Spooky season is officially upon us, which means your kids are about to begin begging you to watch a scary movie if they haven’t already. Classic horror movies like Halloween or The Shining will leave them crawling under your covers at night, so we’ve rounded up the best Halloween movies for kids that will give just the right amount of spooky. These movies and shows are sure to get them in the Halloween spirit but won’t leave them grasping for the night-light. Whether you’re looking for kids’ Halloween movies on Amazon Prime, Netflix, or Hulu, we have you covered, no matter the streaming service!

 

Best Kids’ Halloween Movies & Shows On Netflix

  1. ET (1982) Our editor Marisa loves to have an ET movie night with her family around Halloween, complete with Reese’s Pieces! We think this movie about the friendly extraterrestrial is the right balance of supernatural and silly for our kiddos around Halloween.

  2. Casper (1995) The Friendly Ghost is one of our favorite classic kids Halloween films that will get kids in the spooky spirit but won’t keep them awake at night. This movie is super nostalgic for our thirty-something editors who used to watch it when they were kids. 

  3. Creeped Out(2017) If you’re looking for something slightly on the spookier side, this series of tales is probably best suited for teens and tween audiences. Each episode explores a different story that ties in supernatural and horror-inspired elements. This is a perfect series for adults and tweens to enjoy together.

  4. Stranger Things (2016) Another show suited for slightly older audiences, this smash-hit Netflix series is an ideal watch for spooky season. In 1980s Indiana, a group of friends must band together to battle supernatural forces with governmental entanglements. Adults and teens will love its retro vibe, spooky effects, and witty writing. 

  5. The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants Hack-a-Ween (2019) We loved the silly vibe of the Captain Underpants books as kids, and now we love watching the series on Netflix with our kids as adults! Melvin tries to cancel Halloween, but his best friends make up their own holiday to rave reviews. This super silly Halloween special does not disappoint.  

Kids’ Halloween Movies on Disney Plus

6. Hocus Pocus (1993) Our editor Lindsay ranks Hocus Pocus as one of her family’s favorites, and we have to agree with her! Set in 1990’s Salem, Massachusetts, this movie follows the witch coven of the Sanderson sisters as they are accidentally set free by out-of-towner new kid, Max. With the help of his sister Dani, their new friend Allison, and a magic cat named Binx, Max must stop them before they take the souls of all the children in Salem to obtain immortality. 

7. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) Our editor Christina may not have any kids just yet, but she puts this Henry Selick flick at the top of her watchlist every Halloween! The king of Halloweentown, Jack Skellington, has a new awakening when he finds himself immersed in the jolly glow of Christmastown. He sets out on a plan to kidnap Santa Claus and take over his role. The animation may be a little scary for sensitive viewers, so use your discretion with this one! 

8. Coco (2017) We love this pick year-round, but it hits a little differently in October. Young musician Miguel defies his family’s ban on music and finds himself on a quest to prove himself in the colorful land of the dead. The Day-of-the-Dead motif soars on the wings of beautiful animation in this Pixar movie that is appropriate for all ages. 

9. The Haunted Mansion (2003) You can catch the 2023 Haunted Mansion remake on Disney+, but we’re not entirely convinced that it’s better than the 2003 Eddie Murphy original. Watchers beware that this movie has a 13% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. You’re not exactly getting Oscar-worthy stuff here, but we think this movie pays a great homage to the Walt Disney World ride that inspired it. 

10. Halloweentown (1998) A classic Disney Channel original movie from the late 1990s, this flick is uber nostalgic for our millennial Brad’s Dealers. On her 13th birthday, Marnie learns that she is a witch. When a secret portal transports her to Halloweentown, she must go on a journey to battle supernatural creatures to discover her full potential. 

 

Kids’ Halloween Movies on Amazon Prime 

11. Curious George: Halloween Boofest (2013) Our editor, Marisa, says this is the best not-scary Halloween movie for little kids. With a 4.9 out of 5 rating from over 3,000 reviewers on Amazon, we think she might be on to something! This movie has a gentle pace, sweet songs, and a fun story that is perfect for your little ones.

12. Beetlejuice (1988) It’s showtime! This iconic Tim Burton flick is a must-watch for our editors with older kids. While younger kids may find the antics of Beetlejuice a little frightening, older kids are sure to get a kick out of this classic movie.

13. Ghostbusters (1984) This supernatural comedy strikes the right balance between freaky and funny, making it appropriate for our younger viewers. This ‘80s throwback follows three wacky parapsychologists who start a ghost-catching business in New York City.

14. Gremlins (1984) Clearly the ’80s was the best time for comedy-horror! When Billy receives a strange new pet, he breaks three very important rules that result in a wave of destructive monsters unleashing havoc on his town of Kingston Falls. This one has some scarier imagery that makes it appropriate for kids ages 10 and up. 

15. If You Give a Mouse a Pumpkin (2019) This Amazon Original is based on the popular `If You Give a Mouse a Cookie` books by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond. This gentle story has themes of teamwork, empathy, and togetherness that are perfect for young viewers. 

Best Kid’s’ Halloween Movies & Shows on Apple TV Plus

16. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) For us, access to the full Peanuts catalog alone makes the Apple TV+ membership worth it. This Charlie Brown classic is a must-watch for our editors of all ages. This story follows Linus as he waits for the magical Great Pumpkin to appear on Halloween night. 

17. Ghost Writer (2022) This modern rival of the 1990s series of the same name follows four kids who must team up to solve mysteries surrounding the unfinished business of a ghost who haunts a neighborhood bookstore. This one is geared more toward tweens and teens, but even adults won’t mind binging this series.

18. CURSES! (2023) In this new Dreamworks series, Pandora and Rus Vanderhouven must return stolen artifacts to lift a generational family curse after their father is turned to stone. This is a family-friendly series with stunning animation that is sure to entertain kids and parents alike.

19. Shape Island Creepy Cave Crawl (2023) Shape Island is a critically acclaimed stop-motion series that shows friendship comes in many different shapes. In this stand-alone special, two of the friends, Circle and Square, must celebrate Halloween all on their own after they get pranked by their friend, Triangle. 

20. Stillwater Season 1, Episode 2: Ghost Story (2020) Stillwater is a series that follows siblings Karl, Addy, and Michael and their next-door neighbor Stillwater, a wise panda who gives them sage advice. In this Halloween episode, Micahel feels left out when his sibling Addy gets invited to a Halloween party. This show is suitable for kids of all ages.

 

Best Kids’ Halloween Movies on Hulu

21. Coraline (2009) This Henry Selick flick follows an 11-year-old named Coraline, who lives in a frustrating home. When she finds a secret door that leads to an idealized version of her life, she begins to uncover some troubling secrets that may keep her trapped in her alternate reality forever. This film features some creepy animation that may trouble younger viewers, so we recommend this for middle schoolers and up.

22. Frakenweenie (2012) When Victor’s dog, Sparky, is hit by a car, he decides to bring him back to life. But when the re-animated Sparky begins to wreak havoc on his neighbors, it’s up to Victor to convince them that he’s still the loyal dog he once was. This beautifully animated stop-motion film is exactly what you would expect from Tim Burton. It strikes the right balance of creepy and heartfelt, which makes it appropriate for all audiences.

23. Monster House (2006) Three friends insist that one of their neighboring houses is actually a living creature that wants to harm them, but no adults will believe them. The trio must find a way to destroy the deadly dwelling before innocent Halloween trick-or-treaters meet their demise.

24. Hotel Transylvania (2012) This movie stars Adam Sandler as Count Dracula, the owner of the lavish monsters-only resort, Hotel Transylvania. When a human crashes his daughter’s birthday party and begins to fall in love with her, unforeseen complications ensue. 

25. Goosebumps (2015) Zach is upset about moving from a big city to a small town until he meets his beautiful neighbor, Hannah. When he learns that her father is actually R.L. Stine of the Goosebumps series, he accidentally unleashes his imaginary monsters. He and Hannah must work together to return the creatures back to the books they came from. This movie features the hilarious Jack Black as R.L. Stine and is a great pick for younger viewers new to the horror genre.

Top 10 Best Halloween Movies, According to Our Editors, and Where to Watch Them