughter.
The film has an abundance of aesthetically pleasing spooky animation and humor for all ages. You will also see familiar monster favorites in the hotel like Frankenstein, werewolves, Bigfoot and so much more. Once it’s finished, if you still haven’t had your halloweeny fill, worry not. The sequel to Hotel Transylvania was released in 2015 and Hotel Transylvania 3 came out earlier on this year. That should be enough to keep you busy and satisfied for a little while.
9. Hocus Pocus (1993)
In Hocus Pocus we meet Max, the new boy in town who is struggling to find his place in Salem, Massachusetts. Max accidentally causes 3 witches to rise from the dead on Halloween by lighting a candle. The Sanderson sisters were executed 300 years earlier for practising dark witchcraft. Winifred, Mary and Sarah have but one night to ensure their existence continues and it is down to Max, his girlfriend and his sister to stop the evil trio.
This film is a definite festive classic. It is silly, spooky and entertaining and although it didn’t do well with critics, children and adults alike have loved this film and will likely continue to love this film for years.
8. The Addams Family (1991)
The Addams Family follows a duo of con artist’s that attempt to get their hands on the Addams family’s great fortune by one of them pretending to be their long lost relative, uncle Fester. The imposter needs to find his way into the wealthy family’s vault before they figure him out, and a couple of the members of the household seem to have their doubts. Although, the fake uncle does fit in seemingly well with the strange bunch.
The sequel, Addams Family Values was released in 1993 and proved just as good as the first one. Although the plot for both of the movies aren’t the strongest, it is the family themselves that got these films their popularity. The Addams Family are one of the nations favorite creepy on-screen families and it is obvious as to why. Each role is perfectly portrayed by the actors and Morticia and Wednesday have a cult following in alternative circles all year round. This is a definite Halloween watch that the family can enjoy together.
7. The Haunted Manson (2003)
The Haunted Manson follows Eddie Murphy as a workaholic realtor and his wife Sara. The pair are called by a Edward Gracey who has plans to sell his big, old mansion. Seeing the money before his eyes, Jim Evers takes his wife and children to have a look at the place. During their visit to the spooky house situated in a remote location, a big storm hits and the family are stranded their for a while. Stuck there, with the odd Mr Gracey, his butler and a number of other inhabitants of the place, things start to get weird. The mysteries of the manor seem to have an unexpected link to Sara.
A hilarious and, in the end, heartwarming tale. The Haunted Manson is spooky enough without ever being scary. Although this is another that didn’t get good reviews from critics, I loved it as a kid and still love it to this day.
6. Beetlejuice (1988)
From the mind of Tim Burton, in Beetlejuice we meet recently deceased husband and wife Adam and Barbara. Shortly after a car accident the couple return home to realize that they are, in fact, dead. While attempting to come to terms with their new condition and obnoxious family with an interestingly dark daughter move into their home, and they are less than pleased about it. After a handful of failed attempts to scare the family out of their residence, they enlist the help of a curious and grotesque character named Betelgeuse to get the family out. During this they develop an unlikely connection with the daughter, Lydia.
Although this one probably isn’t suitable for your super young children, i still believe it deserves a place on this list. This film has remained popular over the years and it is clear why. If you want an entertaining and engaging movie, that is also spookily aesthetically pleasing for you and your older children to enjoy, then look no further.
5. Corpse Bride (2005)
Another entry from the macabre mind of Tim Burton, The Corpse Bride follows Victor Van Dort as he is preparing for his arranged marriage to Victoria Everglot. After severely messing up his vows and setting his future mother-in-law on fire, Victor retreats to the woods to practice his vows. After getting the vows perfect and placing the ring upon what he believes to be a branch, he awakens Emily – The Corpse Bride. He is then taken with her to the underworld where he realizes that he has married the deceased girl. Victoria awaits his return in the land of the living.
A visually beautiful film with songs that will entertain the family, this is a must watch. The Corpse Bride is enchantingly macabre yet somehow still suitable for the young ones and older ones alike.
4. The Witches (1990)
The Witches is based on Roald Dahl‘s children’s book of the same name. It follows a recently orphaned young boy who is taken to England with his grandmother. After falling ill, she decides to take Luke to a seaside hotel to recuperate. There, Luke encounters a convention for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, but all is not what it seems. Upon closer inspection the boy realises that this is a gathering of witches. Their leader is Miss Eva Ernst and she is discussing a plot involving a potion that will turn all of the boys in England into mice. Upon discovering Luke, the Grand High Witch turns Luke into a mouse.
This film wholly does justice to Roald Dahl’s popular book and Anjelica Huston’s casting could not have been more perfect. She gives a fantastic performance as the Grand High Witch. It is full of witchcraft, fun and charms that the family will enjoy.
3. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
In The Nightmare Before Christmas we meet the pumpkin king of Halloween Town, Jack Skellington. The charming skeleton is in a rut and getting frustrated with the repetitiveness of his life in Halloween Town. One night he stumbles into Christmas Town and is completely taken by all of the cheer and festivities. Upon his return he tries desperately to get all of the resident ghouls of Halloween Town on board with the idea of their own Christmas, but it would seem that it is not in their spooky nature and it doesn’t go quite right at all. In his quest for Christmas Skellington unknowingly puts Santa and the future of Christmas everywhere in danger.
I know there has been arguments over the years as to whether this is a halloween movie or a Christmas movie. Personally I don’t see why it cannot be both. The Nightmare Before Christmas is a real gem. Visually pleasing in that similar way that Tim Burton movies tend to be, with catchy and entertaining tunes throughout.
2. Casper (1995)
Less then pleased with her late-father’s decision to leave her a crumbling old mansion in his will, Carrigan then realises the house has a hidden treasure within when she finds a map leading to it. After attempting to seek it herself she gets scared away by the resident ghosts of the house, and so she enlists the help of afterlife therapist Dr. James Harvey to rid the property of these ghouls. Harvey moves in with his daughter Kat and they meet Casper, one of the resident ghosts of a little boy, and he is super friendly.
Not so friendly are his uncles, Stretch, Fatso and Stinkie. It is down to the pair of them to help the ghosts find peace and cross over to the other side, meanwhile Casper develops a crush on Kat.
A mildly spooky haunted house tale with the most lovable ghost in the world. A funny and heartwarming tale, that might have you fighting back a tear or two at the end if you are a delicate soul. I can’t recommend this film enough.
1. Goosebumps (2015)
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Goosebumps is the modern adaptation of sorts of R. L. Stine’s Goosebumps book series. Zach Cooper moves to a new town and takes an interest in Hannah, who just happens to be the daughter of R. L. Stine. He is crazy protective of his daughter due to the creatures of his imaginations actually being real and locked inside their manuscripts, and so he tries to keep Zach away from her.
Fearing the worst about Hannah’s father, Zach gets into their house to check the situation out and when doing so he opens a book from the library. This accidentally releases Slappy, the evil ventriloquist dummy from one of the books. This starts a whole load of trouble and the monsters from the books unleash havoc on the town.
The Goosebumps books are well loves and this movie is one that does them the justice they deserve, with a very talented cast. The sequel, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween was released this weekend.
So, there you have ten films to keep you busy this Halloween, or all year round if you like. We don’t have to only enjoy the spookier things in life on Halloween.
What would you have included on this list? Let us know all of your thoughts in the comments!