Halloween is here! For most of us, that means we've been playing on full-tilt horror movies, but when it's time to fire something spooky up for the kids and the family, it's probably not the best time to break out The Exorcist. But that doesn't mean there isn't a whole arsenal of outstanding family-friendly Halloween movies to fire up during the All Hallows season, from animated classics to the most recent horror movies for scaredy-cats.

But if you're not sure what to watch, or you've already showed the kids your old standby a few too many times, we've got you covered with a list of the best Halloween movies for kids and families to enjoy together. So once the costumes are on, the candy is cracked open, and it's time to throw on a film, here's our go-to guide for your Halloween must-watch movies.

And if you want something a little scarier after you put the kiddos to bed, be sure to check out our picks for the best horror movies to watch on Halloween that aren't Halloween. Or if you are in the mood for some Michael Myers, check out our picks for every Halloween movie ranked.

Hocus Pocus

hocus-pocus-bette-midler-sarah-jessica-parker-kathy-najimy
Image via Disney

If the Black Flame Candle were right in my backyard as a kid, there’s no doubt I would have taken a cue from Max Dennison (Omri Katz) and lit that baby up at the risk of bringing back the Sanderson sisters. Hocus Pocus is a family-friendly Halloween classic. The movie very successfully captures the spirit of the holiday with an alluring urban legend, delicious performances from Bette MidlerSarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, and just enough of a creepy, threatening kick to give the scenario some real suspense. This one’s been a Halloween must-watch in my book ever since its release back in 1993 and you can bet the first chance I get, I’ll be sharing it with my niece. — Perri Nemiroff

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

its-the-great-pumpkin-charlie-brown
Image via CBS

Arguably the Halloween special for the youngins, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a bonafide classic for all generations, overflowing with that sweet seasonal spirit. The Peanuts have always been a bit deeper than they seemed, and this gem is no different, a moving parable of faith played out in the pumpkin patch with sweet little Linus, who waits dutifully for the Great Pumpkin while his friends go trick 'r treating. Sincere without being saccharine, as delightful as it is meditative, and just downright heartwarming in the end, overflowing with All Hallows spirit and that classic Peanuts charm that has entertained us for generations. -- Haleigh Foutch

Casper

Image via Universal Pictures

If you’re looking for a fun, family-friendly film to watch with the kids this Halloween, look no further than the 1995 live-action/computer-generated animation film, Casper. Based on the Harvey Comics character of Casper the Friendly Ghost, created by Seymore Reit and Joe Oriolo, this movie kept the character’s core conceit, but darkened up the tone considerably. It’s kid-friendly, but there are certainly still some scares to be found.

The plot centers on a conceited heiress who wants to rid her inherited house of Casper and his obnoxious (and dangerous) uncles, the Ghostly Trio, so that she can get to the treasure hidden away within its walls. The treasure hunt is pretty goofy. The better story is the father-daughter dynamic that exists between Dr. Harvey (Bill Pullman) and Kat (Christina Ricci), which is told in parallel to the young love story that develops between Kat and the title character. It’s still-impressive technical effects may show a little wear more than 20 years later, but its story remains a delight. – Dave Trumbore

Hotel Transylvania

hotel-transylvania-movie-image
Image via Sony Pictures Animation

A silly, playful, and of course, spooky animated treat for the holiday, Hotel Transylvania is a great way to introduce the kids to the classic monsters. The film features Adam Sandler as Dracula, who runs a monsters-only hotel where all kinds of creeps can take their vacay away from humans, until a young boy sneaks in and falls for the count's daughter. Giddy and goofy, Hotel Transylvania is a sweet story about what happens when daddy's little ghoul grows up that's also jam-packed with all the creatures and critters a kid could hope for in a Halloween watch. -- Haleigh Foutch

The Nightmare Before Christmas

The Nightmare Before Christmas
Image via Touchstone

Is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Christmas or Halloween movie? You know what? I say it’s both! And that’s a beautiful thing for two reasons; one, that gives us an excuse to prioritize the movie twice a year and, two, it beautifully plays into the fact that Halloween and Christmas are both unique and special. Director Henry Selick and his team craft a stop-motion Halloween-lover’s dream with the stunning, creative and highly detailed Halloween Town. Then the story lets us soak in Jack Skellington’s admiration for Christmas while also highlighting the beauty of Jack coming to realize that what he’s been searching for has been right in front of him all along, Halloween Town. Nightmare Before Christmas is a celebration of both holidays, so consider it a must-watch for both! — Perri Nemiroff

Beetlejuice

michael-keaton-beetlejuice
Image via Warner Bros.

Odds are, you’re going to see some folks dressed up as Beetlejuice on Halloween, but one of the most exciting things about the character is how many costume options are out there! Sure, you could go with the classic pinstripe suit, but there’s also the wedding look, you can try to recreate the snake, or what about the kooky carnival look? The point is, Beetlejuice is a character who embraces the diabolical and zany, and in a filmmaker like Tim Burton’s hands, that result is a delightfully whacky movie that digs into mortality and darkness. Beetlejuice is a one-of-a-kind frolic through the rules of the afterlife that’s brimming with so much creativity, craftsmanship and unforgettable performances that 30 years later, the movie is still a Halloween top priority and likely will be for decades to come. -- Perri Nemiroff

Coraline

coraline-movie-image-01
Image via Focus Features

One of the many reasons I love Halloween is because it celebrates uniqueness through costume, whether it's by dressing as someone completely different from you or by celebrating a personal favorite character through costume. And you know what movie aces its approach to recognizing uniqueness? Edward Scissorhands. Per usual, Tim Burton paints a vibrant, detailed picture with just the right tinge of eeriness and a whole lot of heart. It’s a lush fantasy romance loaded with highly creative curiosities at every turn but also with the importance of simple human kindness and acceptance at its core. (Oh, and just like Nightmare Before Christmas, I classify Edward Scissorhands as a Halloween movie and a Christmas must-watch, too.) — Perri Nemiroff

Ghostbusters

ghostbusters
Image via Columbia Pictures

Who you gonna call? Am I right? Ghostbusters, the 1984 modern comedy classic from Dan Aykroyd and Ivan Reitman is perfect for any season, not just Halloween. The film tells the story of three Columbia University scientists who explore the paranormal in an effort to prove that ghosts exist and that they’re the guys uniquely qualified to catch them. Along the way, we are treated to a Gozer the Gozerian, Zuul, a Stay Puft marshmallow man and the threat of dogs and cats living together.

Bill Murray’s Peter Venkman and Sigourney Weaver’s Dana Barrett share a sweet romance throughout the movie much to the chagrin of Moranis’s Louis Tully. Paranormal events start occurring all over their home city of New York City and they form the Ghostbusters company. They get so many clients that Annie Potts’s Janine is hired as their receptionist and Ernie Hudson’s Winston joins the team as the fourth Ghostbuster. Ghostbusters is one of the most quotable comedies in film history regardless of genre. It’s a franchise with enduring as we saw in 2016 with the all-female team reboot and we’ll see again in next year’s Ghostbusters 2020.

The original is the reason why. It’s irreverent, hilarious, playful, and nutty vibe appeals to people of all ages. It even manages to slide in a message about friendship and sticking together in the face of adversity in order to defeat it. Do your duty this Halloween season and introduce someone to this movie and see if they’re ready to believe you. -- John Rocha

Sleepy Hollow

sleepy-hollow-johnny-depp
Image via Paramount Pictures

Sleepy Hollow is one of Tim Burton’s most underrated efforts. The film was Burton’s follow-up to the much-derided Planet of the Apes, and materialized after the filmmaker had just come thisclose to making Superman Lives. After a lengthy stint with big budgets and studio interference, Sleepy Hollow was something of a return to form for the filmmaker, and the result is a horror mystery of the very best sort. Screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker (Se7en) crafts a wonderfully engaging spin on the Ichabod Crane tale that dips its toe into witchcraft, legend, and even early American politics—albeit all with a slight wink. Johnny Depp is in top form here, delivering a performance that’s humorous without the over-the-top mugging that permeates his work post-Pirates of the Caribbean, and the supporting cast is a swell ensemble full of esteemed actors. Visually, this was Burton’s one and only time working with Oscar-winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, and the partnership on this particular piece of material proves to be a match made in heaven. Sleepy Hollow is sumptuous, frightening, and darkly funny, and the Halloween setting makes it holiday-perfect. – Adam Chitwood

Death Becomes Her

Goldie Hawn, Bruce Willis, and Meryl Streep in a poster for Death Becomes Her.
Image via Universal

Death Becomes Her is a black comedy that squarely takes aim at the people who pursue outer beauty at the expense of inner beauty or, ya know, a Tuesday in Hollywood. Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn play friends Madeline and Helen whose lifelong unhealthy competition with each other for everything. The two actresses have great, comedic chemistry which comes into play as this film descends into some wacky territory. Willis takes on a rare character role as Ernest Menville, a young, up and coming plastic surgeon who transforms into a middle-aged, balding alcoholic working as a mortician and stuck in a loveless marriage with Madeline.

The ladies’ desperate desire to one-up each other leads them to Isabella Rossellini’s Lisle von Rhuman, a mystical and mysterious woman, who gives them a potion that promises eternal life and youthful beauty, but the catch is that they will decay from the inside out. The potion’s effects on their bodies inspire some hilarious physical comedy in the latter half of the film. Director Robert Zemeckis gives this film an old school Hollywood B movie mystery feel complete with soft lighting, awkward camera angles and antique furniture that decorates each room. It’s an interesting film to view with 2019 eyes as it uses women competing with each other as the foundation for its humor. It still works, in my opinion, because of the quality of the actors and the director involved here who never manage to insult the characters while they comment on their shallow natures. -- John Rocha

Little Shop of Horrors

little-shop-of-horrors-rick-moranis
Image via Warner Bros.

Little Shop of Horrors, originally a 1960 Roger Corman horror film, was turned into a Broadway musical comedy in 1982 and it’s that musical that Frank Oz brought to the big screen in 1986. The film tells the love story between Seymour (Moranis), a schlubby, sweetheart of a guy and his workmate Audrey (Greene), who provides a deeper take on the ditzy blonde archetype. Like most things in this musical, nothing is what it appears to be.

One day on his way through the city, Seymour discovers a cute, little plant that he takes home and names Audrey II. He quickly realizes, to his horror, that Audrey II is only nourished by the taste of human blood. As Audrey II (Stubbs) grows it starts to speak and seduce Seymour into finding ways to feed its desires for human flesh. It convinces Seymour to give in to his desires for wealth by playing on his love for Audrey and goads him into committing murder. There are some great cameos here including Steve Martin as Audrey’s abusive, dentist boyfriend, Bill Murray as a masochistic patient and the late, great John Candy as an extremely loud 50’s radio DJ.

Also, fans of Martin will recognize two of the singers in the three-woman Greek chorus who take us from scene to scene with their dire warnings. The lyrics and music from future Disney stalwarts Howard Ashman and Alan Menken decorate these songs about dentistry, death, self-empowerment and bemoaning one’s station in life with an earworm quality. ‘Suddenly Seymour’ is the show-stopping track of the bunch as Audrey and Seymour are finally able to reveal their hidden feelings for each other. Little Shop of Horrors is a funny, horror-filled, and sweet musical. -- John Rocha

I Married a Witch

i-married-a-witch
Image via Paramount Pictures

This enchanting 1942 romantic comedy stars Veronica Lake as Jennifer, a capricious and curious 17th-century witch who wakes up in 1940s America after being burned at the stake, and sets her sights on tormenting the descendant of the man who accused her of witchcraft. Trouble is, after a series of hijinks, she accidentally falls in love with him. This is a pure Old Hollywood romp -- sweetly romantic with plenty of banter and draped in stunning costumes and gowns for it screen icon, I Married a Witch is brimming with zany energy and screwball comedy. Essentially, it plays like a feature-length prequel episode of Bewitched (except Jennifer's got an impish father figure rather than an imposing mother), and it'll make you a little sad that Lake didn't spend more of her career playing flighty, fabulous witches.

Twilight

twilight-kirsten-stewart-robert-pattinson-765
Image via Summit Entertainment

Okay, I know. I can hear your eyes rolling from here. But if you separate Twilight from all of the baggage that comes with being a cultural phenomenon, this one's actually a pretty fun and breezy vampire romance fit for all ages. Director Catherine Hardwicke wisely pairs her carnal angst with a heavy helping of camp, and stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson (both of whom have long since proved themselves formidable and fearless performers in their post Twilight Saga careers) are more than game for the funky tone. Set in the misty moodiness of the Northwest, with a melodramatic flourish and cinema's best worst wigs, there's a theatricality that feels full of the Halloween spirit. Yeah, the "vegetarian" vampire's sparkle and play baseball, but honestly, it's all a hoot that had the smarts not to take itself too seriously before the franchise veered hard into playing it straight. -- Haleigh Foutch

The Addams Family

the-addams-family
Image via Paramount Pictures

Halloween and The Addams Family are a perfect pair, a tale as old as time. The creepy family has been entertaining families for decades, since the black-and-white series to 2019's animated redux, but Barry Sonnenfeld's 1991 live-action film offers the perfect fusion of fun and freaky for the All Hallows season. Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia are deliciously sensual and silly as Morticia and Gomez, while Christina Ricci defined a generation of goth girls with her iconic take on Wednesday. And you just can't beat the Addams Family's commitment to all things macabre, a true infusion of the Halloween spirit that will make you want to cut the bulbs off your roses and drape yourself in black while planning tricks and treats for the people you love most. -- Haleigh Foutch

The Corpse Bride

corpse-bride
Image via Warner Bros.

Corpse Bride, the 2005 Oscar nominee for Best Animated Feature, is based on a 19th-century Russian folk tale that sees a love triangle open the doors between the land of the living and the land of the dead. Victor, Victoria and Emily are the characters in this love triangle and each one navigates their own struggles in the film in order to find their happiness. A stop motion animated film that evokes the macabre and whimsical style of Burton and is very much in the vein of The Nightmare Before Christmas. Personally, I prefer the story in this film to that modern Christmas classic.

Victor (Johnny Depp), an impoverished and socially awkward young man, runs from his arranged wedding to the wealthy Victoria (Emily Watson) after he stumbles terribly over his vows. When he tries to practice them in the woods, he puts a wedding ring on a tree root which unbeknownst to him turns out to be the finger of the dead Emily (Helena Bonham Carter). Emily reveals to Victor that they are now married and that they must descend into the Land of the Dead together.

It’s a wild inciting incident that takes the viewer on a humorous adventure as Victor tries to break free from the spell, pledge his love to Victoria while she is being married off now to a villainous, pompous suitor who looks very familiar to Emily. The finale features swordplay, a poisoned chalice and an epiphany of sorts by a main character that leads to the resolution of the piece. Also, there’s butterflies. The excellent voice cast, the sweet yet macabre Tim Burton, and Danny Elfman’s music all combine to deliver a unique entry into the world of animated films…and possibly your Halloween watch list. -- John Rocha

ParaNorman

paranorman-cast
Image via Focus Features

The incredible creative team at the stop-motion animation company LAIKA always adds some creepiness to their kid-friendly fare (which is why you'll find two of their films on this list), but ParaNorman is the most overtly horror-oriented film in the bunch. A zombie film for folks who'd rather not see someone get disemboweled, ParaNorman also has ghosts and a main character who can talk to the dead and often prefers their company to the living. When he finds out the old town curse is not only real but about to come true, Norman is the only one who can save the day. It's legitimately spooky at points and made with a clear love for the genre its playing in, but ParaNorman is one of the tamest entries on the list, making it the perfect pick for just about any audience. -- Haleigh Foutch

Halloweentown

halloweentown
Image via the Disney Channel

If you grew up in the age of Disney Channel Original Movies, odds are you’re more than familiar with Halloweentown. This is quite possibly the silliest Halloween movie ever made, with silly performances and a very silly story, but sometimes silly does the trick. The film is something of an expansion of the idea in The Nightmare Before Christmas that there exists an entire world where it’s Halloween every day, and so as far as escapism goes, it’s a terrifically fun watch. The production design isn’t too bad, and the world of Halloweentown feels just kitschy enough to work. The story is (surprise) incredibly silly, but if you watched Halloweentown as a kid, there’s something irresistibly charming about it that you can’t really shake. – Adam Chitwood

The Monster Squad

the-monster-squad-movie
Image via TriStar Pictures

Regularly described as The Goonies for horror fans, The Monster Squad is so much more. It isn’t just one of the best coming of age films for the genre crowd, it’s one of the best coming-of-age adventure films period, and it’s a great Halloween movie to boot. Helmed by Night of the Creeps director Fred Dekker from a script he co-wrote with Shane BlackMonster Squad follows a gang of horror-obsessed friends who find themselves thrust into spooky action when the iconic monsters — Frankenstein, Wolfman, Swamp Thing, The Mummy and a particularly nefarious Dracula — lay siege to their hometown. Made with an overt love for the legendary monsters, including some incredible reimagining of the iconic creatures by the team at the Stan Winston School, The Monster Squad is pure adolescent adventure from top to tail, with a huge heart and a surprisingly sharp bite for a “kids movie”. — Haleigh Foutch

Disturbia

disturbia
Paramount Pictures

If you’re a film purist, when you hear that they are remaking the Alfred Hitchcock classic Rear Window, dropping the ages on everybody, and calling it Disturbia, no one would fault you for being skeptical about this movie. But let me tell you that director D.J. Caruso does an excellent job of modernizing the classic film without losing the tension, horror and occasional smirk of the original.

Shia LaBeouf fills the Jimmy Stewart role in this one as Dale, a teenager struggling with the sudden death of his father and his anger over the loss. After an incident at school, he is confined to his room with an ankle monitor on it. It’s not a broken leg as in the original, but it works to get the point across to a modern audience. Sarah Roemer plays Dale’s love interest Ashley (played by Grace Kelly) who he initially stalks a bit before she decides to turn the game on him. David Morse is every bit as eerie as Raymond Burr was as a possible killer, Robert Turner.

Dale spies on Robert, his next-door neighbor, through his bedroom windows and starts to suspect that he is a serial killer. Dale enlists the help of Ashley and his friend Ronnie (Aaron Yoo) to help him prove his theory. Since he cannot leave the room, Ashley and Ronnie have to try and get evidence from Robert’s house. There are a number of near misses, close calls, and jump scares in this well-paced murder drama that will have you on the edge of your seat throughout it. Don’t be surprised if you immediately pull the blinds on your windows by the end of it. -- John Rocha

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble

double-double-toil-and-trouble
Image via Dualstar Productions

If you’re looking for a kick of nostalgia, how about a Mary-Kate and Ashley movie? Yes indeed, 1993’s Double, Double, Toil and Trouble is just as silly as you remember. The Olsen Twins play a pair of young girls who go with their parents to their Aunt Agatha’s house so their parents can ask for a loan. The mean old Agatha refuses, but while at the house the twins learn that Agatha’s own twin sister Sophia is trapped inside the house, which once belonged to a powerful witch. Now it's up to them to break the curse before it becomes permanent. Spooky! – Adam Chitwood