October always brings fun costumes and plenty of treats. It also gets us in the mood to share scary stories. We created this list to make it easy and safe to share with your little ones. These will give your family a taste of Halloween without the nightmares. We still recommend that you watch these movies along with your children in case they have questions or if there is a scene they might want to snuggle up closer to you. Enjoy!
Frankenweenie (2012)
Tim Burton has two movies on this list. This one is a reimagining of the class Frankenstein tale. The stop motion animation elements keep this movie fun and not overly scary. In the move, a boy uses the power of electricity to bring his dead Bull Terrier back to life.
The Boxtrolls (2014)
This film is another stop motion animation movie on our list. This story follows a group of trolls that find a baby boy. They take him in and raise him as their own. These trash collector trolls call themselves the Boxtrolls. The boy is named eggs and he attempts to save the trolls from an exterminator named Archibald Snatcher.
The Addams Family (2019)
This is an excellent spooky movie to start kids off with. It looks ghouly and spooky, but almost all of these elements are used for laughs. One of the best parts of this movie is the message of acceptance that is at the heart of this story.
Coraline (2009)
Coraline is the story of a girl who moves to a new town with her family. Unfortunately, the family becomes too busy to spend time with her. This allows Coraline time to discover a secret door into a new world. This alternate reality even has another mother who promises to be the mother her real mother isn’t.
Paranorman (2012)
Paranorman is a story of a boy who can speak with the dead. He must learn how to use this ability to save the town from an evil curse. Can he figure out how to stop the curse and save the town?
The House With a Clock in Its Walls (2018)
This movie is the book adaptation of the YA Novel by John Bellairs. The story revolves around an orphan boy who goes to live with his uncle. He is soon thrust into the middle of an ancient struggle between witches and warlocks. And you thought your family had issues.
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
This adventure starts when a family moves into an old house. This creepy house in the middle of nowhere leads to the discovery of mythical creatures like fairies and goblins. There are also unseen creatures they must fight off. The scary moments in this story come from the dramatic encounters with goblins and ogres.
The Corpse Bride (2005)
How do you accidentally marry a corpse? That’s exactly what happens in the Corpse Bride. It’s a story about a groom who marries a corpse and has to travel to the Land of the Dead to fix things. This is another Tim Burton stop motion animation movie to make this list. He really has a knack for making scary topics fun and family friendly.
Return to Oz (1985)
This sequel to the Wizard of Oz is a much darker affair than the original. It begins with Dorothy getting punished for telling others about Oz. When she does make it back to Oz, she discovers it has become a more dangerous place.
The Dark Crystal (1982)
The Dark Crystal is a dark fantasy story set in a world of magical creatures. The creatures are puppets similar to Labyrinth (which also made this list). The creatures in this movie are called Gelflings and Skeksis. They are locked in a struggle over the fate of the universe. If your family loves it, a prequel series set in the same universe is available on Netflix.
Scoob! (2020)
Scoob is an animated film that reviews the origins of the Mystery Machine Gang. This story reveals a mystery for the team to solve and like customary Scooby Doo it is more fun than it is terrifying.
Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest (2013)
Curious George is a favorite for younger viewers. This story centers around George’s exploits at a Halloween festival. He tries to find a scarecrow, make a costume and tries to locate a pumpkin to take home. Nothing to be worried about in this one.
Hotel Transylvania (2012)
The film tells the story of Count Dracula, the owner of Hotel Transylvania. This resort is where all monsters can come to take a break from human civilization. When the hotel is unexpectedly visited by an ordinary human named Jonathan, Dracula must scramble to keep the hotel’s guests from finding out. There are also two sequels that follow it.
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
This adventure follows Wallace and Gromit in their first Halloween themed adventure. There are scary moments, but it stops short of becoming too scary. Wallace and Gromit’s quirks are fun to watch as they try to discover what has been ruining all of the local vegetable gardens. It’s a were-rabbit monster.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Nightmare Before Christmas combines a fun mash up of Halloween and Christmas. Jack Skellington has always dreamed of Christmas. When he takes steps to have a more involved role with Christmas, everything gets thrown out of whack and puts the holidays at risk.
Labyrinth (1986)
Labyrinth is a musical fantasy film directed by Jim Henson, with George Lucas as executive producer and starring a young Jennifer Connelly. It revolves around teenage Sarah’s journey to reach the center of an enormous maze to rescue her infant brother Toby. Sarah’s main adversary is Jareth the Goblin King played by David Bowie. Most of the film’s significant characters are played by puppets produced by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.
E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982)
This is an iconic classic from legendary director Steven Spielberg. This movie does have perilous moments, but ultimately has more tender moments thanks to the relationship between Elliot and E.T. It’s a nice alternative to the traditional ghost or ghoul infested Halloween story.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the first movie in the series and is an excellent entry point for younger viewers. This movie follows Harry on his first trip to Hogwarts. It does not get as dark or scary as the later films in this series making it a fun magical film for the whole family.
In conclusion, there is quite a variety of Halloween themed movies that are perfect for sharing with your family. There are plenty of opportunities to share movies that you also enjoyed in your childhood. Whichever option you choose should spell fun for your entire family.