The hardest Halloween movie night is the one where the whole family watches together: the seven-year-old wants spooky, the teenager wants scary, and the grandparents want to understand what is going on. These 15 Halloween family movies are not too scary, and each one comes with a simple scare level so you can pick in seconds.
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Our Scare Level Guide
- Scare level 1: fine for everyone, including the youngest.
- Scare level 2: a few spooky moments; best from about age 6.
- Scare level 3: genuinely creepy in places; best from about age 9, with a parent nearby.
15 Halloween Family Movies, Not Too Scary
1. Hocus Pocus (1993)
Rated: PG. Scare level 2. Witches, a talking cat and great songs for the parents. Usually the family vote winner.
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2. Casper (1995)
Rated: PG. Scare level 1. A sweet friendly-ghost story with lots of slapstick.
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3. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Rated: G. Scare level 1. Monsters that are scared of kids. Every age laughs.
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4. Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Rated: PG. Scare level 1. Dracula as an overprotective dad.
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5. Coco (2017)
Rated: PG. Scare level 1. A boy visits the Land of the Dead on Día de los Muertos. Bring tissues.
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6. Halloweentown (1998)
Rated: TV-G. Scare level 1. A family of witches and a town where every day is Halloween.
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7. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Rated: PG. Scare level 2. The look can be dark for little ones, but the songs win them over.
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8. The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Rated: PG. Scare level 2. A family gets trapped in a haunted house based on the Disney ride.
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9. Ghostbusters (1984)
Rated: PG. Scare level 2. Classic fun for ages 9 and up; a bit of adult language.
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10. The Addams Family (1991)
Rated: PG-13. Scare level 2. Dark jokes rather than scares; best for 10 and up.
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11. Beetlejuice (1988)
Rated: PG. Scare level 2. Wild and funny, with some language; good for older kids and teens.
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12. Frankenweenie (2012)
Rated: PG. Scare level 2. A boy brings his dog back to life in black-and-white stop-motion.
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13. Goosebumps (2015)
Rated: PG. Scare level 2. Funny monster chaos that teens enjoy too.
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14. Over the Garden Wall (2014)
Rated: TV-PG miniseries. Scare level 2. Two brothers lost in a strange autumn forest. Ten short episodes that make one perfect evening.
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15. Coraline (2009)
Rated: PG. Scare level 3. The creepiest one here; save it for ages 9 and up.
Shop Coraline (2009) on Blu-ray and DVD
Pick by Your Family
- Toddler in the room: Casper, Monsters, Inc., Hotel Transylvania
- Kids aged 6 to 9: Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown, The Haunted Mansion
- Teens who say they are too old for this: Beetlejuice, Ghostbusters, Over the Garden Wall
- Grandparents visiting: Coco or The Addams Family
Set Up Family Movie Night
Give everyone their own spot: floor pillows for the kids, an oversized fleece blanket big enough for two adults and a child, and a Halloween throw blanket for whoever gets cold first. Swap your cushion covers for orange and black plaid pillow covers, stick a few 3D wall bats around the TV, and pour popcorn from the Presto hot air popcorn popper into separate popcorn bowls so nobody fights over one bowl. More ideas in our cozy family movie night guide.
Where to Watch Halloween Family Movies
Streaming libraries change every month, so check a free tracker like JustWatch before movie night to see which app has each film right now. Most of these titles can also be rented for a few dollars, and the Amazon links above take you to the Blu-ray or DVD if you want to own them.
If you would rather have one place for films and live channels, Ovello TV and ScreenHouse are two streaming services we partner with. Both work on Fire TV, smart TVs, Apple TV and Android, and you can message them before you sign up. No smart apps on the TV? An Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max plugs into any HDMI port.
More Halloween Movie Lists
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