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12 Not-Too-Spooky Halloween Movies for the Whole Family

Halloween is always a night of creative costumes, delicious candy and fun frights. Of course, kids love the opportunity to challenge their courage by entering haunted houses, swapping spine-chilling stories and watching scary movies . That’s a lot of spookiness for one day, though, and with the wrong film, they may be too frightened to fall asleep at bedtime. (And of course, getting them to bed in time for you to enjoy a proper horror film , like a Stephen King adaptation or classic vampire flick might be an important part of your grown-up Halloween experience!)

Fortunately, there are lots of wonderfully fun — and only slightly creepy — movies out there that kids will enjoy this year. From oldies like Hocus Pocus  to newer films like a stellar remake of The Witches , this list has plenty of options that’ll delight much more than they’ll scare. Check out 12 of the best kid-friendly Halloween flicks that make not-too-spooky treats for the entire family!

Goosebumps (2015)

The Goosebumps  book series by R.L. Stine has thrilled kids across the world since the 1990s. The series has been adapted for both TV and film, including a newer franchise for younger generations who aren’t familiar with these classics.

The 2015 flick, aptly titled Goosebumps , stars Jack Black as a fictionalized version of Stine alongside Dylan Minnette, who plays his teenage neighbor. The two team up to take down monsters from the Goosebumps  series that have managed to escape from the books and cause chaos in the real world. The film is frightening fun for kids, and there’s enough action to keep parents entertained — especially if they’re former fans of the series.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

A trio of 300-year-old witches (Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker) conjures up a little bit of hocus pocus in this Halloween classic. The 1993 film centers on what happens when the Sanderson sisters are accidentally brought back from the dead on All Hallow’s Eve.

Attempting to recapture their youth, the witches plan to steal the souls of the children of Salem, Massachusetts, so they can live for eternity. Three kids, a talking black cat and, eventually, a friendly zombie have to work together to stop the sinister sisters before it’s too late. Hocus Pocus  is certain to put a spell on you  this Halloween.  

Spirited Away (2001)

If you’re new to the world of Miyazaki , Spirited Away is a great place to start. This classic film from Studio Ghibli follows our protagonist Chihiro, just as she and her parents move to a new town. As they explore, they find what appears to be an abandoned theme park, but Chihiro quickly realizes that she has somehow crossed into the realm of spirits. Oh, and her parents have been turned into pigs. As she learns to navigate the spirit world, and ultimately free herself and her parents, she meets many memorable characters along the way.

The film won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film and became the top-grossing film in Japanese history. Don’t let the strange plot deter you. This film has won the hearts of many, and is a perfect addition to a Halloween lineup for the whole family.

Ghostbusters (1984)

These guys ain’t afraid of no ghosts, probably because the ghosts in this film aren’t too scary. This family-friendly comedy-horror was a smash at the box office in the 80s and has retained its appeal in the decades to follow. Sequels and remakes have attempted to capitalize on the success of the original, but have repeatedly fallen short.

Pop some popcorn and prepare to be entertained as a trio of paranormal exterminators face off against a gluttonous ghost, a pack of demonic dogs, and the iconic Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Monsters, Inc . is a fun comedy about — what else? — two monsters, Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sulley (John Goodman), who are the number-one scare team at the scream-processing factory in the town of Monstropolis. The film, released in 2001, follows their misadventures after a human girl named Boo makes her way into their world.

Together, the two have to figure out a way to get Boo home before anyone discovers this unimaginable mistake. Despite their best efforts, which include dressing Boo up as a baby monster, they run into plenty of roadblocks along the way. Kids will probably fall in love with the cuddly Sulley before they feel an ounce of fear during this film!

The Witches (2020)

The Witches  (2020) is a fantasy-comedy film based on Roald Dahl’s novel of the same name. This reimagining of the original 1990 film follows an orphaned boy who goes to live with his grandmother in Alabama. After coming across a witch, the boy and his grandmother flee to a hotel to escape her evil clutches. However, the world’s Grand High Witch happens to be staying there — along with disguised, diabolical witches from all over the world who are helping her turn children into mice.

This remake of The Witches  is an HBO Max  original starring Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer and Stanley Tucci — and it’s certainly a top choice for your family’s Halloween movie marathon.

Coraline (2009)

The 2009 animated film Coraline  is based on a dark fantasy novella of the same name. With Dakota Fanning voicing the titular character, the movie follows a young girl who discovers an alternate world that closely mirrors her own — but seemingly much happier. It’s complete with a parallel family that appears, at first sight, to be much better than the one she has.

However, when Coraline’s Other Mother (Teri Hatcher) and the rest of this parallel family try to keep her in their new world forever, she has to fight to make it back home. Kids are sure to find the stop-motion animation and colorful sets of Coraline  enchanting.

Beetlejuice (1988)

In the 1988 film, Beetlejuice , a couple dies in a car accident and finds themselves stuck in their former country home instead of a pleasant afterlife. When a new family moves in to the farmhouse, the dead couple tries to scare them away, but to no avail. They enlist the help of the troublemaking poltergeist Beetlejuice, who turns out to be a hazard to everyone involved.

The classic film has an all-star cast that includes Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin and Winona Ryder. Directed by Tim Burton, the movie offers a comedic twist on a supernatural tale that families will enjoy. Just don’t be surprised if the film’s soundtrack sparks an impromptu dance party.

Halloweentown (1998)

Starring Kimberly J. Brown and the late, great Debbie Reynolds, Halloweentown  is a Disney Channel original movie that premiered in 1998. Today, it’s revered as a classic Halloween film among the now-adults who grew up watching it every year decades ago.

On her 13th birthday, Marnie Cromwell discovers that she’s a witch, as is everyone else in her family. She and her younger siblings sneak off to Halloweentown, where her grandmother lives, to learn more about their family’s history and so Marnie can begin her witch training before it’s too late. The visit goes awry when they discover that an evil force is attempting to take over the town — but with a little magic, Marnie and her siblings can save the day.

The Addams Family (2019)

There have been several reimaginings of the original Addams Family  over the years — did you know the first cartoons were created in 1938? — but this animated film from 2019 is an especially fun version for kids. In the movie, Gomez, Morticia and the rest of the Addams clan prepare to welcome relatives for a visit. But when a TV personality attempts to get rid of them, the family has to prove that their creepy and kooky ways are no threat to their idyllic neighborhood.

The Addams Family  features the voiceover talents of Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Alison Janney, Chloë Grace Moretz and others. If your family can’t get enough of this endearingly macabre group, you’ll be happy to know a sequel was just released — and it’s available to rent on streaming .

Labyrinth (1986)

It’s time to pass this cornerstone of Halloween weirdness to a new generation! The 1986 film Labyrinth  is a cult classic for so many reasons, from its fantastical setting to its magical plot to the fact that it stars the one and only David Bowie — and includes danceworthy original songs from the Starman himself.

The story follows teenager Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) as she travels through an otherworldly maze, solving riddles to rescue her baby brother from Bowie’s Jareth the Goblin King. Most of the film’s main characters are played by puppets from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, which is sure to delight kids (and deliver you an enjoyable dose of nostalgia).

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

You can’t have a kid-approved Halloween movie fest without watching 1993’s The Nightmare Before Christmas . The story follows Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, who’s grown bored with the same old scare routine of Halloween each year. When he stumbles upon a door to Christmas Town, he decides to put his own twist on the holiday, causing complete havoc in the process.

The spooky-but-fun Tim Burton film stars Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara and Ken Page. What’s even better about this classic is that it doubles as a Halloween and  Christmas movie — and there’s no better time of year to get into the holiday spirit!

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53 Best Halloween Songs to Play During Your Costume Party

Get the karaoke going with these classics.

For those who like to sing or live for any opportunity to perform karaoke, we have listed classics like Michael Jackson’s Thriller and This is Halloween , which is from the soundtrack of The Nightmare Before Christmas. Other essential dance songs we’ve included span pop, rock and rap, and can even be found in some of your favorite horror movies . We’re talking Monster Mash , A Nightmare on Elm Street and, of course, I Put a Spell On You.

While most of these jams can easily be pulled up on YouTube, you can also add them to your Amazon playlist for easy streaming on October 31. And if you’re planning on including kids in on the night, check out this curated list of kid-friendly Halloween songs created just for them.

1. "Monster Mash" — Bobby (Boris) Pickett

Yes, you've heard it all before. No, it has not gotten any less catchy — or less of an absolute essential Halloween classic!

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2. "anthem" — michael ables.

From the psychological thriller Us , composer Michael Ables said he wanted the opening song to sound like an "evil march."

ADD TO YOUR PLAYLIST

3. "Bury a Friend" — Billie Eilish

Looking for something more modern for your playlist? This hit from Billie Eilish is the perfect dark pop track that's simultaneously catchy and bone-chilling.

4. "The Phantom of the Opera" Overture — Andrew Lloyd Webber

This one's obviously a must-play for all musical theater fans, but there's no doubt that anyone and everyone will appreciate that epic, instantly-recognizable organ intro.

5. "Stranger Things" Theme — Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein

I mean, is there anything more perfect for Halloween than the spooky Stranger Things theme song?

6. "Haunted" — Beyonce

Leave it to Queen Bey to slay with a scary-good track that's also accompanied by an equally eerie music video.

7. "Haunted" — Taylor Swift

Speaking of great songs named "Haunted," this one from Taylor Swift is everything you want in a dark, dramatic break-up anthem (and more!).

8. "Creep" — Radiohead

This one's an essential for celebrating the creepiest night of the year — especially for all the weirdos and misfits out there.

9. "A Nightmare on My Street" — DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

Who knew '80s hip hop and Halloween could go so well together?

10. "Monster" — Kanye West ft. Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver

Not only does this hip-hop track feature the ultimate collab of musicians, it also features a horror-filled theme perfect for Halloween.

11. "I Put a Spell On You" — Bette Midler

Disney's wicked '90s hit Hocus Pocus and it's sequel, Hocus Pocus 2 , feature the quirky Sanderson sisters, who wreak havoc on a small town. Bette Midler's rendition of "I Put a Spell On You" always puts us in the holiday spirit.

12. "Thriller" — Michael Jackson

There's nothing quite like a posse of zombie back-up dancers. You just can't resist mimicking all their iconic moves.

13. "Ghostbusters" Theme — Ray Parker Jr.

Who you gonna call? You won't be afraid of no ghosts when you're jamming to this classic.

14. "This Is Halloween" — The Citizens of Halloween

Jack Skellington's passion for this fright-filled holiday is pretty contagious.

15. "Superstition" — Stevie Wonder

We agree with Stevie Wonder — it doesn't always pay to be superstitious — but we can still be a little apprehensive about breaking mirrors and crossing black cats on Halloween.

16. "Somebody's Watching Me" — Rockwell

A couple of eerie lyrics about being followed, punched up with a little '80s pizzaz, make for one spooky song.

17. "Time Warp" — Little Nell, Patricia Quinn, & Richard O'Brien

A jump to the left and step to the right are the heart and soul behind the cult classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

18. "The Addams Family" Theme — Vic Mizzy

A dismembered hand, a cousin who's literally hidden by hair — of course we had to include the spookiest family of all time on this list.

19. "Wolves" — Selena Gomez & Marshmello

Selena Gomez starred in the Hotel Transylvania franchises so it's safe to consider her a Halloween expert.

20. "Dark Horse" — Katy Perry ft. Juicy J

Katy Perry told MTV she wanted this song to have a "witchy, spell-y kind of black magic-y" vibe, and she totally nailed it.

21. "I'm in Love with a Monster" — Fifth Harmony

Grab your other half for this funk-influenced hit. That's why you dressed up in a couples costume, after all.

22. "Zombie" — The Cranberries

The year: 1995. Your obsession: This Dolores O'Riordan song.

23. "Monster" — Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga's breakthrough album includes a very appropriately titled track for Halloween.

24. "Get Ur Freak On" — Missy Elliot

Crazy story: Missy Elliot was actually in the hospital the night before she performed this song at the Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show. She still killed it of course.

25. "Freaks Come Out at Night" — Whodini

This little '80s earworm will stay in your head long into November.

26. "She Wolf" — Shakira

It's impossible not to dance to Shakira — just try.

27. "The Monster" — Eminem ft. Rihanna

Pop singer Bebe Rexha actually wrote the hook for this song that later won a Grammy Award.

28. "Werewolves of London" — Warren Zevon

Place your bets now that someone will start howling along to Warren Zevon's 1978 rock track.

29. "I Want Candy" — Bow Wow Wow

Bow Wow Wow's cover of the Strangeloves' single describes your trick-or-treating sugar rush to a T.

30. "Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)" — David Bowie

The 1980 album's title track gets eerie real fast with lyrics about a woman's descent into madness.

31. "Disturbia" — Rihanna

Right from the opening scream, Rihanna's number one hit will get people dancing — and singing along to that crazy catchy hook. Bum-bum-be-dum-bum-bum-be-dum-bum ...

32. "Season of the Witch" — Donovan

The hippie vibes of this psychedelic rock may not seem scary, but the song's appeared in everything from Halloween III to American Horror Story .

33. "Heads Will Roll" — Yeah Yeah Yeahs

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs somehow turned the creepy topic of decapitation into insanely-danceable anthem.

34. "Halloween" Theme — John Carpenter

The slasher movie franchise may include a whopping 11 flicks, but the original soundtrack is undeniably the best. Just cross your fingers that Michael Myers doesn't show up to the party.

35. "Hungry Like the Wolf" — Duran Duran

This Duran Duran classic is a straight shot to the '80s, back when MTV played the jungle-themed music video non-stop.

36. "Ghost" — Ella Henderson

You might have caught this recent hit by X Factor contestant Ella Henderson on the radio.

37. "Witchy Woman" — The Eagles

Sure, it's a classic Eagles track, but the witch-themed lyrics fit the holiday theme.

38. "Midnight City" — M83

This lead single hit it big back in 2011 yet the synth pop track is still the perfect afterdark groove over a decade later.

39. "Black Magic Woman" — Fleetwood Mac

This blues-rock hit from 1969 will definitely be replayed all night, but if your friends start acting strange, you should probably switch the song.

40. "True Blood" — Justin Timberlake

Not the HBO series of the same name, but this Justin Timberlake song sounds like someone's a blood-thirsty vampire.

41. "Spooky" — Dusty Springfield

The name of this song is literally spooky — and it's all about love. You might remember it from the 2008 romcom How to Lose Friends and Alienate People .

42. "Demons" — Imagine Dragons

Okay, so you might hear this one year-round, but that doesn't mean a song about demons hiding isn't perfect for Halloween.

43. "Boogie Monster" — Gnarls Barkley

Is the boogie monster real? Just listen to this creepy song and maybe you'll find out.

44. "Skeleton in the Closet" — Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong is telling the terrifying story of a haunted mansion that's filled with ghosts and goblins — eek!

45. "Super Freak" — Rick James

Change the mood a bit with this classic, which will have everyone in the room bopping along.

46. "Blinding Lights" — The Weeknd

Get some strobe lights out and start blaring this song. If you really want to set the mood, play the video for everyone to watch.

47. "Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead" — Ella Fitzgerald

The famous tune from The Wizard of Oz is an obvious classic, but Ella Fitzgerald's cover version puts on a jazzy twist that's perfect for any party.

48. "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" — The Beatles

Don't get confused by the upbeat tempo in this song. It's about a student named Maxwell Edison who commits murders with a hammer.

49. "Ghost" — Halsey

Okay, this is a love song. But every party needs a few mixed in, and this track does the trick with the haunting music and the line: "My ghost, where'd you go?"

50. "Look What You Made Do" — Taylor Swift

Even if you're not a fan of Taylor Swift, you can't deny how amazing this song is, especially around Halloween.

51. "Don't Fear the Reaper" — Blue Oyster Cult

The song deals with death and how it's inevitable and isn't something that should be feared. And yes, there's cowbell.

52. "Who Can It Be Now?" — Men at Work

Once you really dig into the song, it's not too scary. But during a Halloween party, the sentiment of feeling a little on edge rings truer than ever.

53. "Run" — Michael Abels

There are no lyrics in this song from the classic psychological thriller , Us. And no lyrics are needed as the instruments and sounds are terrifying.

Caroline is a writer and editor with almost a decade of experience. From 2015 to 2019, she held various editorial positions at Good Housekeeping , including as health editor, covering nutrition, fitness, wellness, and other lifestyle news. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism and dreams of the day Northwestern will go back to the Rose Bowl.  

Cameron (she/her) is a staff writer for Good Housekeeping , where she covers everything from holidays to food. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she received a B.A. in magazine journalism. In her spare-time she can be found scrolling TikTok for the latest cleaning hacks and restaurant openings, binge-watching seasons of Project Runway or online shopping.

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