Are you looking for the Best Halloween Movies Family can enjoy together? Look no further; hudsonfamily.net has curated a list of spooky, family-friendly films perfect for a Halloween movie night with your loved ones! These movies range from comedy horror to animated adventures, ensuring there’s something for everyone in the family to enjoy, creating lasting memories and strengthening family bonds. Dive into our curated list of Halloween flicks perfect for unforgettable family movie nights!
1. Ghostbusters (1984)
Ghostbusters 1984 horror movie appropriate for tweens
Ghostbusters is an outstanding movie for introducing family members of any age to the horror genre. It’s a great horror comedy, with jokes to ease tension during scarier parts. The effects are awesome and cartoonish enough to not be too scary. The plot is simple, the actors are fantastic, and it’s a pop culture phenomenon that made a huge impact on society and genre films. It’s no wonder the kids in Stranger Things dress up as the Ghostbusters for Halloween!
Some parents might feel uneasy during a scene that hints at a ghost doing something risqué with Ray. But, depending on how savvy your tween is, you may not have to worry about providing an explanation. You can easily check for potential triggers on DoesTheDogDie.com, an invaluable resource for sensitive movie viewers. Oh! And if your kids love Ghostbusters (1984), be sure to show them Ghostbusters II (1989). They make a great double-feature!
Rated PG. Runtime: 1 hour and 45 minutes.
2. The Addams Family (1991)
The Addams Famiy horror for kids
The Addams Family (1991) sets the stage, introducing young audiences to the title family and their creepy kookiness. It’s basically Uncle Fester’s origin story, which was an unusual angle to take, but it works. The Addams Family is a lot of fun!
Pugsley and Wednesday are a special treat as they tend to play out scenes taken directly from Charles Addams’ comic strips. Gomez and Morticia are THE example of #MarriedCoupleGoals and openly share their loving (but never inappropriate) relationship. And the side characters are all wonderful as well!
Once your tween is introduced to The Addams Family, they’ll be able to enjoy Addams Family Values (a fabulous sequel that surpasses its original film!). They can also check out the Wednesday show over on Netflix. For all the gold star sticker in Horror Genre Class, they can watch the 1960s TV show (it’s in black and white – how utterly grown-up they’ll feel indulging in it!).
Rated PG-13. Runtime: 1 hour and 39 minutes.
3. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Nightmare Before Christmas Lock Shock Barrel
Looking for a holiday-themed horror film for tweens? Then you’re looking for The Nightmare Before Christmas! Which holiday? Well, that’s up to you. Personally, it’s more Christmas-y than Halloween-y, but I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. I think it’s a great movie for November, when Halloween is over but Christmas is still a ways away. It’s nice for filling that gap when there’s nothing going on.
If you’re not familiar with The Nightmare Before Christmas, I’m going to have to assume that you’re an alien or a young child yourself. If you really don’t know: The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stop motion animation musical (with GREAT songs!) about Jack Skellington AKA the Pumpkin King, who rules Halloween Town and is in charge of making sure Halloween, well, happens each and every year. But he’s bored and longs for something different. After discovering Christmas Town, he decides to become the new Santa Claus and be the one in charge of making Christmas happen for all! What could possibly go wrong?
Rated PG. Runtime: 1 hour and 16 minutes.
4. The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018)
The House with a Clock in Its Walls Jack Black Eli Roth horror film based on a book
Based on the book The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs, this fun little film was helmed by Eli Roth (Cabin Fever, Hostel) and stars Jack Black and Cate Blanchett. It tells the story of 10-year-old orphan Lewis being adopted by his eccentric uncle Jonathan …who turns out to be a warlock!
Set in 1955, The House with a Clock in Its Walls has beautiful costumes and set dressing. It has a very “fantasy” look/feel to it, but that’s not a bad thing at all — horror-fantasy movies are fantastic for introducing kids and tweens to the genre! I would have put the Harry Potter films on this list, but I figured everyone who wants to share them with their kids already has!
The House with a Clock in Its Walls also has living Jack-o-lanterns, zombies, a spooky graveyard, an eeeevil warlock, living furniture, the threat of Doomsday, and other supernatural and magical points of interest as well as everyday adolescent struggles like making friends at a new school, figuring out who you really are, and getting picked last for Sports.
Rated PG. Runtime: 1 hour and 45 minutes.
5. Casper (1995)
Casper 1995 Devon Sawa Christina Ricci
My primary memory of Casper (1995) is of watching it during a rainy day PE class in middle school and a classmate, Chelsea, involuntarily screaming out “Oh my God… he’s HOT!!” when Devon Sawa shows up in it.
I’m not sure if modern tweens will have the same reaction as my peers did; however, I think they’ll enjoy this sweet, simple ghost story. Casper, the title character, is the ghost of a child long dead who’s so very lonely. He lives with three other “uncle” ghosts who treat him horribly, and the house they’re haunting has recently been acquired by an evil woman who’s hellbent on finding its hidden riches.
Casper calls a paranormal therapist (Bill Pullman) for help and the doc moves into the house, along with his daughter Kat (Christina Ricci). From there, Casper and Kat have kind of a The Ghost and Mrs. Muir situation going on, where they form a lovely platonic friendship but there’s also some “crush” feelings going on (at least on Casper’s side).
It’s spooky and sweet, with few things to be afraid of. Some of the references may go over your kids’ heads (the celebrity cameos, like Rodney Dangerfield, are very dated), but the CGI special effects hold up shockingly well! And what tween wouldn’t want to take a ride on Casper’s dad’s “Up and At ‘Em!” machine?
Rated PG. Runtime: 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Bonus! Casper Meets Wendy (1998). It’s most notable for being Hilary Duff’s first movie.
Rated PG. Runtime: 1 hour and 30 minutes.
6. Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Hotel Transylvania best kid horror movies
Films where all the classic monsters get together are always a treat, and Hotel Transylvania is especially tasty with its adorable renditions of said monsters, its fast pace, its endearing characters, its lighthearted humor, and its sweet story.
Hotel Transylvania is equal parts tender and goofy, with plenty of monster-related antics! The father-daughter relationship between Dracula and his daughter, Mavis, is really cute. Dracula has built the Hotel Transylvania as a sanctuary to keep his daughter (and other visiting monsters) safe from humans. Imagine his dismay when Johnny, a human boy who accidentally found his way to the Hotel while lost in the woods, instantly falls in love with Mavis… and Mavis likes Johnny too?! What’s a father to do!
As your tweens grow older, they’re bound to date people you don’t necessarily approve of. Hotel Transylvania shows that honest communication is key (Mavis is great about talking with her father about her hopes and fears), and that everyone deserves a fair chance (obviously Johnny’s human background is far different from how Dracula raised Mavis as a monster, but he’s a good dude!). Adorable. And perfect for all ages.
Although Hotel Transylvania totally rules, there are diminishing joy returns from every following sequel; and, for your own sanity, skip the 4th one entirely.
Rated PG. Runtime: 1 hour and 31 minutes.
7. Eight Legged Freaks (2002)
Eight Legged Freaks teen scarlett johanson spider horror film
Eight Legged Freaks is enjoyable. The cast, which includes Scream King David Arquette and a teenage Scarlett Johansson, really gives it their all. And the script is surprisingly tight.
In a desert town in Arizona, a toxic waste mishap transforms the local spiders into gigantic, hungry monsters. Similar to Tremors (1990) the townsfolk in Eight Legged Freaks must come together to tackle this eight-legged invasion.
Eight Legged Freaks cleverly blends humor with horror, creating moments that’ll make you jump and chuckle at the same time. It’s a perfect horror film for tweens — an arachnid rollercoaster! It’s a story about bravery, unlikely heroes, and a bunch of gigantic spiders. It’s so action-packed and silly, they’ll forget to be scared.
Rated PG-13. Runtime: 1 hour 39 minutes.
8. Arachnophobia (1990)
Arachnophobia
Arachnophobia is a suspenseful film that might leave your tween with the title phobia if you’re not careful. Anyway, the plot of Arachnophobia is similar to that of Eight Legged Freaks (mutant spiders taking over and killing people), except that it’s played straight (it’s tense with few jokes) and the spiders are normal-sized instead of giant.
Rated PG-13. Runtime: 1 hour and 49 minutes.
9. Super 8 (2011)
Super 8 was filmed in Ohio
Before there was Stranger Things, there was Super 8 — a tween-friendly horror film about a group of friends making a zombie movie for a film competition… who end up crossing paths with an alien!
Super 8 is perfect for kids and tweens who love sci-fi, mystery, and a dash of spookiness. There’s a mysterious creature on the loose, government secrets, and heart-pounding moments that’ll keep them hooked. It seamlessly blends sci-fi and horror elements, creating a thrilling mix that’s a perfect gateway into either genre. And the young cast is incredible!
Note: Super 8 has a lot of loud noises, starting with the core friend group witnessing a train crash. And there’s a lot done with the sound throughout in terms of auditory jump scares.
Rated PG-13. Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes.
10. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
et the extra terrestrial
I’ve been assured that E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial is a worthy addition to this list and that kids and tweens will love it. It’s about kids who find an alien!
Rated PG. Runtime: 1 hour 54 minutes.
11. Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
gremlins 2 the new batch horror movie sequel
If your kids loved Gremlins (1984) from Christi’s original list of 20 Kid/Tween-Friendly Horror Flicks, then they’ll love Gremlins 2: The New Batch as well.
Gizmo, the adorable yet mischievous Mogwai, is back, and this time, the mayhem unfolds in a gleaming New York City high-rise. Gentle Gizmo and the not-so-well-behaved Gremlins run riot, creating a rowdy blend of humor and zany Gremlin antics.
Gremlins 2: The New Batch is exactly the kind of chaos kids and tweens love. Plus, the phenomenal puppetry and animatronics add to the movie’s charm, making it a visual treat. It may be the film that sparks your child’s interest in practical special FX!
It’s a monster movie that’s more about laughs than screams. It’s a lesson in responsibility (remember, don’t feed them after midnight!) wrapped in a package of high-energy, laughter-inducing fun. Gremlins 2 is a wacky adventure that kids and tweens will adore.
Rated PG-13. Runtime: 1 hour and 46 minutes.
12. Coraline (2009)
Coraline claymation horror film
Neil Gaiman’s book is better, but no one can deny that the stop motion animation on the film adaptation of Coraline is phenomenal. It’s a visual delight!
Coraline is a little girl with unintentionally neglectful parents who’re too consumed with their work to attend to their daughter’s emotional needs. Fortunately, she finds her way to an alternate dimension where doppelgängers of her parents give her plenty of love and attention. The fact that they have buttons for eyeballs and are overall just slightly “off,” isn’t any cause for alarm. Right…?
Rated PG. Runtime: 1 hour and 40 minutes.
13. Corpse Bride (2005)
Tim Burton Corpse Bride kids animated horror film
Also known as Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, this is another stop-motion animated musical that’s nowhere near as good as The Nightmare Before Christmas, but it LOOKS amazing!
Corpse Bride is a very benign jaunt into ghostly horror, that for the most part is just kinda (literally) blue and sleepy-feeling. And then things pick up when the dancing skeletons appear, and they’re just so fun! And then it goes back to being a sleepy lil film.
It’s gorgeous to look at, and its complete lack of scares makes it a fine entry point for kids to get into horror, so long as they don’t get too bored.
Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride is the story of Victor, a nervous young man, who’s supposed to marry a gal named Victoria. But, while practicing his proposal speech, he accidentally asks a corpse to marry him instead. And the corpse says, “yes!” OOPS!!
Rated PG. Runtime: 1 hour and 17 minutes.
14. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark horror movies based on books
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark takes place right around Halloween of 1968. It’s loosely based on a series of children’s books by Alvin Schwartz, and the plot almost doesn’t matter. The main draw of this movie is the outrageously cool special effects, taken straight from the Stephen Gammell illustrations the original books were known for.
This is a great film to show tweens because, when they’re rightfully enthralled by the terrifying imagery, you can mention that the super scary characters they’re gawking at are originally from a series of books. And that the illustrations in said books are even more traumatic! And then your kids will be like “Whaaaat! Word?!” and then they’ll go read the books and you two can bond over great reading material.
Rated PG-13. Runtime: 1 hour and 48 minutes.
15. Monster House (2006)
Monster House kid friendly horror films
Three adventurous kids discover that the creepy house across the street is no ordinary haunted place; it’s alive! The house itself is the monster, with a jaw that chomps and a personality as big as its appetite for anything that gets too close.
Monster House is another period piece, this time taking place in 1983. It’s also another kid-friendly horror film that takes place on Halloween!
It’s a spooky adventure that teaches the value of courage and teamwork.
Rated PG. Runtime: 1 hour and 31 minutes.
16. ParaNorman (2012)
Paranorman kid friendly horror movie
Norman is an everyday kid, except for one extraordinary ability: He can talk to the dead. ParaNorman is a mix of humor, mystery, and some genuinely eerie moments.
Stop motion animated zombies, witches, and ghosts provide visual thrills for kids and tweens, as they’re treated to a story about embracing who you are no matter what anyone else thinks.
Rated PG. Runtime: 1 hour and 32 minutes.
17. The Witches (1990)
The Witches 1990 Roald Dahl horror movies based on books
Based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name, The Witches teaches tweens that witches are real and living among us! These aren’t friendly practitioners of the mystical arts, either — these witches are essentially female demons who’re evil to the core. And their main goal is to destroy all children!
The main character, Luke, a seven-year-old boy ends up staying in a hotel with his grandmother when she’s instructed to take a restful seaside vacation after a diabetes-related health ordeal. Unfortunately, the hotel they’ve checked into is hosting a convention of witches, including The Grand High Witch – the QUEEN of all witches! YIKES!
Luke and a peer, Bruno, are transformed into helpless mice by the witches, leaving the fate of the world’s youth in the hands of an elderly woman and two tiny rodents. The odds are terrible, but your tween will love watching the events unfold and finding out how (or if?!) the heroes triumph against the scariest witches to ever grace the silver screen.
While I’d recommend the 1983 Roald Dahl book to any age, you may want to keep The Witches (1990) away from younger kids because it’s INTENSE. The makeup effects are fantastic (and super disturbing!) and a lot of the haunting concepts from the book hit harder when you can SEE them. For example, a little girl gets trapped inside a painting and slowly grows old until she eventually disappears entirely. Brrr.
Rated PG. Runtime: 1 hour and 31 minutes.
18. Goosebumps (2015)
Goosebumps 2015 Jack Black horror films
Speaking of horror movies for kids based on horror books for kids, Goosebumps (2015) stars Jack Black as children’s horror author R.L. Stine and is an energetic romp through the Goosebumps‘ universe.
The plot centers around a teenage boy (Zach) moving next door to a teenage girl (Hannah) and her dad. Zach shows an interest in Hannah, but her father is extremely overprotective and more than a tad peculiar. Turns out, her dad is R.L. Stine and he’s hiding a big ol’ secret: anything he imagines comes to life — and he has a horrifying imagination!
Jack Black is always a joy no matter what movie he’s in and this role is no different. Plus, as with Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, you can use Goosebumps (2015) to introduce your tweens to the books it was based on.
If your tweens enjoy Goosebumps (2015), they may also like The Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018).
Rated PG. Runtime: 1 hour and 43 minutes.
19. Disney’s Haunted Mansion (2023)
Haunted Manion 2023 tween friendly horror films
Haunted Mansion (2023) had a truly unfortunate release date, but hopefully it’ll find the love it deserves on streaming! It’s a perfect tween-friendly horror film you and your kids will enjoy immensely.
There are also two other films based on the Disneyland Haunted Mansion ride — The Haunted Mansion (2003) and Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021) — that are also appropriate for kids and tweens.
Rated PG-13. Runtime: 2 hours and 3 minutes.
20. The Monster Squad (1987)
The Monster Squad tween friendly horror films
The Monster Squad is one of my all-time favorite movies ever, of any genre. I’m totally biased in my recommendation here. Is it appropriate for kids? Probably not. Is it okay for tweens?? That’ll ultimately be up to you, but I’d say YES!
It’s about a group of tween boys and one little girl who have a club based around their love of horror and all things monster. But when REAL monsters show up in the form of Dracula, the Wolf Man, the Mummy, the Gill Man (Creature), and Frankenstein’s monster, the club becomes a monster-fighting SQUAD. The adolescent heroes are the only ones with enough horror knowledge to take down the threat!
It has amazing effects, refreshing takes on classic monsters (Dracula has zero chill, which I find both menacing and hilarious), humor, heartwarming moments (there’s one scene that makes me cry every time I watch it), and it moves along at a fast pace that will keep your tween captivated.
Rated PG-13. Runtime: 1 hour and 19 minutes.
21. Hocus Pocus (1993)
Hocus Pocus 1993 kid friendly horror
Hocus Pocus is one of Christi Bandy‘s very favorite Halloween movies, and her kids loved it too! In it, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy star as witch sisters who’ve been summoned to “modern” times (the 1990s) from 1693 via reading aloud from a spooky book. The witches are after eternal youth and try their very best to get it using quirky spells and slapstick humor.
In addition to the Sanderson sisters, there’s a talking black cat named Binx, a zombie named Billy, and plenty of atmosphere. Hocus Pocus has just a smidge of suspense as the two child leads try to defeat the witches before it’s too late which will give kids and tweens spooky thrills without being too scary.
And, if your youngsters love it, they’ll be thrilled to know that there’s a sequel, Hocus Pocus 2!
Rated PG. Runtime: 1 hour and 36 minutes.
22. Halloweentown (1998)
Halloweentown Disney TV halloween movie
My husband introduced me to Halloweentown, and I thought it was adorable. As the title implies, it’s a perfect movie for Halloween time. It’s also a great gateway into supernatural films for even the youngest viewers.
13-year-old Marnie discovers she’s from a family of witches who originally hailed from Halloweentown, a magical realm where all the witches, monsters, ghouls, and other spooky characters reside. Along with her younger brother and sister — and their grandma, played by Debbie Reynolds! — Marnie visits Halloweentown on a journey of discovery (can she unlock her own witch powers?!) and they end up on quite the adventure!
There’s giant pumpkins, teenage goblins, and even a talking skeleton to drives a taxi. It’s perfect for kids who love Halloween and trick-or-treating (or tweens who miss it). Not to mention there are three sequels!
Rated TV-G. Runtime: 1 hour and 24 minutes.
23. Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
Something Wicked This Way Comes Mr Dark hand tattoos
Based on the 1962 Ray Bradbury novel, Something Wicked This Way Comes is about the circus coming to town!
Led by Mr. Dark, a charismatic and quietly menacing ringmaster, the circus is granting the townsfolks’ wishes. They’re all getting what they want, but only in the most technical sense.
Two tween boys, Will and Jim, figure out what’s going on at the evil circus and Mr. Dark doesn’t take kindly to their nosiness. The scares in Something Wicked This Way Comes spawn from the suspense of Mr. Dark hunting them down, and learning the hard way that we should all be careful what we wish for.
Rated PG. Runtime: 1 hour and 35 minutes.
24. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
There are so many wonderful black and white horror movies, but it can be difficult to get younger audiences to engage with the medium. Introducing your tween to black and white horror via a horror comedy is a great tactic.
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, like The Monster Squad and Hotel Transylvania, features all of the “core” movie monsters together in one film with plenty of comedy antics to keep antsy tweens focused. It’s fast-paced and silly and is bound to ignite their interest in the old Universal Monsters movies.
Not Rated. Runtime: 1 hour and 23 minutes.
25. Any of the Old Universal Monster Movies
frankenstein meets the wolfman publicity still
Going off of the last entry, the old Universal monster films are classics for a reason! They’re fine viewing for younger kids and tweens alike and are great for their overall horror education. My dad recommends Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman as his top pick for tween viewers; after Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, of course.
These aren’t ALL of the Universal Monster films, but this is a great starter selection:
- Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman. Runtime: 1 hour and 14 minutes.
- The Wolf Man. Runtime: 1 hour and 10 minutes.
- Dracula. Runtime: 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- Creature from the Black Lagoon. Runtime: 1 hour and 19 minutes.
- The Invisible Man. Runtime: 1 hour and 11 minutes.
- Frankenstein. Runtime: 1 hour and 10 minutes.
- The Bride of Frankenstein. Runtime: 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- The Mummy. Runtime: 1 hour and 13 minutes.
Since they’re all fairly short, you can easily run them back-to-back at a party as background atmosphere. But you’re pretty much guaranteed at least one kid will stop in front of the TV to watch the entire marathon. 😉
26. The Mummy (1999)
The Mummy 1999 horror action movies
Action! Adventure! Comedy! Brendan Fraser! Finding someone who doesn’t enjoy The Mummy (1999) is like finding someone who hates cold drinks on a hot summer day.
The Mummy takes the spirit of the old Universal classic and updates it beautifully. It keeps the horror spirit alive while placing the audience on a fast-paced ride of special effects and elaborate action sequences. It’s no wonder that the actual ride, based on the movie, is one of the longest-running attractions at the Universal Studios theme parks!
Rated PG-13. Runtime: 2 hours and 4 minutes.
27. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Monsters Inc 2001 cartoon monster movie
That said, the idea of monsters living under our beds or in our closets is a classic horror trope that deserves to be explored. And little kids are well-served by learning that they don’t need to be afraid to go to sleep — and even if there are monsters hiding out in their rooms, they’re probably pretty nice. Like Howie Mandel. Or… Mike & Sulley!
Monsters, Inc. is that magical movie where the monsters under your bed turn out to be more goofy than scary. It’s a heartwarming and chuckle-worthy adventure, perfect for kids and tweens. There’s plenty of laughs for adults too, and the computer animation still holds up shockingly well!
Rated G. Runtime: 1 hour and 32 minutes.
28. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
wallace gromit in the curse of the wererabbit uk childrens horror film
Wallace is an inventor, and Gromit, his silent but expressive dog, is always by his side. Together, they run a pest control business with a mission to protect gardens from veggie-loving rabbits. But when a mysterious “Were-Rabbit” starts munching on the town’s veggies, it’s up to them to crack the case.
Is it scary? Not in the slightest. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is perfect for kids and younger tweens. It’s a wild adventure, loaded with funny moments and just a dash of mystery. The British charm, the crazy contraptions, and the clever humor make it enjoyable for all ages.
If your youngster enjoys The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, they’ll be happy to know that it isn’t the claymation duo’s only jaunt into tween-friendly horror films! Check out A Matter of Loaf and Death (2008), a murder mystery where Wallace & Gromit
