15 Family-Friendly Halloween Movies to Get Into the Spooky Spirit

There are several family-friendly films for parents and kids, alike, to enjoy this spooky season

It’s officially spooky season!

As the nights get longer and Halloween approaches, it’s time to embrace the changing seasons and get into the ghostly spirit. Of course, there are plenty of true crime series and freaky horror stories for adults, but there are also several kid-friendly films to enjoy with the whole family.

Here’s our guide to the best family-friendly movies to stream this Halloween.

From animated films like Monster House and The Nightmare Before Christmas to longtime Halloween favorites like Beetlejuice and The Addams Family, there are a variety of options for both children and parents to enjoy this Halloween season.

The Corpse Bride

Co-directed by Tim Burton and Mike Johnson, this stop-motion gothic fairy tale follows Victor Van Dort (voiced by Johnny Depp), who is arranged to marry Victoria Everglot (Emily Watson).

However, when Victor accidentally resurrects a dead Victorian-era woman named Emily (Helena Bonham Carter), he’s transported to the much more lively Land of the Dead ultimately forcing him to choose between his mortal fiancée and his new corpse bride.

Watch The Corpse Bride on HBO Max or Peacock

Beetlejuice

Burton directed one of the most iconic Halloween hits, Beetlejuice, which turned the haunted house trope upside down. The film takes the ghosts’ perspective as they try to rid their house of humans by hiring the mischievous Beetlejuice.

The film was made even stronger by its fantastic cast, which includes Catherine O’Hara, Winona Ryder, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton and Alec Baldwin. If one movie isn’t enough, fans are in luck with the sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, starring Jenna Ortega.

Watch Beetlejuice on HBO Max and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice on HBO Max or Netflix

The Nightmare Before Christmas

With a story by Burton, the stop-motion classic The Nightmare Before Christmas has been a favorite ever since it premiered in theaters back in 1993.

In the film, the worlds of Halloween and Christmas collide, all set to some fantastic music sung by the likes of O’Hara and composer Danny Elfman. The movie is also surprisingly emotional, thanks to its complex, yet kid-friendly characters.

Monster High: The Movie

Mattel’s popular fashion doll brand comes to life in this 2022 fantasy musical. The film follows Clawdeen Wolf (Miia Harris), a 15-year-old human/werewolf who enrolls at Monster High and must hide her human identity to avoid expulsion.

But when she learns about an undercover conspiracy to destroy the school, it’s up to Clawdeen to save it even if it risks revealing her humanity.

Watch Monster High: The Movie on Paramount+

Ghostbusters

While most ghost-hunting movies go for scares, Ghostbusters went for laughs. The film follows a ragtag team of ghost hunters trying to stop the evil spirit Zuul.

Starring Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts, Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd, Ghostbusters was a smash hit and featured one of the most hilarious climaxes in cinema history: a giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man terrorizing Manhattan.

Watch Ghostbusters on Peacock

Ghostbusters II

The entire cast returned in 1989 for Ghostbusters II, and this time around, Slimer has a much bigger role after gaining fame in the animated series The Real Ghostbusters, which premiered in 1986.

Though the movie wasn’t received as warmly as the original, it has amassed a large fan base throughout the years.

Watch Ghostbusters II on Peacock

Goosebumps

Jack Black stars as iconic horror writer R. L. Stine in the 2015 film Goosebumps.

When a new neighbor accidentally opens one of Stine’s locked books, he unleashes all of the author’s famous villains including the Abominable Snowman, the haunted mask, Slappy the ventriloquist’s dummy, the lawn gnomes and more.

Watch Goosebumps on Peacock

Werewolf by Night

Marvel’s Werewolf by Night is a great choice for kids who like superheroes. Set on a dark night in a mysterious mansion, a group of monster hunters gather to search for an elusive werewolf.

However, no one is who they seem, sparking a great cat-and-mouse chase. The film stars Gael García Bernal and Laura Donnelly.

Watch Werewolf by Night on Disney+

Nightbooks

Two kids are trapped in an infinite time loop by a witch (Krysten Ritter). The only way for them to survive and escape the witch’s magical realm is to tell her a new spooky story every night.

Nightbooks is more fantasy than horror, making it a great watch for families.

Watch Nightbooks on Netflix

Frankenweenie

Disney goes full-blown Frankenstein with Burton’s 2012 remake of Frankenweenie, in which a young boy (voiced by Charlie Tahan) brings his dog back from the dead.

Despite its morbid premise, the movie is lighthearted and humorous while exploring the relationship between families and their pets. Frankenweenie also has a great voice cast that includes Martin Short, Ryder and O’Hara.

Watch Frankenweenie on Disney+

Igor

Everyone knows the mad scientist … but nobody ever thinks about the trusty assistant. In this 2008 film, Igor (John Cusack) decides he’s done being a sidekick and becomes an inventor himself.

Thanks to an outstanding supporting voice cast that includes Jennifer Coolidge, John Cleese, Jay Leno, Eddie Izzard and Steve Buscemi, Igor is loaded with quirky characters and laughs.

Watch Igor on HBO Max

Muppets Haunted Mansion

Disney’s iconic Haunted Mansion ride has spawned several film adaptations including the 2023 theatrical release Haunted Mansion. This inventive and charming version follows Gonzo after he gets invited to a mysterious event at a haunted mansion.

Naturally, Muppet hijinks ensue, and audiences can see Miss Piggy take a turn as fan-favorite Madame Leota.

Watch Muppets Haunted Mansion on Disney+

The Addams Family

In 1991’s The Addams Family, a con artist gets more than he bargains for when he tries to infiltrate the Addams house by impersonating Uncle Fester.

The cast remains iconic, with Anjelica Huston as Morticia, Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester, Christina Ricci as Wednesday and Raul Julia as Gomez. Huston received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance.

Watch The Addams Family on Paramount+

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

The famed cheese-loving British duo Wallace and Gromit had their biggest film ever with The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. In the movie, the pair are tasked with capturing a menacing beast who’s been eating the veggies from everyone’s gardens.

The culprit? A were-rabbit! It’s a great family-friendly twist on a classic werewolf tale.

Watch Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit on Apple TV+

Monster House

In 2006’s Monster House, a group of kids (voiced by Sam Lerner, Spencer Locke and Mitchel Musso) and their babysitter (Maggie Gyllenhaal) are forced to fight a haunted house that’s literally come to life after being possessed by a spirit.

The movie became a hit in theaters, received an Academy Award nomination for Animated Feature Film and even spawned video game and novel adaptations.

Watch Monster House on Peacock