When you think of Halloween, you don’t just think of horror movies that scare the daylights out of you. What also comes to mind are the family friendly movies, that we all fell in love with as children and enjoy even now as we get older. That list is a long one, so we’ve shortened it to our top ten family friendly Halloween films. From Gremlins (1984) to Hocus Pocus (1993), the list is full of fun films that last the test of time and are enjoyed by adults and children still to this day.
- Hocus Pocus (1993)
To begin our list, we give you the Disney classic, Hocus Pocus. Still a widely popular film about the witchy trio comprised of the Sanderson sisters, it’s a Halloween tradition in many a family to watch Max light the black flamed candle and bring the witches back from the grave. Full of laughter and thrills, Hocus Pocus is the perfect Halloween movie and great for families with little ones.
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
There was always a debate with this film, on whether it was truly a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie. Well, that debate is no longer valid, since the director himself claims the film is a Halloween movie. It’s the movie about Halloween loving people looking at Christmas as if for the first time. With Jack the Pumpkin King leading the way to take over Christmas, the musical is full of fun and a few lessons for the little ones. You’ll be singing along to the music the rest of the holiday season once you watch The Nightmare Before Christmas.
- It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
This classic, family TV episode plays every year, and is definitely a fun family watch. From the young and those young at heart, this is a film that can be enjoyed for years and years. A short animation that will keep the attention of younger family members, Charlie Brown and his friends
- The Addams Family (1991)
If you think your family is weird, you haven’t gotten to see The Addams Family yet. A quirky family that loves everything Halloween and, well, everything odd. A remake of the classic show, this film is a great watch for the entire family!
- Casper (1995)
A tale about a ghost and a young girl who moves into his house, Casper is great for the entire family. Starring Christina Ricci and Bill Pullman, Kat and her dad move into an hold house to “rid it of ghosts” and realize, that they aren’t going to be able to make Casper and his three troublemaking brothers leave their home.
- Beetlejuice (1988)
Probably on the scarier side for the younger kids, Beetlejuice is the hilarious classic of a troublesome ghost trying to rid the house of the living. Full of laughter and humor fit for adults and kids, this one might scare the younger members of your family.
- Halloweentown (1998)
A television movie that original aired on Disney Channel, a mother has been trying to shelter her children from the world she grew up in. A world where it’s Halloween all the time and all the magical creatures are real. It’s a quirky movie, about a teen and her siblings saving a town and embracing their powers as witches and keeping the town from becoming normal and boring.
- Gremlins (1984)
If you haven’t seen Gremlins you’ve been living under a rock. Seriously. Released in 1984, it’s the typical monster film, but for kids. When Billy’s dad brings him a new pet, Gizmo, and gives him a set of rules to follow, he couldn’t be happier. But when he doesn’t follow the rules and they go from cute and furry to terrorizing the town, Billy has a problem. Now he has to figure out a way to get rid of the little monsters to save the town.
- Corpse Bride (2005)
Yet another Tim Burton film, Corpse Bride is a film about first love and second chances (and a little bit of karma). When Victor accidentally marries the corpse bride, he must find away to either return to his living bride Victoria, or stay with Emily, the corpse bride, below with the deceased. It’s one the entire family can enjoy, and has the same feel as The Nightmare Before Christmas.
- Coraline (2009)
Finally we have Coraline, one that may scare the younger crowd, but will entertain those that are a little older. A curious young girl finds her way to an alternate world, where the mother there is perfect and everything she could ever ask for, until she finds out the dark secrets she’s hiding. Coraline must survive the evil that the other mother has planned for her, before it’s too late. With the help of black cat and new friends in the other world, it’s a great adventure for the family.
